Scenic areas in Arizona
The Healing Field observed from the Mill Avenue Bridge, Tempe, Ariz.
The view from the Mill Avenue Bridge looking down on the Healing Field in Tempe Beach Park brings home the enormity of the human loss suffered on 9/11. The field contains a total of 2, 977, 8-foot tall American flags for each person who died on 9/11. Read the rest of this entry »
September started on a high note with a visit to the Desert Botanical Garden. The Chihuly “Desert Towers” sparkled in the early morning sun.
The Chihuly "Desert Towers" sparkle in the morning light.
A big surprise greets visitors after they pass the entrance gate. One of 11 of David Rogers’ “Big Bugs” sculptures, the giant Praying Mantis, greets visitors in the Ottosen Entry Garden.
The Praying Mantis, a David Rogers' "Big Bug" sculpture, resides in the Ottosen Entry Garden.
At 7:30 a.m., the Garden remains quiet and devoid of visitors, so the live creatures venture out along the trails. A roadrunner scurries across the Desert Discovery Loop Trail into the Sybil B. Harrington Succulent Gallery. Further down the trail a wily coyote steps out to investigate some nets covering cactus along the trail.
A cardinal nervously tweets and scampers from one branch to another at the entry to the Succulent Gallery, and a cactus wren scolds some unseen creature in the background. An Anna’s hummingbird flits overhead and mourning doves coo and soar from saguaro to trees. Along the Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail, a ground squirrel sits under a cactus and snacks on cactus fruit.
A ground squirrel snacks on a cactus fruit.
At the highest point of the Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail, three giant Ants by David Rogers descend the steep grade.
David Rogers' Ants descend from the slope above the Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail.
They stand among the giant saguaro cactus and look so real a visitor might pause to see if they move.
Another giant Ant stands among the saguaros along the trail.
A giant Grasshopper resides along the Desert Discovery Loop Trail among the cactus and succulents and under a huge mesquite tree.
David Rogers' Grasshopper resides among the cactus and succulents.
A beautiful Ladybug occupies a space next to the sundial in Steele Herb Garden. The newly renovated Center for Desert Living Trail also runs through this area.
The third annual Arizona Highways Travel Show came to the Phoenix Convention Center, Hall F on May 14 and 15. About 100 exhibitors packed the hall with information on places to go and things to do and see in Arizona. Two stages hosted seminars on travel, photography, hiking and birding, parks, events and things to do in Arizona.
The Travel Show displayed the “Arizona Centennial Copper Chopper” built by Paul Yaffe. Yaffe’s bio next to the “Arizona Centennial Copper Chopper” reads, “Designer and builder of world-class custom motorcycles, setting industry standards since 1984. Opened Legend Motorcycle Company in 1990.” The sign also discloses the speed of the custom motorcycle at 125 mph. This custom motorcycle serves as the prize in a drawing sponsored by the Arizona Centennial 2012 Foundation.
Exhibitors like Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Department gave out information on the county parks, maps, brochures and sheets for children to color and play games. They also made the public aware of their new online reservation site for campgrounds and picnic facilities. Gus, the gopher snake, drew in a lot of children and their parents, and Ranger Bill “Doc” Talboy answered their questions and put on a seminar on stage 2 about venomous creatures in the Sonoran Desert.
Talboy told the crowd that snakes try to avoid wasting their venom on people, and the rattle on a rattle snake warns people to go away. Scales cover snakes on top, but scoots cover snakes on the bottom and help them to move forward. Snakes cannot back up, so if they get into tight spaces, they can’t back up and die. They feel us clumping around, and snakes see color and motion, but not a sharp outline of things. They also hear very well. Two holes under their eyes, pit vipers, serve as heat sensing apparatus. Finally, they possess a great sense of smell through their tongue, which goes in and out 250 times a minute, says Talboy.
If bitten by a snake, Talboy tells the crowd they probably won’t die immediately, but they will become sick right away and die within about 72 hours. He says, ”If bit, sit down and relax so the venom pools at the bite sight. Do not buy a snake bite kit. It doesn’t work. Call 911 now.”
The talk also included information on scorpions, tarantulas, centipedes, tarantula hawks, spiders and Palo Verde beetles. Talboy showed everyone examples of the creatures and gave helpful hints to avoid them and their bites and stings. He answered questions and left everyone look at Gus and the display.
Arizona Highways editor Robert Stieve talks about his new "Arizona Highways Hiking Guide."
