Glistening Chihuly Glass Art at Sunset

Even though the Chihuly Glass Art Installation called "The Nature of Glass" is no longer at the Desert Botanical Gardens, the Desert Wildflower Towers remain.

Chihuly created these Desert Wildflower Towers for the entrance of the Gardens, and they provide a stunning entrance indeed.

This photo captures the wildflower with the last rays of sunlight creating sparkles at the end of the glass tips.

These towers truly are photographed by everyone and reminds the rest of us how much we loved the Chihuly glass art interspersed with the desert an cactus. I will go to my archives and bring forth some Chihuly glass art photos to occasionally share over the next few weeks.

And, on our travel site we have some photos of a fascinating pyramid and sculptures taken at Ek Balam in Mexico. Just click Viva la Voyage!

Washington Skyline at Sunrise

Today is the last photo from our trip to Washington DC.

Here is a sunrise photo with the silhouette of famous buildings with ducks swimming in the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

The buildings outlined against the golden sunrise are, from left to right, the Capitol Dome, the Washington Monument, the rotunda of the Library of Congress, and the "castle" of the headquarters of the Smithsonian Institution on the Mall.

My husband, who took these photos, has a special fondness for Washington, D.C. He was born there and he returned to Washington for his undergraduate and two post-graduate degrees, and he worked for several Members of Congress for 12 years, more than 25 years ago. I hope you agree that I had a good idea to "suggest" to him that he go out very early on a crisp, cold November morning to take sunrise photos during our recent trip to Washington.

Today is Sunday so that means new travel photos. Check out photos of the unique Mayan pyramid at Ek Balam in Yucatan, Mexico at Viva la Voyage!

Fall Colors at Arlington

After tomorrow I return to Arizona photos. I hope you enjoyed a taste of Washington DC that my husband (Dave of Costa Rica Daily Photo) and I shared with you from our trip to Washington earlier this month.

Today's photo is the view from the back of the Lincoln Memorial across Memorial Bridge to Arlington. At the top of the hill above a portion of Arlington National Cemetery is the Custis-Lee Mansion, also known as Arlington House. It was the home of Robert E. Lee for 30 years, prior to the Civil War. The house was built from 1802 - 1818 by George Washington Park Custis as a plantation house and as a memorial to his step-grandfather, George Washington. The house is now part of the National Park Service and is a museum to Robert E. Lee. How ironic that the top General of the Confederacy had a home with such a commanding view of Washington.

I really like the fall colors that that surround the home and the light of the sunrise on Arlington Memorial Bridge. The gilded statue at the end of the bridge is one of four, with a pair at each end of the bridge. The statues were a gift from Italy and were added to the bridge in 1951, about 20 years after the bridge was built.

This week we are showing nighttime photos of Budapest on Viva la Voyage.

Sunday we will have new travel photos posted!

Reflections in Vietnam Veterans Memorial

This unusual view of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial shows that one of its walls is aligned with the Washington Monument. The carved names of those who gave their life in this effort are visible in the texture of the wall at the left.

When my husband took his sunrise walk around the monuments of Washington during our recent visit, a group of volunteers had just finished washing the Vietnam Memorial with soap, water and scrub brushes. Their efforts gave the monument a reflective sheen that enhanced the photo. Most of the volunteers cleaning the memorial were young people who were not even alive during the time of the Vietnam War.

Although controversial when designed by a Yale student, Maya Lin, the wall is now ranked as one of the most popular architectural designs in the country. It is especially moving in the early morning when my husband visited without the crowds that gather each day.

This week we are showing nighttime photos of Budapest on Viva la Voyage.

The Colors of Sunrise at the Washington Monument

Happy Thanksgiving. Here is a patriotic photo for the holiday. The Washington Monoument is the tallest structure in Washington. It is the height of a 55 story building and is a copy of an Egyptian oblisk.

Washington D.C. has restrictions that limit the height of all other buildings to about 11 stories so that nothing will interfere with the skyline and detract from views of the Washington Monument and the Capitol Dome.

This week we are showing nighttime photos of Budapest on Viva la Voyage.

Lincoln Memorial

As my husband was leaving the Lincoln Memorial, he looked back for one last gaze and took this photo. You can see that the morning light was different than the golden sunrise lighting when he first arrived.

The Lincoln Memorial was copied after the Parthenon in Athens, of course. It is a classic.

Here is one of my husband's favorite stories/jokes about "Honest Abe" Lincoln. Lincoln was a very successful lawyer in Springfield, Illinois, and a much lesser lawyer had a case against him. The other lawyer went to Lincoln's office on the second floor of a building and said "Lincoln, you don't need to win this case, but it would be very important to me and my career. I will offer you $2,000 if you let me win this case."

