Tag Archives: Desert Botanical Gardens

Sunday Post: Attraction

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Prickly Pear Cactus

It’s always fun to respond to Jakesprinter’s Sunday Post. Click on this link to see the many creative responses to his challenge to represent the idea of attraction.water-snake-2013

We are attracted to many things. Google quotes about attraction and you will find the overwhelming majority refer to that mysterious magnetic relationship between two people. But aren’t we also attracted to our child’s giggle, our grandmother’s biscuits, our best friend’s laugh, our dog’s antics? What about the brilliant sunset or the crash of ocean waves or the piece of rich dark chocolate?

I am, of course, attracted to certain people, but nature captures my attention as well. I am attracted to flowers, especially yellow flowers, and I was rewarded with these beauties which I found today at the Desert Botanical Gardens, which is a Tourist Attraction.

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Prickly Pear Cactus

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Prickly Pear Cactus

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Columbine

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Palo Verde Tree

Las Noches de las Luminarias

I’ve lived in the Phoenix area for more than 25 years, and each year I’ve promised myself that I would get to Las Noches de las Luminarias (literally, The Nights of The Lights) at the Desert Botanical Gardens.

The powerful saguaro appears to guard the adobe house decorated with luminaries.

The powerful saguaro appears to guard the adobe house decorated with luminarias.

Two nights ago, I kept my promise. At first I was disappointed that I could find no one to go with me, but, once there, I was thankful for the chance to wander alone through the paths lit with the soft glow of more that 8,000 hand-light luminarias and thousands of twinkling white lights.

I was delighted by the sounds of jazz, blues, flamenco guitar, didgeridoo, and a hand-bell choir, along with stories told by a Native American storyteller. I finished my evening with a hand-warming cup of hot chocolate and more jazz in the garden.

And of course, because this is a post about The Nights of The Lights and because I love taking shots of the moon, I must include the picture I took last night of the most magnificent Light of the Night, the last full moon of 2012. (Click on any image for descriptions and slideshow.)

One soft candle does not dispel much darkness, but thousands can light the path.
Lighted trees form natural archways that invite me to explore further.
A visitor meanders under the lighted trees.
The perfect place to listen to jazz
Big Nick and the Gila Monsters: Blues with a Bite … and they bite so COOL!
The prickly pear cactus lit by the musicians’ purple lights looks other-worldly.
Saguaro, sentinel of the desert, with the almost full moon
The Four Seasons: Huge sculptures by American artist and filmmaker Philip Haas
Close-up of one of the sculptures (summer, I think)
Winter
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Several years ago, the Gardens hosted an exhibit by Dale Chihuly. Three glass cacti remain to greet visitors.
Finally, last night, the clear skies gave us a perfect picture of the last full moon of the year.

Miss Julia

I went to the Desert Botanical Gardens this morning in search of a shot that shows contrast (for the weekly challenge) and was delighted to discover that the butterfly exhibit had started. What a treat! This was the perfect way to relax, pray, and even meditate, and the perfect way to begin spring break. I did not get the contrast image, but I did get this little backlit butterfly.

I struggled with cropping this image; do I keep in all of the leaves or tighten in on the butterfly more and lose some resolution? The dark flaw on the flower bothered me so I tried to photoshop it out but that just made it worse. This is the final decision … well, almost final … I’ll probably change it several times. By the way, the butterfly is a Julia.

She’s Watching Me Closely

Since I haven’t taken a picture lately, I thought I’d dig into my files and bring out one that I’d taken with my 70-300 mm lens. I believe this was my first experience with the lens and with a tripod. I clunked through the Desert Botanical Gardens, knocking into various flora and irritating the birders. However, with the help of a keen-eyed, and patient, birder, I saw and managed to get this image of the sweet little momma and her chick.