CAT | Other Arizona
Japanese Friendship Gardens – Phoenix, AZ
May 27, 20101
Here are some photos of our visit to the Japanese Friendship Gardens in Phoenix, Arizona.
This tranquil place is next to a park that covers Interstate 10 for almost a mile as it goes through downtown Phoenix.
Japanese Lantern made of cement.
We especially enjoyed the hundreds of very large and healthy Koi in the pond.
Beautiful trees, rocks and waterfalls are all over the park.
One of hundreds of beautiful Koi.
A few of the hundreds of beautiful Koi.
Another lantern near a waterfall.
One of many waterfalls.
Another view of the largest waterfall in the Japanese Friendship Garden in Phoenix, AZ.
One of hundreds of Koi with beautiful flowing fins.
One of hundreds of Koi looking for a handout.
About half way through our visit we bought them a bag of food for $1.
Another hungry Koi.
Here’s my wife feeding the Koi (and the ducks).
Look at the go after the food pellets.
A veritable feeding frenzy. Notice the duck getting in on the action.
One more handful for the throng of hungry Koi.
A peaceful ending to a lovely day at this beautiful park.
Please contact me about prints or any other use of these photos.
No tags
Desert Botanical Garden
April 23, 2011
Today we visited the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, AZ. I love to see the cactus in bloom and there is a great butterfly exhibit in the Spring and Fall here. We went with our good friends Laurie and John and had a very good time exploring this great Botanical garden.
This odd looking Boojum Tree (Fouquieria columnaris) is about thirty feet (10m) tall.
Here is a montage of some of the many photos I took in the butterfly tent (which is approximately 100 feet long, 25 feet wide and 20 feet tall, made of netting with lots of plants and misters).
I think these are Organ Pipe Cactus but they have a very odd bloom that is very fuzzy.
This is a Cholla cactus (sometimes spelled Chollo, but pronounced choya) which is backlit by the sun to create this startling effect.
Another shot of the Cholla Cactus (Cylindropuntia Fulgida) in the Desert Botanical Garden.
Cylindropuntia fulgida is also known as the hanging chain cholla, or the Jumping cholla.
The chollo cactus or cholla cactus is very pretty, but you do not want to touch it. Stay away!
I was surprised to see this Bignonia like flower on the Desert Willow Tree (or Chilopsis).
This humming bird’s wings are moving so fast they are just a blur in this photo.
This is one of the tallest Joshua Trees (Yucca Brevifolia) I have ever seen.
I loved all the little flowers on this group of Mammillaria compressa cactus.
Although not a great picture of this Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) cactus in bloom, I love the sky behind it. Other names for this plant are desert coral, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, and vine cactus, although it is not a true cactus.
Here is a beautiful yellow bloom on a Prickly Pear cactus. This plant is also know as Opuntia, nopales or paddle cactus.
Another Prickly Pear Cactus in bloom. Notice the bee in the top right flower.
Another bee in a Prickly Pear Cactus bloom.
I like these orange colored Prickly Pear cactus blooms
These giant saguaro (pronounced suwaro which rhymes with borrow) cactus are always impressive. The scientific name is Carnegiea gigantea.
This odd looking Saguaro Cactus is about thirty feet tall.
Although I thought this was another Saguaro Cactus I now think it is actually a Cardón cactus, Pachycereus pringlei, sometimes spelled Cardon cactus or Cordon cactus.
Another massive Saguaro Cactus with an interesting deformed limb.
Here are some Saguaro cactus posing in front of the fascinating Papago Butte.
Here is a stump from a long dead Saguaro cactus.
Another shot of a Saguaro cactus in front of the Papago Buttes in Phoenix, AZ.
I found these young Yucca plants in bloom surrounding the stump of a fallen Joshua Tree very interesting.
Please contact me about prints or any other use of these photos.
No tags
Superstition Mountains
Apache Junction, AZ – March 14, 2010
Today we headed North East of Mesa, Az. This is our 6th Winter in Mesa. It was good to get out of town for a few hours.
Superstition Mountains Roadside Marker in Apache Junction, AZ
We started our trip from Apache Junction and headed out on Rte. 88. A few miles up the road we stopped at a roadside gallery run by some Native Americans and checked out their beautiful hand crafted art.
Superstition Mountains
Although not a large range of mountains, more like a large outcropping, the Superstition Mountains are impressive for their ruggedness.
Somewhere Along the Road
Here is a map of our excursion. These photos were taken near marker 2.
Along the Road 2
Along the Road 3
Along the Road 4
Canyon Lake
This beautiful lake has many long arms, extending for miles and miles. We have taken a steamboat ride here several times.
Canyon Lake 2
Tortilla Flat
This little town has a rather colorful history and is a common destination for bikers and people like us – just out for a Sunday drive.
Tortilla Flat Museum
Tortilla Flat River Crossing
This road is often flooded, and sometimes impassible, but crossed never-the-less.
Tortilla Flat Mail Box
I thought this Pony Express Mail Drop was very interesting and colorful.
Tortilla Flat History
This history on the other side of the mail box, which lists all the owners of the Tortilla Flat, is very interesting. Apparently there was a major fire in 1926 and the first Post office was built in 1927.
Lost Dutchman State Park
This state park is a good place to hike in the area.
Lost Dutchman State Park 2
Superstition Mountains Museum
Although we arrived after closing time, this appears to be a great museum.
Superstition Mountains Museum 2
Superstition Mountains Museum 3
Arizona · cactus · history · lakes · Superstition Mountains · Tortilla Flat
