I can feel the light growing! The earth has tipped its axis and the daylight begins to return. Happy New Year to you and yours.

Red amaryllis and paperwhites, blooming even in dark times

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In Seattle, houseplants at a south-facing window get actual sunshine in the winter months.

Asparagus fern’s new frond reaches to the sun

Linking with Through My Lens Monday, Our World Tuesday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Tuesday’s Wordless Wednesday, Tuesday Treasures, Wordless Wednesday, My Corner of the World Wednesday 1, Little Things Thursday, Friday Bliss, Pink Saturday, Garden Affair Saturday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2 and All Seasons Sunday1. Thanks so much for visiting here and hope to see you again soon. Please sign up at upper right for notifications of new posts.

Autumn leaves have their own timetable. This from a couple of weeks ago, now all gone. The peak!

Red, orange and yellow, with blue skies and evergreens: the autumn rainbow

Connecting to Through My Lens Monday, Our World Tuesday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Tuesday’s Wordless Wednesday, Tuesday Treasures, Wordless Wednesday, My Corner of the World Wednesday 1, Little Things Thursday, Friday Bliss, Pink Saturday, Garden Affair Saturday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2 and All Seasons Sunday1. Thanks so much for visiting here and hope to see you again soon. Please sign up at upper right for notifications of new posts.

I know that usually these are all called Christmas cactus, but the points on the leaves mean it’s Schlumbergera truncata, or Thanksgiving cactus, and not Schlumbergera bridgesii. I am happy to report it is blooming the proper time, not that I do anything special to it. I have several different colors and they all seem to be liking the indoor weather this year.

Close up of a white Thanksgiving cactus flower with magenta edges

Bonus image!

Thanksgiving cactus with red flowers, with its planty friends

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I live in the Pacific Northwest so it gets kind of cold, with some frost, at least, most years. So that means moving the houseplants inside (ideally on an overcast day) and then finding room for them, which is the hard part. I’m still rearranging. South windows are so great in the winter, especially in Seattle. That low-angled sunshine (when it appears) will come all the way into the room in a few weeks. Outside the window is a peach tree on the right and on the left in back, a huge, ancient cedar tree.

Houseplants and shadows in a quick Seattle sunbreak

Linking up with Through My Lens Monday, Our World Tuesday, Tuesday’s Wordless Wednesday, Tuesday Treasures, Wordless Wednesday, My Corner of the World Wednesday 1, Little Things Thursday, Friday Bliss, Pink Saturday, Garden Affair Saturday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2 and All Seasons Sunday1. Thanks for visiting here and hope to see you again very soon. Please sign up at upper right for notifications of new posts.

This is the perfect time to see if any of your hydrangeas are ripe for drying. The petals need to be crepe-y,  sort of wrinkled, but still have good color. I put them in an inch of water, at the most. When the water evaporates in a few days, the flowers should still look wonderful. Voila!

Blue hydrangea flowers in a glass vase

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Just a year ago, took a quick tour of the Cactus House at Volunteer Park Conservatory, in Seattle. I hope they can open again soon. We all miss it so much. Bonus image below!

Pretty little hen-and-chick succulents (not cactus!)

Bonus image:

Stunning accordian-pleated cactus (also a succulent!). When they have more water, they expand.

Linking up with Through My Lens Monday, Macro Monday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Our World Tuesday, Tuesday’s Wordless Wednesday, Tuesday Treasures, Wordless Wednesday, My Corner of the World Wednesday 1, Little Things Thursday, Friday Bliss, Pink Saturday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2 and All Seasons Sunday1. Thanks so much for visiting here and hope to see you again soon. Please sign up at upper right for notifications of new posts.

My ‘Julia Child’ rose is still blooming its heart out.

Late afternoon sunshine, truly the golden hour for roses

Linking up with Through My Lens Monday1, Macro Monday, Our World Tuesday, Tuesday’s Wordless Wednesday, Tuesday Treasures, Wordless Wednesday, My Corner of the World Wednesday 1, Little Things Thursday, Friday Bliss, Pink Saturday, Garden Affair Saturday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2 and All Seasons Sunday1. Thanks so much for visiting here and hope to see you again soon. Please sign up at upper right for notifications of new posts.

Stringbeans were my mom’s favorite vegetable. Ever grow something because it reminds you of someone?

Blue Lake stringbeans from my garden

Also on Through My Lens Monday1, Macro Monday, Our World Tuesday, Tuesday’s Wordless Wednesday, Tuesday Treasures, Wordless Wednesday, My Corner of the World Wednesday 1, Little Things Thursday, Friday Bliss, Pink Saturday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, and All Seasons Sunday1. Thanks so much for visiting here and hope to see you again soon. Please sign up at upper right for notifications of new posts.

I know this is similar to a recent post, but I love this photo, too! We had a few days of sun in Seattle, and with a lot of cloudy and cool weather this year, the sunshine is so glorious. My flowers think so, too.

Various day lilies and sweet peas bloom in Seattle in July

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The good rain we’ve had this spring has been great for the garden. The back flowerbed hasn’t had much attention from me but the daylilies and rose campion are doing so well. Enjoy the glorious summer sunshine!

Perennial border in July

and a bonus image!

Close up of orange and red daylily

Linking to Through My Lens Monday1, Macro Monday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Our World Tuesday, Tuesday’s Wordless Wednesday, Tuesday Treasures, Wordless Wednesday, My Corner of the World Wednesday 1, Little Things Thursday, Skywatch Friday, Friday Bliss, Pink Saturday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, and All Seasons Sunday1. Thanks so much for visiting here and hope to see you again soon. Please sign up at upper right for notifications of new posts.

Jupiter’s beard (Centranthus ruber or red valerian), is very tough. I first saw this tall red flower growing out of a sheer rock face in N. California at the Waldo Grade. I figured, that’s one tough plant, so it’s either easy or invasive to grow. So far, nicely well behaved in my Seattle garden.

Jupiter’s beard blooming with purple canterbury bells in my backyard this week

Also appearing on Through My Lens Monday1, Macro Monday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Our World Tuesday, Tuesday’s Wordless Wednesday, Tuesday Treasures, Wordless Wednesday, My Corner of the World Wednesday 1, Little Things Thursday, Skywatch Friday, Friday Bliss, Pink Saturday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, and All Seasons Sunday1. Thanks so much for visiting here and hope to see you again soon. Please sign up at upper right for notifications of new posts.