Eat Your Veggies!

 

It seems like every year, the Desert Botanical Garden grows a different selection of vegetables in the herb and vegetable garden.  The vegetables always look so beautifully shaped and tasty like this perfect green pepper.

On one visit I saw this beautifully shaped head of cabbage and this equally beautiful eggplant.

This cauliflower was spotted recently.  I can think of several ways to prepare this, roasted or in a soup comes to mind.

The garden seems to always have some peppers growing and I always wonder if they get harvested and used by someone at the garden.  I would certainly be temped.  You can't beat fresh vegetables straight from the garden.

Remembering the Future Revisit

 

When I stopped at the Heard Museum last weekend, I took the opportunity to take another look at the current exhibit called "Remembering the Future".  I've posted several photos from this show, you can see two of them here and here.  I love all the pieces in this exhibit.  They really are exceptional.

Today I'll feature a few more pieces I admired.  Above is a painting called "Wild Horses" by Quincy Tahoma.

And, on the right is one called "Prayers of a Harmonious Chorus" and it was painted by Helen Hardin.  I could see that one hanging in my house.

This last one is called "Preparing for Green Corn Dance" by Fred Beaver.  

You might recognize the sculpture in the top photo.  It's called "Shaman with Fetish" by Michael McCleve.  I love the way it's positioned creating that wonderful shadow.  

The Robins Are Back

 

I noticed a week or so ago that the robins were back and once again feasting on the seeds from the ficus trees in the courtyard.  

On Saturday morning, I took my camera down to the courtyard and sat for a while until they got used to me being there and then I snapped a few photos.  

This one seems to be expressing some displeasure at my camera pointing its way.

Vim + Vigor Candles

 

Here is a new mural that made me turn around and go back for photos.  I found it on the side of the Vim + Vigor Candle Company on 16th Street.  

The mural continued to the back of the building which was fenced, but I put the camera through the fence and snapped a photo.  I just couldn't get a good one of that green section way back there.

This certainly adds some eye-popping color to this section of 16th Street.  The signature on the mural was simply SLD. I couldn't find a name to go with those initials but I will say, I like this one very much.

Taking part in Monday Murals.  

Bloop, Beep, Whistle, Bop, Whir

 

I got an email from the Heard Museum about a summer event planned for Saturday (June 25th), and when I read that the Hopi R2 was the featured guest, I decided to go and see that little "droid" once again.  Three and half years ago I took a trip to Flagstaff and while there visited the Museum of Northern Arizona to see an exhibit called "The Force is With Our People".  It was all about the influence of the Star Wars movies on Native American artists.  It was a great exhibit and I posted about it here.  The man with his hands up is the engineer who created the Hopi R2. His name is Joe Mastroianni. 

The man is this photo is the artist who painted the Hopi R2 with typical Hopi pottery designs.  His name is Duane Koyawena and he is a member of the Hopi tribe.  

This shot just gives an example of the size of the crowd there to see the R2-D2-like character and its creators.  There are many more standing behind me.  The presentation  was clearly a hit with families. 

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today. I'm featuring some colorful doors in Tucson. 

Something New

 I was in Scottsdale briefly yesterday and found a new art piece on the Scottsdale Waterfront.  These colorful, mosaic balls were a pleasure to see.

These colorful balls put a smile on my face and I must admit, that wasn't easy.  News has been pretty dire here in the US the past few days.  Between the January 6th hearings and the totally damning testimony and a Supreme Court that appears to have gone completely off the rails, life here has been a bit depressing.    I'm struggling to make sense of it all.

Pride Month

 

When I visited the Desert Botanical Garden last week, I noticed they were recognizing June as Pride Month.  They had flags at the entrance at the garden information desk and in another spot they had a large flag displayed that was a perfect photo opportunity spot.  

The Phoenix Pride parade and festival won't happen until mid-October.  That's because June is a notoriously HOT month in Phoenix.  Outdoor activities in June are not advised.

The Color Purple

 

I had plans to take an early morning walk at the garden yesterday because the last few mornings we've experienced some pleasant morning temperatures.  However, nature had other ideas.  At 6:00 AM yesterday morning the temperature was 88 degrees (31C) and we had some humidity in the air making it feel even warmer.  I decided that would be a bit too hot out in the sun. So instead, I perused my flower photos and made a couple of collages of some of the pretty purple blooms I've photographed.

There is something about purple blooms that appeals to me very much!

P.S. I forgot to check the spam file the last two days so I missed a whole bunch of comments.  Sorry about that..  I've been trying to check it every day but forgot all about the last two days.  I wish Blogger would get that fixed.  

