I know I should save some faves for when there is nothing blooming, but I can’t resist. The first, top one is rhododendron branches I forced from completely closed buds. I was having a party for my birthday (do not ask how many years; a shocking number) and wanted a big bouquet. They took about a week to get from completely closed to this. I put them in very warm water, almost hot, to begin with and it really gets them going.

Then I had to post this checkered lily, Fritillaria meleagris, that came up in my garden. Awfully cute, don’t you think? But it looks more like a tulip than a lily to me.

And finally, this is from my next door neighbor Ele’s garden. The hostas and I think snowdrops (bluebells?) looked so pretty with the sun lighting them up.

And if you still crave more beautiful flowers around the world, click HERE for the greatest photo meme, Flowers for Today.

I found this new meme called Think Green Thursday and I had just the perfect photo for it. My daughter took this of my seedlings on the windowsill, ready to plant outside, and they are so cute and GREEN that I had to jump in and join the meme. Good luck to the Pagan Sphinx for a great idea.

Spring is so wonderful. Here’s a perfect red camellia for Ruby Tuesday, from the huge old shrub in my backyard. No fragrance, but their almost mandala-like circle of petals is hypnotic to me. And they bloom early!

For more rubiness around the world, click HERE.

A sunny day, or a sunny moment, is a wonderful thing, and here in Seattle it’s extra appreciated. Thought you’d like to see the plants on my little greenhouse window in my kitchen, leaving shadows in a rare burst of sunshine. For more shadows artfully photographed, click HERE.

I took this exactly one year ago at the old house. We had a huge mature wisteria and it dropped many leaves each fall, which I would leave on the begonias below it as mulch. Some actually made it through the winter that way. In any case, one wet morning there were these water diamonds sparkling there for me. Now you can see them, too.

For more visions of water from photographers in many countries, click HERE.

The weather’s been, well, crappy. I really have to do gardening things, so I’ve started a bunch of seeds. I must say it’s a thrill to watch them come up. I’ve learned that old seeds germinate just fine. What I will do with all the plants I have no idea. A plant sale, perhaps? Anyway, aren’t they cute?

In case you are wondering, the top batch is cosmos on the left, bachelor buttons on the right, and below are four o’clocks just pushing up out of the soil.

I am giddy from the sunshine today: I am posting FOUR photos! Here on top are the flat peas coming up. I put them in way too early for this year’s cold weather, over a month ago in February, and they are finally doing their thing. I’ll have too many but what can you do?

And here are some crocuses, finally blooming. Spring is here, for sure. Let me know which of the three you like best, OK? Thanks.

For more lovely flowers from around the world, click HERE.

I think this plant may be a descendant of my original spider plant from the ’60s or ’70s. Yes, I had a macrame plant hanger then. Spider plants just keep having babies, and I feel like a murderer if I don’t make other plants from them eventually. Who knows how many have been given away, but I always keep one or two. Some bright light but not too much sun, a little plant food, and they are happy, living their little plant lives.

For more shadows seen by people all around the world, click HERE.

Here’s a shot of late July glads from my last garden in the Des Moines WA house. They are so easy to grow and increase by themselves. And do you see the red cherry in the background? I did bring some corms to the new place, but it will take a bit before they reach this density.

For more photos of ruby delight, click HERE.

Here’s a shot from November of leaves on the amazing red-bark maple below. I thought you’d like to see that the stems and twigs are really red, no fooling.