Well, the NW Flower & Garden Show in Seattle is over until next year. We had a lot of fun, met some wonderful people, and sold some books, jewelry and prints. Here is a photo I took of one of the florist competition bouquets. Such loveliness.

Lavender roses and orchids in a lovely NWFGS bouquet

Joining up in Monday Mellow Yellows, Catching the Light Monday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Macro Monday, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Ruby Tuesday 2 and Pink Saturday. Stop by and visit them if you get a chance. Thanks so much for stopping by here! Remember, if there is only one photo visible here, do click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to see the rest.

Now that it’s a go with us exhibiting at the NW Flower & Garden Show in Seattle (come see Love That Image in booth 2806!), I’m having a lot of fun browsing through my photos from the last few years. I love that show, even if the garden exhibits are extremely dark, I guess to keep the plants from wilting or something. It does make photography a challenge, since many of us prefer natural light, and I find tripods so annoying. The solution is a camera that can take photos in low light. I use the Canon Powershot S95, now kind of outdated, but it works pretty darn well for a tiny thing that fits in my front jeans pocket. Be sure and download my Seven Secrets at right for tips on better photos, all with just a regular, simple camera.

A perfect bouquet of apricot roses at the NW Flower & Garden Show

Participating in Pink Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Macro Monday, Monday Mellow Yellows and a new meme, Photog Friday. Please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above to see the other images here. Thanks for dropping by and have a Happy New Year!

Now that it’s been arranged that we will be showing our new glass tile jewelry and Flowers books a the NW Flower & Garden Show in February, I am all excited to review some of the images I’ve taken over the past few years. You sure can see some great flowers at that show! And today, on New Year’s Day, here’s a gift bouquet for you. May your year be filled with exotic blooms and comforting old standards.

Stunning bouquet of orchids, roses, ranunculus, camelias and others at NW Flower & Garden Show

Participating in Pink Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, and Ruby Tuesday 2. Please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above to see the rest of the images here. Thanks for visiting and Happy New Year to you and those you love.

Here’s a view at Seattle’s Woodland Park Rose Garden, from a June solstice a few years ago. It’s been raining here, or completely overcast, since the second week in October and I, for one, want to look at sunshine and flowers. Hope you do, too.

Joining up this week in Pink Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, Scenic Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday, Skywatch Friday, A Piece of Heaven, and Ruby Tuesday 2. To see all the latest images, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above. Thanks for stopping by, and hope to see you again soon!

No, this rose is not still blooming now, but I miss my roses so much. Here is a pretty one that was in the garden in September, a red Snowfire rose, with the outside of each petal in white. The little pocket Canon camera I use (Powershot S95) tends to saturate the colors quite a bit, but it’s still very close to real life. And don’t forget to download the Seven Secrets to Better Photos at right for some simple, no-fuss techniques.

Participating in Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, Outdoor Wednesday, Macro Monday, My Romantic Home, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Pink Saturday, and Ruby Tuesday 2. Please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above if you’d like to see all the recent pretty pictures. Thanks for stopping by, and come back soon!

In a break after the rain began the other day, I went out front and cut all the roses that were opened. They just get yucky if they stay wet for any length of time, so they might as well come inside and dry off. I usually don’t do such a big cutting of  roses, preferring to keep them in the garden for everyone’s enjoyment, but since much rain was predicted, what else could I do?

Participating in My Romantic Home, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, Pink Saturday, and Ruby Tuesday 2. As always, if there is only the one, lonely photo below, clicking on the curly letters of Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above will bring up the other recent photos for your enjoyment.

This pretty Camelot rose in my front garden is such a sweet and fragrant flower. It does have a little habit of dropping its petals almost as soon as it becomes fully open, but you just can’t have everything. I do like to keep the beds picked up (leaves and petals) to try to minimize black spot, but aside from looking neater, I don’t know that it really makes a difference. But such is gardening life.

Linking up at Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Pink Saturday, Scenic Sunday, Macro Monday, My Romantic Home, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Flower Art Friday, Weekend Flowers, Outdoor Wednesday, and Ruby Tuesday 2, plus a brand new meme, Simple Things. Please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog if you see only the one, lonely rose photo. Thanks!

Another view of a red rose in my garden today for your enjoyment.

Linking up at Pink Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Flower Art Friday, Weekend Flowers, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Macro Monday, My Romantic Home, and Ruby Tuesday 2. Click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above if there is only one photo here. Thanks for visiting, and hope to see you again soon.

Since I fed my roses the nasty food they love so much, they have rewarded me with better color, bigger flowers, the works. I did add alfalfa meal, so maybe that’s why they look so good now. Late in the season, but I’ll take it! This deliciously dark red Oklahoma rose is one of my favorites. Isn’t the bubbly looking background fun? Just set that aperture wide and there you go!

This post is joining in Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Flower Art Friday, Weekend Flowers, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Macro Monday, My Romantic Home, and Ruby Tuesday 2. Click on Sara’s Fave Photos above if there is only one photo below so you’re sure of seeing the latest photos.

Well, the roses seem to really respond to that chemical fertilizer. I held off as long as I could and then gave in. Roses really thrill me and I’ll do pretty much anything to have blooms like this in my garden. Anything that doesn’t cost too much money, that is. Or spray. But I do water, feed, and deadhead. Isn’t it pretty?

I’m linking up at  Flower Art Friday, Flowers on Saturday, Weekend Flowers, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Floral Friday, My Romantic Home,  Pink Saturday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, and Shadow Shot Sunday 2 . If there is only one photo below, please click on the Sara’s Fave Photos Blog letters above to see the others. Maybe do a search for rose while you are here?