Thursday, September 30, 2010

Mirrored Monarchs

A pair of monarch butterflies mirroring each other on a single branch.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Arena

The U.S. Airways Arena in downtown Phoenix is home to the Phoenix Sun’s Basketball team and many special events.  I caught a U.S. Airways jet flying overhead on its way to land at the airport.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Looking up

The Maricopa County Courthouse that I’ve shown before, looking up toward the top of the terra cotta building.  A different view altogether. 

Monday, September 27, 2010

Dragonfly

A brightly colored dragonfly sitting on the very tip of an Aloe leaf.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Royalty

The Monarch Butterflies are back at the Desert Botanical Garden.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Stylish Office

I have long admired this office building.  It has such beautiful style.  It’s located in the Willo Historic District.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Bridge over a troublesome wash

This bridge is located on the campus of Phoenix Country Day School, a college preparatory school for kindergarten through high school. It is a nonsectarian school that prepares graduates for admission to the nation’s top colleges and universities. You can read more about it here.

The campus is split by a wash that is mostly dry, but during heavy rains can fill with rushing water coming off of the mountains that cut through our city.

When I stopped to take this photo, I notice that the school was celebrating it’s 50th anniversary. 

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Neighborhood color

I spotted this colorful pot full of colorful flowers at the end of a driveway in a nearby neighborhood. 

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Artistic License

In my library of photos, I found this photo of a Jimson Weed bloom that I’ve been keeping for some time.  Many of my fellow bloggers have posted photos and stories about this plant before.  It is a highly toxic plant that is one of a group of plants known as the “belladonnas”.  It is known to have hallucinogenic properties and with that in mind, I decided to alter the state of my photo just as this weed might alter the state of one’s mind.  So, here you have my hallucinogenic version of a Jimson Weed blossom. 

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Downtown Mural

Another mural on the back of a building in downtown Phoenix.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Urban Lifestyle

This is a new building in downtown Phoenix that accommodates businesses on the ground floor and condominium living on the upper floors.  An old idea, updated.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Sales Technique

An interesting way to entice shoppers into a clothing store.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Simple Portrait

Of nature’s beauty

Friday, September 17, 2010

Climbing

People love to climb up to the hole-in-the-rock at Papago Park.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Big Eyes

What big eyes for such a small creature.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Release the Fear

A mural that is on the side of a vacant building near downtown Phoenix.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Getting “arty” with the art

An artistic shot of the three Chihuly glass artworks that remain at the Desert Botanical Garden.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Another Cactus Flower

The cactus that produced this bloom now makes a good background for this close up shot.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

It’s always a good idea….

....to look before you leap!

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Coming in for a Landing

Through the filter of some monsoon clouds.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Modern Day Castle

The Copenhaver Castle clinging to the side of Camelback Mountain. I told the story of this “home” in 2008. Click here to read it.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Frequent Guest

I just had to show you one more photo of one of the peach-faced love birds that have been frequenting my yard lately. With my new telephoto lens, I’m able to snap a few good shots without scaring them off.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Modern View

One of the homes on the slopes of Camelback Mountain. A modern look with a nice view.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Pool with a Grand View


This is where I took yesterday’s photo. It’s one of the model homes inside the One Lexington tower on Central Avenue. I did a whole series of photos on the building right out the window. You can see them here, and here, and here.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Pool Anyone?


Brand new, brightly colored pool balls. Makes you want to play a quick game.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Sunset behind the White Tank Mountains

A sunset shot taken from a Central Avenue high-rise.  There was some sort of fire going on in the city.  This was taken with the little point and shoot camera because it's all I had with me at the time.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

St. Francis

The St. Francis is a new restaurant in central Phoenix that has developed quite a following.  Everytime I've gone, the dining room has been packed.  That might be because of the great food and service.  I took this photo from the second floor looking down at the bar.  That is a garage door you see on the one side of the bar.  When the weather is nice, they open that door and have bar stools on the outside too! 

Friday, September 3, 2010

Bird of Paradise

A perfectly shaped Bird of Paradise bloom growing in a planter just outside the door to a grocery store! It’s enough to brighten my day!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Bounty of the Market

There are two things I’m always after when I head to the Public Market on Saturday morning, fresh baked bread (lower right) and flavorful tomatoes. It’s the tomatoes that are the real challenge. Although plentiful, finding one that tastes like the tomatoes I grew up eating is the real problem. I’ve had some success shopping at the Public Market if I look carefully and take a whiff of the stem end before buying. The heirloom tomatoes come the closest to that Midwestern taste.

Speaking of “whiffs”, see that basil in the upper left corner? The wonderful aroma of fresh basil whets my appetite while I’m shopping and probably prompts me to buy even more than I had planned.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Theme Day: Open Air Market

Open air markets in Phoenix, in the summer are a bit of a challenge, but we do have several around town that are thriving. The one I go to on the edge of downtown Phoenix, uses huge evaporative coolers at the ends of some of the aisles to help keep the temperature tolerable for the vendors and the shoppers alike. A little music to entertain the shoppers helps too.

Tomorrow I’ll give you a taste of why I go almost every Saturday morning in spite of the heat.

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