Lincoln just stared at him. He continued, "They told me you would be difficult, Lincoln. I'll give you $5,000." Lincoln kept staring at him. He then said, "OK, Lincoln. $10,000. That's my final number and that is more than fair." Lincoln got up, grabbed the other lawyer, and tossed him out the window into the horse trough on the street below.

The lawyer looked up at Lincoln and shouted angrily, "Why did you do that?" Lincoln replied, "Because you were getting close to my price."

We have nighttime photos of Budapest posted this week on Viva la Voyage.

Lincoln Saw the Light

As I mentioned yesterday, the light peeking into the Lincoln Memorial at sunrise during November does not hit the statue of Lincoln, but it still creates angles that add to the quiet morning atmosphere.

I was trying to think if Lincoln had any connection to Arizona. (Scottsdale did not exist during Lincoln's lifetime). Arizona was a part of the New Mexico territory governed by the federal government during Lincoln's presidency. Arizona became part of the U.S. following the Mexican War about 15 years before Lincoln became President.

There is a connection that comes to mind. Arizona is the location of the westernmost conflict of the Civil War. The "Battle of Picacho Peak" occurred between Phoenix and Tucson when a small band of confederates from Tucson encountered a few Union soldiers. A few shots were fired and a couple of people injured, but fortunately there were no fatalities. People actually to reenactments of this "battle" that involved about 20 people. People back East would certainly not call this a battle. (Picacho Peak, by the way, is a redundant name, since it means "peak peak.")

This week we are showing nighttime photos of Budapest on Viva la Voyage.

Interior of Lincoln Memorial

This is a more distant view of the scene shown yesterday, with the sunlight on the columns

Because my husband and I were in Washington just a couple of weeks ago, the rising November sun was located in the southeast, so the rays of sun were cast on the pillars on the north side of the interior, rather than on the statue of Lincoln on the west wall.

This week we are showing nighttime photos of Budapest, Hungary on Viva la Voyage.

Sunrise on Columns

This is the interior of the Lincoln Memorial. The classic lines of the columns are illuminated by streaks of the dawn sunlight split into vertical shafts by the columns on the east front of the Memorial.

I think that the early morning is the best time to go to the Lincoln Memorial. It is a solemn place, and before it becomes crowded with other visitors it is more conducive to quiet reflection.

Tomorrow I will show the larger context of the scene where this photo was taken. The pillars of the Lincoln Memorial, as do much of the classical architecture of the government buildings in Washington, D.C., show how much our society admires the Greek development of democracy. We have copied Greek architecture as our founding fathers were inspired by Greek philosophy.

Today is Sunday, so we have posted new photos on Viva la Voyage. This week we are showing night time photos of Budapest, Hungary.

Sunrise Mist of Reflecting Pool

This is the capture of a magical moment. My husband took this photo with his zoom while focusing on capturing the glow of the sunrise streaming through the trees illuminating the mist on the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. The bench and street light added to the atmosphere, and then a man walked by and blew a puff of smoke into a streak of sunlight.

This is my favorite photo that Dave took on his sunrise walk during our recent visit to Washington, D.C. He had to get back to our hotel by 8:00 a.m. for some professional meetings, but I wonder what was more productive, his photo walk or his meetings. I will show a few more days of photos from this little field trip to our nation's capitol.

Check out photos of Murano, Italy at our travel photo site at Viva la Voyage!

Duck Swimming in the Lincoln Memorial's Reflection

If you had not seen yesterday's photo, would you know where this photo was taken? In the early morning stillness of the reflecting pool, the glide of a duck penetrates the reflected facade of the Lincoln Memorial.

I read a little news item recently that the depiction of the Lincoln Memorial in the future will no longer be featured on the back of the penny coin. The penny will still have Abraham Lincoln on the front, but the back will be a shield design by a Santa Fe artist.

Check out photos of Murano, Italy at Viva la Voyage!

The Lincoln Memorial Reflected at Dawn

The reflecting pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument shows why it deserves its name in this photo. The Lincoln Memorial catches the first rays of of the morning sun, which highlights the reflection.

It was on these steps, of course, that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King gave his "I have a dream" speech to a crowd that filled the area on both sides of the reflecting pool.

Check out photos of Murano, Italy at Viva la Voyage!

The Washington Monument in the Mist of Constitution Gardens

Constitution Gardens is a park just north of the reflecting pool between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.

On the cold November morning, the warmer water temperature and colder air temperature combined to form a mist on the pond in Constitution Gardens. the stillness of the morning mirrors the Washington Monument.

The land where Constitution Gardens is now located used to be covered with temporary buildings build during World War II called the "Navy Annex," which were some of the ugliest government office building imaginable and which were not torn down until the 1970's. The park and gardens is a big improvement, wouldn't you agree?

Travel photos of Murano, Italy are at Viva la Voyage!

