I am so happy to see the sweetpeas finally taking off. I planted them from seed myself, and that always adds to the gardening enjoyment, I find. And sweetpeas love to be picked! You can only enhance and prolong the blooming period by picking them as they come into flower. Of course, I always leave a few.

For more flowers around the world, visit Today’s Flower.

I know there’s a special name for this sort of statue, but I can’t for the life of me remember what it is. Anyone? She is from the prow of an old ship, and has a nice, inspired look about her. A goddess in an old-fashioned dress? And is that a very low cut neckline, or not? She is a bit dusty, but still so lovely. She lives at the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), a wonderful and unusual museum in Seattle. And she casts a great shadow, I think! Visit Shadow Shot Sunday for more shadows seen around the world.

I looked this up in Dave’s Garden, one of my fave garden sites, and they say it is Sea Thrift, Sea Pink, Common Thrift, Armeria maritima, but I call them Pinks. They were blooming their heads off last week, and what better post for Pink Saturday? Click for the incredible world of pink visions.

This is from a couple of weeks ago when there were some fires burning, not sure where but far away, that for several days made our sunsets smoky but beautiful. Visit Skywatch Friday for more views of skies around the world.

It wasn’t much rain, but it was enough to glisten up this exquisite daylily I found on my walk the other day. It has a ruby throat and so can post for Ruby Tuesday, and the water droplets will have to qualify for Watery Wednesday. I apologize for all the flowers I’ve been posting lately, but they are blooming everywhere, so what can I do?

This clematis just knocked my socks off. And the rain didn’t hurt the photo either. For more marvellous macros, visit Macro Monday.

These are also called digitalis, and I love them. They bloom in shade or, up here in Seattle, in sun also; they reseed, and they are so showy! These are from seedlings I brought from the other house. They bloom the second year, like most perennials started from seed, but if you know in advance, that’s fine, as their leaves make a lovely rosette pattern all by themselves. Actually the foliage looks a bit more gray-green than in this photo, but I just liked the photo the way the camera saw it.

For more photos from around the world, visit Today’s Flower in Brazil.

Ah, gray Seattle! I can tell I’ve lived here a while when I start to get excited about different kinds of gray skies. The overlook near my house provides some scenic views, that’s for sure. Visit Scenic Sunday for more scenigasms.

We’re planting a big rose garden out in front. What a lot of work! But it will be worth it, absolutely. This is one of the 18 roses waiting in pots, named Broadway. In a rare burst of sunshine, it created this shadow, almost like another petal form. Visit Shadow Shot Sunday for more fascinating shadows.

Peonies are some of my favorite flowers. Their mysterious depths, the petals like angel feathers, the indescribable fragrance—plus when peonies bloom, summer is not far behind. This one bloomed the other day in my garden; such a welcome sight.

For more Pink of all types, shapes and sizes, visit Pink Saturday.