The other day the clouds were just wild. I know it’s not safe to snap photos while driving, but sometimes it’s just imperative. I was blown away by the huge, towering forms in the deep blue sky. It looks like it was raining under them, but all was sunny and gorgeous where I was.

Visit Skywatch Friday for more interesting skies from around the planet, and Scenic Sunday for amazing sights of all kinds. Remember, you can always see today’s post by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos above.

Finally a break in the gray weather. Had a moment to stop at the overlook near my house in Normandy Park with its vista of Puget Sound at dusk, my favorite time of day.

Visit Skywatch Friday for more skies seen round the world.

We’ve had mostly very gray skies lately, and cool temperatures, but we did have a sunbreak or two and I got to get this photo of our pink dogwood tree.

Visit Today’s Flowers for more flowers seen round the world, Color Carnival for more brilliant color, SOOC for more straight-out-of-the-camera shots, and try Scenic Sunday, too.

Click on Sara’s Fave Photos in the header any time you’d like to get back to the latest post on this blog.

Last week when I drove up to the tulip festival (more tulips to come soon, I promise) the sky was very springlike and changeable, with sun on the buildings but such a dark sky, so I stuck the camera up and snapped. A little hailstorm hit soon after this shot.

Visit Skywatch Friday for more skies seen round the world. And remember, you can always click on Sara’s Fave Photos on top to get back to the most current photo.

Here’s the thing about apples: they must have cross pollination to set fruit. And even if there is another apple tree nearby, if the bees aren’t out doing their thing, you may have to help nature along. Here in Seattle where sunshine is an occasional thing (“sun breaks,” anyone?) it will definitely increase your harvest to get out there and help.

How? Take a clean, dry, soft artist’s paintbrush, or even a Q-tip, and brush the pollen carefully on a bunch of flowers on Tree A. Then go to Tree B (a different apple variety) and brush some more. Back and forth a few times should do it. Of course for a big tree, you can only do so much, but for dwarf backyard trees, you will make a huge difference.

We have two trees of the “columnar” type. They’re a super skinny, super dwarf size, good in containers, and both can be hand pollinated in just a few minutes. Go back in a few days when more blossoms have opened and do it again. You’ll be glad you did.

Visit Today’s Flowers for more sweet flower photos.

I promised you scenic, and this is about as scenic as it gets, as far as I am concerned. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is a photo opportunity from heaven. Seeing all the people snapping pictures shows photography is alive and well in America today.

I know it’s a stretch, but I’m counting the snowy fields in the distance as an entry for Watery Wednesday. Certainly visit Outdoor Wednesday, and Color Carnival, too. And remember, you can always click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to return to the full blog with my latest post on top.

I love this photo, and I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week.

Before the main event at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, even the roadside produce stand got into the act with these potted tulips, harbingers of tulip ecstasy to come.

Visit Macro Monday and Mellow Yellow Monday for more close ups and yellow splashes of cheerfulness. And Blue Monday covers the other third of the color wheel for us! Color Carnival has more brilliant color, of course. Ruby Tuesday has lots of red, red, red for you.

To return to the full blog with my latest post on top, click on Sara’s Fave Photos above.

There’s a wonderful column, a tower, really, in Astoria, Oregon at the mouth of the Columbia River. You can climb it and the view is just as you expect, magnificent. This was taken at this time of year but a couple of years ago.

Go to Watery Wednesday for more fascinating photos of water, and Outdoor Wednesday for, well, you figure it out. Remember, you can always click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to return to the full blog with my latest post on top.

Our Japanese magnolia tree out back has been so beautiful this year. I took these photos in the last week. Which do you like the best? The top one (#1)? The bottom (#5)?

Visit Blooming Friday for more things flowering now (and sadly the last week for this great meme), Pink Saturday and Macro Flowers Saturday, too. Click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to return to the full blog with my latest post on top.

This view of my backyard from the patio shows the magnolia tree and a few early bulbs with a dramatic sky promising rain. Visit Skywatch Friday for more skies around the world, and Blooming Friday for more flowers happening now. Pink Saturday will show more pink of all sorts. Scenic Sunday has more scenigasms. Have fun in blogland!

You can always click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to return to full blog with latest post on top.