The Cross on the Hill

This is a photo of the cross on the hill next to San Xavier Del Bac in Tucson.

It was a full moon so I thought this image captured the bright light of the moon reflecting on the white cross and the clouds.

I like it when the moon is up, the sky is still blue, and it is not yet dark. This is a great time to capture photos.

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The Moon and San Xavier Del Bac

Here is an image of the moon shining upon San Xavier Del Bac.

You can see there is no cross on the side of this church. Yesterday's image clearly showed a cross on this same wall that you are now looking at, but it was a reflection on the side of the church wall.

This is the end of the series of photos on San Xavier del Bac, but not the end of the tour of Tucson.

Stay tuned for more Tucson photos.

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The Cross Reflected Upon the Church

Look closely and you will see the large perfectly shaped cross on the side of the church. You might be asking yourself if this cross seems profound and out of place on the side of the church.

The large cross looks as though it is hanging from the top of the wall.

I worked really hard for this little detail so here goes. The large cross you see is the shadow of the cross from the smaller church you saw in yesterday's image. I had to wait until the sun was setting and the angle was just right to try and capture is fully on the white side of the top portion of San Xavier Del Bac.

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Silhouetted at Sunset

This smaller church is to the left of the larger cathedral of San Xavier Del Bac, which you have seen during the past few days.

I waited for just the right light to try and get these silhouettes of the crosses, architecture, and tree.

I hope you like it. In tomorrow's photo look for something unique regarding the cross at the top of the small church you are looking at in this photo.

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Looking Up Into the Sky

Here is a photo of a unique perspective of San Xavier Del Bac, the White Dove of the Desert.

You can see the Spanish architectural details and statues in this image.

I like the angle as it makes the church look so interesting and as though it is looming larger than life.

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Dusk at San Xavier del Bac

I hope you enjoy this photo of San Xavier Del Bac.

This photo has a dramatic sky and the lights starting to shine while the sun sets and the blue sky slowly disappears with clouds floating overhead.

I will show you a few photos of San Xavier Del Bac over the next few days and, hopefully, each photo captures a unique and different interpretation of this White Dove of the Desert.

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The Details of San Xavier Del Bac

One of the treasures of Tucson is San Xavier Del Bac, which means "White Dove of the Desert."

It is a very special place. I went to this church on two different nights before dusk as I wanted to capture the changing colors of the sky in the hopes of taking some dramatic images for you to enjoy.

The church was quite a drive from my hotel. My hotel was in the Catalina Mountains.

The church is on Native American lands and is a center of activity for many who live on tribal lands as well as those who reside in the City of Tucson.

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Catalina Mountains and the Moon

Here is a photo of the Catalina Mountains in Tucson with a full moon.

I was recently in Tucson so I will take you on a photo tour of the sights of a city that is much older than the Phoenix.

Phoenix was not founded until the 1880s; whereas, Tucson was founded in 1775. There is evidence of agricultural settlements in Tucson dating back to 1,000 B.C. The Hohokam culture thrived in the area from 200 A.D. to 1450 A.D.

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Optima Camelview Condominium terraces

Here is a closer view of some of the terraces of the condominiums in the Optima Camelview project. You can see how this is an innovative design, with lush landscaping in a high density project.

The project is seven stories tall, although the staggered terraces and set backs to some of the buildings moderates the visual impact of the height.

The individual condos range in size from 800 to 3,000 square feet (74 to 279 square meters) and one website said that current listings for condos being offered for sale range from $275,000 to $1.6 million.

My husband and I walk through the middle of this development on our way to dinner in some of the many restaurants in downtown Scottsdale and the Waterfront area. It is a pleasant place to walk through, as there are pools, fountains, lush landscaping, and the atmosphere of a garden oasis.

This week we are showing photos of Costa Rica on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Optima Camelview Condominiums

These attractive condominiums are part of the award-winning Optima Camelview Project. As this photo shows, this project is a

"green" building, with plants on the roofs and terraces the reduce the reflected heat from the buildings. There are lots of shaded walkways, water features and other amenities in the project.

Urban lifestyle options are relatively new to Scottsdale and metro Phoenix. The Phoenix metro area has the lowest density of any metropolitan area in the country because so much of its growth has been suburban sprawl during the past 50 years. (The Phoenix metro area has grown from 50,000 to more than 4 million since 1940.)

People who live in the Optima Camelview project can walk to Scottsdale Fashion Square just one block away, and dozens of nearby restaurants.

This week we are showing photos of Costa Rica on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Townhouse along the canal

The Scottsdale Waterfront area is going through a transformation. The canals that lace through Scottsdale, bringing water for irrigation for use on lawns, traditionally have been ignored except by joggers, bicyclists and people who like to walk along the canal banks.

Within the last 5 years, however, the canals in central Scottsdale have become a focal point for development. Rather than ignoring the canals, developers have incorporated views of the canals into the design of condominiums and other development projects.

