This is a close up of a cotoneaster (ka-tone-ee-AST-er) shrub in our yard, beloved by birds and photographers alike. The berries are small, about the size of a pea, and they adorn the arching branches in fall and winter. I was amazed to learn its pronunciation, by the way. I was sure it would be something like cotton-Easter. But no.

Bright red cotoneaster berries add color and bird food to a backyard

Linking with Our World Tuesday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Garden Party Thursday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, NF Catching the Light Monday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. If only one photo is visible here, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos above. Thanks!

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.

This is some kind of black-stemmed maidenhair fern, seen in the woods in the Olympic Peninsula. I haven’t seen this kind of radial pattern before.

Lacy, fringed leaflets on shiny black stems whorled in a pretty pattern

Participating in Outdoor Wednesday, Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Wordless Wednesday, and Saturday Show Off. Thanks for your visiti and come back soon. Download free, easy tips for taking better photos of any kind in the sidebar on the right.

Camping at Staircase Campground near Lake Cushman in Washington on a glorious morning.

The woods of the Pacific Northwest on a sunny September day

Linking up to Outdoor Wednesday, Our World Tuesday, Scenic Weekends, NF Catching the Light Monday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. Please try a new tag or category while you are here.

Not everyone knows that if you don’t pick an artichoke when it’s closed up nice and tight, it will open to a beautiful bluish-purple flower.

Artichoke plant blossoms

So great to have you visit; thanks so much!

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.

String beans are such a great garden vegetable. I love them raw and also steamed, just with maybe a little butter and lemon juice. The purple ones turn green when you steam them (!!) and taste the same, but the yellow ones (wax beans) stay yellow and taste quite similar. They all taste great to me!

Green, purple and yellow stringbeans just picked, with a stringbean plant leaf

Linking to I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Our World Tuesday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. While you are here, try a new tag or category at the right, why don’t you? Vegetables/Fruits, perhaps?

At a neighborhood event in the park, looked up and saw a boy having fun climbing a tree.

Summer joy is great weather and a tree to climb

Linking to Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Skywatch Friday, Outdoor Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday, NF Catching the Light Monday, Our World Tuesday, Scenic Weekends, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, and Saturday Show Off. I so appreciate your visiting here first.