It’s been blessedly warmish, maybe 70 (27 C), but sunny, and we love that here in Seattle. Had to go to the archives of the spring trip to Port Townsend to find a water shot I really liked. Isn’t this a great feeling? To me, anyway.

Visit Watery Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday for more photos on their themes. Great memes, both of them. And try Scenic Sunday, too. You might try clicking on a new tag or category, or even a search (Pt. Townsend, perhaps?) can be fun. Return to the full blog at Sara’s Fave Photos.

I am very happy with this first real rose bouquet from my garden. The rosebushes were put in late last spring, so we couldn’t pick very much at all last summer, or at least not with any stem to speak of, to save the energy of the fledgling plants.

But after a year they are going pretty well, most of them—at least those that are not having real trouble with blackspot, mildew, and now I see critter holes near the roots of some of them. Sigh. My mom used to shrug and say, “The vicissitudes of gardening . . .” and what else can you say? That’s why we planted 18 rosebushes, so that I would be sure to be able to have a bouquet or two.

Happy Ruby Tuesday, all. See what the participants there have going on for the weekly celebration of rubiness. And you can always click on the Ruby Tuesday category in the sidebar to see some of my other photos showcasing the color red. Or try Color Carnival for more brilliant colors. Returning to the main blog is easy; just click on Sara’s Fave Photos.

It was actually drizzling, but no one seemed to care on Sunday’s Fourth of July, America’s independence celebration. This cloudy, rainy sky got lots and lots of viewers, with the help of enough fireworks to win a small war, it seemed, even though it was not yet really dark. The reflections over little Lake Burien (south of Seattle) were an added bonus. Happy Skywatch Friday! I’m honored to have my photo featured in this week’s edition.

I didn’t use a tripod but learned that a double elbow brace on the arms of a chair can have a very steadying effect. Take a deep breath, let if out, press the shutter slowly. It really helps in those low light situations.

Please feel free to browse around here, trying a new search or two. Returning to the latest post is easy; just click on Sara’s Fave Photos. And visit Scenic Sunday for more scenic views seen everywhere.

Friends with a house on little-but-cute Lake Burien south of Seattle invited us to a 4th of July party last night and there were fireworks set off from a barge. I actually brought my tripod and even read in my camera book about fireworks, but when it came down to it, I really don’t like tripods (they need to invent an easy clip-on and quick-remove thing to attach your camera and also be quick to set up, light and cheap!) so I wound up taking the shots handheld, but I’ve learned to adapt. First, I guessed and set the time to a full second, and then I braced my elbows on the arms of the folding chair. Not too bad, is it?

Visit Mellow Yellow Monday for more photos with gold or yellow in them. And after browsing around here, you can return to the full blog by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos here or above.

Dusk is my favorite time of day. I’m not usually up at dawn, so late in the day is my chance to see the fading light and softly glowing sky I love so much. This Normandy Park overlook of Puget Sound (which is a short walk from my house) even has some late-blooming dogwood gracing the view.

Visit Skywatch Friday for more magical skies around the planet. And do click on some new tags or categories while you’re here. Return to the latest posts by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos.

The rain never ceases to fascinate me in the garden. I love the almost spherical drops, just poised like that. I once saw a hummingbird take a bath in droplets like this on rose leaves, but of course had no camera with me. Every time I see perfect droplets like this on rose leaves I do think of that tiny bird, in the world’s smallest bathtub.

Visit Outdoor Wednesday and Watery Wednesday after looking around here. Return to the full blog by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos on top.

I like this post very much and have categorized it as Best Post of the Week.

This yellow King’s Ransom beauty is fragrant, too.  Most of the roses in my new rosebed had to be pruned off due to the rain (they got all brown and ugly) but this one made it to perfection for us. But more are in bud, so if the weather dries out a bit we’ll have some more soon.

Visit Macro Monday and Mellow Yellow Monday after browsing around here. To return to the latest post, click on Sara’s Fave Photos above.

Boat Haven at Pt. Townsend has a great walkway down to the docks, among other attractions. Gotta love those shadows. Visit Shadow Shot Sunday for more intriguing shadows seen everywhere and SOOC for more straight-out-of-the-camera shots.

Try clicking on “shadows” on the tag cloud lower left. After you’ve browsed here and there, return to the latest post at Sara’s Fave Photos above.

A view of Puget Sound from Port Townsend. Wasn’t that a nice sky reflecting in the water? I like this one so much I’ve tagged it Best Post of the Week.

Visit Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday and Weekend Reflections for more of the same idea.

Something new is the Google Followers gadget on the left. Please tell me if it works OK. I’ve wanted one for awhile but just figured out how to make it happen. Followers rock! Thank you, Marsha Perry of Perry Internet Consulting.

After clicking here and there on this site, return to the full blog by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos above.

Yet another rose from the rainy photo session the other day. This ‘Dolly Parton’ rose is one of my favorites, and the photo actually doesn’t do it justice. It’s the most scintillating shade of deep red-orange, wildly fragrant, and of course has that great name.

Visit Ruby Tuesday for more magnificent reds, and Color Carnival for more wild color.

You might try a new search term or tag like “red” or “pink” on this blog. Click on Sara’s Fave Photos to get back to the full blog after your wanderings.