Here’s one of Seattle’s hidden gems, the Volunteer Park Conservatory, all decked out in its bright new LED lights. They were installed not only for the winter holidays but also to kick off its 2012 Centennial celebration. I read that there are only three remaining Victorian glass conservatories in the U.S.A.— this one, the smaller one in Tacoma, WA, and the one in San Francisco. What an architectural and historical treasure we have here!

Visit Thursday Challenge (Light), Skywatch Friday, Outdoor Wednesday, and Scenic Sunday, for fascinating photo frolics. Click around the blog here first, if you have a minute. The banner Sara’s Fave Photos will get you the complete collection.

When a sunset gets going in the pink mode, it can really get going, but you have to be quick to get it at the peak. This view to the southwest in my backyard was perfect for yesterday’s display of the year, sunset-wise. The photos taken seconds right before and right after this one were great, but this one was oh-my-goodness—to me, at least. I sure love the digital camera thing that lets you take so many, because in the film days, I might have taken only one or two and not gotten this show. And I surely wouldn’t be sharing it with the entire world!

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Hope you don’t mind my continuing to delve into the archives at exactly six months opposite our weather right now. These irises in my garden were photographed on the same session as the sunny June garden photo a couple of posts down. In June there are so many lovely candidates for the blog that many pretty flowers get passed over. In December we are extra glad to see them. I hope you agree.

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Since it’s so gray and cold out now as we approach the winter Solstice, let’s take a look at its opposite, a scene from my garden in June. Isn’t the pink, fluffy meadow rue sweet? Looking at the photo data I see that it was taken at 6pm. It’s a long time dark at that time now, of course. But isn’t it nice to know that the sun will return, in all its garden glory?

Visit Shadow Shot Sunday, Scenic Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Pink Saturday, Today’s Flowers, and Weekend Flowers for more photo entertainment. Fun and free! Of course, feel free to browse around here first, perhaps checking out a new tag or category. Click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the complete blog.

Well, sunset comes early now, that’s for sure, so we just have to enjoy it when we can. I missed a really spectacular sunset last week with just a glimpse as I drove along, so I was extra happy to see this sweet one that I could photograph, even if just delicate pink and not red. I’ll take it. And do you notice almost a rainbow reflection in the water? I can’t quite figure it out. I love the mysterious reflection and I’m calling this my Best Post of the Week.

Stop by Scenic Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Weekend Reflections, Skywatch Friday, Pink Saturday, and Watery Wednesday for lot of photos on a theme. As always, especially if only one photo below, you can click on Sara’s Fave Photos to view the complete blog here.

Happy note: Only 16 days ’til the solstice means just 32 days until days are lengthening and longer than today!

A visit to a friend’s garden yielded some actual flowers blooming. These little pretties look as good from the back as the front, I think.

Visit Ruby Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Shadow Shot Sunday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Macro Friday, Macro Monday, and Macro Flowers Saturday for lots of photo fun. Of course, you are invited to look around here. Clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos will give you the complete blog.

We were in Kennewick, WA, at the edge of the Columbia River, not too long ago. There was a smoky fire in the area which I must admit made the sunset even more beautiful.

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Oh, I love the Volunteer Park Conservatory. Is it any wonder I made a book about it? A recent visit to their unendingly beautiful and changing displays yielded this photo of orchids in a stray beam of sunlight. And just for fun, there’s a bonus photo below showing one of the unusual and creative plant combinations that delight me so. That one is SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), but I have tweaked the orchids slightly.

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I took this photo from my bedroom window exactly a year ago. This year I found out that the horse in our neighbor’s pasture absolutely loves to eat those cosmos flowers which I planted much too near the fence. Next year I’ll plant enough for both of us.

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That overlook near my house means a lot to me. I love scenic photos but it’s so challenging living a regular life with buildings and telephone wires always getting in the way of the sky. This blessing of a place has yielded several peaceful images of dusk over water, and I am grateful.

For you Seattle locals, there’s going to be a Bookfest in Kirkland this weekend, and I’ll be there signing my book at booth #20 AND giving a talk and slideshow at noon on Sunday, Room 2 at the Community Center. Please come and say hello!

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The Burien WA Farmers Market was a perfect place to visit on Thursday. Fruit and vegetables were plentiful, beautiful and cheap, and look at these flowers! The grower said he cuts back his mums not once, but twice, to get them flowering so compactly and timing them to bloom for this fall display. I wish I could have bought them all!

Visit Ruby Tuesday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Today’s Flowers, Color Carnival, Outdoor Wednesday,  Scenic Sunday, Mellow Yellow Monday, and Weekend Flowers for more fascinating photo fun, and be sure to click on Sara’s Fave Photos to view the complete blog if you see only one photo below.

You say clemAHtis, I say CLEMatis; let’s call the whole thing off. Oh, that was a great movie. Ginger and Fred, forever! But I digress from my subject: beautiful magenta pink clematis flowers, climbing up a friend’s wall. I tried to grow them once, no luck, and now I think I’ll just visit pretty ones like these.

Visit Pink Saturday, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Macro Monday, Macro Friday, Today’s Flowers, and Color Carnival, why don’t you? Do click on Sara’s Fave Photos above if you see only one photo below and it will bring up a nice dozen or so for your viewing pleasure.