These new townhouses are just one example. They are located just a couple of blocks from Scottsdale Fashion Square and Old Town Scottsdale. People who live here can walk to dozens of restaurants and night clubs in the Scottsdale entertainment district.

For those of you in cold climates, I regret to tell you that this photo was taken on a recent warm, sunny day earlier this month.

This week we are showing photos of Costa Rica on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Statue of a shopper and child

We have all been tired shoppers at one time or another, so why not a statue of a resting shopper with her child at a mall? This bronze statue sits on the edge of a water feature between the escalators that lead up from the food court in Scottsdale Fashion Square, the largest shopping mall in American Southwest, one of the 30 largest malls in the country, and one of the 10 most profitable malls in America.

The statue is called Mother and Child by Marc D'Ambrosi and was completed in 1990 during an expansion of the mall. While the mother is devoting her attention to her child, you will note that she has beside her a shopping bag full of purchases. I am sure that the mall owners commissioned the artist to make sure that it showed a shopper who had purchased things.

The packages the bronze shopper has bought do not have labels, so we do not know if she bought things at Neiman-Marcus, Nordstrom's, Barney's New York, Macy's, Dillard's, Gucci, Cartier, Tiffany, or any of the other several hundred stores that provide more than 2 million square feet (180,000 square meters) shopping. No wonder this bronze shopper has stopped for a rest.

I live less than a mile from Scottsdale Fashion Square, and we frequently walk to restaurants in the area. The mall has helped spur development of the nearby Scottsdale Waterfront Project and Old Town Scottsdale and its arts and entertainment district, which is just across the canal from the mall.

This week we are showing photos of Costa Rica on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Lady Slipper Flower

Such a delicate lady slipper flower that was patiently waiting in my backyard so I could photograph it.

I like the color of the flower and the fragile way it looks on top of the green stalk that almost looks like bamboo, but it is not bamboo.

I really like my lady slipper plants. They grow slowly and are hard to get started, but mine have taken off in the backyard and are blossoming regularly.

The hummingbirds love this plant.

I do have to keep rabbit cages around the bottom of the slipper plants that are growing on the ground to avoid rabbits breaking the stems and drinking the water out of them.

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Performance Art and Amber Cattails

While attending a night event at the Desert Botanical Gardens amid the Chihuly glass art exhibit, there were these gymnasts in colorful attire.

This image shows the creative effect of Chihuly and live performers.

This photo was taken while crouching next to the red amber cattails and peering through them to capture the performer at just the right moment before she moved.

I was shooting from a distance at dark and had to hold my camera in my hand. I wish I had brought my tripod. Lesson learned.

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Float Boat and Red Reeds and Black Saguaros

Here is a photo at night of Chihuly's "Float Boat" and "Red Reed and Black Saguaros."

The entire Chihuly installation took on a magical look at night with the lights.

The cactus added dimension among the glistening glass art.

The colorful orbs are a favorite of mine and I have posted many glass orb images.

Check out more Chihuly glass by clicking the Chihuly label below.

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Saffron Tower and Papago Mountain

Another Chihuly favorite was the Saffron Tower.

The Saffron Tower stands strong and colorful in front of Papago Mountain.

Some of you may remember that the Saffron Tower was lit at night and created quite a glow.

Check out other Saffron Tower photos and Chihuly glass art in the desert environment by clicking on the Chihuly label below.

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Favorite Photo of 2009 is Slot Canyon

Each year the City Daily Photo bloggers post their favorite photo from all of the photos posted in the previous calendar year. This image that I took at the slot canyons outside of Page, Arizona on Navajo lands is my favorite for 2009.

I like the texture and color of this magnificent slot canyon. I am looking forward to seeing everyone's favorite photos.

If you like this slot canyon photo, you can click the label of Slot Canyon below for more of these dramatic images.

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Check out the favorite photo of all City Daily Photo Bloggers. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Blue Fiddlehead and Old Man Cacti

A Blue Fiddlehead among Old Man Cacti at the Desert Botanical Gardens.

This photo is from the Chihuly exhibition called "The Nature of Glass."

The glass art is vibrant blue and the contrast with the white, hairy, old man cacti is perfect.

The glass looks like it would be hard to create. The glass has to be strong to stand in the gravel and not tip over or break because of the wind.

Check out photos of Merida, Mexico at Viva la Voyage!

Bride and Dog at Boulders

Here is a wedding I stumbled upon while taking photos of the Boulders Resort and Spa.

Can you see the bride and the cute little dog in her arms?

The prelude music being played was quite nice to enjoy while I was taking photos.

The Boulders is a wonderful place for a wedding.

Check out photos of Merida, Mexico at Viva la Voyage!

White Oleander Flower

Here is a close-up photo of a white flower that many of us in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley see regularly.

This is a white oleander flower. I like the squiggly lines. It looks like a white sun in the center of the flower.

