This was on a roadside dahlia flower stand, pretty simple operation, gorgeous blooms. I love the way a sort of gray day was transformed into an explosion of light.

Macro Monday, Color Carnival, SOOC (straight out of the camera) and Mellow Yellow Monday are very worthwhile sites to visit. And they’re good categories to check out, too, here at Sara’s Fave Photos blog.

As I mentioned in the post just below, I love going to garden club flower shows to ooh and aah at the “hort” (horticulture or plant displays). This picotee begonia was four or five inches across and it was just gorgeous.

Visit Pink Saturday for more perfect pinkness, Today’s Flower for flowers around the world and SOOC Sunday for more straight-out-of-the-camera shots.

The latest post can always be found here by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos above. And I always encourage you to try something new here each visit. Perhaps a category like Pink Saturday?

Here is a  magenta and white waterlily for your enjoyment, seen at Hendricks Garden in the Federal Way Garden Tour last month.

Visit Shadow Shot Sunday, Today’s Flowers and SOOC for more great photos. And try clicking on a tag like My Garden, perhaps, for a new photo selection. If you’ve gotten here via the permalink, you can find the latest photos always at Sara’s Fave Photos above.

On a recent morning, this woman was calmly paddling her board across the shallow waters out towards the deeper waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, or all the way to Canada for all I know. I love the look of still water, and reflections are a bonus.

Visit Watery Wednesday, Blue Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday and Weekend Reflections for more interesting photos with a theme.

While you are here, you might as well explore a bit. Click on a new tag. Blue, perhaps? And if you’ve arrived via a link, be sure to click on Sara’s Fave Photos to see the entire blog. And check out my new book, Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory, if you have a moment, for more beautiful photography.

Continuing a theme, here is the Sol Duc (pronounced Sole Duck) River in the background swishing over the rocks. The Sol Duc is within the Olympic National Park in Washington State, in the Pacific Northwest.

There’s an unknown wildflower in front. Anyone recognize it? [later: Clairz says it’s fireweed! Yay, Clairz!]

Check out Scenic Sunday and SOOC (straight-out-of-the-camera shots). Before you do, browse around here a bit. What appeals today?

You can always return to the latest post by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos, above.

Pike Place Market is in full dahlia mode. I’ve read that our cold and rainy spring (and summer!) has wreaked havoc on the dahlia tubers in the fields, but you’d never know that at the Market. I especially love the completely unique and unusual combinations in the bouquets. Notice the dark green kale leaves for greenery. Wonderful!

Visit Pink Saturday and Macro Flower Saturday for more great photos in blogland. If you’ve arrived via the permalink, be sure to click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to check for more recent posts. And while you’re here, try a search for Pike Place Market, perhaps.

At the Dungeness Recreation Area north of Sequim in the Olympic Peninsula is a wonderful trail, free to use, of a bluff along the water of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The weather was quite cool and foggy but of course it was a great walk anyway, nice easy stroll, when what did I see but a bald eagle, sitting right there. He was maybe 30 feet away. The little Canon S90 didn’t do too bad, considering the low light and the distance. I loved that he was looking out at the view, same as us.

Let’s try a new meme. How about Camera Critters? A very popular group of talented photographers.

If you have arrived here from the permalink, you can get to the latest posts by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos above. While you’re here, be sure to check out a new tag or category. How about “Landscape”?

It’s been awhile since I showed you a display from the Pike Place Market in Seattle. This slice of flower heaven is an ever-changing spectacle of florabundance. I try to go every few weeks, and every time I am agog at the magnificent displays. Hope you like this recent one.

Visit Today’s Flowers for other flowers around the world. Color Carnival has more brilliant color. And Window Views (formerly Window Wednesday) has great shots with windows and doors.

And as long as you’re here, browse around by clicking on a new tag or category you’ve never tried before. Return to the latest post by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos.

Puget Sound near Seattle has many moods. This one was bright and exuberant, or at least the camera angle makes me feel that way when I look at it. Hope it doesn’t make you dizzy!

Visit Watery Wednesday for interesting water shots of all kinds and Outdoor Wednesday, too.

I’ll be away from my computer for a few days and hope to visit you when I return. Please leave a comment so I’ll know you visited! Thanks!

The Volunteer Park Conservatory had a great “Luau” event last evening, complete with behind-the-scenes tour. The flowers were ravishing as usual. That place is so magnificent. If you are in Seattle, you must go there. It’s even free, but they do accept donations. Their plants and flowers are not only perfectly at the peak of bloom, but they are arranged and displayed so beautifully and artistically. Hats off to them!

Macro Flowers Saturday, Color Carnival and Pink Saturday are entered today.

Try a search for “lily” while you are here. Why not? The latest post always lives at Sara’s Fave Photos above.