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! 

The huge poppies are blooming. These unusual ones, the size of my hand, were discovered in a neighbor’s garden on a recent walk. Aren’t they something? The photo doesn’t really do justice to the red color, either. That tomato red, and the dark, dark center just do it for me. Flower thrills.

Visit Ruby Tuesday, Color Carnival, Today’s Flowers, Macro Friday, Macro Monday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), and Macro Flowers Saturday when you get a chance.

And you can always see the whole blog by clicking on the Sara’s Fave Photos banner above, if there is only one photo below. Check out a few more while you are here!

You can’t beat the Pacific Northwest when it comes to rhododendrons. Some tower over the landscape, some are solidly covered with blooms, some are just thrilling in their abundance. I only wish for fragrance, but I’m like that. An iffy bloom with fragrance trumps stupendous with none, or I’d like to think so. Color combos like this one, however, make me set that prejudice aside!

Visit Ruby Tuesday, Color Carnival, Macro Friday, Macro Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Outdoor Wednesday, Pink Saturday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), and Today’s Flowers. Remember, if there is only one photo below, click on the Sara’s Fave Photos banner above to see the rest of the collection.

I love tulips! And shadows! And sunshine! Tulips are pretty much done by now, but I found this photo I took almost two weeks ago and knew I couldn’t wait til next year to share it. And I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week, too.

Visit Macro Friday, Macro Monday, Today’s Flowers and Macro Flowers Saturday, Ruby Tuesday, Shadow Shot Sunday, Color Carnival and SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera). And try a new tag or category, and/or the latest posts here at Sara’s Fave Photos first, why don’t you? Thanks for visiting!

I only wish this was taken on a fancy trip somewhere, but no, just the parking lot at my local Trader Joe’s. But it doesn’t matter, does it? The sky shows its beauty to parking lots and palaces alike. I hope you get to see a lovely start to an evening like this once in awhile, no matter where you are.

Visit Skywatch Friday, Pink Saturday, Color Carnival (now in a new home), Blue Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, and Scenic Sunday when you get a chance. And do check out a new tag or category here. Try Nature, perhaps? Don’t forget, you can always see the entire blog  by clicking on the Sara’s Fave Photos banner on top. Thanks so much for visiting!

Red rhodedendrons are pretty hard to photograph. The sunshine seems to really help me, even though it’s against most photographic advice. I expose for/focus on the bright areas and love how the background falls into shadow. Very mysterious, no?

Visit Ruby Tuesday for more ruby red photos and Today’s Flowers on Sunday. Color Carnival has bright colors, Macro Monday, more close ups, Shadow Shot Sunday, well, you figure it out. Do click on the banner above, Sara’s Fave Photos, to see the entire blog if there’s only one image below. Thanks for visiting!

If you’re ever in the Portland, Oregon area in the springtime, this place is a must-see. Enormous, magnificent, and brilliantly conceived and tended, it just knocked my socks off. Rain or shine, a scenic wonderland. Please see Free Photos “next door” (link below the header above) for more from that locale. You can search there for Japanese garden if that series is no longer at the top.

I love this photo and have called it my Best Post of the Week.

Visit Pink Saturday, Shadow Shot Sunday, Scenic Sunday, Today’s Flowers, Outdoor Wednesday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Ruby Tuesday, Weekend Reflections, and Watery Wednesday for more intriguing photos. Browse around here first, perhaps by visiting the category for “Weekend Reflections”? Remember, always see the latest photos here by clicking on the Sara’s Fave Photos banner.

One of my favorite things about belonging to a local garden club is that every 3 months they all get together and bring flowers to show (“hort” as it’s known, or horticulture). I don’t care about the ribbons they award, but this particular venue has a skylight over the display tables and the effect on a sunny day can be dazzling. I think this kind of peony is called a single form, but I am no expert. I only wish I had grown it in my own garden, but at least I can take a photo—and share it with you!

Today, I have the honor of being Guest Friend on Today’s Flowers and you might hie on over there to see some magnolia photos I took last week in my backyard. Plus many other lovely blooms from around the world, with a new thumbnail linky!

Visit Macro Friday, Ruby Tuesday, Mellow Yellow Monday, Color Carnival, Shadow Shot Sunday, Thursday Challenge (Beautiful) and Macro Monday for more photo fascination. Do see what else is fun around here first! Click on the tag of “close-ups” perhaps?

You can’t go wrong with a huge field of tulips and a barn in the distance. Scenigasm! Just a tiny bit of sunshine peeked through the very cloudy skies to give these red tulips a little happy boost. It’s been so cold this year that I bet there are still quite a few blooming in Skagit Tulip Festival near Mt. Vernon,WA. If you’re nearby and it’s a nice day as is predicted for tomorrow, do go and see.

Visit Ruby Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Color Carnival and Today’s Flowers for a great photo browse. Before you do, maybe try a new tag or category here? To see the full blog, click on the Sara’s Fave Photos banner at the top.

Glorious tulips! Even on an overcast day, what a show. This year at the Washington State (not Holland!) Skagit Tulip Festival I went to Tulip Town as well as RoozenGaarde and found there’s a big difference between the two. Tulip Town has really great and huge fields planted in a multitude of fabulous varieties of tulips. RoozenGaarde, however, has it all over them in the breathtaking garden areas they have planted. I’ll show a bit of them later. Below is a slice of the Tulip Town fields for your scenic viewing pleasure.

Visit Color Carnival, Outdoor Wednesday, Pink Saturday, Mellow Yellow Monday, Ruby Tuesday, Thursday Challenge (Spring), Today’s Flowers and Scenic Sunday for more photo fun. If there is only one photo below, click on Sara’s Fave Photos for others.