This rose is from the OTHER solstice, the summer one, but I show it with a nod to our Down Under friends. For us in the throes of darkness in the Northern Hemisphere, here is an image to remind us that as the earth tips tonight, it is bringing us ever closer to the light.

Peace rose against a blue sky at the Summer Solstice

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Another nod to the nearness of the Solstice. This dahlia is like the sun, is it not?

Dahlia with pointy petals, red to orange with yellow tips.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Ruby Tuesday 2, Wednesday Around the World (WATW), Floral Friday, Photo Friday, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, Today’s Flowers, Pink Saturday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for visiting here and hope to see you again very soon.

Feeling nostalgic for SUMMER at the Conservatory in Seattle. This was taken at its Centennial Celebration in August, 2012.

Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory in summertime

Connecting with Our World Tuesday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Wednesday Around the World (WATW), Skywatch Friday, Photo Friday, Floral Friday, Today’s Flowers, Scenic Weekends, Pink Saturday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. If there is only one photo showing here, please click on the curly letters of Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above to see a few more. Thanks!

Here’s a breath of warmth and summer for us Northern Hemisphere folks—pink peonies in my backyard from six months ago.

Tender pink peonies bloom in the early summer garden

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The cosmos reseed most years and the dahlias come back, too. Lucky me!

Pink cosmos and dahlias, and super dark dahlias, in a bouquet

Love photo memes! Connecting with Our World Tuesday, Macro Monday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Ruby Tuesday 2, Wednesday Around the World (WATW), Floral Friday, Photo Friday, Today’s Flowers, Pink Saturday, and Saturday Show Off. Try a search for “bouquet” in the tag cloud at the right for some very pretty flowers indeed.

This spiky dahlia is almost prettier from the back. So vigorous and healthy!

Cactus-type peachy-orange dahlia from the back, in the garden

Linking to Our World Tuesday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Wednesday Around the World (WATW), Thursday Challenge (Orange), Photo Friday, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, Floral Friday, Today’s Flowers, Pink Saturday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. Try a search for “dahlia” in the box at the right for some very pretty flowers indeed.

I’ve been seeing more of these dog strollers around. What a cutie this dog is!

Smiling white dog with hairbow in stroller at Salmon Days in Issaquah, WA.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Wednesday Around the World (WATW), Photo Friday, Camera Critters, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for your visit here, and hope to see you again very soon.

Dahlias are the queen of late summer flowers.

Magenta, yellow, orange and red dahlia in sunshine

Visit Our World Tuesday, Macro Monday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Ruby Tuesday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Wednesday Around the World (WATW), Thursday Challenge (Sunny), Floral Friday, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, Photo Friday, Today’s Flowers, Pink Saturday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. So glad you dropped by and hope to see you again, soon!

Guess I’m just in a macro mood lately. From an afternoon garden party on one of the finest days Seattle can offer.

Condensation on a cold rose wine, on a warm day in the garden

Visit Our World Tuesday, Macro Monday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Outdoor Wednesday, Wednesday Around the World (WATW), Water World Wednesday, Wednesday Waters, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, Pink Saturday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. So glad you dropped by and hope to see you again, soon!

A friend’s garden is loaded with grapes. These green ones are not quite ripe, but still so pretty.

Bunches of green grapes hanging on the vine, soaking up the sun

Joining up at Our World Tuesday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Wednesday Around the World (WATW), Friday Greens, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for your visit here, and hope to see you again very soon.