Mexican Clover

There is a patch of Mexican clover in the shade of the cypress trees at the Alligator Lake Park behind the Department of Transportation headquarters. I have gone here the last few days at varying times, weather conditions, attempting to photograph these little pink flowers with the large clover leafs. The challenge is to expose the background cypress trees at the edge of the lake, and keep the small flowers in the shade exposed properly and in focus. This calls for flash on a low setting, a small f-stop and a low angle. I have yet to get all the elements as I want. In some, the background looks good. In most, the flowers are not in good focus, or the flash too strong. Then, when the elements both seemed to work, I notice in the background, on one of the cypress trees, a sign.
I will continue to photograph these Mexican clovers until I feel I have gotten it right. That is what usually keeps me coming to an area over and over, never tiring of the location. There is always plenty of subject matter, lighting conditions and improving upon past efforts to keep one going for a long time.
This particular photograph is not representative of what I am trying to attempt. This was taken with little of the trees in the background, allowing for an easier exposure. The white spot in the left corner is the result of this, and what happens when you attempt to meter the close up clovers or the cypress.