Here’s the thing about apples: they must have cross pollination to set fruit. And even if there is another apple tree nearby, if the bees aren’t out doing their thing, you may have to help nature along. Here in Seattle where sunshine is an occasional thing (“sun breaks,” anyone?) it will definitely increase your harvest to get out there and help.

How? Take a clean, dry, soft artist’s paintbrush, or even a Q-tip, and brush the pollen carefully on a bunch of flowers on Tree A. Then go to Tree B (a different apple variety) and brush some more. Back and forth a few times should do it. Of course for a big tree, you can only do so much, but for dwarf backyard trees, you will make a huge difference.

We have two trees of the “columnar” type. They’re a super skinny, super dwarf size, good in containers, and both can be hand pollinated in just a few minutes. Go back in a few days when more blossoms have opened and do it again. You’ll be glad you did.

Visit Today’s Flowers for more sweet flower photos.

These were taken by my sister when we visited the tulip festival last week. I think hers are pretty wonderful. I wish I took that top one!

Please visit Macro Flowers Saturday, Color Carnival, Pink Saturday, Shadow Shot Sunday and Scenic Sunday after your visit here.

Remember, you can always click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to return to the full blog with my latest post on top.

This one below is of me.

Yet another view from the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. For more skies seen round the world, visit Skywatch Friday. And try Scenic Sunday for more scenery, what else?

To return to the full blog with my latest post on top, click on Sara’s Fave Photos above.

This person was one of a jillion photographers entranced, as I was, at the incredible displays of flowers. Roozengaarden is just one of the paid tulip gardens in the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. This year we paid their $4 admission, what the heck, but it was so worth it. Mind boggling.

Visit Thursday Challenge for more Green-themed photos (or Plants, Spring Growth, Gardens, Clothing, Green Things…). Color Carnival has more amazingly brilliant color.

To return to the full blog with my latest post on top, click on Sara’s Fave Photos above.

I promised you scenic, and this is about as scenic as it gets, as far as I am concerned. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is a photo opportunity from heaven. Seeing all the people snapping pictures shows photography is alive and well in America today.

I know it’s a stretch, but I’m counting the snowy fields in the distance as an entry for Watery Wednesday. Certainly visit Outdoor Wednesday, and Color Carnival, too. And remember, you can always click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to return to the full blog with my latest post on top.

I love this photo, and I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week.

Before the main event at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, even the roadside produce stand got into the act with these potted tulips, harbingers of tulip ecstasy to come.

Visit Macro Monday and Mellow Yellow Monday for more close ups and yellow splashes of cheerfulness. And Blue Monday covers the other third of the color wheel for us! Color Carnival has more brilliant color, of course. Ruby Tuesday has lots of red, red, red for you.

To return to the full blog with my latest post on top, click on Sara’s Fave Photos above.

I was in the back yard a couple of weeks ago, admiring the magnolia tree in the late afternoon light, when I saw the moon in the sky. Thank goodness I try to keep my camera in my pocket at all times!

Visit Skywatch Friday for more skies seen round the world, and Pink Saturday for more sweet pinkitude of all sorts. And remember, you can always click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to return to the full blog with my latest post on top.

I really like the way the clouds and the magnolia blossoms both seem to dance. I’m calling this one my Best Post of the Week. Hope you agree.

This gray, gray, rainy and cold weather Seattle has been having has me longing for summer. Or spring! Seems like we are back in winter again, somehow. So it’s time to delve in the archives for a breath of warmth. This photo is from a truly halycon day at the end of July last year. I have no idea of the name of the rose as it was in someone else’s garden. Wish I had one like it!

Visit Macro Monday for more things seen close up.

Click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to return to the full blog with my latest post on top.

Our Japanese magnolia tree out back has been so beautiful this year. I took these photos in the last week. Which do you like the best? The top one (#1)? The bottom (#5)?

Visit Blooming Friday for more things flowering now (and sadly the last week for this great meme), Pink Saturday and Macro Flowers Saturday, too. Click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to return to the full blog with my latest post on top.

This hydrangea was taken at the Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle just this week. A greenhouse plant, of course it’s rushing the season, but it’s a vision of summer flowers to come.

For more flowers around the planet, visit Flowers For Today. Try Macro Flowers Saturday and Macro Monday, and Blue Monday also. Color Carnival has lots of brilliant color creatively seen, too.

You can always click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to return to the full blog with my latest post on top.