Flowers are so lovely, but so ephemeral, their fleeting beauty one of the reasons we respond so emotionally to them. These peonies, roses and snapdragons from my garden are on their way out, but still so worthy of contemplation.

Bouquet with peonies, roses and snapdragons begins to fade

Linking up at Pink Saturday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Monday Mellow Yellows, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, My Romantic Home, Fishtail Cottage Wednesday, Macro Monday, Garden Tuesday and Creative Weekends Friday at the Pink Home. Do browse around here. “Bouquet” is a fine choice for the search bar at the upper right for some very fine images, if I do say so myself.

Hubby’s birthday was the other day and I baked him a cake. From scratch, of course. I really prefer wholewheat flour and there’s no way to have a cake like that without baking it myself. I think wholewheat tastes better, feels better, and of course is actually food instead of truly empty calories. But this is really a sentimental cake as my mother used to bake it and taught me how. I even used her old tube pan. It’s super light and fluffy and has a hint of orange. Wish you could have a slice! Happy birthday, hubby!

Orange-y, lemony Perfect Sponge Cake on an old glass cake plate

Please visit Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Monday Mellow Yellows, My Romantic Home, Fishtail Cottage Wednesday, Macro Monday and Pink Home. Thanks for your visit here and hope to see you again soon.

My next door neighbor has a Chinese dogwood tree planted on our common property line, and we are lucky to enjoy the blossoms every spring. This tree is getting pretty big already and I’ve read that they can get to 30 feet tall. Whew.

White Chinese dogwood tree blossoms in close up, about 3″ or 10 cm. across

Linking to Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Scenic Weekends, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, My Romantic Home, Fishtail Cottage Wednesday, Macro Monday and Garden Tuesday. Thanks for your visit here and do come again soon.

I adore this kind of cloud. I know it means that rain could come soon, but I don’t care. The joyous abandon of the white swirls and streaks, painting on the sky. And then they are gone.

The sky on a warm evening, strolling downtown in Burien, Washington

Joining Skywatch Friday, A Piece of Heaven, Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Scenic Weekends and Shadow Shot Sunday 2. Please use the search field above right to find some new photos you might enjoy. Thank you for your visit.

We have a neighbor who does a fine job with foxgloves, or digitalis, and yesterday I finally got to stop and take a photo when the flowers were at their peak, the sun was out, and the light was at a nice, slanty angle. Flowers look good all the time, but taking a photo of them is not as easy as all that, at least to get a photo that you want to look at twice. Isn’t their white picket fence the perfect backdrop?

Tall foxgloves, or digitalis, bloom along a white picket fence

Linking in at Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Scenic Weekends, Skywatch Friday, A Piece of Heaven, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, My Romantic Home, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Pink Saturday, and Fishtail Cottage Wednesday. Thank you for visiting and please let me know how you feel about what you see.

Bulbs are great. When you find some that are happy where you put them, their return each year is such a gift. These white Dutch irises are such a pretty sight in my May garden.

Simple yellow and white Dutch iris with moisture from a recent shower on its petals

Check out Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, My Romantic Home, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Macro Monday, Fishtail Cottage Wednesday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Water World Wednesday, Nature’s Footsteps Waters Sunday, and Shadow Shot Sunday 2. I appreciate your visit here. Have a great day!

This spot near my house is the most amazingly scenic overlook, at least when it is sunny. Did you know that the Seattle area gets more overcast days (220 per year) than any other US city? It just makes us giddy when the sun is out.

Big puffy clouds reflect on the water in Normandy Park, WA

Joining in at Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Scenic Weekends, Skywatch Friday, A Piece of Heaven, Water World Wednesday, Nature’s Footsteps Waters Sunday, and Weekend Reflections. Thank you for stopping by and have a great weekend.

I love lupines. [Where I used to live in Northern California, the blue ones grew wild on hillsides and they bloomed at the same time as orange California poppies. Unfortunately, if you have CA poppies in your garden, you will never get rid of them, and might be sorry you ever planted them and their resulting millions of offspring. However, in the right spot, it’s a winning combo. But I digress.] These purple ones in my garden make me so happy in the springtime, and return every year. Removing spent flowers really does extend the bloom time for them.

Lavender and purple lupines bloom in Seattle in May

Linking up at Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, My Romantic Home, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Fishtail Cottage Wednesday, and Shadow Shot Sunday 2. Anyone know any purple memes? Do share!

Our next door neighbors have a little baby, a girl nine months old. Do you believe that they got this playhouse for her? It is the cutest thing I ever saw, and she was quite happy sitting on the floor inside, chewing on the toy spatula that comes with it.

Playhouse with a picket fence nestles among the rhododendrons

Please visit Outdoor Wednesday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Scenic Weekends, Pink Saturday, My Romantic Home, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Fishtail Cottage Wednesday, and Shadow Shot Sunday 2. Thank you for your visit here and be sure to browse around.

These sweet, tiny, white bells are some of my very top-favorite flowers. Luckily, they thrive on the front (north) side of my house. A handful of them in a vase is a heady experience. The fragrance is sublime, and like a sweet dream. Can you tell I love these flowers? I really love this image of them and I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week.

Convallaria majalis, or lily of the valley, blooming in the garden

Do visit My Romantic Home, Floral Friday, Weekend Flowers, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Today’s Flowers, Macro Monday, Fishtail Cottage Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, and Straight out of the Camera Sunday. Thanks so much for your visit here. Try a new tag or category as long as you’re here, perhaps?