On stage 1, Arizona Highways editor Robert Stieve told the behind-the-scenes stories about doing the 52 hikes to fill his new book “Arizona Highways Hiking Guide.” He took a year and a half to do the book, and the time became longer when he injured himself on one of the early hikes.
Stieve said the magazine promotes travel, and travel is made up of history and culture, something the magazine’s been doing since 1925. Photography ranks number one in Arizona Highways, and photographs make up the entire Christmas issue. He says they never use Photoshop on their photographs. Hiking represents the second most popular thing in the magazine, so it features a hike of the month in every issue and the entire June issue becomes the summer hiking guide.
“To kick it up a notch even further, we put out this new hiking book,” said Stieve.
This book is great because all of the talented men and women photographers illustrated the book, said Stieve. The book is set up by seasons-spring, summer, fall and winter- and the 52 hikes in the book are spread out around the state. Geared toward moderate hikers, the book contains explicit directions with most hikes on public lands. In the front of the book, Stieve compiled a list of do’s and don’ts.
Arizona Highways editor Robert Stieve tells stories about the hikes for "Arizona Highways Hiking Guide."
“You never know what you’ll see on the trail,” he says. About 65 percent of the hikes are in wilderness areas and are considered day hikes. ”When I hike, it’s what you see, but some trails hit all five senses.”
Stieve says one of his private missions at Arizona Highways is to undo the myth that Arizona is this flat, hot place like the Gobi Desert.
Photos by Janice Semmel
I always love to go to the Desert Botanical Garden. Even though it’s May, the weather remains perfect, so I took a morning to see what the Garden offered. Cactus and flowers bloomed along the trails and in the individual gardens. Butterflies inside the Maxine & Jonathan Marshall Butterfly Pavilion glided by visitors, perched on plants and trees and enjoyed the orange slices placed in large, colorful dishes.
Every visit to the Desert Botanical Garden brings a unique experience. On Feb. 24, Joshua Dopp and Adam Frus brought their Highway Hotshop to the Binns Wildflower Pavilion on the Desert Wildflower Loop Trail.
The Highway Hotshop is a mobile glass studio.
This is the time of year I love the most in Arizona. Sunshine fills the days, but morning walks require coats and gloves. After 9 a.m., the heat of the sun warms things up to the perfect temperature. On this day I decided to hike the trail at Lookout Mountain. I suppose noon wasn’t the best time to go especially since I planned to take photos, but it worked for me.
Hikers begin their trek up Lookout Mountain from the parking lot at Lookout Mountain Park.
Arizona State Capitol located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona.
On Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010, dignitaries along with descendants of the 52 original 1910 delegates, special guests and Arizona residents gathered in the Old Senate Chambers of the Arizona State Capitol Museum to celebrate the Arizona Constitutional Convention Centennial. Popular radio personality Dave Pratt welcomed a standing-room-only crowd to the 2 p.m. event. Read the rest of this entry »
The new White Tank Library & Nature Center opened Nov. 13, 2010.
On Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010, Maricopa County Parks and the Maricopa County Library District dedicated the new, environmentally friendly White Tank Library and Nature Center. Located just outside the entrance to White Tank Mountain Regional Park, patrons visit the nature center and gift shop, browse through the library or sit outside and enjoy the panoramic views. Read the rest of this entry »
On Oct. 1, the Herberger Theater Center celebrated a Grand Re-Opening after an extensive renovation over the summer months.
Herberger Theater Center opened Oct. 1 after a summer renovation.
Built in 1989, the Phoenix Point of Pride came to the Valley to maintain and nurture the growth of the arts in Phoenix. The Herberger contains three theaters - Center Stage, Stage West and The Kax Stage.
The Herberger Theater Center became a Phoenix Point of Pride.
Three resident companies call the Herberger home. They include Actors Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company and Center Dance Ensemble. Valley Youth Theatre and iTheatre Collaborative also perform at the Herberger.
The Herberger Theater Center supports three theaters and three resident companies.
During the current season, patrons enjoy performances like “Backwards in High Heels: The Ginger Musical,” ”New Beginnings” and “Romeo and Juliet.”
The Herberger Theater Center offers a full slate of performances.
Photos by Janice Semmel
Last week, we remembered the ninth anniversary of 9/11. I planned to write about the Arizona 9/11 Memorial at Wesley Bolin Plaza, but some negative comments made on a local talk radio station made me change my mind. Instead, I wrote another piece on the Healing Field.
The Arizona 9/11 Memorial resides at Wesley Bolin Plaza.
