The pretty teapot two posts below needs some context. The scene and day was so lovely, I thought I’d show you the deck and tables all set out. Let’s have a tea party!

Participating at Pink Saturday, Scenic Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), and Ruby Tuesday 2. Thanks for stopping by.

One of the members of our local Garden Club does teas so very well. Her deck is just heaven on earth on a lovely summer day. Yesterday she put on one of her famous teas for us, and dressed the tables up so prettily with mini-bouquets in tiny teapots. I love this idea and must get some small teapots to do it, too.

More cool photos at Pink Saturday, Mellow Yellow Monday, Macro Monday, Scenic Sunday, Color Carnival, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, and Ruby Tuesday 2. Thanks for visiting here, and come back soon!

This is a new flower for me. I was admiring a huge shrub in a beautiful garden in Coupeville, WA, when the owner came out and chatted with us. To me, this lavatera looks like it is related to hollyhock. I wish I had the space to grow this, as it looked about 6 feet (2 meters) tall and wide, and she said it was four years old, and you cut it to the ground each winter. What a stunner!

See more neat photos at Pink Saturday, Macro Monday, Scenic Sunday, Color Carnival, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, and SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera). Thanks so much for visiting here.

Strolling along the shore at Bowman Bay in Deception Pass State Park in Washington, I encountered this gorgeous pair of wooden kayaks. The light, the scenery, the kayaks made this one of my top fave shots, ever. It’s completely straight out of the camera (see SOOC Sunday for more), too: just all there waiting for me to click the shutter. And only seconds later, the owner of the beauteous boats came and dragged them to the parking lot, and that was that. You gotta be quick. I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week, but this is a good week for scenic photos for me, so please click on Sara’s Fave Photos above and check out the other images, especially the ones immediately above and below this post.

This photo is entered in Ruby Tuesday 2, Scenic Sunday, Color Carnival, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, and Outdoor Wednesday. Thanks  so much for visiting!

My friend with the pretty hostas can do flowers so well. Here’s a sunshiny shot of the flowers on her shaded deck. Yes, there were cookies and iced tea, too!

Interesting sites for you: Scenic Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday, Pink Saturday, Mellow Yellow Monday, Color Carnival and SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera).

This rose, which I believe is called Simplicity, is growing in a neighbor’s yard. It’s very healthy and seems to get no care at all. I’d like to have a rose garden with only tough, healthy roses like this, but how can you really tell in the nursery? Does “disease resistant” really mean anything? And don’t mention Knockout roses, because they still don’t have fragrance. Why bother with roses without fragrance?

This photo post is participating in Scenic Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Pink Saturday, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, and SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera). Thank you for visiting here. Browse around to see what you can find. Click on the tag Pink, perhaps?

Isn’t this an exquisite planting? Those new, dark petunias, some kind of yellow striped grass, a dark heuchera (pronounced HOOK-er-a) and the sedum with pink edges look so great together. It’s in front of the door at Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory. Go see it.

Visit Scenic Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Pink Saturday, and Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) for more neat photos. Also, the dappled sunlight and subtle colors make me happy, so I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week.

Visiting a friend’s garden recently, she showed me her big-leaf hostas so happy under the trees, in a beam of sunlight. Snap! Photo fun, for sure.

Visit Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Outdoor Wednesday and Macro Monday if you have a minute or two. You’ll be glad you did.

I just love that late-afternoon light. After MUCH rain and clouds, the sun peeked out the other evening and of course I was out there with my camera. These are mostly ‘Double Delight’ roses, my long-time favorite rose. Very available in nurseries, fabulous fragrance, strong grower. And this image is purely SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera).

This year I am attempting to grow roses without the usual systemic plant food laced with pesticides, hoping that this year I won’t feel the guilt of watching a robin poking for bugs in the soil and hoping the robin is OK. I am using alfalfa meal as a fertilizer this year and so far am very happy with the results.

Other interesting photo sites: Scenic Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Color Carnival, Ruby Tuesday 2, Pink Saturday,  Skywatch Friday, A Piece of Heaven, Mellow Yellow Monday and Macro Monday. And do browse around here first. Maybe click a category on the right like “My Garden”? Thanks for visiting!

This may be my new favorite rosebush in the garden. Growing roses in the Pacific Northwest is tough with our damp climate. I have 18 different rosebushes in front of my house and after three years, ‘Proud Land’ seems to be the star. It’s huge, disease resistant, and just covered with dark red, fragrant flowers. Very satisfying. I’m calling this my Best Post of the Week.

For more cool photos, you might pay a visit to Scenic Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Color Carnival, and Ruby Tuesday 2. If you’ve arrived via a link and there is only one photo  below, click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above to see the complete collection here. Thank you so much for stopping by!