From last year, over Lake Union in Seattle. Happy July 4th, Independence Day in USA!

Fireworks explode over Lake Union in Seattle at dusk on July 4.

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Dill is very happy in my garden and reseeds so well that I see why it is called dill weed. But it is beautiful and fragrant, and I love to cook with it, so at least some stays. Here is a flower about the size of my hand, not quite in bloom. Note: the word umbel comes from the word umbrella!

Dill umbel, still partly closed, against an early summer sky

Linking with Skywatch Friday, Scenic Weekends, Blue Monday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Macro Monday, Garden Party Thursday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for visiting, and if you have a minute, click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above to see more here.

The hydrangeas are beginning. I love that they bloom in the shade. It’s easier to keep them watered properly in shade, anyway. Remember, the “hydra” in their name means they love/need water!

Macro of blue hydrangea flowers beginning to bloom

Please visit Blue Monday, NF Catching the Light Monday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Garden Party Thursday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for your visit here first, and be sure to click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above to see other pretty pictures here.

Today I picked the first real harvest of red raspberries, about a quart. The birds and squirrels don’t seem as interested in these berrries, at least so far. I am grateful.

Red raspberries, just picked in the garden

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Went to a neighbor’s party yesterday and she had the most beautiful bouquets of her garden flowers on the tables.

Colorful flowers decorate a backyard picnic table, ready for a party

Linking up to Pink Saturday, Monday Mellow Yellows, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Our World Tuesday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Garden Party Thursday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, and Saturday Show Off. Be sure to click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog if only one photo is above. Thank you for your visit and please come back soon.

Flat peas or sugar snaps, what’s your preference?

Snow peas and sugar snap peas in the June garden

Linking to Ruby Tuesday 2, Our World Tuesday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Garden Party Thursday, My Romantic Home, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, and Saturday Show Off. I appreciate your visit here very much, and please browse around if you have a few minutes.

My front yard has roses and lavender. Life is good.

Red roses and lavender in the late afternoon sun

Check out Pink Saturday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Our World Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Garden Party Thursday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for your visit and please come back soon.

I have been posting quite a few flower macros lately, but feel compelled to show you this one, taken just a couple of hours ago, showing my Double Delight rose incandescently reaching to the sun on the longest day of the year. Here in cloudy Seattle we appreciate the sun, perhaps more than other places. Happy Solstice and Happy Summer! I really love this image and I am calling it my weekly Top Shot.

Macro of Double Delight rose in the garden

Participating in Pink Saturday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Ruby Tuesday 2, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Garden Party Thursday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for visiting here and please return soon.

Sometimes the rain can create much beauty.

Raindrops on a pink rose and its leaf

Linking to Pink Saturday, Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Water World Wednesday, Garden Party Thursday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off.  Thank you for visiting here first!

Today is my hubby’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Rick!

Multi-colored roses and a peony from our garden in a birthday bouquet

Participating in Thursday Challenge (Bright Colors), Orange You Glad It’s Friday, Pink Saturday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Monday Mellow Yellows, Our World Tuesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Macro Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Garden Party Thursday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, My Romantic Home, and Saturday Show Off. Click on curly letters above to see latest pretty pictures here. Thank you for your visit here, very, very much. See you back soon!