Seattle’s Volunteer Park has a spectacular and beautifully tended Dahlia Garden with hundreds of varieties, and now’s the time to visit. With the unusually sunny weather we’ve been having, gardens are so happy, even though more water is needed. It’s on the big lawn across from the Conservatory. If you can, get there while it’s still at its peak. I’ve added a photo of the garden sign so you can find it easily if you go there.

Check out Today’s Flowers, Pink Saturday, Floral Friday, Flower Art Friday, Flowers on Saturday, Weekend Flowers, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Scenic Sunday, Macro Monday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Mellow Yellow Monday and Ruby Tuesday 2. Please click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above to see the entire blog if there is only one image below. Thanks for visiting and come back soon, OK?

At the Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle the other day, the sun shining through the orchids was really wonderful. Those lights and darks really fascinate me. Sorry, but I have no idea of the name of this pretty.

I’m joining up at Today’s Flowers, Pink Saturday, Floral Friday, Flower Art Friday, Flowers on Saturday, Weekend Flowers, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Macro Monday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Mellow Yellow Monday and Ruby Tuesday 2. If there’s only one image below, be sure to click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to see the whole blog here. Thanks!

Sunday was Victorian Day, the special 100-year birthday party for one of my top fave places on the planet, the Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle. The weather was perfect, and many, many people worked hard to make such a fun and creative event. The period costumes were fabulous! I love the pose of the woman and I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week.

Please check out Pink Saturday, My Romantic Home, Flower Art Friday, Flowers on Saturday, Skywatch Friday, Outdoor Wednesday, Weekend Flowers, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Floral Friday, Scenic Sunday, and Shadow Shot Sunday 2. Thanks for visiting and browsing around here first.

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.

OK, enough with the peonies, for a little while at least. Feast your eyes on these fuchsias. What an explosion of form and color. I took these at the VPC not too long ago, and if you have a chance, you should definitely check out their displays. So many kinds, and all so graceful. Little ballerinas, perhaps?

Check out Macro Monday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Pink Saturday, Floral Friday, Color Carnival, and Ruby Tuesday 2. If you like these photos, sign up for email notifications (Subscribe) at the upper right so you won’t miss a post. Thanks!

This peachy pink tropical rhododendron was at Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory a few weeks ago. What I love about these flowers is that unlike regular rhodies, they are fragrant, as well as beautiful. Such a sweet, charming aroma, wafting through the air. Hope you get to see and smell one in person some day.

This post is or will be linked to Macro Monday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Color Carnival, Shadow Shot Sunday 2 and naturally, Pink Saturday. Also, the glowing center really makes me happy, so I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week.

Don’t forget that you can download a free copy of my “Seven Secrets to Better Flower (or any!) Photos” on the sidebar at right. No fancy equipment needed to take scrumptious photos. It’s not the camera, it’s you!

Oh, that Seattle Volunteer Park Conservatory and its orchids! A total sensual delight, especially when a stray bit of sun reveals even more frills and curves. I am a fan.

You might explore Mellow Yellow Monday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Macro Monday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera),  Color Carnival, and Shadow Shot Sunday 2. Please leave a comment here if you have something to say; don’t be shy.

This grape-leaf passion flower, or Passiflora vitifolia, is in Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory, seen on a recent visit. It’s also on page 32 of my book, Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory, available on this website, at the Conservatory’s Gift Shop, and also on Amazon, by the way. I think this image might even be better than the one in the book! Oh well, that’s the way it goes. Sometimes the flowers pose so prettily for the camera, don’t they?

Interesting photo memes include Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Macro Monday, and SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), and it looks like Color Carnival is happening again, too!

Dear readers: I’ve been to several craft fairs with my book, “Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory: Blooming Month by Month” and many people have told me what a great a gift it is for an older person who might be hard to buy for. People all over the country are enjoying the luscious photos of beautiful flowers displayed in Seattle’s iconic, threatened Conservatory, and how they change through the year.

Since Mother’s Day is Sunday, I’ve made a special offer on the shipping costs. Now U.S. Priority Mail shipping and handling is only $5.99 for up to THREE books, either paperback OR hardcover, and orders of four books or more are free shipping! That means you can get one for your mom, one for yourself and one for a friend, too, for just the $5.99 shipping cost (to the same continental U.S. address), and if you want to get a head start on the holidays, totally free Priority shipping on orders of four or more books to one U.S. address. Canada shipping is less, also, but will be sent First Class Mail. Please see Book Order page for more details, and the Home page here for more about the book, including sample pages.

If you’d like me to send your order directly to the recipient, please add that info in the Paypal comments section. Double check that address, because that’s exactly how we’ll send it. And if you’d like a special inscription with the recipient’s name along with my autograph, please include it there as well.

Books arrive in a pretty tissue wrap and include a gorgeous Angel’s Trumpet bookmark.

If you’d like it to arrive by Saturday, you must order by midnight Wednesday to be sure of it arriving on time. Thank you!

Tonight I was at the Volunteer Park Conservatory, attending its annual Friends of the Conservatory meeting. The first part was in the Conservatory itself, with perfect late afternoon light showing off many of the exquisite floral displays to perfection. Here is an orange hibiscus flower, all glowing in the light.

Please explore Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Mellow Yellow Monday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Macro Monday, and Macro Flowers Saturday, if you have a minute or two. If you’ve arrived via a link, clicking on the curly letters of Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above will get you the complete photo collection here.