In general, I am a fan of the most natural look possible of the natural world. I like photos because they capture a beautiful sight that I’d like to revisit. But sometimes, the lure of “art” beckons. I’d like your opinion. Which of the two images below appeals the most? Which would you like hanging on your wall? Thank you for your input.

Yellow flowers reflected in a pond at the Arboretum in Seattle, WA, color image

Flowers reflected in a pond at the Arboretum in Seattle, WA, sepia image

Linking to Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday (the green one), Scenic Weekends, Water World Wednesday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers and Weekend Reflections. Thank you for stopping by and have a great weekend.

We went to Seattle’s Arboretum yesterday for a lovely stroll. Don’t you just love the way a path beckons?

Side note: You can find some of our botanical image Glass Tile Jewelry in the gift shop at the visitor center there, and of course some copies of the “Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory” book, too.

A gravel path beckons in Seattle’s Arboretum in the springtime.

Participating in Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Scenic Weekends, Skywatch Friday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2 and A Piece of Heaven. So glad you stopped by! Be sure to browse around here if you have a moment. How about putting Path in the search field at the upper right?

These are blooming in the entryway to my house. The little pink ones are only about an inch or so (3 cm.) across, and I love the way they look like little roses. No scent, of course, but that’s why we put up with thorns on the real roses, coming very soon!

Red azaleas and pink azaleas, with baby’s tears groundcover below them.

Joining Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, My Romantic Home, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Ruby Tuesday 2, Pink Saturday, and Fishtail Cottage Wednesday.  Have a wonderful day and thank you for visiting here.

Our next door neighbors have a little baby, a girl nine months old. Do you believe that they got this playhouse for her? It is the cutest thing I ever saw, and she was quite happy sitting on the floor inside, chewing on the toy spatula that comes with it.

Playhouse with a picket fence nestles among the rhododendrons

Please visit Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Scenic Weekends, Pink Saturday, My Romantic Home, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Fishtail Cottage Wednesday, and Shadow Shot Sunday 2. Thank you for your visit here and be sure to browse around.

OK, it’s not the best photo in the world, and there are all those wires, but who doesn’t love a spring rainbow? Hope you have good luck all day long today.

A spring rainbow in Burien, Washington

Linking up at Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Scenic Weekends, Skywatch Friday, Pink Saturday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Monday Mellow Yellows, and A Piece of Heaven. Thank you for visiting and please come back soon.

These sweet, tiny, white bells are some of my very top-favorite flowers. Luckily, they thrive on the front (north) side of my house. A handful of them in a vase is a heady experience. The fragrance is sublime, and like a sweet dream. Can you tell I love these flowers? I really love this image of them and I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week.

Convallaria majalis, or lily of the valley, blooming in the garden

Do visit My Romantic Home, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Macro Monday, Fishtail Cottage Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, and Straight out of the Camera Sunday. Thanks so much for your visit here. Try a new tag or category as long as you’re here, perhaps?

I was at the Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle not too long ago and saw this rosette of a succulent in the Cactus House. Did you know they are having later hours for the summer? I’m so excited to hear that. Their new space with the tile floor is so beautiful (see below). Don’t you want to just sit there and read a book?

Rosette of hen-and-chicks sedum succulent at the Volunteer Park Conservatory

Seasonal House at the Volunteer Park Conservatory after remodel

Linking up this week at Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Macro Monday, Scenic Weekends, Fishtail Cottage Wednesday and Pink Saturday. Thank you so much for visiting!

These wonderful leaves were in a planter outside a commercial building in Seattle. What a difference some backlighting makes! The leaves might be a kind of dracena. Stay back!

Yellow and green spiky leaves in sunshine

Participating at Outdoor Wednesday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Straight out of the Camera Sunday and Monday Mellow Yellows. Glad to have you browse around here and thanks for visiting. And check out the “7 Secrets to Better Flower Photos” at right, for free!

I took this awhile ago when I was at the Skagit Tulip Festival in Washington. Who can resist the message, whatever it is—Bloom where you are planted? Be who you are? Primary colors rule? What caption would YOU put on this image?

One red tulip blooms in a field of yellow flowers

Linking up at Outdoor Wednesday, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Scenic Weekends, Ruby Tuesday 2, Straight out of the Camera Sunday and Monday Mellow Yellows. I love this image and I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week. Thank you so very much for visiting. Why not browse around a bit, long as you are here?

I know it’s a bit of late notice, but I’ve just been so busy preparing for my SLIDESHOW of pretty pictures from my book coming right up on Weds., Feb. 6, 2013 in Des Moines, WA at 10:45am. Lunch is included with admission of $9. The Chinook District of the Washington Garden Clubs is having me speak and show images from my book “Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory.” The amazing and gifted senior gardener David Helegson will also be there to say what’s going on with the drama at the Conservatory, and answer horticultural questions, too. Here’s the link to the facebook page.

And something new! Besides having the book and some of the sparkly jewelry we make from it there, we’ll also have the brand new 8×10 matted prints of some favorite images from my book! This photo does NOT do them justice.

Matted photo prints from “Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory”

The fern, I think, is my own top fave. You?

Linking up to Today’s Flowers, My Romantic Home, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma, Ruby Tuesday 2, Pink Saturday, and Monday Mellow Yellows.