The Capitol at Dawn

I was in Washington, D.C. about 10 days ago and thought it would be worthwhile to get some photos of the monuments at sunrise.

It was 30 degrees outside, so I decided that the best way to get sunrise photos would be to send my husband, Dave of Costa Rica Daily Photo out to take some photos in the cold while I stayed warm and slept in our hotel room.

Here is a photo that he took of the U.S. Capitol building from the grounds or the Washington Monument. I like how you can see the glow from the sunrise through the windows in the dome. You can also see a plane.

I will show some more of his Washington photos during the next week. Although all of the monuments are familiar to everyone, Dave tried to get some special shots in the sweet light of dawn. The photos really turned out fabulous so I thought I would share them for the next week.

We have travel photos of Murano, Italy on our travel site Viva la Voyage!

The doors and beauty of San Xavier del Bac

I took these photos at dusk on a full moon night at San Xavier del Bac in Tucson, Arizona.

The church is often called the White Dove of the Desert.

The church is located on Indian lands and it is an active church and a doorway to many goals and aspirations.

The night I was there, I shared Indian frybread with locals and waited for the moon to rise and the processional to occur.

It was a special night as a patron saint was going to be carried out of the church around the open area in front of the church. There was fireworks, music, and the bells were clanging.

It was quite a nice event and I felt very privileged to be able to experience it.

The first photos shows the church with the moon way above it and some stars, but I love the blue sky and the church bathed in the unusual blue.

The second photo is of the front doors of the church. You can see they are very colorful and detailed.

The third photo is the front doors that are open and mass is occurring inside. It is just before the Bishop and the patron saint and worshipers and musicians come out into the open space to walk once around the front yard.

We have travel photos of colorful Murano, Italy at Viva la Voyage!

Gambel's Quail in Desert

Here is a male Gambel's Quail in its natural habitat, the Sonoran Desert.

These male quail look so princely.

I really like having these critters around and they always travel in groups.

We have photos of Murano, Italy at Viva la Voyage! Murano is an island in the Venetian lagoon, known for being the center of glass blowing for centuries.

Quail, Quail Everywhere!

How many Gambel's quail can you count?

I looked out my backyard window and there was a covey of quail that had taken over my table and chairs.

The male quail has the prominent feather on top, while the female does not have such a strong feature.

Look carefully to count them all. And there were more that did not even get into the photo.

Venice photos are at Viva la Voyage!

Hummingbird on Tip of Agave Cactus

This is a charming Anna's Hummingbird that has landed ever so carefully on the tip of the very sharp Agave cactus.

It is hard to believe it holds the very sharp tip next to its heart with its tiny claws.

I have been stuck with those sharp ends and they hurt and have minor poison on their tips.

It is hard to catch hummingbirds holding so still as they usually are flying very quickly and darting around like a pinball.

Check out Venice photos on our travel site at Viva la Voyage!

Cute Finch Staring At You

For a couple of days, I am sharing some of the birds that recently visited my yard.

This one is a cute little finch.

I do not yet have the macro techniques and patience mastered by Abe Lincoln with his phenomenal bird photos on his websites, but I hope you enjoy these flying friends just the same.

Check out the details of Venice on our travel photo site at Viva la Voyage!

Veteran's Day in America

Here is a photo of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington DC.

We are posting a photo of this special place to commemorate this day where we thank all of our veterans who have provided service to our country.

Dave of Costa Rica Daily Photo

took this photo last weekend while we were in D.C. He got up at 4 am and took various photos of DC at sunrise, and he captured some truly amazing images.

The two brilliant red trees stand out in the photo, along with the yellow wreath, the reflections in the black marble, and the many flags at the base of the memorial.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall is a national war memorial honoring those who served in the United States armed forces. The wall has 58,159 names etched into the black marble identifying those who died in service or who are still unaccounted for in the Vietnam War.

The memorial is in Constitution Gardens, which is adjacent to the National Mall and is just northeast of the Lincoln Memorial. The Wall was designed by Maya Lin and built in 1982. The Wall is 246 feet and 9 inches (75 meters) in length and 10.1 feet (3 meters) high.

Many people visit the Wall and some take rubbings off the names etched into the black marble. Many leave flowers, flags, or other tokens of remembrance. Please take a moment of silence for veterans today.

If you would like to see Venice photos, please go to Viva la Voyage.

Doves Basking in the Sun in my Backyard

Look at these doves basking in the sun next to the warm concrete border and amid the bougainvillea leaves.

They look so content and relaxed.

There must not be any cats or other predators around.

Check out the artistic details of Venice on our travel photo site at Viva la Voyage!

Vibrant Arizona Sunset

I was able to capture this beautiful sunset at the plateau at Desert Botanical Gardens.

I love the colors and the sky.

Happy Monday!

