This is from about three weeks ago, but the impatiens and geraniums are still looking good. For some reason this anemone plant decided to bloom in August. Who knows why, but so welcome. Purple is one of my favorite colors, so it was especially welcome.

For more extra-bright colors, visit Color Carnival. It’s cool to see so many different ways that people see “colorful.”

This rose is the only one of the 18 we planted whose name I do not know. All the others had tags, but this one had only a lovely pink rose to choose by. I took it. If anyone knows its proper name, that would be great. The flowers are unusually large, and it’s fragrant!

For more flowers from all over the world, visit Today’s Flowers.

This dahlia, from Cindy’s amazing garden in Kent, WA, looks almost like a lotus or a peony. Enjoy for Pink Saturday!

This old fashioned hydrangea is so easy to grow. I had some hydrangea flowers at my wedding, years ago.

As long as it is kept moist (“hydra” is a clue!) with nice humus-y soil,  it will be happy even in full sun up here in Seattle, but I think it is easier to keep happy in shade or part shade, where it still blooms nicely. Another neat thing about them is that prunings made in the spring are extremely easy to root. Just push the stems into the shaded soil, keep moist, and soon you will have new hydrangeas!

For more lovely flower photos, visit Flowers for Today, now entering its second floriferous year!

It’s Macro Monday time. This Black-eyed Susan or rudbeckia plant is a real winner to me because it blooms midsummer and later in sun or shade and survives really tough conditions. This lovely blossom was in my friend Eileen’s garden. And happy Mellow Yellow Monday!

Today (Sunday) is the first anniversary of one of my favorite memes in the blogosphere, Flowers For Today. This idea was created by Luiz Santilli Junior one year ago today, and I am honored to be Guest Friend on this special day. Thank you, Luiz! It’s so true that everyone loves flowers.

Below is my photo which is posted on their site today. It was taken just a few days ago on my patio here in Seattle, and I grew many of the plants from seeds. Dusty, our cat who is posing so nicely, is the kind of kitty who loves everyone. If you visit, she will love you, too. She is an inspiration to me.

I thought I’d post a couple of extra flower pictures today, in honor of this special day. Below are flowers from my friend Cindy’s amazing deck and garden, and one of her dahlias. Enjoy this happy day.

The tender color of these daylilies from my friend Eileen’s garden is just so beautiful to me.

I can’t get over how many daylily forms and colors are available. These are so different looking than the orange ones I posted recently. I also like daylilies because they bloom well in part shade, which is very useful in most gardens.

One more thing about daylilies: I’ve read that they are very good interplanted with daffodils, as the daffs are dying down as the daylilies are coming up. I like continuous bloom, or succession planting, whenever possible.

For more things pink, visit Pink Saturday, a meme with a really great group of dedicated bloggers who post amazing photos.

We are going camping for a few days so I’ll post two photos today for you.

Yesterday there was a garden tour pretty close by and the weather was superb. One lovely place had this view of Puget Sound from their backyard. For more scenic loveliness, visit Scenic Sunday.

Another garden had planted different kinds of sunflowers. They were in their element, literally! It’s a Flower for Today, and visit them for fascinating photos of flowers around the world.

See you in a few!

These shasta daisies are a yellow color that I haven’t seen before. I saw then on a walk in the neighborhood the other day. Nothing like seeing what grows in your neighbors’ yards for ideas about what to plant. I’ll have to try these, I think.

For more close up shots of everything imaginable, visit Macro Monday, and for more golden goodness, visit Mellow Yellow Monday. And have fun, hear?

Did you know that the “hydra” in hydrangea means these plants love water? Up here in Seattle they can take full sun, but they must have water and plenty of it. You can also root the pruned stems very easily. When pruning in the spring, just poke the extra stems in the soft ground where they will be shaded by the mother plant, keep all moist, and you will be amazed by how easily they root. New plants!

This lovely specimen is from a friend’s garden. Happy Flowers for Today!