The Story of a Pea Spoon

This is a good tale, but first you have to let me show you some of the gorgeous flowers that I found on a visit to Rustic Rose in Sturminster Newton.

Owner, Kate, is having a bumper photographic day, getting ready for her new website. So today the shop is bursting with blooms of every shade and colour.

I am not really the official photographer - but a flower shop packed with flowers and florist friends to play with (Jennifer is also in to help Kate) - how can I resist getting my camera out?

Kate is a girl who loves colour and who can blame her when you see what amazing combinations you can find in nature (and in ribbons!).

Fat parrot tulips that open rich citrus petals to reveal a splash of purple.

And people wonder why I spend so much time in flower shops!

With sugary colours good enough to eat we decide to add some sweets to the mix.

In between making up posies and photographing we chat to Kate's customers,

who good naturedly dodge tripods, stepladders and perched arrangements.

Kate has been kept busy since she opened her doors at Christmas, but she now wants to have some pictures of the types of arrangements she can offer brides and people planning summer parties.

Kate has just found a supplier for beeswax candles so is keen to add these to the shoot.

And I have to have a quick shot of a pheasant broach that sits alongside other vintage jewelery and china that Kate stocks.

As I photograph, drink coffee and eat sweets (who can resist a Love Heart) I get to know the official photographer, Hannah, who is not only preparing shots for Kate's website, but will also build the site for her. Clever girl.

And the pea spoon? When Hannah was racking her brains for a name for her new company she decided to talk it through with friends over supper. They started teasing her about forgetting a spoon for the peas (I think they were on the second bottle of wine by then).

So Hannah declared - in honour of the evening - she was going to call her company PeaSpoon Photography. They didn't believe her.

But I do.

To see some of the shots that Hannah took on the day have a look at her website

www.peaspoon.co.uk