Jerusalem sage or phlomis is a newer plant in my garden. I love the space-age double flowers stacked vertically. Those are blue-purple campanulas in the background.

Yellow Jerusalem sage or phlomis blooms in late spring, with campanulas

Linking to NF Catching the Light Monday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Reconnect With Nature Wednesday, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Scenic Weekends, Garden Party Thursday, Monday Mellow Yellows, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Thanks for browsing around here first!

My pink peonies have begun.

Frilly pink peony petals in close up, in the garden

Linking to Pink Saturday, Reconnect With Nature Wednesday, NF Abstract Wednesday, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Garden Party Thursday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. I appreciate your visit here so very much, and please come back soon!

This red rose bud (probably ‘Don Juan”) is my first rose of the season. This particular rosebush is grown from a cutting I took at our last house five years ago, and THAT rosebush was from a cutting that a friend rooted for me when I still lived in California. It’s intensely fragrant. Happy rose season to all my friends in the Northern Hemisphere!

Red ‘Don Juan’ rose on own roots blooms in Seattle in May

Joining up at  I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Blue Monday, Skywatch Friday, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday,Garden Party Thursday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. I appreciate your visit here, and come back soon!

These hydrangea leaves make such beautiful patterns in the sunlight.

Hydrangea leaves with saw toothed edges and strong vein patterns in the sunshine

Linking to NF Abstract Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday, Our World Tuesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, NF Catching the Light Monday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Garden Party Thursday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. If only one photo is visible, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog to see the rest, or at least a few of the most recent ones. Thanks!

The sunshine got here. The patio plants are so happy. Those purple puffs in back are chive flowers.

Spring sunshine on some potted plants on the patio

Linking up to Shadow Shot Sunday 2, NF Catching the Light Monday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Weekends, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Garden Party Thursday, Pink Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Thanks for visiting and have a great day.

This pretty variegated weigela shrub is blooming now in my backyard.

Variegated weigela with pink flowers blooms in May in Seattle

Participating in Pink Saturday, Garden Party Thursday, Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Monday Mellow Yellows, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. How about a new tag or category while you are here? Pink, perhaps?

Just a few short weeks ago, the Japanese magnolia in my backyard was in bloom. This photo is one of my very top faves and I am calling it my weekly Top Shot.

Pink and white Japanese magnolia blossom, up close

Participating in Pink Saturday, Garden Party Thursday, Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday,  My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Try a new tag or category while you are here, perhaps?

In the break we had from rain a couple of days ago, I went out with my dry paintbrush and pollinated my two little fruit trees. (“Make like a bee!”) I am lucky enough to have a dwarf cherry tree with multiple grafts on it of different varieties. However, even though it is “self-fertile,” all that means is that it doesn’t need another variety to pollinate. It still needs some pollen to move around for the fruit to set. So out I go, on a sunny day, with my soft, dry paintbrush, and gently brush the blossoms. I have found it makes a big difference. Use this technique on tomato plants, too.

Fruiting cherry tree blooms in backyard orchard

Linking to Blue Monday, Skywatch Friday, Seasonal Sundays, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, NF Catching the Light Monday,  Straight out of the Camera Sunday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Blooming Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. If you’re a macro fan, try clicking on the tag “close up” in the tag cloud at right.

Last week it was sunny, briefly (pouring right now), and the tulips in my front yard put on a show.

Macro of red and yellow tulip center lit by sunshine

Joining up with Seasonal Sundays, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, NF Catching the Light Monday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Ruby Tuesday 2, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Blooming Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. If you’re a macro fan, try clicking on the tag “close up” in the tag cloud at right.

This is a season of floral abundance, that’s for sure. This graceful, deep-pink-and-white Japanese magnolia is blooming in my backyard today. The flowers are about as big as my hand.

Pink and white Japanese magnolia bloom in Seattle in April

Connecting to I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Seasonal Sundays, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Pink Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Blooming Friday, Scenic Weekends, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. If only one image is visible here, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog. Hurry back soon.