The rain has been wreaking havoc on the rose bushes, but a couple of dry-ish days allowed a few flowers to open to their potential magnificence—just to get rained on yet again. In the brief window of opportunity that a break in the wet allowed, I went outside and caught this beautiful apricot Sundowner rose, with such an appropriate name.

Visit Flowers for Today to see more blossoms around the planet, and Color Carnival for more brilliant color. SOOC has more straight-out-of-the-camera shots. But why not type in “rose” in the search field here and see what comes up? You can always return to the full blog by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos above.

Last week there were still some tulips blooming at Pike Place Market flower vendors’ North Arcade. I continue to love, love, love tulips.

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These are from Pike Place Market in Seattle, where they are just starting to be available. I love peonies. Their scent transports me. I have some in my garden, and for the first time they are covered in buds, because I finally realized that they like alkaline, not acid, soil. I can’t wait until my own bloom, but here are these until then.

Visit Ruby Tuesday and Color Carnival to see more wonderful photos with a theme (in the blogging world, that’s a meme). And after wandering through tags and categories and archives around here, click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to get back to the latest post.

A recent visit to Pike Place Market flower vendors showed that tulips stll are showing strong. A few irises and peonies have arrived, but tulips still rule the roost. For awhile, anyway. I think they are ravishing and can’t get enough.

Visit Pink Saturday for more blissful pinkness. Color Carnival has more brilliant colors for you. And remember, you can always return to the main blog page by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos in the header.

These lilacs were growing in a neighbor’s front yard on a recent walk. The sky was quite gray and overcast but the magic of a digital camera gave me an exposure that’s almost sunshiny. On the same walk, another neighbor’s Blushing Lady tulips really made me envious. Last year I had some Blushing Lady tulips that were the stars of my spring garden, with huge, almost 6″ blossoms on stems almost a yard (meter) tall. This year they totally failed to come back, where other tulips happily multiplied. But at least my neighbor has had success with them. Aren’t they pretty?

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I bought this bouquet of a dozen tulips and daffodils, EACH, at Pike Place Market. I was surprised to see the tulips open into this starry shape. The bouquet even had lilacs in it!

Visit Macro Monday, Mellow Yellow Monday and Color Carnival after your visit here. Remember, anytime you want to go to today’s post, just click on Sara’s Fave Photos above.

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.

I was at the Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle last week, and I thought I’d show you a photo of the marvellous planting of spring flowers outside. Those purple hyacinths just thrill me. Definitely drop by if you are in the area. And it’s free!

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

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.

Thursday’s Challenge is “ROMANTIC” (Flowers, Chocolates, Hearts, Lace, Red, Pink, Sunset, Holding Hands,…) and so of course I have to post flowers. This bouquet also photographed at the NW Flower & Garden show in Seattle last week. It says Be Mine to me!

This also works for Color Carnival (the local gray skies make me crave color!) and is a straight-out-of-the-camera shot, or SOOC.