Oleanders are plants and are grown everywhere in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. They are used as a privacy barrier between homes.

Oleanders grow very tall and are very thick. They are very green but do produce lots of blossoms. I have white and fuscia pink blossoming oleanders in my backyard.

Check out travel photos of Merida, Mexico at Viva la Voyage!

Colorful Southwest Sunset

Another beautiful sunset from Arizona to share with you.

I hope you all had a great weekend. Happy Monday!

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Desert Wildflower Towers and Agave

A piece of Chihuly still remains at the Desert Botanical Gardens.

This is a photo of the Desert Wildflower Towers on a sunny winter day in Arizona.

These glass towers are mixed in with the green agave and you can see two agave cacti have tall stalks shooting upwards.

I cannot wait to see how the Desert Wildflower Towers look when the stalks of the agave cactus open up with their own unique flowers and stems.

Today is Sunday which means new travel photos. Check out Merida, Mexico at Viva la Voyage!

Housing at the Boulders Resort

Here is a photo of a gorgeous winter day for us in Scottsdale.

I took this photo in north Scottsdale at the Boulders Resort and Spa.

You can see the houses that line the golf course. The open space of the golf course allows homes to have spectacular views, and they can watch the golfers for fun as well.

This area has great scenery, lots of wildlife, boulders, and desert vegetation.

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Bishop's Cap Cactus

Some of you may remember this interesting cactus that has a soft fuzz on it that serves as sunscreen.

Someone had asked me to post the photo of the flower from this cactus. I did not know if I would see a flower, but it finally happened.

This cactus is called Astrophytum myriostigma. The cactus comes from Mexico and produces bright yellow flowers, like the one you see in the photo.

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Petroglyphs at Taliesin West

Frank Lloyd Wright also integrated Native American petroglyphs near the entrance to his desert camp called Taliesin West.

You can see the symbol for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation is the second petroglyph from the left.

Petroglyphs are rock art made by removing part of the rock's surface by carving or incising the rock to create the art.

Petroglyphs are thousands of years old. We have a lot of petroglyphs in Arizona and the surrounding Southwest.

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Chinese Figurines at Taliesin West

At Frank Lloyd Wright's desert camp in Scottsdale called "Taliesin West," there are these wonderful Chinese figurines built into the walls.

Frank Lloyd Wright had a shipment of Chines figurines sent to his desert camp in north Scottsdale, but many arrived damaged.

Ever the artist, Wright and his apprentices created wonderful scenes and a sense of place with these figurines integrated throughout the property.

To see more of Taliesin West, just select the Taliesin West label below.

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The Blue Moon

Here is the blue moon that was setting on Camelback Mountain on New Year's Day.

A blue moon means that we had two full moons this past month.

This is also what winter looks like in Scottsdale.

Visitors love to come to our metropolitan area during the winter months. We have many people from Canada visit, as well as from the mid-west of the United States.

Check out our travel photos of the Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires, Argentina at Viva la Voyage!

The Colors of El Pedegral

This is a high level perspective of El Pedegral in north Scottsdale.

The architectural elements and colors make El Pedegral a fun place to visit and shop.

There are also good restaurants.

Click the label of El Pedegral for more photos and details about this interesting shopping venue.

Check out our travel photos of Buenos Aires, Argentina at Viva la Voyage!

Tubular Maroon Cactus Flowers

This is another unique cactus in my backyard.

The cactus is called Cleistocactus Strausii and it comes from Argentina and Bolivia.

The cactus is white and hairy and grows quite tall. My current cactus is over three feet in height.

Once a year, this cactus will produce these tubular, maroon colored flowers.

You can see how unusual it looks to have these perpendicular swirling pink flowers growing out the side of the tall white cactus.

The flowers also have a thin furry white hair on them.

The second photo provides a close up so you can also see the tiny yellow flower at the end.

The third photo shows what one of the flowers looks like as it falls from the cactus to the ground.

If the flower lands in dirt, it can grow a new cactus and start the cycle over again.

Today is Sunday so that means new travel photos. Check out the Recoleta Cemetary in Buenos Aires, Argentina at Viva la Voyage!

Fuscia Cactus Flower

It is the beginning of a New Year! Time to share a gorgeous fuscia cactus flower from my backyard.

I am fortunate that this cactus continues to bloom each year. It is called echinocereus stramineus.

Nature provides us such beautiful treasures to enjoy!

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Changing Sky

Happy New Year's Day!

Today is theme day for City Daily Photo Bloggers. The theme is Changes.

I selected this dramatic photo I took in Sedona as a storm rolled in to remind everyone that we all face the changing sky of storms or blue sky, analogous to how we live and handle each day.

The duality in the photo corresponds to daily life.

Sometimes life is stormy and challenging, and sometimes life is calm, beautiful and fun.

I wish you the very best for 2010. You can handle the changes of the big sky of life. Happy New Year!

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To see all theme day photos, Click here to view thumbnails for all participants