The top photo shows the tulips around the rosebed in front of the house, with our neighbor’s house behind them. It was a good idea to plant them there as the roses haven’t got going yet. This year the roses will be early and have set buds already, at least some of them.

The next one is taken from near that neighbor’s house, looking towards the side and backyard of our house, showing that big old cedar tree. Don’t those old rhodies look good? If they had fragrance I’d love them even more.

Visit Outdoor Wednesday after visiting here. And remember, you can always get back to the latest post by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos on top.

This is one of the 150 or 200 tulips we planted in our garden last fall, photographed the other day after the soft rain stopped. I totally love them.

They take a lot of work to plant, you know. In the fall in a spot with excellent drainage, you have to dig quite deep, a good foot. Fill back half way, improve the soil with compost and a couple of handfuls of bone meal, then place the bulbs (a few inches apart) on that, about six inches from the top surface, pointed end up. Fill the hole with more good soil, and wait eagerly for spring.

Visit Watery Wednesday after your visit here for more water photos of all kinds. To return to the full blog with my latest post on top, click on Sara’s Fave Photos above.

Here’s the thing about apples: they must have cross pollination to set fruit. And even if there is another apple tree nearby, if the bees aren’t out doing their thing, you may have to help nature along. Here in Seattle where sunshine is an occasional thing (“sun breaks,” anyone?) it will definitely increase your harvest to get out there and help.

How? Take a clean, dry, soft artist’s paintbrush, or even a Q-tip, and brush the pollen carefully on a bunch of flowers on Tree A. Then go to Tree B (a different apple variety) and brush some more. Back and forth a few times should do it. Of course for a big tree, you can only do so much, but for dwarf backyard trees, you will make a huge difference.

We have two trees of the “columnar” type. They’re a super skinny, super dwarf size, good in containers, and both can be hand pollinated in just a few minutes. Go back in a few days when more blossoms have opened and do it again. You’ll be glad you did.

Visit Today’s Flowers for more sweet flower photos.

I was in the back yard a couple of weeks ago, admiring the magnolia tree in the late afternoon light, when I saw the moon in the sky. Thank goodness I try to keep my camera in my pocket at all times!

Visit Skywatch Friday for more skies seen round the world, and Pink Saturday for more sweet pinkitude of all sorts. And remember, you can always click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to return to the full blog with my latest post on top.

I really like the way the clouds and the magnolia blossoms both seem to dance. I’m calling this one my Best Post of the Week. Hope you agree.

Still in a rose mood, longing for warm, sunny weather. This is my favorite rose, Double Delight. I read that it was a sport and almost not pursued. The petals get stronger color in more intense sunlight. This is one of the ones I planted last summer. The 18 bushes are leafing out well, but it’s just too rainy to get a photo to show you right now. I do have high hopes for later in the year.

Visit Mellow Yellow Monday for more cheerful splashes of yellow, and Ruby Tuesday for more ruby redness. Color Carnival has the brilliant color combos. Try them all! Click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to return to the full blog with my latest post on top.

Our Japanese magnolia tree out back has been so beautiful this year. I took these photos in the last week. Which do you like the best? The top one (#1)? The bottom (#5)?

Visit Blooming Friday for more things flowering now (and sadly the last week for this great meme), Pink Saturday and Macro Flowers Saturday, too. Click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to return to the full blog with my latest post on top.

This view of my backyard from the patio shows the magnolia tree and a few early bulbs with a dramatic sky promising rain. Visit Skywatch Friday for more skies around the world, and Blooming Friday for more flowers happening now. Pink Saturday will show more pink of all sorts. Scenic Sunday has more scenigasms. Have fun in blogland!

You can always click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to return to full blog with latest post on top.

These two checkered tulips or fritillaria are ruby colored; perfect for Ruby Tuesday. They came up very well, this second year, as did the sturdy white hyacinths behind them. Oh, the garden is really beginning!

Click on blog header above, Sara’s Fave Photos, to return to full blog with latest post on top.

The bags of tulip bulbs we planted around the front roses in the fall are up, and the first one has opened! See Macro Monday and Mellow Yellow Monday for versions of the theme.

And the delightful grape hyacinths (muscari) in the back yard are coming up so well. This is their second year and they are quite respectable looking. I love how easy they are, that they spread nicely, and that they are practically evergreen and leaf up super early. Visit Blue Monday for more blue things.

And check out Color Carnival for more brilliant colors! And I like this post so much I’ve tagged it Best Post of the Week.

Click on blog header above, Sara’s Fave Photos, to return to full blog with latest post on top.

These roses in a glass bowl are from September. I grew them, after all the work of digging a big bed for them (that done by hubby, it’s true) and digging 18 big holes to plant the 18 bushes. I was so pleased with my first year’s harvest of beauty and fragrance.

I am honored to be Guest Friend today, with my tulip photos featured on Flowers for Today. Please visit there and check out all the other talented photographers who love flowers.

And try the newest flower meme, Macro Flowers Saturday! As well as Macro Monday, a fine place to visit.

I truly love this photo, and have tagged it Best Post of the Week (Saturday to Friday). I hope you agree.