This was the view that awaited us as we walked onto the grounds from the parking lot! I kept trying to capture shots of the little hummingbirds flitting in among the orange flowers, but, alas, they were too quick.
Sunnylands
The focus of our short stay in Palm Springs was of course our reunion with the Rapunzels. We enjoyed some great meals and spent a lot of time catching up on each other’s lives. Our one outing was to Sunnylands, which had been highly recommended by my cousin, Charlaine who was just there. Sunnylands was the estate (built in 1966) of Walter Annenberg, the late publisher, diplomat, and philanthropist. We hadn’t bought tickets for the tour (which included the house), but took our time walking around the beautiful grounds. I was especially captivated by the palo verde trees (state tree of Arizona!), the trunks of which you can see in the below photos.
The Rapunzels Do Palm Springs
We returned last night from a delightful mini-vacation to get together with my Rapunzel friends in Palm Springs. It was our first trip there- slightly less than 5 hours away now that we live in Arizona- and it was great fun! It was the first time that the six (of the seven) of us who came had been together as a group for over 3 years. Oh yes- the husbands were along too! We had a blast- and it was as if no time had passed at all for these forever friends of over 40 years. More photos to follow. . .
Surreal
Here are a couple shots from V Bar V, where we saw the petroglyphs. It was the color contrasts that caught my eye.
Deconstructing
This is what can happen as you arrange flowers for still life photography. . .
Predators
As the cormorants were busily building their nests, these two red-tailed hawks looked on- most likely with bad intentions!
On the Rookery Path
Here’s another view of the path we took through the rookery area of Willow Lake. If you look very closely you can glimpse the Dells across the lake- way in the background.
At the Rookery
Last week in my photo class I overheard someone mentioning a path by the rookery- and I interjected, “What rookery? Where?” It turns out that deep in a grove of cottonwoods at Willow Lake there are huge old trees containing enormous heron, egret, and cormorant nests. Although I am sadly lacking in bird knowledge, I love to take photos of them- and the idea of a rookery close by was impossible to resist. A few days later, Lonnie and I found the right path at the lake- and we were there!
As we entered the area, we could hear wingbeats and gutteral squawks overhead before we even saw the nests- which are impossible to miss. I don’t think I managed to convey the enormity of the nests in the photo below, but you can get an idea of how numerous and high up they were.
In the first tree, there were 10 or 12 herons perched on nests or branches and occasionally flying around. The next tree was packed with cormorants actively nest-building. We didn’t see egrets, although we heard they were around. It was an amazing sight!
I think this is the first time I’ve ever photographed herons from below- probably not a wise place to be.
Stay tuned for more rookery photos tomorrow!
Flowers for Friday
Just some ranunculus in a Mason jar- have a good weekend!
Orange and Pink
I think it was last year at this time that I discovered that Trader Joe’s sold ranunculus, my favorite childhood flower. I went looking for them the other day and discovered just a few almost wilted bunches. I picked one in shades of hot pink and orange to take home to enjoy for a few days. I took them outside for the sidelit, golden hour shot above.
I love how tightly the petals are nestled on this dark pink beauty.
I’m no longer a child, but I still love these beautiful flowers.
By the Gate
This little gate caught my eye as we were walking to the petroglyph site the other day.
Petroglyphs
Yesterday, I spent the morning with some friends at the V Bar V Heritage site near the Verde Valley, about an hour from home, and saw some spectacular petroglyphs. These petroglyphs were made by the Sinaguan people in what has been termed the Beaver Creek Rock Art style (dating from about 1100 AD). What was fascinating to me was that they have discovered sunbeams hitting certain parts of a stair-step type design on certain days of the years, which experts believe are signs of when planting should occur. There is also a small area that has been carved out that casts a shadow resembling the San Francisco peaks, a sacred site to local native populations.
If you look closely at the upper right part of the photo above, you can see the stair step (zigzag) glyph, each step of which is lit by sunbeams on a specific day during the growing season. Early calendar!
Pussy Willow Two Ways
My friend, Debbie gave me some pussy willow branches, which I placed in water in the kitchen window. The buds are starting to open, so I took a few minutes to capture this one with my Lensbaby Velvet 56 in macro mode.
It’s Spring. . .
… at the Desert Botanical Garden!
Sonoran Light, Part 3
Even in the day time the water towers in the Sonoran Light exhibit at Phoenix’s DBG were impressive.
melinda anderson photography 