The light returns! Happy Solstice to my dear readers.

The sun’s light returns at the Solstice, and we rejoice.

Linking up to Our World Tuesday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Outdoor Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday, Photo Friday, Skywatch Friday, Scenic Weekends, and Pink Saturday. If you see only one photo here, please click on the words Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above for a few more.

I was at my brother’s house in Connecticut. He has a wonderful view of the western sky from his upper window.

Bare tree branches against a sunset sky

Posting this photo in Our World Tuesday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Outdoor Wednesday, Thursday Challenge (Everyday), Photo Friday, Skywatch Friday, Scenic Weekends, Texture Twist and Pink Saturday. If you see only one photo here, you might try the tag cloud at the lower right for some other themes and subjects.

Last spring I was in Longwood Gardens outside of Philadelphia. Enjoy the light, as we are in our gray weather now, here in Seattle.

Huge old white dogwood tree in Longwood Gardens, PA

Linking up with Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Floral Passions Wednesday, Floral Friday, Skywatch Friday, Photo Friday, Friday Greens, Scenic Weekends, Pink Saturday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, and Our-Beautiful World Sunday (Peaceful). Please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above if you see only the one photo here. Thanks!

Just a few short weeks ago, on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington.

Leaves throw sharp shadows against an old tree trunk

Linking up with Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Photo Friday, Friday Greens, Scenic Weekends, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Pink Saturday, and Saturday Show Off. Thanks for your visit here, and please come back again soon. If you like, there’s a sign up box on the right for new-post notification.

In Seattle, it’s remarkable how close to the calendar the turn of the season feels. This week begins Fall, and sure enough, the trees are coloring up quite nicely.

Yellow leaves decorate a puddle showing their former tree-mother, against a blue sky

Linking to Our World Tuesday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Water World Wednesday, Wednesday Waters, Photo Friday, Skywatch Friday, Scenic Weekends, Weekend Reflections, Pink Saturday, and Saturday Show Off. If you like Fall photos, click on the word “autumn” in the tag cloud to the lower right for more. Thanks!

A view of the north fork of the Skokomish River in Mason Co., WA, from the bridge at Staircase Campground. Please see post below for a view from the other direction, further down the river.

Scenic view of North Fork of the Skokomish River with the blue sky reflected in it

Linking to Our World Tuesday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Outdoor Wednesday, Water World Wednesday, Wednesday Waters, Photo Friday, Scenic Weekends, Weekend Reflections, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Pink Saturday, and Saturday Show Off. If you like scenic photos, click on the word “scenic” in the tag cloud to the right for more. Thanks!

A friend does a really good job with Stargazer lilies. By the way, a great discussion of how these were bred in the fascinating book I’m reading, Flower Confidential.

Showy and fragrant Stargazer lilies in the garden

Linking back to Our World Tuesday, Macro Monday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Photo Friday, Floral Friday, Today’s Flowers, Skywatch Friday, Pink Saturday, and Saturday Show Off. Thanks for your visit and hope to see you again very soon.

I live south of Seattle, just a few minutes from a cove on Puget Sound. There is smoke from nearby wildfires, and the weather people promised us a colorful sunset. Delivered!

Smoke from Washington State fires help create a beautiful sunset

Posting at Our World Tuesday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Ruby Tuesday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Water World Wednesday, Wednesday Waters, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, Photo Friday, Skywatch Friday, Scenic Weekends, Weekend Reflections, Pink Saturday, and Saturday Show Off. If there’s only one photo here, please click on the curly letters of Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above. Thanks!

Green, unripe grapes on the vine. These will be purple when they are ripe. Perhaps the red stems are a hint of that?

Unripe grapes in the August sunshine

Joining Our World Tuesday, Macro Monday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Photo Friday, Floral Friday, Friday Greens, Pink Saturday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, and Saturday Show Off. If you see only one photo here, click on the curly letters of Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above for a few more. Thanks!

White phalaenopsis orchids blooming magnificently in the Volunteer Park Conservatory  in Seattle, WA.

Macro of moth orchids in flower at the Conservatory in Seattle

Linking back to Our World Tuesday, Macro Monday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Ruby Tuesday 2, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, Photo Friday, Floral Friday, Today’s Flowers, Pink Saturday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, and Saturday Show Off. Thanks for your visit and hope to see you again very soon.