I'm feeling very cheerful today so I thought some cheerful photos were appropriate. There is a big sunflower plant growing in the herb and vegetable garden at the Desert Botanical Garden and when I was there two weeks ago, there were quite a few of those big, sunny flowers on it.
The butterflies seemed to be very happy to have the blooms to enjoy.
The flowers were making the bees happy too!
I'm hoping these big, bright blooms make you happy too!
I had the TV on all day yesterday watching the inauguration of the new President and Vice President and continuing into all the events that followed. It felt so good to be able to watch leaders who instill a feeling of pride and hope. (I borrowed the above photo from the New York Times and photographer Erin Schaff.)
And as the evening celebrations started, I did a little celebrating of my own. This event was certainly worth a special bottle of bubbly. And even though I was home instead of with friends, I took heart in knowing that all my friends were doing exactly the same thing in their respective homes. We may not be able to celebrate together, but we are all celebrating this event.
I took these photos over a year ago when shopping was an enjoyable pastime. This is looking in the door of a home decorating store at Kierland Commons in north Scottsdale. It feels like ages since I've been to that shopping center. I miss those days when I could meet a friend for a leisurely lunch and an hour or two of just wandering through interesting stores.
Anyway, I liked the look of all those colorful glass bulbs hanging around that fountain. They make a pretty display even if they are not necessarily functional.
These three quiver trees are growing in containers at the Desert Botanical Garden. Quiver trees are native to Southern Africa and their official name is Aloe Dichotoma.
I was pointing my camera at some purple flowers when this little cactus wren hopped right up to me and gave me a curious look. It was like he was saying "what are you doing?"
And then he turned to the side and posed that way for a while, as if to say "Oh, you're taking pictures. Well this is my best side." Sometimes nature's little critters can be very cooperative.
I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today. Driving a Ferrari can get you special treatment.
I went for a walk at the Desert Botanical Garden yesterday afternoon and was surprised to see some kind of art installation going up. When I got home, I went to their website to see if there was any information about it and yes there was.
The exhibit is called Wind, Water, Earth by artists Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz. I'm pretty sure that's them up on the platform. This art exhibit will be done in three phases with this one being first. The next one will appear in late February and then another will arrive in April. This first one represents wind and according to the website, we'll be able to walk through it. I can't wait to see it!
It's been an exhausting week here in the U.S. Politically speaking, that is. I decided that I'd dedicate my post today to some beautiful things. It's kind of like breath of fresh air.
I browsed through my photos for some pretty shots and I chose these four. Above are some pretty iris I photographed at the Japanese Friendship Garden a few years ago.
To the left are some sky flowers that I saw at a local nursery.
Above is a white rose that was once in a bouquet of roses I had at home. I love this macro shot I took so much that I had it printed on canvas for my house.
And finally, one more rose growing in the rose garden at Steele Indian School Park in central Phoenix. Ahhh...a big sigh. That's just what I needed.
This is another siting I made on my long walk last Saturday. Part of the trail I take is next to one of our many irrigation canals. At one point, I saw this truck struggling to make a tight turn on to the the canal bank. The truck was from Salt River Project, the utilities company that supervises the canal system. On the back of the container on the truck I saw the word water and then under it "live fish". That's when I realized that they were going to dump a tank of water and fish into the canal. I've seen people fishing on the canal many times but I never thought much about how the fish got there. Now I know.
When I took that long walk last Saturday, I walked the full loop which brought me right up to the Arizona Biltmore Hotel. I've featured photos from this historic hotel many, many times on this site, most recently after Christmas in 2018. That's when I had the opportunity to stay there for two nights right before the holidays. When the pandemic started last March, the hotel closed temporarily but as this health crisis progressed, they remained closed. I never saw a sign that said why, just that they were temporarily closed. The hotel belongs the Hilton Waldorf Astoria hotel group so I knew they would survive. Now the website says they will open again in the Spring, possibly on March 1st. It also had pictures of some changes they made like adding a new outdoor bar. It sounds like they used the time to make some improvements. If we ever get back to some type of normal, it will be fun to explore there once again. I'll be looking forward to trying that new outdoor bar. 😊
Last Saturday, I took and extra long walk around my neighborhood. It felt good to get outside and enjoy the sunshine.
I took several photos along the way that I'll show over the next week or so. But, first up is my favorite tree. The last photo I posted of this tree, it was still full of leaves but they were turning brown. On Saturday it was completely bare. And, look at the ground under it. The gardeners must have been busy keeping the grass under that tree clean as the leaves fell. I'll keep my eye on my favorite tree. The next time it will have new buds on it.
I took the photo to the left to show as contrast. The ground below this tree is covered in leaves.
Two years ago I posted images of a series of murals giving tribute to David Bowie. You can see them here and here. They are wonderful murals that depict Bowie's chameleon-like personality.
