It was actually drizzling, but no one seemed to care on Sunday’s Fourth of July, America’s independence celebration. This cloudy, rainy sky got lots and lots of viewers, with the help of enough fireworks to win a small war, it seemed, even though it was not yet really dark. The reflections over little Lake Burien (south of Seattle) were an added bonus. Happy Skywatch Friday! I’m honored to have my photo featured in this week’s edition.

I didn’t use a tripod but learned that a double elbow brace on the arms of a chair can have a very steadying effect. Take a deep breath, let if out, press the shutter slowly. It really helps in those low light situations.

Please feel free to browse around here, trying a new search or two. Returning to the latest post is easy; just click on Sara’s Fave Photos. And visit Scenic Sunday for more scenic views seen everywhere.

In California, it is illegal to pick the orange poppies growing by the side of the road, as they are the beloved state flower. I heard you can’t even pick them in your garden, but that can’t be true. Here in Seattle, they grow very well also, maybe too well sometimes. They actually are great in bouquets. Clipping the long seedpods will extend the bloom quite a bit and help prevent way too many plants from appearing everywhere.

So, which view do you prefer? Leave a comment and let me know.

Visit Color Carnival for more brilliant color and Shadow Shot Sunday for more intriguing shadows. Both shots were straight out of the camera, or SOOC. And I like this post so much I’ve called it my Best Post of the Week.

The other day there was some rain (what a surprise) and then the sun came out. This was taken at my friend’s garden, with orange alstroemeria in the background. Can you see the tiny flowers upside down in the raindrops?

Visit Watery Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday for more wet and fresh air shots. And Weekend Reflections has really cool reflection photos.

If you like, you can click on a tag or category and see some previous photos. Returning to the latest post is easy: click on Sara’s Fave Photos.

Friends with a house on little-but-cute Lake Burien south of Seattle invited us to a 4th of July party last night and there were fireworks set off from a barge. I actually brought my tripod and even read in my camera book about fireworks, but when it came down to it, I really don’t like tripods (they need to invent an easy clip-on and quick-remove thing to attach your camera and also be quick to set up, light and cheap!) so I wound up taking the shots handheld, but I’ve learned to adapt. First, I guessed and set the time to a full second, and then I braced my elbows on the arms of the folding chair. Not too bad, is it?

Visit Mellow Yellow Monday for more photos with gold or yellow in them. And after browsing around here, you can return to the full blog by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos here or above.

Took this yesterday in the brilliant sunshine we had so briefly. It’s the flower border we put in two summers ago. Not too bad for just getting established. I’m trying to use fewer and fewer annuals so it will just do its thing, but of course there must be flowers continuously spring through fall, if at all possible. I’m working on it. The veggie beds are to the right.

Visit Flowers for Today for more flowers around the world. And happy Independence Day to my American readers!

The sun was finally, finally out and bright this afternoon, albeit briefly. But I was there with my camera, grabbing shadows left and right. Isn’t the one from the table neat?

Visit Shadow Shot Sunday for more intriguing shadows seen round the world. You can try a Shadows tag here or other search if you like, and can always wind up back at the full blog by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos on top.

At the Woodlawn Park Rose Garden the other day, some roses were just rioting in bloom. I didn’t get the names of all of those I photographed (bad Sara! I sometimes get too carried away with their gorgeousness) but here is a fine vision of pink floribunda roses for your enjoyment. If only the screen had a scratch ‘n’ sniff button!

Do visit Pink Saturday for more things pink. And you might try the Pink tag or search here, easily returning to the latest posts by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos.

This is also an entry for SOOC, or straight out of the camera, Scenic Sunday and Color Carnival. Have fun in blogland!

This was taken just a few minutes before the shot at the overlook below. You can see the dusky skies in the background. Such sweet pink tips on the blooms, no?

Visit Macro Flowers Saturday if you like flower closeups. There are some great ones there! You are welcome to browse around here first, if you like. Returning to the main blog page is easy; just click on Sara’s Fave Photos.

Dusk is my favorite time of day. I’m not usually up at dawn, so late in the day is my chance to see the fading light and softly glowing sky I love so much. This Normandy Park overlook of Puget Sound (which is a short walk from my house) even has some late-blooming dogwood gracing the view.

Visit Skywatch Friday for more magical skies around the planet. And do click on some new tags or categories while you’re here. Return to the latest posts by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos.

I snuck out of the office yesterday and wandered a bit around the Woodland Park Rose Garden in Seattle. I could have spent hours there. It’s huge, two and a half acres, 280 kinds of roses, all kinds of goodies like a gazebo for weddings, a reflecting pool with water lilies, the works. It’s so much fun to see big beds of ones I recognize. I’ll be sharing a few nice shots I took there, which is one of the best parts of blogging. On with the roses!

Try searching for “rose” or perhaps “tulip” while you’re here. And returning to the latest post is easy: click on Sara’s Fave Photos above. Visit Scenic Sunday for more interesting and beautiful sights around the world and Color Carnival for more great color.