Yesterday Seattle had just incredibly gorgeous weather: delightfully warm, sunny, and calm. Did I mention warm and sunny? It has been so very cold and gray this year, so I treasure these rare bursts of heaven. The irises are gearing up.

My garden and part of my neighbor’s. Bluebells and forget-me-nots, plus irises to come.

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Tonight is the year’s longest night in the Northern Hemisphere. In Seattle, today was only eight hours long. But now the light returns! Today is Winter, but we move onwards every day towards the Equinox, and Spring.

The shortest day of the year means the darkest times are behind us.

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The early sunshine the other day was so beautiful. The peach tree leaves were still brightly colored.

Snowy morning scene in my backyard, sun peeking through the huge cedar tree

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Ooooh, that was one dark sky! Sunny, windy, but not yet rainy. I did no photo adjustment to speak of, either; this image is very faithful to that vista. But just for fun, put “rain coming” in the search bar and see if you like those any.

November rain finally coming, in Seattle, Washington

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Finally spent a little time cleaning up the rose bed. I get to be out there among them, admiring them, and they get all tidied up. My favorite time of day, too.

A spray of Peace roses, backlit in the late afternoon sun

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Out in the countryside, in Lewis County, WA, this lovely bovine posed for a photo. Mooooooo.

Beautiful soft brown cow, outstanding in her field

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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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Hubby was golfing on our little Whidbey Island vacation and saw these wave clouds! And it was so scenic, as well!

Looking north from the 7th hole at Galaxy Golf Course on Whidbey Island, WA, in early morning, on the first day of summer

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Sunbreak is a very Seattle word. Right now it’s pouring out, but an hour ago we saw the sun. For a minute.

Spring beauty in the sun, for a minute or two—wet streets and yellow forsythia.

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I have a plum tree with several grafted branches of different plums. I think this branch has golden shiro plums, and it blooms the earliest. Not too many pollinators are outside yet, and in previous years I haven’t gotten much fruit set. Today I went out there and used a soft art brush, maybe 4″ wide, to help out and make like a bee. I’ve done this before and it seems to make a difference.

White plum blossoms in early spring

The soft, wide brush I used to help with pollination

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Our little getaway to Port Ludlow WA last week had mostly sunny weather, but even the gray skies were scenic in this view of Puget Sound.

Trees, water and sky in nature’s monochrome

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A lovely and scenic winter drive in the Olympic Peninsula earlier.

View of Hood Canal in Washington

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