Across the street from those murals were three more murals painted by three different artists. I've been trying to find some information on these murals for a long time with no luck at all. This one seems to have some kind of symbol painted on the bottom right but I can't tell if it is a kind of signature or a bit of graffiti. I decided it's time to show you these murals even if I can't give the artist full credit. This week I'm featuring one with what I think of as a dark fantasy image. Let's just say it's not a world I'd want to visit.
Taking part in Monday Murals.
What is it about fountains that we find so attractive? It probably has something to do with the artistry of the water flow and the rushing sound it makes. In Scottsdale along the paths at the area called the Scottsdale Waterfront is this fountain.
Remember those old slides I found last summer that I scanned? Here are three more. These slides didn't have dates on them which is surprising but I'm guessing these were taken in the late 70's.
The closest post office to me is right across the street from this restaurant that I haven't visited in a very long time. It's a place called Greekfest, a local Greek restaurant.
When I stopped at the post office recently, I noticed the patio and decided to take a closer look. I'm glad I did or I would have missed this pretty blue gate that can be seen at the back of the restaurant.
Another thing I found at the back of the restaurant was this fenced in garden. There were all kinds of herbs and a few fruit trees growing in this little patch. I had no idea that they were growing their own herbs and some fruits. When it's safe to eat out again, I'll make a point of visiting this place again.
I had a different post ready for this morning but I felt compelled to move it to another day because yesterday turned out to be a day that will go down in American history. I spent the day with that tingly, nervous, jittery feeling that I had on 9/11 almost twenty years ago. What I watched on the news coming from Washington DC was something I thought I would never see.
I've known from the beginning that our president was not fit for office and I've been appalled as he unfurled one chaotic situation after another. And I've been dismayed as his loyal followers became more and more irrational. I admit that I've been a bit on edge ever since the November election simply because of all the people who believe a perfectly normal, completely well run election was some how fraudulent. I watched yesterday morning as congress started the process of certifying our election eager to see a bit of history unfold. I did not expect to see a completely different bit of history. A very horrible piece of history and one I will never forget.
As I write this, congress has reconvened and the election will be certified. Good riddance 45!
I have a few more shots from that evening I spent at the Desert Botanical Garden for the Luminarias event. The big hill to the south of the garden was lit up with lights.
The yucca and aloes were lit with colored lights. They kind of look like fireworks in this photo.
It was magical walking along the lighted paths especially when the trees were twinkling with lights too.
To the right is one of several very large candle holders that were set up all around the garden. I'm glad I went.
A few weeks before Christmas, I had a craving for some Mexican food. I had recently learned that one of my favorite places, Los Sombreros had opened another restaurant that I thought might be closer to me than the one in Scottsdale. So I drove over there and ordered one of my favorites - smoked chicken enchiladas - to go, of course. I waited outside and discovered this little patio off to the side of the restaurant. That's where I saw this great mural. It looks like guests might be sitting on a patio in a Mexican village.
The inside was very pleasant also. A sign of the times is that this place was very quiet. There was one table of guests on that patio and one table inside on the opposite of this room. I'm not comfortable eating at a restaurant these days. I'll continue to do take-out or cook at home until I know it's safe.
Taking part in Monday Murals.
I took a walk in the neighborhood directly behind me called the Biltmore Estates. I've pictured some of the huge homes back there before on this blog. This time I have one that has an appealing symmetry to it. It's well balanced in both style and landscaping.
The owners of this house behind these gates have added those giant numbers to the gate recently. This was the first time I noticed that gold "75" on the gate.
I also took a photo of my favorite tree in the area. It is only now starting to turn colors. I'll have to go back soon and see if it's starting to shed those leaves.
This tree in another location was getting a very pretty red glow to it.
As I've said before, our desert climate shortens the tree cycle. As soon as these leaves fall, the new buds will start to show. It's one of the advantages of our climate.
I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today. I'm taking a close look at some interesting sculptures.
I'm not sure what prompted me to remember this house but about a week before Christmas I drove down this street to see if they still had all those giant orbs hanging on trees. I first spotted them back in 2010 and I don't think I've driven by since then.
You see, the street dead ends so it's not one you would even occasionally drive on. When I got to the end of the street and was about to turn around, I found this house hidden behind these two enormous trees.
Those trees are so massive, you can hardly see the house as you approach. It wasn't until I got right in front of those two trees that I could see the house behind. The trees on this short street are quite magical. It gave me the feeling that they might have secrets to share.
City Daily Photo bloggers usually post a favorite photo from the past year of pictures on January 1st of the new year. I scrolled though my posts and picked this photo from back in February. I took this shot of the moon descending behind Camelback Mountain. I zoomed in to the top of the mountain to capture the moon behind those trees. It made the moon look rather other worldly like I might have been walking on another planet. Little did I know back then just how much our world would change in the very near future. Other worldly has become the new normal.
To see other bloggers favorite photos of the year, click here.