Check out Venice on our travel photo site at Viva la Voyage!

Cactus with White Toothpick Spines

Here is a photo of a cactus that grabs your attention against the brilliant blue sky.

This cactus is a silver cholla (opuntia echinocarpa). It has long spines that will stick in you if you get to close.

It can grow five feet tall and blooms in April through June.

Check out artistic details of Venice at our travel photo site, Viva la Voyage!

Beautiful Red Cactus Flower

Here is the same cactus flower from yesterday with its deep red rose-like color.

The petals look like thin paper fluttering slightly in the breeze.

I like the look of this red cactus flower, but I also like the way it looked yesterday when I changed the shutter speed.

The cactus is Echinopsis Andagalensis

and is native to South America or it is called chamaecereus silvestrii from Argentina.

Check out photos from Australia and tomorrow is Sunday so we will have photos of Venice, Italy posted at Viva la Voyage, which is one of our favorite places to go.

Reddish-Yellow Cactus Flower

Here is a photo of a deep red flower blooming on long, skinny, arms of cactus growing from a pot by my front door. You might say red, it does not look red.

When I changed my shutter speed just a little, it brought out the yellowish orange highlights and gave the flower a completely different look than the deep red flower.

Tomorrow I will post the same cactus flower in its natural color and it will look very different, almost like a red rose.

I have not had this cactus bloom before. I just woke up and then there were numerous blooms sprouting from all of these cacti arms growing in the pot. They only lasted one day, but I stopped everything and took a bunch of photos with the morning light and the evening light. It is called Echinopsis Andagalensis and is native to South America or it is Chamaecereus silvestrii from Argentina.

Sydney Opera House photos are at Viva la Voyage!

Lady Slipper Plant

Here is a macro photo of a Lady Slipper Plant from my backyard.

I like the green, waxy, long stems look and the delicate reddish flowers.

These are not easy plants to find and they grow slowly. I have had good luck with growing them and now have several to enjoy.

The hummingbirds love to visit the delicate red flowers.

The plant is called pedilanthus macrocarpus and is a spurge from the genus Euphorbiacea. It can grow six feet tall and is drought resistant for the desert environment. It originates from Mexico in the Sonora, Baja California area. Wear gloves as people are sometimes sensitive to the sap.

Check out the Sydney Opera House in Australia at Viva la Voyage!

Day of the Dead Warrior

Look at the details in this Day of the Dead warrior.

I have five different Dia de los Muertos warriors. All have spit and fire, as well as artistic beauty emanating from them.

Ok, so now which one of the several I have shown are your favorites? Catrina? The drummer? the warrior? The large detailed Skull? the two guys and a dog in the boat on the way to Mictlan?

I hope you have learned more about the Day of the Dead and hopefully enjoyed these photos of the figures used to celebrate during this holiday.

Check out our travel photos of the Sydney Opera House at Viva la Voyage!

Day of the Dead Drummer

Here is a photo of a drummer.

This is an example of the type of toys that are made for altars (ofrendas) to remember people and their unique traits during Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead.

These toys are added to altars to remember the person who has passed on. For example, this would be a good choice for an uncle or brother who enjoyed playing the drums.

After the commemoration is over and the altar is dismantled, then the kids get to play with these toys until they fall apart. Life is temporal, and so are these figures.

These are whimsical and are full of life and are helpful to recall the spirit of a loved one.

Catrina and Day of the Dead

Here is a photo of one of the many variations of Catrina. She looks rather elegant and sassy, don't you think?

Since today is officially Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, I thought I would share a couple of more days of photos with you from my Day of the Dead art collection.

Day of the Dead is an indigenous tradition to annually remember friends and family who have passed on, and it was started 2,500 to 3,500 years ago.

Part of the history dates back to an Aztec festival dedicated to a goddess called Mictecacihuatl (or today Lady of the Dead). She was the Queen and presided over Mictlan, which is the place believers eventually get to when you pass on.

The modern day version of Mictecacihuatl became Catrina. You will see many styles of Catrina at every celebration. I will show two more days of Day of the Dead figures and then you can pick your favorite.

Enjoy your family and friends on this special day!

We also have travel photos of the Sydney Opera House in Australia at Viva la Voyage!

The Doors at the Boulders Resort & Spa

For the theme day of doors, here is a photo of the very unique doors at the Boulders Resort and Spa in the Scottsdale and Carefree area.

The door shows boulders mirroring the surrounding area. The door is wood carved. You can see the reflection of a giant saguaro cactus in the glass at the top of the door.

To see more of this spectacular resort and surrounding boulders, at labels, just click Boulders Resort and Spa.

Today is Sunday so that means travel photos . Check out photos of the Sydney Opera House at Viva la Voyage!

Today is theme day for all City Daily Photo bloggers.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants