I took this in Berkeley, California right before Valentine’s Day a year or two ago. It was a great store. I especially liked the old paper valentines they had from the 50s saying things like “You Are Nice” and other tender messages.

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Yes, they are from the store but they are real and they are bloominn right now! They smell wonderful; it’s springtime heaven. For more flowers everywhere, click HERE.

The only good thing about the short days is that the slanted light is still there when I get up. I am not an early riser. It was quite cold the other morning, but the mustang horse in the pasture next door doesn’t seem to mind any weather at all.

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This was taken from a hill at my friend Stella’s house in Kent, Washington, in June. In the summer, there is no place more beautiful than the Seattle area, but it’s a short time of bliss.

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Today it was over 50 degrees F. and sure enough, some bulbs are peeking through. The top ones are daffodil leaves from a neighbor’s yard (see the buds showing?), and the bottom photo is shoots of new crocus bulbs I planted myself in the fall. They are only two inches tall now, but it surely means spring is on its way.

On a walk near my house yesterday I snapped this photo looking south. Yes, that is a tiny boat down there.

Skies are dim and gray but things are brightening every day. For more water photos of all sorts, click HERE.

This is a Double Delight rose from a couple of Junes ago. It is my favorite rose to grow. Not only is the bush tall and healthy with dark green foliage, the flowers AND the fragrance are just heaven. Sweet and spicy, just unforgettable. Ah, summer.

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Here’s a lilac from the Hulda Klager Lilac Farm, in Washington close to Oregon that I took in May. Aren’t they just something? I’m partial to scented flowers. For more heavenly flowers around the world, click HERE.

This from a fall afternoon in the old house in Des Moines WA. You can actually ripen grapes in chilly Seattle, but you must have the vine planted in a southern exposure in as warm a spot as you can find. It worked! I hated to leave this grapevine we planted. It had super sweet, tiny loose bunches of tender yellow-green grapes. And the leaves were so beautiful in the late afternoon.

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Yesterday I was driving towards downtown, Puget Sound just out of view on my left, and saw this sky. Hope you like it for Skywatch Friday.

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