A gray sky, late in the day, but the calm water gives this a peaceful feeling. A little slice of Seattle for you.

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My neighbors had a party last week, and even though they have a great deck and yard, it rained. Not ideal for a party, but for those of us who ALWAYS carry a camera, it had its compensations. This evergreen clematis armandii, I believe, is very happy twining about his deck railing, even (and perhaps especially) in the rain.

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The huge poppies are blooming. These unusual ones, the size of my hand, were discovered in a neighbor’s garden on a recent walk. Aren’t they something? The photo doesn’t really do justice to the red color, either. That tomato red, and the dark, dark center just do it for me. Flower thrills.

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Who doesn’t love peonies? Their wildly ruffled but so tender petals, the color of a baby’s cheek, that soft fragrance, and even their handsome foliage. Yum. These are in a neighbor’s garden as mine are still round buds.

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Bleeding heart, or dicentra, is one of those great aquaphobic leaves that give lady’s mantle a run for their money when it comes to pretty raindrops. I put one in a newly-cleared shady part of the garden and it seems to be very happy, which makes me happy.

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I do love daisies, especially these simple ones that grow in gravelly roadside strips. What a difficult environment for such a lovely, perfect flower. I’d grow them in my garden if they sold seeds for them, although they probably LIKE the harsh roadside environment. I tell my plants to “Bloom where you’re planted,” but sometimes they don’t listen.

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Took a walk this afternoon and was lucky enough to happen past this pretty scene in the brief bit of sunshine, before the cloud cover took over. Isn’t backlighting the greatest? I just love the way it looks in a garden. I like it so much I’m calling this my Best Post of the Week.

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The other day the sun was pouring through heavy clouds and I so wanted something lovely and scenic, but zipping along at freeway speeds and shooting across my husband’s arms and through the closed window (no time to open it!) I just clicked and hoped for something good. I think this one somehow has a very old-fashioned look, and you might think it’s monochrome except for the red windsocks. I’ll miss that viaduct when it’s gone.

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You can’t beat the Pacific Northwest when it comes to rhododendrons. Some tower over the landscape, some are solidly covered with blooms, some are just thrilling in their abundance. I only wish for fragrance, but I’m like that. An iffy bloom with fragrance trumps stupendous with none, or I’d like to think so. Color combos like this one, however, make me set that prejudice aside!

Visit Ruby Tuesday, Color Carnival, Macro Friday, Macro Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Outdoor Wednesday, Pink Saturday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), and Today’s Flowers. Remember, if there is only one photo below, click on the Sara’s Fave Photos banner above to see the rest of the collection.

From my backyard, the other day. I already pulled up the forget-me-nots since then. They fill in so well, looking great when not much else is blooming, but then a certain point is passed, and out they go. No problem with new plants volunteering for next year, of course, perhaps even too vigorously reseeding, but when you have a big place to fill up, these do a fine job. And the dutch irises seem to be quite easy, as well, returning now for the third time and more than I planted. Gardening is so fun when it works out well.

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