It’s finally raining, although softly, so I went outside for the pretty raindrop display on the coral bark Japanese maple tree. We have gotten almost no rain for the past two months and usually get 5 or 6 inches in both November and December. The garden (and I’m sure the ski resorts) really need the water. Not to mention it’s put a crimp in my scenic shots for Watery Wednesday!

Other fine photoblog memes are Macro Friday, Macro Monday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Ruby Tuesday and Weekend Reflections. See my neighbor’s house in that middle raindrop? I think that is so cool. And you can find lots more photos here by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos any time you like.

This was taken earlier this week in Seattle’s Volunteer Park at the Asian Art Museum, close by the Volunteer Park Conservatory, which loyal readers of this blog know that I love so much that I did a book on it. And by the way, since the holidays are upon us, the Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory: Blooming Month by Month book is on special holiday pricing! It’s a perfect gift for gardeners or anyone who loves flowers, and it’s so relaxing and soothing that health care professionals adore it for their waiting rooms. Read a full description and see sample pages on the home page here. And get a few copies today!

Please visit Ruby Tuesday, Scenic Sunday, Wordless Wednesday, Watery Wednesday, and Outdoor Wednesday for some excellent photos around this beautiful planet of ours. Perhaps you’d like to visit a new tag or category here, first? Just click on Sara’s Fave Photos to see the complete blog (so many choices!) here.

An old-fashioned flower, for sure. My mom used to grow this one. It’s very, very tough, can bloom in sun or shade, reseeds very vigorously. Also it’s on the tall side, which I like. But the color of its small flowers (one inch or 3 cm) is extraordinary: an electric magenta that seems to move to red—just the most shimmering, intense color, and combined with its silvery stems and leaves, a real showy plant.

Visit Wordless Wednesday, Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Ruby Tuesday, Color Carnival, Pink Saturday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Today’s Flowers, Macro Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday and Macro Friday. And remember, when there’s just one photo showing here, click on the Sara’s Fave Photos (that curly lettering on top will do fine) and see the rest.

Last week it rained, before the beautiful weekend we enjoyed, so of course I had to head out to the garden when it stopped. I’m enjoying the daylilies this year in their varying shades of orange, burgundy and peach. I think I have a yellow one, but it hasn’t bloomed yet.

Visit Wordless Wednesday, Watery Wednesday, Mellow Yellow Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Macro Monday, Macro Friday, Color Carnival, Today’s Flowers, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) and Ruby Tuesday for more fun photos.

Please see my Big Announcement below if you missed it! And thanks for visiting.

My neighbors had a party last week, and even though they have a great deck and yard, it rained. Not ideal for a party, but for those of us who ALWAYS carry a camera, it had its compensations. This evergreen clematis armandii, I believe, is very happy twining about his deck railing, even (and perhaps especially) in the rain.

You might check out Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday, Macro Friday, Macro Monday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Scenic Sunday, and Ruby Tuesday for more photo fun. Do click on the banner above, Sara’s Fave Photos, to see the latest photos here. And thanks for visiting! 

Bleeding heart, or dicentra, is one of those great aquaphobic leaves that give lady’s mantle a run for their money when it comes to pretty raindrops. I put one in a newly-cleared shady part of the garden and it seems to be very happy, which makes me happy.

Visit Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Macro Friday, Macro Monday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) and Wordless Wednesday for more photo fun. Do click on the banner above, Sara’s Fave Photos, to see the latest photos here. Thanks for visiting!

I hope you are not tired of water droplets on leaves. It’s a theme around here. I keep getting excited and get out there right after a rain to get a good photo of those raindrops decorating everything. I’ve gotta have something to keep me going in this weather.

Visit Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Macro Friday, Macro Monday, and Wordless Wednesday if you like memes, or photos with a theme. And if you use the search in the right corner, you can find all sorts of interesting photos here. Maybe try raindrops? Do click on the banner above, Sara’s Fave Photos, to see the latest photos here. Thanks for visiting!

This leaf star from the yard earlier this week. I will have some flowers to show you soon, but it’s Watery Wednesday so rain jewels are called for.

News flash: My book is getting closer to reality. It’s going to be about the flowers at Volunteer Park Conservatory. Lots of work, believe me, but of course with my very best, most gorgeous photos of their incredible blooms and foliage, followed throughout the year of changing flora. I hope to be able to start taking orders in just a few weeks for August delivery. You can be sure I will keep everyone posted. I’m so excited!

In the meantime, lots of good work all over. Visit Outdoor Wednesday, Thursday Challenge (Wet), Macro Friday, Macro Monday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) and Wordless Wednesday for lots of photo phun. Do try a new tag or category here first as long as you’re here. And if you see only one photo below, click on the Sara’s Fave Photos banner for the whole blog.

Yet another study of rain on leaves. This from a couple of days ago. Tulip leaves bead the water so beautifully. Don’t water tulips where they are planted in the summer, however, or they won’t come back.

Visit Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday, Macro Friday, and for that little reflection of more tulip leaves in the water drop, Weekend Reflections. Click on Sara’s Fave Photos, here or above, to see the whole blog.

This year I think it’s even too cold for the slugs. The lupines are coming up all unmolested, although maybe it’s my campaign with the clippers last year that’s having an effect. Last week the sun peeked through and sparkled in water caught in these lupine leaves.

Visit Shadow Shot Sunday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Watery Wednesday, Macro Friday and SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) if you have time. While you’re here, check out more photos in this blog by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos.