I know that rain creates great photo ops in the garden. The challenge is, I don’t really like bending over and getting rained on. Those raindrops are so pretty, though! It’s hard to time it right when it stops, if it does, because then the droplets go away pretty quick. But I did get ONE shot out there this afternoon before it began to rain again.

Visit Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Macro Friday, SOOC Sunday and Wordless Wednesday for more photo fascination. Be sure to browse around here first. Try a new tag or category, maybe?

This is from this time last year. We are so not up to fields of blooming tulips yet with this cold and wet spring. Soon there will be real spring weather but until then, let us gaze upon the glory of tulips!

Visit Ruby Tuesday for more photos with red in them. Color Carnival, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, SOOC Sunday, and Today’s Flowers are great, too. I wish there was a meme for sunshine. Someone? Don’t forget to click on Sara’s Fave Photos if there’s only one photo showing here.

Tulips are such fun. They are a bit slow coming this year, what with all the rain and cold here in Seattle, so this is from an earlier year. But soon we will see them! I learned recently from gardening expert Ciscoe Morris that if you plant them in your garden and want to leave them in the ground, plant them deep, which I knew, but do not plant things over them that you will water during the summer. They must stay dry in the summer, otherwise they will rot. That explains a lot. Now I just have to think of a place to plant some where I will not want to put in anything over them that will need water. Hmmm.

Visit Macro Monday, Color Carnival, SOOC Sunday, Today’s Flower and Mellow Yellow Monday for more fun photos. Check out Free Photos next door to see what’s new, and do click on Sara’s Fave Photos if you see only one image below.

Here’s another image of summer sun for you: gladiolus leaves. I planted some corms this spring and hope they do well where they are.

Shadow Shot Sunday has more interesting shadows for you to browse. Macro Friday and Macro Monday have more neat close ups, too, and be sure to click on Sara’s Fave Photos to view the complete blog if you see only one photo below.

I’m pretty sure these pretty magenta pink flowers are a kind of oxalis. Please correct me if I’m wrong, all you experts out there. It was blooming in June last year, but I thought I’d show it to you as another sign of what is to come. Today I actually am seeing the sun poke out, so maybe some fresh flower photos can grace this blog soon! The daffs are blooming but it’s been too wet to get out and down close the way I like to. I like this cheerful image very much and am calling it my Best Post of the Week.

Visit Pink Saturday, Macro Friday, Today’s Flower, Color Carnival and SOOC Sunday for fascinating photos with a theme. Do check out a tag like Pink or Close Up (on the right) while you are here first.

Driving north on Seattle’s viaduct, soon to be replaced with a tunnel, we think, the waterfront with its incomparable views is to your left and the city to your right. I love the big loading cranes, sometimes looking like actual big bird-cranes, and this reflection of them in the afternoon on a typical Seattle gray skies day caught my eye. Note the piece of Seattle’s iconic Smith Tower on the left.

Visit Thursday Challenge (Reflections), Skywatch Friday, Weekend Reflections, Window Views, SOOC and Scenic Sunday for more fascinating photos. As always, if there’s just one photo here, click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the whole blog.

We have plenty of rain right now, but not the pretty, tall flowers nodding in it, yet. This macro of a mauve pink cosmos flower, grown from seed and drooping with rain in my backyard last September, will remind all of us gardeners that the season of blossoms and lushness will come again.

Visit Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Macro Friday, Pink Saturday, Today’s Flower and Wordless Wednesday for more photo fun. Before you run off, take a look at the newest photos “next door” at Free Photos, and maybe a tag like Flowers or Rain here (at the right). And one more thing: click on Sara’s Fave Photos if you see only one photo below.

In a sunbreak a couple of days ago, I took advantage of the great spring weather to head out to one of my favorite haunts, the Volunteer Park Conservatory, one of Seattle’s true hidden gems. They have redone the entry and it is so fabulous! Now a curved space greets you and you feel surrounded by the tropical foliage and flowers. And the shadows of the Peacock Window are a bonus.

Visit Shadow Shot Sunday for more intriguing shadows seen everywhere and SOOC for more straight-out-of-the-camera shots. If you see only one photo below, click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the complete blog. Thanks!

These tiny pink orchids (anyone know the name?) are only an inch or 2.5 cm wide, and you can see they are dwarfed by the phanaenopsis orchids and maidenhair ferns in the background. Aren’t they adorable? I saw them just yesterday in Volunteer Park Conservatory. By the way, I’m getting closer and closer to getting my new book to the printer, and flowers and the Conservatory will definitely be involved! Stay tuned.

Visit Pink Saturday, Macro Friday, Color Carnival, Mellow Yellow Monday Macro Monday, Ruby Tuesday, SOOC Sunday, and Today’s Flowers for more fascinating photos and if you have a minute, do click on Free Photos “next door” for an additional selection of pretty flower and scenic photos. The full blog here may be found at Sara’s Fave Photos.

When the sun shines, you are supposed to make hay, or in my case, take photos. The other day was such blessed sunshine (has to last us for weeks, sometimes!) that I’m still sharing the photos I took that day. Isn’t this vast, sunny view of Puget Sound energizing and peaceful at the same time?

Visit Skywatch Friday for more beautiful skies around the world. Share one of your own if you like; it’s even more fun that way. Scenic Sunday and Blue Monday are very good, too. Check out Free Photos next door to see what’s new, and do click on Sara’s Fave Photos if you see only one image below.