Prescott Rain or Shine!

We made a plan to have a Saturday up in Prescott last month to escape the Phoenix heat for some cooler weather.  We did not, however,  plan for a rain and hail storm on the way!
I have been missing the east coast a lot lately, and that has been manifesting through me missing my home town's fall foliage! I was surrounded by trees for so long, its sad to look out the window and not see any beautiful greens, yellows, and reds.

We skipped our hiking plan due to the weather but we stopped by the Prescott National Forest just to drive through the yellow birches! The windy roads full of bright colors almost made me cry with happiness. Then we headed to Downtown where there was a fall festival. I just love this little community atmosphere so much!

The weather did clear up and we finished up our day at Watson Lake, and once again I was blown away by the scenery. We walked farther down to explore the rock formations, and while I was nervous, A was fearless as always.

 

Prescott, AZ October 2016.

Get Back to the Gardens!

We went back to the Desert Botanical Gardens while my friend was visiting in early Spring. I enjoyed seeing some of my favorite areas of the gardens again, and how some new exhibits were installed and in bloom.

Easy Exploration of the Grand Canyon.

Back in March, a friend came to visit me in Arizona. You can't come to Arizona without seeing The Grand Canyon. So despite recovering from an illness thanks to my sweet babies from work, we packed the car with snacks and some throwback mix CDs, and headed up north.


The drive itself is incredible, seeing all the terrain in the country, within one state. Passing Sedona, and Flagstaff (I still hope to visit there soon), on the way, we arrived a few hours later to the Grand Canyon National Park. 

The trip is beyond worth it, just be sure to pack your reusable water bottle, sunblock, and sneakers. Don't forget to take a minute to put your camera or phone down. I didn't hike downward farther into the Canyon, but walking along the ledge path was beautiful with the occasional overlooks.

March 29, 2016. Grand Canyon, AZ.

A Day in the Mountains

Sometimes a trip outside of the city is necessary to clear your head and remind you all of the beautiful things that exist. So we packed the car with waters and a few snacks, and drove upstate to Prescott, Arizona. Not only was the drive through the mountains breathtaking, it was a quick drive to what felt like another land.

I knew beforehand that Prescott has a cute welcoming downtown. But I underestimated how much character the homes surrounding the court square had. Every home was decorated with fall or winter decor, and full of leaves changing colors. Oh the fall leaves, how I had missed them. The town was full of statues and ways to honor its history. The individuals and groups that build the town & its influence on the state's history were honored by plaques, and by timelines. So much history in such a small area.

After exploring the town's candle, antique, and the most incredible independent bookstore (Peregrine Book Company), a local recommended we head to Watson Lake to watch the sunset. Thank goodness he did, because wow. We stretched our legs, climbed, and enjoyed the view in the crisp fall evening air. It was the perfect weekend getaway, and a good taste of the mountains this state has to offer.

For more information about the city of Prescott or to plan a visit, check out their website.  

City of Prescott, Arizona.

November 21, 2015.

Visiting the Desert Botanical Gardens

My mother has loved gardening since I can remember. And, her mother before her, as well. I have memories of both of them in matching garden dresses walking their yards picking weeds, or wandering the local botanical gardens together. So when my family came to visit in September, I was excited to explore Arizona's Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix. They had great information about the plant life local to here, especially about the types of cacti. I think everyone had a blast!  

 

For more information about the Desert Botanical Gardens, visit their website at https://www.dbg.org/. They always have beautiful landscapes and plants to admire, plus some events that go on. They even can host weddings here, which is just so dreamy.

Phoenix, AZ  September, 2015.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West

Moving out west means that I have a beautiful new series of scenes and people to photograph. Its especially fun to play tourist in my new town & explore the new locations it has to offer!

Family came to visit, and I got to visit a Frank Lloyd Wright design, (my first time) called Taliesin West. It is an architecture school and home, built into the ground and mountain landscape of Scottsdale Arizona.

One of my personal favorite things about this space was the use of the environment to create it. Embracing the warmth, open air, and the geography into the design was really inspiring. Also, what a wonderful place to show art and inspire students to create. If you get the chance to visit, I highly recommend it (just don't forget to bring water!) You can learn more about Frank Lloyd Wright and Taliesin West on the official website, here.

 

 

September, 2015. Scottsdale, Arizona.