Hard to Photograph

 

I think I mentioned before that this Chihuly sculpture was located in a spot that made it difficult to photograph.  In the mornings when I'm more likely to be at the garden, it was backlit by the sun causing deep shadows.

If I photograph it from the other side, the light on it is good but it tends to melt into the trees in the background.

I'm glad I got some night time photos of it.  That seemed to be the only way to enjoy the pretty colors of this sculpture.  

This one was called the Aqua Blue & Amber Chandelier.  

A Variety of Art Works

 

Doesn't this look like a scene I might have photographed in Italy or Mexico?  It's actually a painting and I don't even know who painted it.  I took this photo at an arts festival in Scottsdale and I failed to get the artist's name.  Shame on me.  Every time I see this photo in my photo file, I think I should really post this so, here it is.

While I'm at it, I'll post a few more art works that I've spotted recently like this jackrabbit sculpture I saw in a gallery window.  Judging from the fellow in the background, they must represent an artist who likes rabbits.

Next up is a painting by Svetlana Shalygina.  I really like the misty, abstract quality of the painting. It looks like you are seeing these people through a foggy window.

To the right is another painting I admired this time by David Michael Slonim. This painting is called "Orion".  I love the abstract lines and curves.  

Just a few artistic endeavors that I've enjoyed seeing while I've explored galleries and art festivals.

You Are Not Alone

 

Another new mural that I recently spotted is on the side of a building near Osborn and Central Ave.  I've always wondered what business was inside this building because the only sign on the buildings said simply "REN".  I discovered that stands for Recovery Empowerment Network.  It appears to be a type of mental health consulting business.  So the mural makes sense.  The sign on the side of the truck in the mural reads "Your story does not end here".  

Taking part in Monday Murals.

The Last Day for Chihuly

 

Today is the last day for the Chihuly in the Desert Exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden.  On Monday morning, the crews will arrive to start dismantling the sculptures.  It will probably take all week.  

When I went for that walk on Friday morning, I snapped a few more photos just for posterity.  

Above are the Blue Birch Reeds and Scorpion Tails that was located near the entrance.  To the right are the Paintbrushes that were located at the Cactus and Succulent Garden.

Above is a close up of the Lime and Lava Red Tower.  The whole thing is pictured to the left.  I took that photo about a month ago when the palo verde in the background were still blooming.

Of course, the Desert Wildflower Towers will stay right where they are.  The garden purchased these after the very first Chihuly exhibit at the garden back in 2008 and 2009.  Guests are greeted by these beauties right at the entrance to the garden.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  I'm looking at the grand homes in my home town.

Thirsty Birds

 

I took a walk at the Desert Botanical Garden yesterday.  My first time there in June.  I was only there for an hour because it started getting too warm to be in the sun but, I was happy to see that the fountain feature in the Contemplation Garden was full of water again.  It was empty for repairs the whole month of May.

The birds were happy too.  I saw quail enjoying the cool water and this white-winged dove also stopped by for a drink. 

They were joined by a mourning dove who was thirsty too.  I enjoyed sitting there and watching all the activity.

Artistic Ocotillo

 

I found this house in the historic district called Willo.  The Willo district is located between downtown and midtown and contains some very beautiful houses that have been lovingly restored.  This one caught my eye because of those artistic "ocotillo" plants at the front.

By artistic, I mean they are not real.  They are made from metal rods with "blooms" on the ends.

I didn't get close enough to be able to tell if the "flowers" were also made of metal or they were sculpted from some other material.  From a distance, the "ocotillo" almost looked like the real thing.  So much so that I almost missed them.  

Cosanti Bells

 

There is a collection of Cosanti wind bells on display at the Phoenix Public Library.  These are very elaborate bells that would cost hundreds of dollars.  

The bells are the design of the late architect, Paolo Solari.  I've posted photos of his work in the past. You can see photos of his studio and other bells here. 

Odd Shots Around Scottsdale

 

Just a few random shots that I have accumulated from around Scottsdale.  The top of a building in Scottsdale indicating a "plaza" but as near as I can tell, there is no plaza around this area.  Maybe there was years ago.

One of the fancy Scottsdale storm and sewer covers.  

Wings painted on the wall surrounding a mall shop under construction.  A good place for a photo-op.

  A fountain located in a sort of hidden corner along the Scottsdale Waterfront park.  I don't think many people notice it but, I like the mosaic design behind the water spout.  

A Phoenix Iconic Building

 

It's a been a long time since I've featured this iconic Phoenix building located on Central Ave. and Osborn Road. The building is a very distinct looking building with this side that resembles an old piano-roll for an old player-piano.  The building is part of the Phoenix Financial Center complex that is composed of this tall building and two single story, round buildings located on the other side.  The other side of this building is also quite unusual.  You can see the other side from this 2012 post.