Around Phoenix

Our first visit in Phoenix was to the Desert Botanical Garden. Started by volunteers in the 1930's, this amazingly beautiful garden occupies 140 acres. There are more than 21,000 plants with 1/3 being native to Arizona. There are 139 plants that are threatened or endangered. If you think you know what a cactus is, think again. We couldn't have picked a better March day to be at the garden. Everything was coming into bloom.

The garden is a beautiful spot to just sit back and relax.

Next stop was the Heard Museum where the art of Native Americans is on display. Not just ancient art including ancestral artifacts and 500 Hopi katsina dolls but modern extraordinary examples of what is being done today.  The Heard has over 40,000 objects with 12 showcases.  

Although the ancient art was interesting, the art produced by the modern day artists was simply amazing.  

Our final stop was Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and architectural studio. Frank Lloyd Wright was enamored with the beauty and inspiration of the desert. He created one of his most personal designs in Taliesin West. He and his apprentices literally built Taliesin West out of the stone and sand of McDowell mountains. Some of the apprentices who worked with Wright still live there as do the current students and faculty.  It still operates as a School of Architecture. I was amazed by the materials they used to build Taliesen. When looked at from a distance, it looks like fine redwoods and mahogany but is really painted plywood. Having said that, I would still want to live there. Just take a look ......

The lines, curves, right angles, the overpowering simplicity. Spectacular...............

Next, California, here we come....