Can’t you almost smell them? Lilac shrubs are very long-lived, I understand, so sometimes there’s a bit of a wait before they will flower, even if conditions are good. I know they can get huge, as I once saw clumps of them in Maine that were the size of small apartment buildings. Here in Seattle the acid soil can be a problem, so a handful of dolomitic lime in the fall and spring has really helped. Finally, the flowers are beginning to look like something this year. They bloom on last year’s growth, so I’ll wait until next year for a bouquet.

You might check out Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Macro Monday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Pink Saturday, Color Carnival, Outdoor Wednesday, and Shadow Shot Sunday 2. Try a new category or tag, perhaps My Garden or Close Up, just for fun?

This grape-leaf passion flower, or Passiflora vitifolia, is in Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory, seen on a recent visit. It’s also on page 32 of my book, Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory, available on this website, at the Conservatory’s Gift Shop, and also on Amazon, by the way. I think this image might even be better than the one in the book! Oh well, that’s the way it goes. Sometimes the flowers pose so prettily for the camera, don’t they?

Interesting photo memes include Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Macro Monday, and SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), and it looks like Color Carnival is happening again, too!

Ah, Seattle’s Pike Place Market in the spring! Aren’t these just the most exciting tulips, even all still in bud? They make me think of a Dutch still life painting.

You might want to wander over to Ruby Tuesday 2, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Macro Monday, Mellow Yellow Monday, and Pink Saturday for many lovely images. And if you see only this one photo here, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above for the complete blog with lots more photos you might like.

This is the second amaryllis plant that I have managed to make rebloom. Isn’t it pretty? This rebloom might even look better than the original bloom last year! Clever me. (Note: if you grow these, it is very important to put them in a heavy enough pot so they can’t tip over.) I use the Schultz liquid drops to make a weak fertilizer when I water so I don’t have to remember which plant needs what and when, and I think they like this regime, plus a south windowsill.

Of course, Ruby Tuesday 2 is the place to visit for more great shots with red featured in them. You also might want to visit Macro Monday, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Today’s Flowers, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), and Shadow Shot Sunday 2. Why not? If there is only one post here, be sure to click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog on top or at upper right to see the whole enchilada here.

I love anemones. They are low to the ground and have no scent to speak of, but their brilliant contrast with those black centers just float my boat. I think I like them especially because I remember them in a still-life painting, by Redon (in google images, type in “redon artist anemones”) and was entranced. Somehow the fact that these flowers existed a long, long time ago adds to their allure.

You might want to check out Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Today’s Flowers, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Macro Monday, and Outdoor Wednesday, just for fun. If you’ve arrived via a link, clicking on the curly letters above of Sara’s Fave Photos Blog will bring you the latest and complete photoblog experience here. Thanks for visiting and hope to see you again soon.

I’m very excited that this week Sara’s Fave Photos Blog is the featured blog at Beverly’s delightful party of pink, Pink Saturday. Thank you, Beverly! I thought I’d have some special orchids from my recent visit to the New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show. It was amazing and inspirational. Here are three photos showcasing their remarkable display, in pink, of course.

Also, please visit Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Today’s Flowers, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Shadow Shot Sunday 2, and Mellow Yellow Monday, if you have a moment or two. Great memes!

Stopping by Seattle’s iconic Pike Place Market today I saw a whole cartload of tulips in the rain. Since tomorrow’s my birthday, a special treat for you is TWO tulip photos. Hope you like them. I really do, so I’m calling it my my Best Post of the Week.

You might want to pay a visit to Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Macro Monday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Mellow Yellow Monday, Thursday Challenge (Spring), Scenic Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday, and Pink Saturday for lots of lovely images to delight you. Please remember that if you’ve arrived via a link, clicking on the curly letters above of Sara’s Fave Photos Blog will bring you the complete photoblog experience here. Thanks for visiting and hope to see you again soon.

Tonight I was at the Volunteer Park Conservatory, attending its annual Friends of the Conservatory meeting. The first part was in the Conservatory itself, with perfect late afternoon light showing off many of the exquisite floral displays to perfection. Here is an orange hibiscus flower, all glowing in the light.

Please explore Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Mellow Yellow Monday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Macro Monday, and Macro Flowers Saturday, if you have a minute or two. If you’ve arrived via a link, clicking on the curly letters of Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above will get you the complete photo collection here.

I was lucky enough to go the New York Botanical Garden‘s Orchid Show which continues until April 22. If you get a chance, you must go. Ravishing, wonderful, gorgeous! Not just a bunch of flowers, but so exquisitely displayed. And New York City has been having an amazing springtime, so my favorite pink trees in full bloom graced the grounds around the Enid Haupt Conservatory that houses the orchid show.

Here is one lovely orchid for your viewing pleasure. Visit Macro Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Mellow Yellow Monday, Ruby Tuesday 2 and Pink Saturday for more fun photos with a theme. If you’ve arrived via a link, clicking on the curly letters of Sara’s Fave Photos above will get you the complete blog here.

Don’t we all love crocuses! But why are they not croci? In any case, these incredibly cheerful small flowers are so very welcome in our gray Seattle weather. And they spread nicely, too. Plant some in your garden this fall and you will be so happy seeing their little sprouts poke out next late winter.

I am on a trip to New York and am posting by preschedule. Please follow this blog on the new widget to the right if you enjoy the photos. Thanks for visiting!

Check out Macro Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Scenic Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday and SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera).