Since I fed my roses the nasty food they love so much, they have rewarded me with better color, bigger flowers, the works. I did add alfalfa meal, so maybe that’s why they look so good now. Late in the season, but I’ll take it! This deliciously dark red Oklahoma rose is one of my favorites. Isn’t the bubbly looking background fun? Just set that aperture wide and there you go!

This post is joining in Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Flower Art Friday, Weekend Flowers, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Macro Monday, My Romantic Home, and Ruby Tuesday 2. Click on Sara’s Fave Photos above if there is only one photo below so you’re sure of seeing the latest photos.

These pretty, late summer Japanese anemone flowers are easy to grow and do well in shade, plus they come back every year! I love perennials. At home I have some tall lavender ones, but these were photographed on an excursion to Whidbey Island, Washington.

Participating in Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Flower Art Friday, Flowers on Saturday, Weekend Flowers, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Macro Monday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, and Mellow Yellow Monday. Please click on Sara’s Fave Photos above if there is only one photo below to see the very latest here.

I read that knowing tomatoes are a fruit is intelligent, but knowing not to use them in fruit salad is wise. But when they are growing in your backyard, doesn’t the container of both of them look so pretty? And let me tell you, they BOTH are super sweet!

I’m joining up at My Romantic Home, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Macro Monday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Mellow Yellow Monday and Ruby Tuesday 2. Don’t forget to click on Sara’s Fave Photos above if there is only one photo below. And while you are here, perhaps browse in the My Garden category?

Seattle’s Volunteer Park has a spectacular and beautifully tended Dahlia Garden with hundreds of varieties, and now’s the time to visit. With the unusually sunny weather we’ve been having, gardens are so happy, even though more water is needed. It’s on the big lawn across from the Conservatory. If you can, get there while it’s still at its peak. I’ve added a photo of the garden sign so you can find it easily if you go there.

Check out Today’s Flowers, Pink Saturday, Floral Friday, Flower Art Friday, Flowers on Saturday, Weekend Flowers, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Scenic Sunday, Macro Monday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Mellow Yellow Monday and Ruby Tuesday 2. Please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above to see the entire blog if there is only one image below. Thanks for visiting and come back soon, OK?

Well, the roses seem to really respond to that chemical fertilizer. I held off as long as I could and then gave in. Roses really thrill me and I’ll do pretty much anything to have blooms like this in my garden. Anything that doesn’t cost too much money, that is. Or spray. But I do water, feed, and deadhead. Isn’t it pretty?

I’m linking up at  Flower Art Friday, Flowers on Saturday, Weekend Flowers, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Floral Friday, My Romantic Home,  Pink Saturday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, and Shadow Shot Sunday 2 . If there is only one photo below, please click on the Sara’s Fave Photos Blog letters above to see the others. Maybe do a search for rose while you are here?

There are so many kinds of sunflowers these days. I kind of like the old fashioned kind that makes seeds in the middle. This one didn’t grow too tall, but it certainly was doing its thing, seed-wise. A few days later, the birds and squirrels had poked out some of its hypnotic perfection, but so it goes.

Participating in My Romantic Home, Flower Art Friday, Flowers on Saturday, Weekend Flowers, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Floral Friday, and Mellow Yellow Monday. If there is only one photo below, please click on the Sara’s Fave Photos Blog letters above. Or maybe do a search for sunflowers in the upper right?

These pink English roses were at the home of the same friends who grew the incredible lilies a couple of posts below. What a garden they have!

I’m joining in at My Romantic Home, Flower Art Friday, Flowers on Saturday, Pink Saturday, Weekend Flowers, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Floral Friday, and Shadow Shot Sunday 2.  Please click on the Sara’s Fave Photos Blog letters above if there is only one photo below. Believe me, there are lots of others here!

Sunday was Victorian Day, the special 100-year birthday party for one of my top fave places on the planet, the Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle. The weather was perfect, and many, many people worked hard to make such a fun and creative event. The period costumes were fabulous! I love the pose of the woman and I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week.

Please check out Pink Saturday, My Romantic Home, Flower Art Friday, Flowers on Saturday, Skywatch Friday, Outdoor Wednesday, Weekend Flowers, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Floral Friday, Scenic Sunday, and Shadow Shot Sunday 2. Thanks for visiting and browsing around here first.

That tea last week was really quite a photo opportunity for someone like me. Flowers, teapots, and shadows everywhere! I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week, but the one below of dusk at Bowman Bay “floats my boat” as well.

View other neat images at My Romantic Home, Flower Art Friday and Flowers on Saturday (new memes for me), Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Weekend Flowers, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Floral Friday, Scenic Sunday, and Shadow Shot Sunday 2. If there’s only one image below, be sure to click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to see the whole blog here. Thanks!

The pretty teapot two posts below needs some context. The scene and day was so lovely, I thought I’d show you the deck and tables all set out. Let’s have a tea party!

Participating at Pink Saturday, Scenic Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), and Ruby Tuesday 2. Thanks for stopping by.