Sara's Fave Photos Blog

Check out my new book, Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory. And welcome to Sara's Fave Photos Blog at Love That Image. My goal is to take a photo that is as compelling and beautiful as in real life, with no or minimal Photoshop work. You may copy a photo but link to lovethatimage.com. Thank you for your thoughtful comments, and thanks for visiting.

Published Friday, September 17, 2010, OK personal/derivative use; link www.lovethatimage.com.

Flower show dahlia

I belong to a garden club and every few months the various local clubs get together and do a flower show. It’s one of my fave places to find perfect flowers to photograph.

Visit Macro Flowers Saturday for more great close ups, SOOC for more straight-out-of-the-camera shots,  and Color Carnival for more brilliant color. And you might try the “close up” tag while you’re here.

If you’ve arrived at this page from a link or search engine, it’s easy to find the latest post. Just click on Sara’s Fave Photos above.

Published Thursday, September 16, 2010, OK personal/derivative use; link www.lovethatimage.com.

Seattle reflections

It’s been cloudy and rainy (but warm), so like a true Seattlite I crave the sunshine. To the archives!

Here’s a shot from the Seneca St. exit of our beloved but soon-to-be-history Viaduct. The best views, even if I always pray for an earthquake not to strike now when I am on it.

Visit Skywatch Friday, Scenic Sunday, SOOC, Window Views and Weekend Reflections for some great photo work. Browse here in a new tag or category as long as you’re here. Try “reflections” or “Seattle” in the search, perhaps. You can always reach the latest post and full blog at Sara’s Fave Photos above.

Published Wednesday, September 15, 2010, OK personal/derivative use; link www.lovethatimage.com.

Gazebo

Our recent visit to Anacortes, WA to go crabbing with friends was topped off by a lovely late-day stroll from the Cap Sante marina to a nearby gazebo. There’s no way it shows up at this resolution, but there’s actually a line of birds flying low in the sky near the gazebo. I love the light at this time of day. It’s brief, but everything looks like it is dipped in gold.

Visit Scenic Sunday for other scenic shots. And you might try the “scenic” tag while you are here, first. If you’ve arrived from a link or search engine, be sure to click on Sara’s Fave Photos above for the latest post.

I like this photo very, very much. I might frame it. Anyway, I’ve tagged it Best Post of the Week.

Published Tuesday, September 14, 2010, OK personal/derivative use; link www.lovethatimage.com.

Harbor seals

These are so pretty, aren’t they? I didn’t have a strong zoom lens and you can’t get too close without scaring them off the rocks, our boat captain (hi Chuck!) told us, so here’s a group portrait of harbor seals for you, taken on the waters off Anacortes, WA.

Watery Wednesday has amazing water photos of all sorts, Outdoor Wednesday has outdoor shots and Camera Critters, well, you get the idea. Also, Scenic Sunday and Weekend Reflections are well worth visiting.

Browse around here in a new search, tag or category. Water, perhaps? And you can always return to the latest post by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos above.

Published Monday, September 13, 2010, OK personal/derivative use; link www.lovethatimage.com.

Early Girl tomato

I can hardly believe that I got any tomatoes at all, but here is proof. September is a bit late for first tomatoes, though, don’t you think? I threw a couple of handfuls of dolomitic lime on the soil at planting and it made a huge difference. No more yucky blossom-end rot, and the vines look GREAT. Here in the Pacific Northwest the soil tends to be pretty acidic, thus easy success with rhodies, blueberries and evergreens. But tomatoes seem to prefer a more alkaline soil.

Gardening note: I was always hesitant to use dolomitic lime because I was sure it must make the soil more acidic—because it was “lime” and that had to be acid, right? WRONG. Silly me. It makes the soil more alkaline just like it says on the box and is great for plants like lilacs, peonies (mine flowered for the first time!) and hellebores, all of which really hate an acid soil.

How about browsing the “Vegetables/Fruits” category here—then visit Ruby Tuesday for more things red and ruby, Color Carnival for more brilliant color, and SOOC for more straight-out-of-the-camera shots. And if you’ve arrived here from a link, do click on Sara’s Fave Photos to see the full blog with the latest and the greatest photos.

Published Saturday, September 11, 2010, OK personal/derivative use; link www.lovethatimage.com.

Picotee begonia

This is the third year for this hanging begonia basket. Doesn’t the recent rain make the petals look even better? Picotee means those pretty edges of color it has, by the way.

I bring it inside in the winter, it dies back, and in the spring I give it fresh soil, feed it some acid fertilizer and voila! This year the weather was so un-summery that it didn’t really bloom until the beginning of September. So much for summer flowering. Well, I’ll enjoy it all fall until the really cold weather when it will come in again.

Visit Flowers for Today for flowers from around the planet and Color Carnival for brilliant color; Macro Monday and Mellow Yellow Monday are also great sites, and SOOC has more straight-out-of-the-camera shots. Such fun!

While you are here, try a search for something like “begonias” to see this plant last year, perhaps. And if you’ve arrived via a link or a search engine, you can always click on Sara’s Fave Photos above for the latest posts.

Published Saturday, September 11, 2010, OK personal/derivative use; link www.lovethatimage.com.

Stargazer lily

I know I’ve posted close ups of this kind of lily before, but they are just so showy! And I am so thrilled when something SO exciting blooms in my very own garden. Be careful about the pollen, you know. Florists pull off those pretty pollen things because they can stain your clothes badly. But photos are safe!

Visit Pink Saturday, Color Carnival and Macro Flowers Saturday for great photo browsing, and SOOC has more straight out of the camera shots. And you can always poke around here for something like “pink” or “lily” in the search field. Return to the latest blog post by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos.

There’s a little bonus at the bottom of the page. Aren’t they cute?

Published Thursday, September 9, 2010, OK personal/derivative use; link www.lovethatimage.com.

Island near Anacortes, WA

I had such a wonderful day today. Friends with a boat took us crabbing out from Anacortes, Washington, which is a couple of hours north of Seattle on Puget Sound, and the weather even turned fine. Scenic and delicious—my kind of day.

Visit Skywatch Friday for more skies seen round the world, Blue Monday, Scenic Sunday and Weekend Reflections, too. SOOC has more straight-out-of-the-camera shots.

I’ve tagged this post Best Post of the Week because it really floats my boat (almost literally!). And don’t forget to feed the fish at the bottom of the page.

Published Wednesday, September 8, 2010, OK personal/derivative use; link www.lovethatimage.com.

Leafy road

This road that I saw on a neighborhood walk is an invitation to me. What’s down there? I want to explore, but don’t think the owners would appreciate my strolling into their space. But my curiosity sure is piqued. What do you imagine is there?

Scenic Sunday has more interesting and beautiful outdoor photos, and SOOC has more straight out of the camera shots. Go check it out.

Published Wednesday, September 8, 2010, OK personal/derivative use; link www.lovethatimage.com.

Lake Burien

This adorable little lake looked almost European in the late-day light the other evening. Lake Burien is just a few acres, south of Seattle, much beloved by the homeowners around it and invited visitors like myself.

Visit Watery Wednesday for more water photos of all kinds, and Outdoor Wednesday is fun also. Scenic Sunday and SOOC or Straight Out of the Camera are both very worth a visit, too.

You might try the “scenic” tag while you are here, or perhaps “water”? You can always return to the full blog by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos above.