I am very happy with this first real rose bouquet from my garden. The rosebushes were put in late last spring, so we couldn’t pick very much at all last summer, or at least not with any stem to speak of, to save the energy of the fledgling plants.

But after a year they are going pretty well, most of them—at least those that are not having real trouble with blackspot, mildew, and now I see critter holes near the roots of some of them. Sigh. My mom used to shrug and say, “The vicissitudes of gardening . . .” and what else can you say? That’s why we planted 18 rosebushes, so that I would be sure to be able to have a bouquet or two.

Happy Ruby Tuesday, all. See what the participants there have going on for the weekly celebration of rubiness. And you can always click on the Ruby Tuesday category in the sidebar to see some of my other photos showcasing the color red. Or try Color Carnival for more brilliant colors. Returning to the main blog is easy; just click on Sara’s Fave Photos.

An abundant armful of orange lily flowers from my visit to Seattle’s Pike Place Market the other day. I love that I can go there, and with my little camera, have a bouquet for free! I do try to buy some now and then to support the vendors who work so hard for so little money.

Today I am honored to be Guest Friend on Today’s Flowers. Take a look at all the other flower photos people have submitted. You’ll find much beauty and talent. Do browse around here, perhaps searching for tulips or rose or whatever piques your curiosity, and always know you can return to the most current page at Sara’s Fave Photos, here or above.

Another bouquet gem from the Pike Place Market. I’ll have to post a photo of my sweetpeas starting to bloom in my garden, but in the meantime, take a deep breath and smell the perfume of these!

Visit Pink Saturday for more visions of pink. And while you’re here, try a search for sweetpeas, maybe. See what you find! And return to the latest post always by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos, here and above.

Today’s visit to the flower vendors in Seattle’s Pike Place Market was fabulous, as usual. They have lilies (and sweetpeas) in magnificent quanties, combined in surprising and unique bouquet combinations as always. This one with a lily and a happy jumble of other garden flowers beats out any supermarket bunch any day.

Visit Macro Flowers Saturday for more flower close ups, and Color Carnival for more brilliant color. This one is straight out of the camera, or SOOC, too. And try a new tag or category here while you’re here, returning to the full blog at Sara’s Fave Photos as always.

Finally the peonies in my backyard have bloomed! There are a couple of dozen out there, and I picked these. The smell of them in my office is heavenly.

Visit Pink Saturday and Macro Flowers Saturday after browsing around here. You can return to the full blog at Sara’s Fave Photos, above.

One of the very best things about the Pike Place Market flower vendors is their complete disregard for typical florist combinations. No one told them that bouquets are not supposed to be made with regular old garden flowers. Since they must sell only what they grow, the combinations that result are not seen anywhere else. Below is a bouquet with a Shirley poppy (I think), lupine or bluebonnet in the back, and Dutch iris.

Visit Macro Monday, Blue Monday, Color Carnival and Mellow Yellow Monday for more of the same idea. And do check out a new tag or category on each visit here, just for fun. Return to the full blog by clicking Sara’s Fave Photos in the header.

Peony season doesn’t last long, but it is magnicent. Here are some more from that trip to Pike Place Market this week.

Today’s Flowers has flowers of all kinds from around the world, and Color Carnival has tons of bright colors. Have fun! And Sara’s Fave Photos above will always return you to the complete blog here.

At the Pike Place Market it’s finally peony season at the fresh flower vendors in the North Arcade. They all grow their own, you know. The peonies in my backyard are remaining tightly closed balls with all the wet and cool weather we’ve been having here in Seattle (and it’s almost summer!), but these beauties are open, to my admiration. Their lush perfection is heaven on a stem, as far as I am concerned.

Visit Pink Saturday and Macro Flowers Saturday, as well as Color Carnival and SOOC (straight out of the camera). And another Pink Saturday participant I’m sure you’ll like is One Perfect Bite. Her recipes and photos both are just fabulous.

Have a look at this and that around here, and click back to the full blog on Sara’s Fave Photos above.

Some bouquets of fresh yellow tulips in cellophane photographed at Pike Place Market a week or so ago for your viewing pleasure. Notice the tiny water droplets on the cellophane wrapper? I love that.

Visit Mellow Yellow Monday, Color Carnival and Macro Monday after browsing around here. Try clicking one of the tags to the lower left. You can return to the latest post always by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos above.

Last week there were still some tulips blooming at Pike Place Market flower vendors’ North Arcade. I continue to love, love, love tulips.

Visit Flowers for Today, Pink Saturday (sorry, a bit late there) and Color Carnival after your stay here. Click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to return to today’s post and the full blog.