On my visit to the Pike Place Market in Seattle on Friday, there was some actual brilliant sunlight streaming in the windows lighting up the unique and beautiful holiday bouquets. Since the flower vendors can sell only those plants and flowers they grow themselves, the most unusual arrangements you will ever see are found there. And cheap!

Visit Shadow Shot Sunday for more interesting shadows, Color Carnival for more bright colors. And if there’s only the one bouquet photo below, click on Sara’s Fave Photos for more.

Dear readers, the new site is almost ready. I’m so excited! Very soon now, all will be revealed.

All I want is some sunshine, so this dahlia flower photo will have to do. The stripey petals are called striated, I believe. Isn’t it a cool effect? This was an annual type, so it’s forever gone, but that’s why photos are so great, to me at least.

Visit Mellow Yellow Monday, Macro Monday, Color Carnival and Ruby Tuesday for more interesting and creative photos.

We’re getting very close to the launch of the brand new blog site! I’m very excited. Your browser should just bring you to the new site, so no worries. Soon!

Do click on Sara’s Fave Photos if there is only one photo here. And while you’re at it, try another category or tag, just for fun.

At the potluck brunch this morning for which I prepared the fruit plate mentioned in my last post, our hostess had decorated so beautifully for the holiday. The house had decor including several arrangements with perfect red roses that she had made herself. As a long-time garden club member, no wonder she did such a beautiful job. I loved the idea of red roses for Christmas.

Visit Macro Flowers Saturday, Today’s Flowers, and Color Carnival for more interesting photos with a theme.

And as usual, if there’s only one photo showing below, click on Sara’s Fave Photos, here or above, for the complete blog with the latest posts.

We’re going to a potluck brunch tomorrow so I thought I’d make something healthy. Fruit plates can be challenging at this time of year, but these yummy organic grapes should be a hit.

Visit Macro Friday for more interesting close ups and Color Carnival for more bright colors..

If there’s only the one photo showing here, click on Sara’s Fave Photos for more.

One from the archives, for sure. I was going through the tulip collection because I felt like creating a calendar for 2011 with tulips and I don’t think I ever posted this one on the blog. I will definitely include it in the calendar. It was taken in April of this year at the Skagit Valley Tulip Fest, a couple hours north of Seattle in Washington. Hope you enjoy this blast of springtime as we are entering winter.

Visit Skywatch Friday for more great skies seen around the world. Color Carnival has more brilliant colors. Pink Saturday has more pinkness. Scenic Sunday has more scenery. You get the idea.

I really like the expansive feeling I get when I look at this photo so I’ve categorized and entered it as Best Post of the Week.

If there is only the field of pink tulips below, click on Sara’s Fave Photos for all the others.

The U.S. Pacific Northwest has an interesting climate. Even though it’s quite far north, the ocean currents and the large amount of straits, bays, inlets, rivers and other water features gives us quite temperate weather, although mostly cloudy. The temperatures vary here less than any other place I have ever lived. We are lucky that certain broadleaf evergreens like the holly tree flourish here.

This large tree in my neighborhood, perhaps 5 or even 10 yards/meters tall, has wonderful berries, but I noticed that they begin fairly high up. I am pretty sure that is due to people helping themselves to these very attractive holiday decorations. I was tempted.

Visit Ruby Tuesday for more splashes of red, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday and SOOC for more straight-out-of-the-camera shots. If the berries is the only photo here, click on Sara’s Fave Photos for more.

I picked these roses, hydrangeas and cosmos in my garden in late September. Oh, what a couple of months does! I think people love flowers so much because they are so fleeting, but their brief perfection seems to reach our emotions like little else.

Visit Today’s Flowers, Color Carnival and Shadow Shot Sunday for more interesting photos. This one is straight out of the camera, too.

If there is only the bouquet photo showing, do click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the complete blog.

I’m not sure if princess crowns is the right name for these dress up things I saw in the Pike Place Market last week, but I do know that if I were about seven years old, it sure would make me feel like a princess to wear one. Note that they are in the “important colors” of pink, lavender and red. There was a time when my own little girl would wear nothing else.

Visit Pink Saturday for more visions of perfect pinkness. Color Carnival has more great, bright colors. If there’s only one photo here, do click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the complete blog.

Before I began visiting the Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle regularly, I had no idea anthuriums existed in so many forms and colors. Here’s sort of a holiday look for you in red and green. And don’t you just love the heart-shaped leaves?

This tropical plant is a great entry for the Hot, Loud and Proud plant and flower meme out of Hawaii. And Color Carnival has more bright colors for you.

If there’s only one photo below, it means there are tons more for you if you click on Sara’s Fave Photos here or above.

Here’s some early Christmas decoration for you. I’m not sure if these are holly berries or what, but they sure are pretty, aren’t they? They were at the Pike Place Market in Seattle not too long ago.

Visit Ruby Tuesday and Color Carnival for more colorful photos. SOOC has more straight-out-of-the camera shots, too. Outdoor Wednesday is showing Xmas decor, indoors and out. And if you see only this one photo here, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the complete blog with lots more photos you might like.