All I want is some sunshine, so this dahlia flower photo will have to do. The stripey petals are called striated, I believe. Isn’t it a cool effect? This was an annual type, so it’s forever gone, but that’s why photos are so great, to me at least.

Visit Mellow Yellow Monday, Macro Monday, Color Carnival and Ruby Tuesday for more interesting and creative photos.

We’re getting very close to the launch of the brand new blog site! I’m very excited. Your browser should just bring you to the new site, so no worries. Soon!

Do click on Sara’s Fave Photos if there is only one photo here. And while you’re at it, try another category or tag, just for fun.

At the potluck brunch this morning for which I prepared the fruit plate mentioned in my last post, our hostess had decorated so beautifully for the holiday. The house had decor including several arrangements with perfect red roses that she had made herself. As a long-time garden club member, no wonder she did such a beautiful job. I loved the idea of red roses for Christmas.

Visit Macro Flowers Saturday, Today’s Flowers, and Color Carnival for more interesting photos with a theme.

And as usual, if there’s only one photo showing below, click on Sara’s Fave Photos, here or above, for the complete blog with the latest posts.

One from the archives, for sure. I was going through the tulip collection because I felt like creating a calendar for 2011 with tulips and I don’t think I ever posted this one on the blog. I will definitely include it in the calendar. It was taken in April of this year at the Skagit Valley Tulip Fest, a couple hours north of Seattle in Washington. Hope you enjoy this blast of springtime as we are entering winter.

Visit Skywatch Friday for more great skies seen around the world. Color Carnival has more brilliant colors. Pink Saturday has more pinkness. Scenic Sunday has more scenery. You get the idea.

I really like the expansive feeling I get when I look at this photo so I’ve categorized and entered it as Best Post of the Week.

If there is only the field of pink tulips below, click on Sara’s Fave Photos for all the others.

I picked these roses, hydrangeas and cosmos in my garden in late September. Oh, what a couple of months does! I think people love flowers so much because they are so fleeting, but their brief perfection seems to reach our emotions like little else.

Visit Today’s Flowers, Color Carnival and Shadow Shot Sunday for more interesting photos. This one is straight out of the camera, too.

If there is only the bouquet photo showing, do click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the complete blog.

Time for a trip to the archives for some summer flowers. These roses bloomed in my front yard last July. It may be gray and dark outside now, but it’s less than three weeks until the solstice and lengthening days!

Visit Macro Friday for more things seen up close, Macro Flowers Saturday for just beautiful flowers, Color Carnival which specializes in bright colors, and SOOC for more straight out of the camera shots. Do click on Sara’s Fave Photos to see this complete blog.

Before I began visiting the Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle regularly, I had no idea anthuriums existed in so many forms and colors. Here’s sort of a holiday look for you in red and green. And don’t you just love the heart-shaped leaves?

This tropical plant is a great entry for the Hot, Loud and Proud plant and flower meme out of Hawaii. And Color Carnival has more bright colors for you.

If there’s only one photo below, it means there are tons more for you if you click on Sara’s Fave Photos here or above.

These starry yellow mums with orange centers are just so cheerful, aren’t they? They almost look like the fall version of some daffodils. In any case, here they are for your gray weather pick-me-up. They were on display at the Volunteer Park Conservatory a couple of weeks ago.

Visit Macro Monday and Mellow Yellow Monday for more neat photos. Color Carnival has more bright colors, too.

Only one photo below? Do click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the rest of them.

‘Princess Flower’ or ‘Glory Bush’ is blooming now at the Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle. The flowers are only an inch or two (3-5 cm) but bloom at such a dark time of year here. In the background are chrysanthemums, coleus leaves, and more huge pink mums further back. Do pay them a visit if you are in the area.

Visit Today’s Flowers for more beautiful flowers from all around the world. I have the honor of being Guest Friend there today. Thank you, Today’s Flower!

This post really holds up for me so I’ve put it in the Best Posts of the Week category. Hope you agree.

Only three short weeks ago, this bloomed in my garden. Astrantia is one of my new favorite perennials. It bloomed and bloomed and bloomed, and seemed to be perfectly fine in quite a bit of shade. With pretty and unusually shaped leaves to boot, what more could you want from a garden plant?

Visit Macro Friday, Pink Saturday and Macro Flowers Saturday if you have a chance. This one is SOOC, or straight out of the camera, too. If you’ve found only one photo below, click on Sara’s Fave Photos for more.

I just love the way this rose looks. So tenderly colored, so perfect.

Pink Saturday has lots more pink things, and SOOC has more straight-out-of-the-camera photos. Today’s Flowers has blooms from around the world. Do check it out!

I’m trying out something new, for me: Twitter. Hey, better late than never. You can follow me @SaraLChapman, and I’ll be letting the world and my Twitter followers know about new posts here as they arise from my magic computer.

If there’s only one photo here, you’ve arrived from a link. To see the entire blog, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos, here or above.