Sweet Ride

When I was in high school a Corvette was my dream car so, when I saw this one in a parking lot, I had to stop and get a picture.

Spring Training

I have a guest photographer today. Marcella Vitulli took this shot at Phoenix Municipal Stadium at one of the last Spring Training games of the season between the Oakland A’s and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Spring Training in Arizona draws crowds throughout the month of March and brings a lot of die-hard fans to the state.

About 15 years ago, I worked on a project in Chicago that took a little over 2 years to complete. I was in Chicago all week and flew home to Arizona for the weekend. I remember when I’d fly home on March weekends, the plane would be full of Cubs fans, some dressed in full cubs uniforms, heading to Phoenix to catch a game.  Every now and then, the pilot would say something about all the cubs fans on board and the plane would erupt in cheers.

Thanks Marcella for sharing this great shot!

Fleeting Beauty

My backyard cactus bloomed again this week. 

Two gorgeous blooms only there to enjoy for one day.

Waiting

I found this fellow sitting in a tree and watching what was going on below.

Orange & Purple

A great combination of colors.

Party

I joined my good friend David for a party to celebrate the new location for an interior design company called Palavela Home in Scottsdale last Thursday night.  As we were leaving, I snapped this picture of the entrance.

Patterns in the Sky

Contrails made some interesting patterns in the sky behind Julie (Scottsdale Daily Photo) and Dave’s (Tamarindo Daily Photo) house last Friday night.

Nudge

Mamma duck is giving her little ones a little push down stream.

Do these stripes……

.....you know the rest

Red

Cactus is not the only thing blooming right now!

Getting Ready to Dine Out!

In today’s photo you see artist Thomas Blee-Carlyle creating a chalk drawing in front of Copperstar Coffee to let everyone know that they will be participating in the Dine Out for Life event on April 28th. This international event happens once a year and benefits HIV/AIDS organizations. The Phoenix organization this event benefits is Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS but, you can check the international web site for beneficiaries in your location. This is one of the easiest ways to make a contribution. All you have to do is go out to eat on April 28th at one of the participating restaurants and enjoy yourself. If you are in the Phoenix area, check the Dining Out for Life Phoenix web site to see a list of participating restaurants. Other areas can check the international site to find participating restaurants near you!


Mark your calendar and go out to eat on April 28th!

Southwestern Styling

Southwestern style in Old Town Scottsdale.

Blue

An office building near my house all decked out in blue!

Alien

Doesn’t this look like it might have arrived from some distant planet?  This is a succulent known as Stapelia Grandiflora and as the “grand-flora” name implies, it produces a huge flower that to me looks quite alien. 

Interesting Lines

This home in the Biltmore Estates had some very interesting modern lines and a lovely cactus garden.

Chase

Everyone knows the name, here is their headquarters in Phoenix.  In the foreground are the steeples of St. Mary’s Basilica and in the background is 44 Monroe, a new luxury apartment building in downtown Phoenix.

Vincent:

Vincent is a very well know French restaurant that has long been the celebration destination for many people in Phoenix.  However, some might not know about the little bistro at the back of the restaurant that is open for lunch.  Since it is close to where I work, I often have lunch here.  It’s like taking a one hour vacation in Paris. 

The small photo shows the entrance to the Bistro part of the restaurant.  Check out their web site here.

Colorful

This colorful array of spring flowers can be seen from the street as you pass by this building.  Tomorrow I’ll show you where.

Corkscrew

I love the corkscrew-like twist on this lovely agave bloom.

Blue Heron

This graceful fellow had his eye on the water at Papago Park.

Byzantine Cross

This gentleman has added some unusual tail-lights to the back of this classic pick-up truck. Given that object in his window, I’d say he likes the look of Byzantine Crosses.


I shot this one straight out of my windshield. Sorry for that little bit of window glare.

Huge Bloom

I saw this gorgeous bloom and a more like it last weekend.

That flower is about the size of a dinner plate!

Phillip C. Curtis

One of my favorite galleries at the Phoenix Art Museum is the Phillip C Curtis Gallery.  Curtis was the founding director of the Phoenix Arts Center which eventually became the Phoenix Art Museum.  He was an artist inspired by the surrealist style and was sometimes called a “magical realist” or “the Magritte of the old west.”  This painting is called “The Gift Bearers” and it was represented at the Arts & Flowers show by the arrangement next to the painting created by Nanette Holt.

Asian Arrangement

Here is another floral arrangement from the Arts & Flowers show at the Phoenix Art Museum.  This one was located in the Asian Art Gallery.

Nose Dive

This bee has taken a nose dive into a desert globe mallow bloom.

1,000 Posts

Today marks my 1,000^th post so I thought I’d celebrate with a photo of one of my favorite subjects, the Chihuly Towers at the Desert Botanical Garden.  This time with a Yucca bloom in front of it.  I can’t believe I’ve reached this benchmark.  Thank you to all of my followers for keeping me inspired.

Adapting to the Environment

If you plant an agave under the edge of a building, it will be difficult for those tall blooms to grow.  This one adapted to the circumstance.

Men & Machines

Here is another entry from the Arts & Flowers exhibit at the Phoenix Art Museum.  This one represents a modern painting that is untitled but described as Men and Machines.  The artist is Hugo Robus.

The floral arrangement was created by Wanda L Collins of Desert Designers Garden Club.

Arts & Flowers 2011

It’s time for the annual Arts & Flowers show at the Phoenix Art Museum and it will be up through the weekend so if you are in town, check it out. This is the show where floral design artists choose a work of art in the museum and create a floral arrangement to compliment it.



The one I have pictured was my favorite but, it wasn’t an easy choice. There were many clever designs. The artwork is called “White Buffalo Ceremony” by artist Fritz Scholder.

The floral arrangement is by Anna Starkey of Mayesh Wholesale Florist.
 
I'll show you a few more every now and then.

Theme Day: Edges

A view of Phoenix looking over the edge of South Mountain.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants