Dahlias are loving the long, warm summer that Seattle is enjoying so much this year.

Red-and-yellow and purple dahlias in early fall sunshine

Linking up with Our World Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Outdoor Wednesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Macro Monday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, NF Catching the Light Monday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, Mandarin Orange Monday, Ruby Tuesday 2, and Saturday Show Off. Please visit here again soon.

California poppies (the State Flower of California) are so beautiful in their simplicity. Very pretty and dependable in the garden, but reseed almost too easily. I deadhead to keep them from taking over.

Orange California poppies in my Seattle garden

Joining up with Skywatch Friday, Our World Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Outdoor Wednesday, Garden Party Thursday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, NF Catching the Light Monday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, Mandarin Orange Monday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you so much for your visit here and do click on Sara’s Fave Photos above if only one photo is visible here.

Today was the last day that Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory was open to visitors so that the long-awaited restoration project can be completed. Look for the grand re-opening in early December.

A beautiful last day for the orchids. Conservatory is re-opening in December 2014

Joining Skywatch Friday, Our World Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Garden Party Thursday, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, Mandarin Orange Monday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Pink Saturday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Weekend Reflections, and Saturday Show Off. Thanks for your visit here first.

They predicted rain, quite a bit, so I went out and cut the fully open roses. What a fine idea I had.

Garden roses in lavender and shades of pink and red, in a late summer bouquet

Linking to Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Pink Saturday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for your visit here first!

A recent visit to Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory had pretty blue salvia, a lovely annual, planted in the beds in front.

Purple-blue salvia spike flowers, with a touch of white

Linking to I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Monday Mellow Yellows, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. While you are here, try a new tag or category at the right. Thanks for visiting here and please come back very soon.

Walking in West Seattle recently, saw these baskets of an unusual kind of begonia. Pretty showy, I think.

Orange-red begonias decorate a lamppost in West Seattle

I do appreciate your visit here and hope to see you again very soon.

At a friend’s lovely home. Notice the reflection of the round window opposite the picture on the wall!

White hydrangeas in a vase and a stargazer lily blossom on a blue tablecloth

Participating in Weekend Reflections, Pink Saturday, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, Mandarin Orange Monday, Ruby Tuesday 2, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Our World Tuesday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, NF Catching the Light Monday, and Saturday Show Off. Thanks for visiting here and please come back soon.

I love rose gardens.

August bloom in the rose garden at Point Defiance park in Tacoma, WA

Participating in Pink Saturday, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, Mandarin Orange Monday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Our World Tuesday, Scenic Weekends, and Saturday Show Off. Thanks for visiting here and please come back soon.

Highline Botanical Garden at SeaTac, WA, just gets prettier.

Latticework adorns a weathered wooden arch at the Highline Garden, with view of rusted iron rose arches

Joining Pink Saturday, Ruby Tuesday 2, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Outdoor Wednesday, Our World Tuesday, Scenic Weekends, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, NF Catching the Light Monday, and Saturday Show Off. I appreciate your visit here and please come back soon!

The scenic clouds-and-water post below got me thinking about black and white images. Here’s a version of the cosmos flower post below that, in black and white. What do you think? Color, or black and white, for most attractive impact? Which would look best on the wall?

Cosmos flower in the garden, in black and white

Participating in: NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Outdoor Wednesday, Our World Tuesday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, NF Catching the Light Monday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, The Weekend in Black and White, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you again soon.