Seattle’s beloved Volunteer Park Conservatory was looking fine today. The sun was out and the light on the orchids was just spectacular. Below the lady slipper orchid macro, check out the pretty metalwork and Clise Orchid Collection from 1921 sign decorating the display.

Brightly colored lady slipper orchids on display at the Volunteer Park Conservatory

Graceful metalwork at the Clise Orchid Collection in the Conservatory

Happy to join up at Today’s Flowers, Monday Mellow Yellows, Macro Monday, Ruby Tuesday 2,  Pink Saturday, Mandarin Orange Monday, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Floral Friday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Thursday Challenge (Shadows), NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, NF Catching the Light Monday and Saturday Show Off. Thank you so much for your visit here first!

Taken at Seattle’s VPC in August, this macro of a tropical rhododendron or Vireya is a picture of perfect pinkness.

A pink tropical rhododendron or Vireya blooms at the Volunteer Park Conservatory

Joining up at Ruby Tuesday 2, Pink Saturday, Macro Monday, Water World Wednesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Floral Friday, Today’s Flowers, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for your visit here and be sure to click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above to see the latest images I love.

I saw the iconic Pike Place Market sign at dusk on the way back to my car from seeing the fabulous Peru exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum yesterday (closing tomorrow; do not miss it!). Don’t you just love this view?

The famous red neon sign at Pike Place Market in Seattle

Visit Skywatch Friday, Scenic Weekends, Outdoor Wednesday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Monday Mellow Yellows, Pink Saturday, Mandarin Orange Monday, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, Blue Monday, Thursday Challenge (Clouds), Wordless Wednesday and Saturday Show Off. I so appreciate your visit here!

We got a new hummingbird feeder and it’s sort of a half-tube shape (the back of it is flat against the glass) that attaches to the window with a suction cup. The window faces south, so now winter sun comes in on a sunny day. Look what was on the carpet yesterday!

Another benefit is that the warmth of the house through the windowglass is keeping the sugar water melted, even in this awful arctic weather we’ve been having.

Rainbow from convex hummingbird feeder

Linking to  Pink Saturday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Ruby Tuesday 2, Mandarin Orange Monday, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, My Romantic Home, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. If only one photo shows here, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above for more.

Here’s a peek into the other side of the year. These purple lupines were blooming in my backyard in May.

Brilliant spring sunshine lights up purple lupines and some red rhododendrons in the background

Linking up with Outdoor Wednesday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, My Romantic Home, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Blooming Friday, Macro Monday, I Heart Macro Saturday, and Saturday Show Off. Thanks for your visit here, and you might click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above to see all the latest photos.

The flower vendors at Seattle’s Pike Place Market really know how to put flowers together. You will find plant combos unlike anyplace else. And so cheap!

Ornamental cabbage, kale, strawflowers and dahlias in brown paper at Pike Place Market in Seattle

Check out the great posts at Monday Mellow Yellows, Pink Saturday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Blooming Friday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Saturday Show Off and My Romantic Home. Thanks for stopping by here and be sure to come back soon!

My Christmas cactus lost its only flower.

Close up of pink and white Christmas cactus flower

Linking to Pink Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, Macro Monday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, I Heart Macro Saturday, Saturday Show Off and My Romantic Home. Browse around here if you have a minute. Thanks for visiting!

What with all the wind we had, the leaf season is leaving. This beloved poem comes to mind.

Spring & Fall: to a young child

Margaret, are you grieving
Over Goldengrove unleaving?
Leaves, like the things of man, you
With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?
Ah! as the heart grows older
It will come to such sights colder
By and by, nor spare a sigh
Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;
And yet you will weep and know why.
Now no matter, child, the name:
Sorrow’s springs are the same.
Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed
What heart heard of, ghost guessed:
It is the blight man was born for,
It is Margaret you mourn for.

© Gerard Manley Hopkins. All rights reserved.

Here is another leaf scene beauty.

Jewel colors of autumn leaves not yet fallen

Posting in Ruby Tuesday 2, Monday Mellow Yellows, Outdoor Wednesday, Macro Monday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Scenic Weekends, Pink Saturday, Mandarin Orange Monday, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for visiting and please, come back soon!

 

One of the late-blooming flowers in my garden is the hardy fuchsia. These small flowers, only an inch or so big (3 cm), just keep on going. Last winter wasn’t too cold so this year the branches didn’t have to start from scratch, and the plant is about tall as my waist. In all the fog Seattle has been having, the color sure looks good to me.

Magenta and purple hardy fuchsia in the fall garden

This post is linking to Ruby Tuesday 2, Pink Saturday, Scenic Weekends, Outdoor Wednesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, Macro Monday, Homemaking Party, I Heart Macro Saturday, Saturday Show Off and My Romantic Home. Browse around here if you have a minute. Thanks for visiting!

These coleus plants are growing near my front door. I grew them from seed, which is surprisingly easy, as seeds go. If you find the seeds, don’t be afraid to try it. It’s time to take cuttings indoors to root in water, for bigger plants next year. They are very frost tender and hate the cold weather but do fine as houseplants if they have good light.

Colorful coleus plant leaves of red and burgundy, with frilly green edges

Joining up at Ruby Tuesday 2, Pink Saturday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday, Macro Monday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Saturday Show Off and My Romantic Home. Thank you so much for dropping by here and please come back soon.