Pike Place Market in Seattle can satisfy the strongest yearnings for Spring and its flowers. Just walk down the row of flower vendors with their all-local wares, seeing the bouquets of such magnificence, and so inexpensive, too, and you will be transported.

In blogland, visit Color Carnival, Mellow Yellow Monday, Today’s Flowers and Macro Monday for more photo fun. And if there’s only one photo below, click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the whole shebang.

Well, my hubby’s love, anyway. I love being able to receive a bunch of beautiful flowers at least once in awhile. Flowers are a feast for the senses and for the sense of mystery they engender. Why do we love them so much? They have such brief beauty, and then to the compost pile, but they comfort and delight us so. Have you ever noticed that so many people give each other flowers on important occasions? Why is that? But they are magical, and their meaning always seems just beyond words. So here is an image, instead.

I am honored to be Guest Friend on Today’s Flowers today! The great team there headed by Santilli – Denise – Pupo – Sandy Carlson gives the world more beautiful flowers.

Visit Macro Friday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Color Carnival, Ruby Tuesday and Shadow Shot Sunday for more intriguing images.

Try clicking around in Free Photos for some interesting photos, too. And if there is only the red rose below, Sara’s Fave Photos here or above has the rest.

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I can’t believe I got last year’s amaryllis to actually rebloom. A miracle! Garden tip: For one thing, they tend to be so top heavy that I’ve learned to plant the bulb in a clay pot, not the plastic one provided in the “kit” sold around here. Toppling over is so not good for those huge blossoms. So after the bloom a year ago I kept the plant on my sunny, south-facing windowsill, kept watering with the dilute plant food I use for all my houseplants, enjoyed the sculptural strappy leaves all year, watched as they died back gradually, and was amazed when I saw a flower stem emerge!

Visit Ruby Tuesday for more photos with red, and Outdoor Wednesday. You might try a tag of RED here (lower right) first, just for fun.

The Northwest Flower & Garden Show is coming up and I can’t wait. This year I am volunteering to do a stint at the Volunteer Park Conservatory booth so I get in free. Yay! Checking back over last year’s photos, I found this hellebore you might enjoy. Lighting is very challenging there for photography, especially the hand-held, available light kind that I prefer. This year I think I’ll take my monopod to help. But don’t you love that image stabilization thing all the new cameras have now? It really helps a lot.

Visit Macro Friday, Pink Saturday , Today’s Flowers and Macro Flowers Saturday for more neat images. But be sure to browse around here, first!

When I was a kid I didn’t like radishes—too sharp and spicy for me. But now they seem to taste quite a bit milder than they used to. I think they grow different varieties, or maybe my taste buds changed. In any case, aren’t they beautiful to look at, if not to cut into the salad?

Visit Ruby Tuesday and SOOC (straight out of the camera shots), plus Thursday Challenge (textures) and Color Carnival, for more interesting photos with a theme. And they are certainly wet, so hop on over to Watery Wednesday also. Before you go, be sure to check out a new tag or category here, or Free Photos right next door, for a fun browse. And if only one photo appears below, click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the whole enchilada.

There’s nothing like a flower close up, or macro, to focus your attention. Let’s take a dip into the archives for some sun and color! I crave the July sunshine and the shadows it makes—also the subject of this photo. These hybrid zinnias like a rich soil and lots of sun and heat, and maybe need a little staking to stay up well, and don’t even have a fragrance, but they are so exciting in the garden. I’d say this one was about 4 inches across, or maybe 10 cm. Showy!

Visit Mellow Yellow Monday , Today’s Flower and Macro Monday, as well as Color Carnival and Thursday Challenge (textures). And if there is only one photo below, click on Sara’s Fave Photos to see them all.

These magenta-and-white African violets with their thick, fuzzy leaves were photographed at our local garden club’s quarterly meeting and horticulture show. Do you see how the pink splotches are heart shaped? I’ve never had any luck with growing African violets myself, but do appreciate their cheerful flowers, especially at this dark time of year. Maybe I’ll try some again.

Visit Pink Saturday, Color Carnival, Today’s Flower and Macro Flowers Saturday for more neat photos. After browsing around here, of course.

While I was visiting Northern California in January, I had a chance to drop into the Oakville Grocery in Healdsburg, right in the Sonoma County Wine Country. The area is famous for food as much as wine, and deservedly so. Don’t these look yummy? Fresh and perfect.

Visit Ruby Tuesday, SOOC (straight out of the camera), and Color Carnival for lots of great photos on a theme. And perhaps try a search for the word Red or Tomatoes here first?

Spring will get here, I am certain of it, but the wait is difficult. Here are some true spring flowers for you. I think those are forget-me-nots in the background of the second photo.

Do you prefer the super close macro shot, or the one with more flowers showing?

Visit Macro Monday, Blue Monday, Mellow Yellow Monday and Color Carnival for more neat photos with a theme. Or click around here a bit if you have a minute.

When I was in Northern California recently, this camellia plant was beginning to come into bloom. In January! When I lived there I had an old shrub of just this kind of pink flower outside of my house. These grow to at least 10 or 12 feet tall (3-4 meters)! No scent, but such flower perfection.

Visit Pink Saturday, Today’s Flower and Macro Flowers Saturday for more great photos, and if you have a minute, do click on Free Photos “next door” for an additional selection of pretty flower and scenic photos.