Iris

A beautiful iris blooming in my studio in a pot.

After the blooms fade I'll plant it in my garden.   

Hopefully, it will like it there and give me more flowers next year!

Linking with:  Macro Monday
                        Through My Lens
                        Image-in-ing

Nothing But Blue Skies

And, horribly hot temperatures.  Our high today was 94...August temperatures in June.  I shudder to think what August will be like.  Some weather people think this is the heat before the monsoon season, which used to bring at least a couple of inches of rain in July and August.  It would be lovely if that happened this year.

Linking with:  Skywatch Friday

Favorites

These are one of my favorite wildflowers, and they're blooming all over these mountains right now.

Splendid Gilia (Saltugilia splendens) is a member of the phlox family; this particular species is only found in Southern California, growing in the transverse and coastal mountain ranges. 

The flowers are tiny, about the size of a dime, but strikingly beautiful. 

Other common names are woodland gilia and Grinnell's gilia.  They don't make good bouquets, as they wilt after a couple of hours, so I content myself with just taking photos of them.

Linking with: Floral Friday

Wordless Wednesday - Ruffles

Linking with: Wednesday Around the World

                       image-in-ing

Berry Blossoms

Down by the creek the brambles are blooming. 

I can never remember (until the fruit ripens) if these are raspberry or blackberry bushes. 

They're so lacy and delicate.

The bees love them and, after the fruit ripens, so do the birds. 

To see what Tuesday looks like around the world, click this link  Our World Tuesday

Nature's Gold

Nature has so many shades of beautiful golds and yellows. 

Far more in Her sunsets and flowers than I could ever hope to mix up on my palette. 

I love the crinkly texture of these Icelandic Poppies... 

And, the other-worldly look of their stamens. 

Linking with: Monday Mellow Yellows
                       Macro Monday
                       Amaze Me Monday

Sunday Sunlight

Some pink dogwood blooms at the local nursery back in late April. 

The weather has been so hot/cold/hot here it's a wonder anything has managed to bloom or produce fruit.  The past two days have seen lows of 40 F and highs in the low 50's, while the preceding days saw highs in the 80's and lows of only 60 F!  

Blue Sky and Sweet Scents

This patch of wild sweet peas by Highway 18 in Sky Forest blooms reliably every year.  I always try to make sure I get a photo of them.  I've tried to get them to grow by my house, but I think I get too much shade.  You can find them all over up here in early summer, and the scent is wonderful! 

Linking with: Skywatch Friday