I believe this is a phalenopsis orchid, but I could be spelling it wrong, and altogether wrong about its name. It was at a local garden club flower show a few weeks ago. I’ve never had success growing them, but they sure are lovely and tempting to try again. Maybe someday.

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Tulips aren’t actually blooming yet, but they will be. Today’s weather had snow, hail, sun, and lots of rain and wind, but this look into a tulip from last spring is what is on my mind. Oh, the dreaming.

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Here’s a shot from November of leaves on the amazing red-bark maple below. I thought you’d like to see that the stems and twigs are really red, no fooling.

It was not as cold as it had been, before this latest rain cycle, so the other day I got out for a walk. There were some rhododendrons actually blooming. Spring is always so amazing. The thrill of the first one! Of course, as my sister says, “Somebody has to go first,” so I guess I shouldn’t always feel so surprised. Everyone else still sleeping, and this brave soul just blooming its little heart out.

For more flowers around the world, click HERE. You can post your own, too. Do it!

Alert the newspapers, spring has been sighted! I saw these branches blooming in downtown Seattle a couple of days ago, while all else remains bare. As I circled the (cherry blossom? or flowering plum?) branch in full digital-camera-mode of taking LOTS to choose from later, a woman passerby said, “C’mon, spring!” and I couldn’t agree more.

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This amaryllis is sitting on my windowsill, with our snowy landscape for the background. It is a ruby thing of beauty, I think. And has a bonus for me, too: not one, but two flower stems from the same bulb. For more Rubiness, click HERE.

This is also my Flower for Today. For more flowers around the world, click HERE.

The autumn is well advanced; most of the pretty leaves are off the trees. But these strawberry leaves are showing an almost Christmas color scheme.

For more ideas on the color red, click HERE.

I took this photo of begonias out back in my last garden in August 07. They are good plants, never needing their faded flowers picked off (deadheading), and blooming their heads off for months. This one even made it over our Seattle winter a couple of years, but it was heavily mulched, it’s true. I’ll have to plant some here in a shady spot.

For more fascinating flowers around the world, click HERE.

I’m going on a trip to Arizona today for a conference so I won’t be near my computer for a few days. If anyone leaves a comment, be sure I will read it and visit your site when I return. I plan to sneak away at least a little bit and take photos, of course!

Since we got a late start with the dahlias with our move this spring, they are just now getting going. Here’s one that is really beautiful, right in my back yard. For more flowers around the world, click HERE for Today’s Flowers, to view or participate.

I love godetia. They grow from seeds easily, and then volunteers pop up next year, never invasive, doesn’t need staking, even great cut flowers in a bouquet. I forgive it its lack of scent. Nothing is perfect, but these are a nine out of ten, for me. Okay, maybe only eight, because flower fragrance is so important, after all.