Thursday, July 28, 2011

Back Yard Aventures

Mexican Bird of Paradise + Praying Mantis



I don't think it's possible to go through a single neighborhood or freeway in Phoenix without cruising by these brilliantly colored red and orange plants. I've seen them all my life, but when the flowers start bursting open it still makes me stop and stare. This plant of mine had a visitor. I've always had a fondness for the praying mantis, even though they are pretty brutal little predators. Maybe it's their likeness to what I picture as otherworldly/alien creatures.


Aloe Vera Spiral, Nature's Geometry




This prickly fellow aided in many-a-sunburn after desert bike romps and summer adventures spent splashing around in the irrigation pumps. The cool, slick, goose bump evoking sensation on my beet red skin still brings me back to my days in the desert. Thankfully I don't have to use this much anymore since I'm much more conscientious about the application of sun block.


Fishhook Barrel Cactus = Menacing Desert Pineapples



When I was a kid, my siblings and I used to pull the cactus fruit off of these cacti and eat them. We were slightly reckless, but the slimy, scarcely sweet innards and glossy black seeds were worth a few pricks to the fingers. Or maybe it was just the novelty of gingerly plucking our prize from sturdy fishhook barbs.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Orange Sherbet Sky

First of all, why the hell is sherbet spelled without an 'r'? I pronounce it sherbeRt! But I'm dedicated to my title, so sherbET it is. Bah!
On a lighter note, this was a particularly lovely view from my back yard.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Sky Parfait


I took this from the balcony of my dad's resort room when he visited in the warm months of 2010. Arizona sunsets are one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. This particular picture has layers of color that I adore. (Taken just south of the Loop 101 and Scottsdale Road.)

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Valley Metro

I took this photo of a city bus on a drive through downtown Phoenix. I like the confusion it causes on the eye. Tricky window reflections!

Monday, January 3, 2011