At a friend’s birthday party in the park yesterday, I brought flowers and there was a purple tablecloth. I like this photo because such a tiny slice is in focus, and that isn’t even much of the big rose and its petals, but mostly the sepal of the bud. Do you like it? Be honest, now.

Double Delight rose blossom with rosebud

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Sometimes petunias in the garden get leggy, and the only thing to do is cut off the long stems, feed the plant, and hope you get a second flush of blooms. I brought in the cut stems and figured I might as well put them in a vase. I was surprised to find how fragrant they were.

A petunia bouquet shows color, form and texture

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From last year at this time, some begonias in front of my house:

Rieger begonia flower basket on a foggy August Seattle day

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If you haven’t been to the Dahlia Garden in the big lawn across from the Conservatory in Volunteer Park in Seattle, it’s time right now for a visit. Put “dahlia” in the search field to the right to pull up more posts showing this stunning garden, free to stroll and photograph.

Glorious yellow dahlia with red tips

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This unusual, frilly double hollyhock can be seen at Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory right now. The flower is maybe 10 cm or 2-3 inches across. The tiny purple buds are throatwort.

Deep magenta hollyhock with ruffled, very double petals

Enjoy the photos at Macro Monday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday,  Thursday Floral Love, Ruby Tuesday 2, Pink Saturday and Straight out of the Camera Sunday. Have a great day and thanks so much for stopping by.

Was at Seattle’s beloved Volunteer Park Conservatory yesterday and was just gaga at how gorgeous the outside beds are this season. What colors, and this photo does not do it justice. The purple stuff is heliotrope and sometimes it has a heady fragrance.

An update about the Conservatory: It’s now out of the woods financially, due to the fundraising efforts of many dedicated folks, and if you go you’ll pay a big $4 admission, but you can get an annual pass for unlimited admissions, and still free parking! Closed Mondays.

Flowerbeds outside of the Volunteer Park Conservatory with purple heliotrope

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I’m on a lily kick. These are in a close neighbor’s garden. I heard that all lilies used to point down and be droopy, so when a grower managed to get it facing up, he or she called it Stargazer. Great name.

Stargazer lily in dappled sunlight against a wooden fence

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These lilies aren’t the first to bloom, but they are worth waiting for. Oriental lilies bloom the latest in the season, but their intense fragrance (one blossom is fine for a big room or more, in my opinion) is so much more thrilling than the no-fragrance Asiatic types. Be careful about brushing close to them, as their pollen can stain clothing.

Pink Oriental lilies bloom in a Seattle garden

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After the first flush of bloom in a rose garden, it’s kind of spotty. Some bushes are totally done, or at least resting, and some, like this magnificent Camelot rosebush, are just exploding with blooms. My rose bed gets some late afternoon light, and have you noticed it’s my favorite?

Peachy pink blossoms adorn a Camelot rose bush in late afternoon light

Linking to Pink Saturday, Outdoor Wednesday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Garden Tuesday, My Romantic Home, and Fishtail Cottage Thursday. Check out a new tag or category here in the sidebar to the right. Rose, perhaps? Come visit again soon.

I’ve been picking some of the lavender and put some nails in the carport so I could hang up the bunches, tied in rough twine. And before the mint goes to flowers, why don’t you cut some and dry that, too? Mint tea is wonderful.

Peppermint leaves and lavender drying in a breezy, shaded area

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