At the incredible Bayview Nursery in Whidbey Island, WA, the combination of horticultural skill AND beautiful, artful display came together brilliantly in this tall raised basket of starry petunias.

Many colorful petunias displayed in an overhead basket on a standnursery

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The peonies are beginning to bloom! I am so excited. Even only halfway open the perfume is astonishing.

Almost open pink peony

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A quick flash of sun against a dark rainy sky, that’s what I love about spring garden photos. The pink dogwood to the right is just in bud, but the Japanese magnolia is in full bloom.

Japanese magnolia tree blooms in a Seattle sunbreak

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I love this little cutie, and it blooms in the spring for me, even though there’s not a whole lot of sun for it here in Seattle, even in my south window. But be careful! Each flower is about a centimeter across, less than half an inch. The hairy stuff helps protect it from sun and water evaporation.

Fish hook cactus (ferocactus latispinus) blooming, with more buds

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Someone sent me the most wonderful flowers as a get-well bouquet. I am beyond thrilled. It will help speed recovery for sure!

Orchids and roses in a charming bouquet, for me!

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From a few years ago, my friend Cindy’s deck garden.

Cindy’s deck in August

Brugmansia

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From the other side of the year, a very frilly peony flower in my garden.

Pink and white peony blossom in the June garden

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I used to call this a Christmas cactus but I learned that the leaves with the points are Thanksgiving cactuses (or cacti), and there are also Easter cactuses. But it’s not even Halloween yet!

My Thanksgiving cactus is blooming happily in October

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Not this year’s roses, but picked exactly at this time of year. Every year I reward myself with an autumn bouquet.

Mixed roses in a glass vase, an October symphony

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When the petals of your hydrangea flowers get a little like crepe paper, they dry very well. Put in a vase with a half inch of water. By the time the water evaporates, the flowers will be dried enough to last and last.

Colors of mauve, purple and soft blue appear as the blue flowers mature and get ready to dry.

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I hate cutting my roses since I can see the rose bed from the house and they look so lovely out there, blooming for me and any passers-by. But I had to pick them ahead of the big rain.

Garden roses in bouquets, with late lavender and smoke bush leaves

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Yesterday I picked all the open roses ahead of the big rain expected tonight. When I cut roses I always bring a clean bucket with a couple of inches of water into the rosebed. As soon as I cut a stem I put it in the water so it doesn’t dry and seal up. Then right before arranging I cut the stems again while each stem is in a bowl of water in the sink, at a deep slant. It really helps them last longer in the bouquet. I love my roses.

Full blown garden roses, ready for a bouquet

Connecting with Through My Lens Monday, Our World Tuesday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Tuesday’s Wordless Wednesday, Tuesday Treasures, Wordless Wednesday, Thankful Thursday, Little Things Thursday, Friday Bliss, Pink Saturday, Garden Affair Saturday, and Shadow Shot Sunday 2. Thanks so much for visiting here and hope to see you again soon. Please sign up at upper right for notifications of new posts.