The gods smiled upon us and the Fourth was sunny. Usually in Seattle we figure summer starts July 5th and ends before Labor Day, but this year life was good. Our friends with a home on little Lake Burien had their yearly fireworks party, and of course I needed to take photos, but not bother with anything like a tripod or special “scene” settings. Thinking first does help, as does bracing my arm on a chair back if possible, but besides that, I am happy just to aim at the loveliness and capture a bit of it with what I have with me.

Visit Scenic Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Pink Saturday, Skywatch Friday, A Piece of Heaven, and Weekend Reflections, just for fun. Thanks for visiting here!

Visiting a friend’s garden recently, she showed me her big-leaf hostas so happy under the trees, in a beam of sunlight. Snap! Photo fun, for sure.

Visit Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Outdoor Wednesday and Macro Monday if you have a minute or two. You’ll be glad you did.

I just love that late-afternoon light. After MUCH rain and clouds, the sun peeked out the other evening and of course I was out there with my camera. These are mostly ‘Double Delight’ roses, my long-time favorite rose. Very available in nurseries, fabulous fragrance, strong grower. And this image is purely SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera).

This year I am attempting to grow roses without the usual systemic plant food laced with pesticides, hoping that this year I won’t feel the guilt of watching a robin poking for bugs in the soil and hoping the robin is OK. I am using alfalfa meal as a fertilizer this year and so far am very happy with the results.

Other interesting photo sites: Scenic Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Color Carnival, Ruby Tuesday 2, Pink Saturday,  Skywatch Friday, A Piece of Heaven, Mellow Yellow Monday and Macro Monday. And do browse around here first. Maybe click a category on the right like “My Garden”? Thanks for visiting!

This may be my new favorite rosebush in the garden. Growing roses in the Pacific Northwest is tough with our damp climate. I have 18 different rosebushes in front of my house and after three years, ‘Proud Land’ seems to be the star. It’s huge, disease resistant, and just covered with dark red, fragrant flowers. Very satisfying. I’m calling this my Best Post of the Week.

For more cool photos, you might pay a visit to Scenic Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Color Carnival, and Ruby Tuesday 2. If you’ve arrived via a link and there is only one photo  below, click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above to see the complete collection here. Thank you so much for stopping by!

Finally, a scenic post! Even I get tired of flower photos sometimes. But not for long, as you will see. This sunset overlooking Puget Sound was taken at a different spot than my usual overlook which sadly doesn’t get a good view west. This is from a beach in Three Tree Point, WA, quite close to my home. You can bet I’ll be back.

If you have a minute or two, visit Scenic Sunday, Pink Saturday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Skywatch Friday, Outdoor Wednesday, A Piece of Heaven, and Weekend Reflections, why don’t you? Thanks for visiting here, always.

Sometimes I like the bud stage almost more than the fully blooming stage. All the possibilities! Like the peony buds in the post below, this scene in my front yard feels so full of life to me. Behind the dianthus budding up a storm in front, there is pink sea thrift and white alyssum blooming in back. The shadows on the rocks make me happy, too, especially in this typically gray Seattle weather.

For more interesting photos, visit SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Scenic Sunday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Pink Saturday, Floral Friday, Outdoor Wednesday, and Shadow Shot Sunday 2. And thanks for stopping by!

Such great, round, pregnant shapes. It’s marvellous to think that these tight little spheres expand to the big, fluffy blooms like the one in the post below. By the way, I measured that one and it’s a full 7 inches across, and still going strong days later. I love peonies.

Visit Macro Monday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Pink Saturday, Floral Friday, Outdoor Wednesday, Skywatch Friday, A Piece of Heaven, and Shadow Shot Sunday 2.  Do browse here first, OK? And thanks so much for visiting!

This peachy pink tropical rhododendron was at Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory a few weeks ago. What I love about these flowers is that unlike regular rhodies, they are fragrant, as well as beautiful. Such a sweet, charming aroma, wafting through the air. Hope you get to see and smell one in person some day.

This post is or will be linked to Macro Monday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Color Carnival, Shadow Shot Sunday 2 and naturally, Pink Saturday. Also, the glowing center really makes me happy, so I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week.

Don’t forget that you can download a free copy of my “Seven Secrets to Better Flower (or any!) Photos” on the sidebar at right. No fancy equipment needed to take scrumptious photos. It’s not the camera, it’s you!

This geranium was growing in a little greenhouse when I went back East in March. I love that you can see that it is a bit fuzzy and a bit shiny. Isn’t it pretty?

Check out Macro Monday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday and SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) for more interesting photos around the planet. As always, feel free to click here and there around here first.

When I went to the East coast in March, I was lucky enough to take some scenic drives, especially in Connecticut. You can’t go wrong with boats stacked on the beach, waiting for the good weather to come again. Especially with colors like these! Come to think of it, this would make a neat jigsaw puzzle, wouldn’t it?

You might check out Scenic Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday, Skywatch Friday, A Piece of Heaven, Ruby Tuesday 2, Color Carnival, Mellow Yellow Monday and Shadow Shot Sunday 2. Lots out there worth a browse. But poke around here first, why don’t you, and maybe click on a new tag or category, just for fun.