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.

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.

While we were camping at Deception Pass, our friends with a boat invited us to it for a drink. They keep the pretty cabin cruiser docked at the Cap Sante marina in Anacortes, WA, only a few minutes away from where we were. The magic of cellphones! Walking out to their slip, I was just blown away by the beauty of the sun, the water, and the scene. This one, too, is just straight out of the camera. Love those sunny days.

Take a look at Scenic Sunday, Color Carnival, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Skywatch Friday, A Piece of Heaven, Weekend Reflections, and SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) for other neat photos. Thanks so much for stopping by here, and please do leave a comment if you have something you’d like to say.

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).

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!

Sometimes I like the bud stage almost more than the fully blooming stage. All the possibilities! Like the peony buds in the post below, this scene in my front yard feels so full of life to me. Behind the dianthus budding up a storm in front, there is pink sea thrift and white alyssum blooming in back. The shadows on the rocks make me happy, too, especially in this typically gray Seattle weather.

For more interesting photos, visit SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Scenic Sunday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Pink Saturday, Floral Friday, Outdoor Wednesday, and Shadow Shot Sunday 2. And thanks for stopping by!

Such great, round, pregnant shapes. It’s marvellous to think that these tight little spheres expand to the big, fluffy blooms like the one in the post below. By the way, I measured that one and it’s a full 7 inches across, and still going strong days later. I love peonies.

Visit Macro Monday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Pink Saturday, Floral Friday, Outdoor Wednesday, Skywatch Friday, A Piece of Heaven, and Shadow Shot Sunday 2.  Do browse here first, OK? And thanks so much for visiting!