The sunshine got here. The patio plants are so happy. Those purple puffs in back are chive flowers.

Spring sunshine on some potted plants on the patio

Linking up to Shadow Shot Sunday 2, NF Catching the Light Monday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Weekends, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Garden Party Thursday, Pink Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Thanks for visiting and have a great day.

This pretty variegated weigela shrub is blooming now in my backyard.

Variegated weigela with pink flowers blooms in May in Seattle

Participating in Pink Saturday, Garden Party Thursday, Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Monday Mellow Yellows, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. How about a new tag or category while you are here? Pink, perhaps?

My sister was in the south of France recently and took this photo of the blood-red poppies.

Red, red poppies in a field in the south of France

Linking to Ruby Tuesday 2, Blue Monday, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Weekends, Skywatch Friday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Garden Party Thursday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, and Saturday Show Off. Please click on the Sara’s Fave Photos Blog curly letters above to see a few recent photos here. Thank you.

The Pike Place Market is where flower junkies go for their fix. This bucket of blue Dutch iris buds is ready to go home with YOU.

True blue Dutch irises get ready to bloom at Seattle’s Pike Place Market

Linking up to Our World Tuesday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Blue Monday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, and Saturday Show Off. Thanks so much for your visit here, and please come back again soon.

Just a few short weeks ago, the Japanese magnolia in my backyard was in bloom. This photo is one of my very top faves and I am calling it my weekly Top Shot.

Pink and white Japanese magnolia blossom, up close

Participating in Pink Saturday, Garden Party Thursday, Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday,  My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Try a new tag or category while you are here, perhaps?

Seattle has had rain, and lots of it. We’re normally pretty damp, but this is WET.

Rain-drenched red rhododendron flower

Linking up to Water World Wednesday, Pink Saturday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Garden Party Thursday, Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, and Saturday Show Off. Thanks for your visit here, and please come back soon.

A walk through a lovely forest in the springtime in the Pacific Northwest, in my favorite kind of dappled sunshine…

Springtime in the woods

Joining with Monday Mellow Yellows, Seasonal Sundays, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, NF Catching the Light Monday, Scenic Weekends, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. If one photo only, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos above for a few more. Thanks!

The tulips are almost done, but here’s a scenic tulip field with a bit of reflection for your viewing pleasure:

Red tulips reflected in a puddle in the Skagit Valley April tulip festival

Joining up with Blue Monday, Skywatch Friday, Seasonal Sundays, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Pink Saturday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Blooming Friday, Water World Wednesday, Weekend Reflections, and Saturday Show Off. Don’t forget to click on the Sara’s Fave Photos Blog curly letters above to see the latest pretty pictures here.

Leaves in spring sunshine can be as dazzling as autumn color. Here are some red Japanese maple leaves like flaming fingers against the sky.

Deep red Japanese maple leaves against a blue springtime sky

Linking up with Blue Monday, Skywatch Friday, Seasonal Sundays, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, NF Catching the Light Monday, Scenic Weekends, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. If there is only one photo visible, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos above for a few more recent ones.

In the break we had from rain a couple of days ago, I went out with my dry paintbrush and pollinated my two little fruit trees. (“Make like a bee!”) I am lucky enough to have a dwarf cherry tree with multiple grafts on it of different varieties. However, even though it is “self-fertile,” all that means is that it doesn’t need another variety to pollinate. It still needs some pollen to move around for the fruit to set. So out I go, on a sunny day, with my soft, dry paintbrush, and gently brush the blossoms. I have found it makes a big difference. Use this technique on tomato plants, too.

Fruiting cherry tree blooms in backyard orchard

Linking to Blue Monday, Skywatch Friday, Seasonal Sundays, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, NF Catching the Light Monday,  Straight out of the Camera Sunday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Blooming Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. If you’re a macro fan, try clicking on the tag “close up” in the tag cloud at right.