Palm Shadows in Tohono Chul Park

Tucson Arizona

 Sunny Days

Missing Tucson’s sunny days, but I have photos enough to keep me busy until the flowers bloom in Madison.

I visit to Tohono Chul Park in Tucson offers unlimited opportunities for photographic play with color, light and shadow, and texture.

Plump Saguaro Cactus in Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park

This saguaro cactus is nearly bulging at its seams. The Sonoran Desert region in this part of Saguaro National Park has had a rainy period and the saguaros were able to soak up the rain water and store it in its ribs. As the weather becomes hotter and drier, the saguaro will use the stored water and the ribs will shrivel and become more ridged.

Adobe and Shadows in Tubac Arizona

Tubac Arizona

Tubac Arizona

On my recent trip to the Southwest, I noticed one big difference between Arizona and Wisconsin. Summed up in one word – SUN! The sun seems to shine all the time. Now I know that is an exaggeration. We actually had one day (out of ten) that was cloudy and we did get caught in a rain shower. But for the most part, the sun was shining in that big, bright blue sky.

The sun makes for some great photo opportunities of shadow play. This adobe building not only had strong shadows from the wooden ramada, but also had more subtle shadows from a nearby palo verde tree.

Be My Valentine?

Prickly Pear Cactus

Prickly Pear Cactus

Today is the last day of our Southwestern adventure. It’s also Valentine’s Day, though in our family we have celebrated our son’s birthday on February 14th more than we celebrated Valentine’s Day. Or at least we have until the last few years.

Fitting that my Valentine’s post is a sweet heart of a prickly cactus from the Sonoran Desert just west of Tucson. Love that desert!

Pima County Courthouse

Tuscon Arizona

in Tucson Arizona

The courthouse, in Tucson’s downtown district, was designed by Tucson architect Roy Place and built in 1929. The building has a Spanish Colonial and Moorish style, and a rather remarkable dome decorated with mosaic tiles. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.