The Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest has some magnificent scenery. On our way to check out Sol Duc (pronounced Sole Duck) hot springs (we weren’t impressed; just big outdoor regular swimming pools and $12 per person to swim; maybe they might have more appeal in cold weather) we stopped at a roadside rest near the river. Now this was worth a visit! I tried to upload a video but wasn’t able to compress it enough. Any recommendations on how to do that? They are MOV files. I did download a program called MPEG Streamclip but have no idea of what settings to use. Any help appreciated.

Anyway, here are a couple of stills. You’ll just have to imagine the loud burbling and plashing noise and the silence all around it.

Visit Watery Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday for more interesting photos on the theme. These are both SOOC, and make the grade for Scenic Sunday also.

While you are here, check out a tag like “scenic.” Arriving via permalink, the latest posts are always at Sara’s Fave Photos above.

We went to Sequim (pronounced “skwim”) WA and had a great few days of vacation, camping and doing the relaxation thing in the very warm weather. Notice the cloudless blue sky reflected in the window? Meeting some friends for lunch, the restaurant had a particularly fine windowbox. I envy people who can combine flowers so well. Well done, Oak Table Cafe! And the food was good, too.

Visit Ruby Tuesday for more reds of all kinds. And this shot is straight out of the camera, or SOOC, where you can see more like that. Color Carnival has more bright, vibrant colors. Weekend Reflections has more visual reflections, too.

Browse around here for something new today. Perhaps a tag called “rain” might refresh on a warm day? And if you’ve arrived via the permalink, do click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the latest posts.

It’s been awhile since I showed you a display from the Pike Place Market in Seattle. This slice of flower heaven is an ever-changing spectacle of florabundance. I try to go every few weeks, and every time I am agog at the magnificent displays. Hope you like this recent one.

Visit Today’s Flowers for other flowers around the world. Color Carnival has more brilliant color. And Window Views (formerly Window Wednesday) has great shots with windows and doors.

And as long as you’re here, browse around by clicking on a new tag or category you’ve never tried before. Return to the latest post by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos.

Puget Sound near Seattle has many moods. This one was bright and exuberant, or at least the camera angle makes me feel that way when I look at it. Hope it doesn’t make you dizzy!

Visit Watery Wednesday for interesting water shots of all kinds and Outdoor Wednesday, too.

I’ll be away from my computer for a few days and hope to visit you when I return. Please leave a comment so I’ll know you visited! Thanks!

A recent visit to Seattle’s Pike Place Market flower vendors delighted and impressed, as always. What a place. Do you know that the flower vendors can only sell the flowers they have grown themselves?

Here’s a dahlia bouquet with the original touch of being ringed with marigolds. Or maybe they are coreopsis. Don’t you want it on your kitchen table, whatever they are called?

Visit Macro Monday, Mellow Yellow Monday, Color Carnival and Ruby Tuesday after poking around here. If you’ve arrived via the permalink, Sara’s Fave Photos has the regular blog.

Here’s a new flower, to me at least. When I was at the Volunteer Park Conservatory event last week, the head gardener, talented David Helgeson, showed me this unusual flower called Throatwort (trachelium caeruleum). I think it’s beautiful. That’s a maidenhair fern on the left, and coleus on the right. By the way, I totally love using google images for plant identification and info.

Visit Flowers For Today for more flowers from around the world, and SOOC for more straight-out-of-the-camera shots. As long as you are here, though, you might as well try a tag like “purple” or perhaps “bouquet.” If you’ve reached this post via the permalink, the latest post and full blog is always at Sara’s Fave Photos, above.

A shady deck on a sunny day is a fine thing. This place was as delightful to sit in as it looks. So much is said and implied by shadows!

Visit Shadow Shot Sunday for more perfect penumbras. And while you are here, try clicking on a new tag or category. Returning to the latest post is easy: just click on Sara’s Fave Photos, above.

The Volunteer Park Conservatory had a great “Luau” event last evening, complete with behind-the-scenes tour. The flowers were ravishing as usual. That place is so magnificent. If you are in Seattle, you must go there. It’s even free, but they do accept donations. Their plants and flowers are not only perfectly at the peak of bloom, but they are arranged and displayed so beautifully and artistically. Hats off to them!

Macro Flowers Saturday, Color Carnival and Pink Saturday are entered today.

Try a search for “lily” while you are here. Why not? The latest post always lives at Sara’s Fave Photos above.

Driving on the Seattle Viaduct the other evening, there was an incredible sunset. Actually, hubby was driving and I was leaning across him and shooting out his open window. We don’t get too sunsets like this, believe me. When I saw the photos later, I was amazed to see a parasailor up there. What a view he or she must have had! Puget Sound is one gorgeous place, when the light is right especially.

Visit Skywatch Friday for more wonderful sky photos, and Scenic Sunday for more scenegasms. Color Carnival, anyone? Be sure to visit Weekend Reflections, too. While you are here, you might as well try a new category or search. Puget Sound, perhaps? See the latest photo here by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos.

This lovely scene is in Volunteer Park in Seattle on a recent sunny day. I love looking out at a sunshiny lawn from under a shady tree.

The Thursday Challenge this week is the theme of Outdoors. Do visit Scenic Sunday as well.

While you’re here, you might try clicking on a tag of “green” or “sky” to see what comes up. And you can always see the latest post here by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos.