Dahlias will do the trick when in a picture taking pinch.

At the end of a busy, fun, slightly stressful at first, productive and beautiful day,

I am mourning the death of my camera battery, and waiting for a new one to arrive.

The flowers in my garden seem as beautiful as ever these days and sunflowers are bursting out all over the place.

It does occur to me however, that I have yet to share these beautiful dahlia photos taken in my friend's garden about a week ago. She called me on Friday to tell me about her huge beautiful pie pan sized Dahlia, and she knew I'd come right over with my camera.

In fact, I went twice that day.

Her garden has been both an inspiration to me and mine,

and the bearer of more than a few of my seedlings and bulbs.

I doubt I'll be getting any of her Dahlia bulbs though. One, she probably wouldn't give them up anyway, and two,

I don't think I'd have the patience for a flower so delicate for this climate

that it would need to be dug up and brought inside every winter.

But I sure am glad I get to take walks in her lovely garden every Friday afternoon

while she teaches my boy how to play me sweet music on the piano,

and teaches me how to make a garden beautiful.

A beautiful and blessed day indeed.