When a sunset gets going in the pink mode, it can really get going, but you have to be quick to get it at the peak. This view to the southwest in my backyard was perfect for yesterday’s display of the year, sunset-wise. The photos taken seconds right before and right after this one were great, but this one was oh-my-goodness—to me, at least. I sure love the digital camera thing that lets you take so many, because in the film days, I might have taken only one or two and not gotten this show. And I surely wouldn’t be sharing it with the entire world!

Check out Pink Saturday, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday and Skywatch Friday for more fine finds in blogland. Before you do, please visit a new tag or category here, if you have a minute, and find the complete blog by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos. Thanks!

The other day at the Normandy Park Cove, near Seattle, I looked outside and there was that pretty effect when the clouds in the distance look almost like cut paper. Then it went back to just plain old dull gray. We take what we can get when it comes to scenic in this part of the world. Did you know that the Seattle area gets only about 36″ or a little over a meter of rain a year, which is about what New York City or Santa Rosa, California gets? BUT it has far, far more cloudy days. Don’t tell me how many; I don’t want to know. So we get to be conoisseurs of gray skies!

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Happy note: Only 8 days ’til the solstice means just 16 days until days are lengthening and longer than today!

A sunny day and I’m in love with the Pacific Northwest again. A combination of red leaves, sunshine and backlighting, and I’m in photo heaven. Like flowers, leaves in their brief and brilliant fall display just enchant me. That’s why taking a photo is so very satisfying, giving endless life to the most ephemeral things. Such a feeling of power and abundance!

Visit Ruby Tuesday, Shadow Shot Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), and Scenic Sunday for lots of fabulous photoblog fun around the planet. But browse around here first, why don’t you, especially if you see only one photo below. Always click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the complete blog here, and thanks for visiting!

This photo is about the green, green leaves as least as much as the simple but pretty yellow-and-white blossoms. How DO they get that foliage to be so perfect? And it’s straight out of the camera (see SOOC Sunday), too.

Check out Mellow Yellow Monday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Macro Friday, Macro Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday and Floral Friday for lots of fun in the photoblog world. Try something new here before you go, and click on Sara’s Fave Photos to get the entire blog at your fingertips.

Hope you don’t mind my continuing to delve into the archives at exactly six months opposite our weather right now. These irises in my garden were photographed on the same session as the sunny June garden photo a couple of posts down. In June there are so many lovely candidates for the blog that many pretty flowers get passed over. In December we are extra glad to see them. I hope you agree.

Take a look at Shadow Shot Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Macro Friday, Macro Monday. Macro Flowers Saturday, and a new one, Floral Friday. Have fun! If you’d like to see more here than the one photo that might be showing below, click on a tag like “My Garden” below the photo, or just click on Sara’s Fave Photos above.

I’ve been busy at selling the Flowers book at craft fairs and it’s so interesting what people have said to me about why they buy the book. Many people like it as a gift for older people who might be extra hard to buy for. Massage therapists like it for their offices—so soothing and relaxing! Naturally, it’s great for gardeners and everyone who loves flowers. People like to send it to friends and relatives who miss Seattle. And it’s something unique for the person who has everything.

And speaking about sending it as a gift, if you’d like to order a book (free Priority shipping to U.S. recipients until Dec. 24) and have me send it directly to the lucky recipient, just put their name and address in the Paypal comments field. Be sure to double-check the address, because that’s exactly how I’ll send it via Priority Mail, wrapped in tissue and with a special Angel’s Trumpet bookmark enclosed. If you purchase an autographed version, be sure to include how you’d like me to write their names, if you’d like me to do that, on the title page.

Also, Valerie Easton, the Seattle Times garden writer, has featured a review of the book on her blog just today. I’m so excited!

Since it’s so gray and cold out now as we approach the winter Solstice, let’s take a look at its opposite, a scene from my garden in June. Isn’t the pink, fluffy meadow rue sweet? Looking at the photo data I see that it was taken at 6pm. It’s a long time dark at that time now, of course. But isn’t it nice to know that the sun will return, in all its garden glory?

Visit Shadow Shot Sunday, Scenic Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Pink Saturday, Today’s Flowers, and Weekend Flowers for more photo entertainment. Fun and free! Of course, feel free to browse around here first, perhaps checking out a new tag or category. Click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the complete blog.

Well, sunset comes early now, that’s for sure, so we just have to enjoy it when we can. I missed a really spectacular sunset last week with just a glimpse as I drove along, so I was extra happy to see this sweet one that I could photograph, even if just delicate pink and not red. I’ll take it. And do you notice almost a rainbow reflection in the water? I can’t quite figure it out. I love the mysterious reflection and I’m calling this my Best Post of the Week.

Stop by Scenic Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Weekend Reflections, Skywatch Friday, Pink Saturday, and Watery Wednesday for lot of photos on a theme. As always, especially if only one photo below, you can click on Sara’s Fave Photos to view the complete blog here.

Happy note: Only 16 days ’til the solstice means just 32 days until days are lengthening and longer than today!

I was at the lighting ceremony at Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory last night, and it was exciting to see that amazing structure outlined in lights. I had never been there at night and it was strange to see “my” beloved flowers and plants in the almost spooky shadows. Of course I had to take a photo anyway. Here’s a pretty poinsettia for you, and the lights!

Visit Shadow Shot Sunday, Mellow Yellow Monday, Scenic Sunday, Ruby Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Macro Friday, Macro Monday and Macro Flowers Saturday for other neat photos around the world. Click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the complete blog here, and thanks for visiting!

When my daughter was visiting recently, we went to a crafts fair to exhibit the Flowers book and were envious of all the traffic (and sales!) at nearby jewelry booths. Since she has made jewelry and is “crafty,” she got the idea of making jewelry from a copy of the book and next thing I knew, she’d ordered supplies and we were off and running. Made from glass tiles and a damaged copy of the book, each piece is unique! We’ve made pendant necklaces, earrings and  magnets. Still not ready to offer online, but hoping to do that soon. You can see the pretty things in person tomorrow and Sunday, Dec. 4,  if you are in the Seattle area. See the Media page (Upcoming Events) for details.

Visit SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Macro Friday, Macro Monday, Ruby Tuesday, Weekend Reflections  and Macro Flowers Saturday for lots of photo fabulousness. Clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos brings you the complete blog here. Thanks for visiting and hope to see you this weekend!