Dill is very happy in my garden and reseeds so well that I see why it is called dill weed. But it is beautiful and fragrant, and I love to cook with it, so at least some stays. Here is a flower about the size of my hand, not quite in bloom. Note: the word umbel comes from the word umbrella!

Dill umbel, still partly closed, against an early summer sky

Linking with Skywatch Friday, Scenic Weekends, Blue Monday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Macro Monday, Garden Party Thursday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for visiting, and if you have a minute, click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above to see more here.

The hydrangeas are beginning. I love that they bloom in the shade. It’s easier to keep them watered properly in shade, anyway. Remember, the “hydra” in their name means they love/need water!

Macro of blue hydrangea flowers beginning to bloom

Please visit Blue Monday, NF Catching the Light Monday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Garden Party Thursday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for your visit here first, and be sure to click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above to see other pretty pictures here.

These peach daylilies with faintly striped petals are the very first to bloom in my garden.

Peach daylily with yellow throat after a gentle rain

Participating in Pink Saturday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Water World Wednesday, Garden Party Thursday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you so much for visiting here and please come back soon.

Sweet peas are some of the more challenging flowers to photograph. In person they are delicate, graceful and charming, but most of my photos fail to show them to advantage. Maybe next time.

Magenta and purple sweet peas climb a fence in my garden

Joining up with Pink Saturday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Garden Party Thursday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Your visit here is much appreciated. If you see only one photo, click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above to see a few more.

I have been posting quite a few flower macros lately, but feel compelled to show you this one, taken just a couple of hours ago, showing my Double Delight rose incandescently reaching to the sun on the longest day of the year. Here in cloudy Seattle we appreciate the sun, perhaps more than other places. Happy Solstice and Happy Summer! I really love this image and I am calling it my weekly Top Shot.

Macro of Double Delight rose in the garden

Participating in Pink Saturday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Ruby Tuesday 2, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Garden Party Thursday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for visiting here and please return soon.

Sometimes the rain can create much beauty.

Raindrops on a pink rose and its leaf

Linking to Pink Saturday, Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Water World Wednesday, Garden Party Thursday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off.  Thank you for visiting here first!

It rained yesterday and it was gentle enough to just bejewel the roses.

Peace rose with water droplets

Joining up with Pink Saturday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Water World Wednesday, Garden Party Thursday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. I very much appreciate your visit here today.

Another beautiful sight at the South Seattle College Arboretum (see the post below), these huge, frilly, oriental poppies with pink, spotted petals were dazzling to me.

Frilly pink oriental poppies with black centers

Joining up at Pink Saturday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Garden Party Thursday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for visiting here first, and be sure to stop back soon.

The peonies, the peonies . . .

Pink peony flower with yellow center and frilly petals, in sunlight

Linking with Pink Saturday, Monday Mellow Yellows, NF Catching the Light Monday, Reconnect With Nature Wednesday, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Macro Monday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Garden Party Thursday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Thanks for visiting here, and do try a new tag or category. How about “peony” in the search field to the right?

My pink peonies have begun.

Frilly pink peony petals in close up, in the garden

Linking to Pink Saturday, Reconnect With Nature Wednesday, NF Abstract Wednesday, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Garden Party Thursday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. I appreciate your visit here so very much, and please come back soon!