Irrigation

Here is another home in the Alverado historic neighborhood.  This one has some irrigation going on.

Many yards in the Phoenix area keep their lawns green by using irrigation.  If a neighborhood is on the irrigation system, neighbors will take turns turning on and shutting off the water according to a pre-defined schedule.  The water will come from an underground routing system.  Whoever is responsible for turning the water on will go to the well-like station and open the valve and gates so the water will flow.

Each yard receiving irrigation will be formed so there is a little lip around the edges of the yard to hold the water in.  The water fills up the yard after an hour or two of water release then is allowed to soak into the soil keeping the grass green and healthy.

Watching

This spiny lizard was watching me as I made my way along the path.  

I turned around so I could get a profile view!

Long way from the beach

I spotted this little display in front of an antique store along 7th Avenue.  The car, the board, and the bicycle would all fit in perfectly at Crystal Cove California.

Illegal Activity

The Saguaro Cactus is a protected plant in Arizona.  The statute states that "it is unlawful for any person to destroy, dig up, mutilate, collect, cut, harvest or take any living highly safeguarded native plant...".  Obviously, the people using this one for target practice, didn't get the message.  I remember many years ago when a man was using a saguaro for target practice and it toppled over and fell on him killing him.  Mother nature sometimes loses her sense of humor.

Make a salad

This little display at the Farmer's Market inspired me to go home and make a salad!

Hibiscus

In my back yard!

Tudor

It's been a while since I've posted a house from one of our many historic neighborhoods!  I found this modified Tudor style house in the Encanto-Palmcroft area.  I do enjoy the look of a Tudor style house.

Hiding behind masks

An interesting mural on the side of a gallery in downtown Phoenix.

Ladies Only

I was struck by all the great patterns in the ladies room at the Tempe Center for the Arts so when the coast was clear, I snapped a photo.  With Phoenix Daily Photo, you get to go where no man has gone before!

Tempe Center for the Arts

I've slipped out of Phoenix to show you the lobby of the Tempe Center for the Arts in Tempe Arizona. I love all the color in the lobby.  Tomorrow I'll show you a room at the center that many people never get to see.

Fronds

Fronds enjoying the sun!

Framed

These towers at the Cancer Survivor's Park appear to be framing the Viad Office Tower on Central Avenue.

Wood

Interesting decor inside this bar appropriately called "Woody's".

Close Encounter

Not something you would expect to see in a greenhouse!!

Chomp...chomp

This palm tree farm in south west Phoenix has employed a heard of goats to keep the grass between the trees trimmed neatly.

Beep..beep

Photographing Roadrunners requires you to be very quick!

I wasn't quite quick enough!

Making a big show....

This skinny cactus has produced a very large bloom!  

Isn't nature wonderful?

Painted Pyramids

Something tells me that the people who have painted this fence have and affection for Egypt.

Hillside Condos

I found this street of condominiums located in north Phoenix where the mountains start to appear.

The street doesn't look quite as steep in the top photo as it looked in person.

Ancient Civilization

Four weeks ago, my friend and I took a taxi from our hotel to the Coliseum.  As the cab rolled down the street, more and more ancient ruins began to appear until this massive structure loomed in front of us.  I was glued to the window, taking it all in.  It truly is a magnificent sight.

Eye, Eye

I went to the Science Museum yesterday afternoon and I thought it was particularly funny how I gravitated to all the same things that the 12 year-olds gravitated to.  There is still some kid left in me after all.

This giant telescope was very entertaining.  You look into it and your eye is projected on the other telescope hanging from the ceiling.  I stood in line behind several girl scouts just so I could have my turn.

Above it all

When I visited the village of San Gimignano in Italy, I got to see my first Antony Gormley "Iron Man" statue.  I've seen many of them on various blogs but never saw one in person.  This one was located on top of one of the towers of San Gimignano but, there were several at ground level too.

Garden

This condominium complex has a very talented gardener.  I love all those flowers mixed with the cactus.  The hot summer days are upon us so, I think they will be thinning back those flowers sometime soon.

View from above

This mural located in an alley downtown gives you a birds-eye view of a bicyclist!

Family Outing

The whole family was out for a stroll as Mama watched the young ones cross the road...

...and taught them how to climb over the rocks on the other side.

Fire Power

This little store in Bassano del Grappa was aflame with chilies everywhere.

They were even decorating the outside.

Tradition & Technology

The gondolier plays a traditional role in Venice but, they stay up to date with today's technology.

The Island of Burano

I was really struck by the beauty of Burano.  The colorful buildings are spectacular and it's so pleasant to walk around the city.

If you love color as much as I do, you need to visit here.

More Tranquility

Many of you have asked where I went in Italy and what I did, so here is a quick synopsis.  I went with a very good friend whose nephew is on a two year work assignment in Italy working in the city of Treviso in northern Italy, very near Venice.  We decided to make the most of a visit to see him so we flew into Rome and stayed for two days, then on to Florence for two days and then to Siena where her nephew met  us.  We spent that weekend touring Tuscany and then on to his place in Treviso.  He took the following week off from work and acted as a superb tour guide driving us all around northern Italy and of course taking us to Venice.  It was a fabulous trip and I know that I've seen places in Italy rarely visited by tourists as well as the most popular places.

The above photo was taken from the water bus as we returned from the island of Burano back to the city of Venice.  I'd feel mighty alone out there in that tiny boat!

I'll post some other shots as I make my way through the 2500 pictures I managed to download.  I'm afraid no one in Italy would ever recognize me with out a camera in front of my face.

Theme Day: Tranquility

There is something supremely tranquil about watching a beautiful butterfly gracefully make its way from flower to flower.
In Phoenix, I have two places I go when I want to get away from everyday stresses and you probably won't be surprised by either.  The Desert Botanical Garden is my first choice and when the heat of the summer makes that choice difficult, I choose the Phoenix Art Museum and just wander the galleries.  Today's butterfly was spotted at the Desert Botanical Garden.

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