Here’s a pretty little scene for you, even though many trees are still dormant. Signs of spring are around, but the still-bare branches do have their beauty.

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Please visit Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, A Piece of Heaven,  SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) and Skywatch Friday. Thanks for browsing around here first.

A couple of weeks ago at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show I really enjoyed the bouquets and arrangements in the lobby area, especially since the windows and daylight was so much better for photographs than the main garden displays inside. I don’t know why the tradition at this show is to have the display garden lighting so low that all the gardens look like it is nighttime. Perhaps it keeps the flowers from going past peak bloom too quickly, or saves electricity, or some other practical reason, but my desire for beautiful photographs without a tripod makes that so challenging. So here is a quirky and lovely bouquet in a branch in the lobby, just because.

You might want to check out Mellow Yellow Monday, Macro Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Color Carnival and Ruby Tuesday 2 for more floral fun, but always know that the search function here in the upper right corner holds lots of treasures.

If primroses are in the garden shops, it must be spring! I was lucky when at a new garden shop the other day, as it was getting pretty late in the afternoon but was briefly sunny, so the light was at that perfect slanty angle I love. Well, it DID hail and snow a bit today, but it didn’t stick, and then the sun was out soon after, no trace left behind. Let’s hear it for plant nurseries. They cheer us up so.

Why not visit Mellow Yellow Monday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Macro Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Color Carnival, Ruby Tuesday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, and Pink Saturday if you like photos with a theme? Lots of talent out there. While you are here, you might as well click on a new tag or category to find something new you like. And if you leave a comment, I’ll know you were here. Thanks for visiting!

Yesterday I was lucky enough to spend a bit of time out near a big expanse of water, in Silverdale, WA. Doesn’t being by the water both energize and soothe you? A very powerful and wonderful feeling. I’ve read that a huge portion of the world’s population lives within 50 miles of an ocean coast. I can understand that.

I particularly like this photo because it appears to be black and white (monochrome) but has no adjustment from RGB, is just straight from the camera on a gray late winter’s day. I’m calling it my my Best Post of the Week.

You might check out Outdoor Wednesday, Watery Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, A Piece of Heaven, Weekend Reflections,  Shadow Shot Sunday 2, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) and Skywatch Friday. Lots of photo talent out there! But do browse around here first, perhaps clicking on a new tag or category, or trying a search. Cloudscape, perhaps?

I have to admit, I love receiving flowers. I can never have too many in the house. While those with fragrance are definitely my faves, who can resist the sensuous curves and color of the florist’s red roses? Hope you had a loving Valentine’s Day.

Check out Macro Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Color Carnival and Ruby Tuesday 2, for more fun photos.

One of my neighbors has a rhodie that is the first to bloom in the area. Mid-February and showing flowers! How thoughtful of them to provide such cheeriness to people walking by.

For other floral finds, visit Macro Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Color Carnival, Macro Friday, Outdoor Wednesday, Watery Wednesday, and Pink Saturday if you have a minute. And if there is only one photo below, do click on the Sara’s Fave Photos banner above for more.

The overlook in Normandy Park, Washington is just a neighborhood road at which you can gaze out at Puget Sound and see the sky. Sometimes the light shines on the water so beautifully. This is what it looked like the other day.

Visit Outdoor Wednesday, Watery Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, A Piece of Heaven, Weekend Reflections, and Skywatch Friday. You’ll be glad you did. And do browse here first if you have a few minutes.

Here’s a scenic photo for you; the view from a coffeeshop deck in Poulsbo, Washington. Ah, the sights of August! Can’t you just smell the fresh air?

You can find lots of neat photos at Outdoor Wednesday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Watery Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, A Piece of Heaven, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, and Skywatch Friday. Thanks for visiting, and be sure to browse around this blog first!

Last week at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show I was lucky enough to see and photograph the exquisite bouquets in the daylit lobby area. I think that this year they were exceptionally beautiful. When you have such a stunning subject, it’s not too hard to make a really good photo (if I do say so myself!). As I always say, it’s not the camera. For some common-sense tips on how to take better photos that are not dependant on a fancy, expensive camera or complicated settings, you are welcome to download my “7 Secrets to Better Flower Photos” on the right.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you! This floral image expresses love and perfection to me. I hope you enjoy it. And even though not many people have commented yet on it, I love this image and I am calling it my Best Post of the Week.

Visit Macro Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Color Carnival, Mellow Yellow Monday, Thursday Challenge (Love), Ruby Tuesday 2, Macro Friday and Pink Saturday for other interesting and beautiful photos. Have fun! If you’ve arrived via a link and there is only the one bouquet photo below, click on the Sara’s Fave Photos banner to see the entire blog. Thanks for visiting!

Yesterday I was at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, which is open through Sunday, volunteering at the booth for the Volunteer Park Conservatory. It was great to see such an outpouring of concern and support for Seattle’s threatened icon. Before my shift, of course I wandered around taking photos. The Orchid Society’s display with the big wooden structure evoking the facade of our beloved Conservatory and helping to celebrate its Centennial was the greatest. Here is one of their perfect orchid specimens.

Please visit Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Macro Friday, Macro Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Color Carnival, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) and Pink Saturday for lots of lovely pictures from around the planet. As always, a reminder to click on Sara’s Fave Photos above if you’ve arrived via a link and see only the one post below.