Cactus and Sculputure Other Worldly Experience

As many of you are aware, I spent about a week in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and while I was there, caught many of the cactus and other desert plants in bloom and then attended the Dale Chihuly Glass Sculpture Show at the Desert Botanic Garden there. I will start with pictures of that show and garden. I will add a few at a time between other tasks -- such as manure unloading.
First picture is glass sculptures mixed in with desert plants at the entrance to the garden. These sculptures are made into giant lighting fixtures and glow at night making a really special appearance.

The Desert Botanic Garden is loaded with beautiful cactus specimens. These are barrel cactus with fruits on them. I love the way the fruits form in a circle on the top.

Here is Dale Chihuly's version of The Sun in daylight. People in photo will give you a feeling for the size of the sculpture.

Great time of year to see the low desert.

One of many red flowering cacti planted near The Sun.

I really lucked out with the flowers in bloom. Here is Mexican Hat and Horn Tower standing in a large plot of what I believe is verbena.

Oops, that was the sign. Here is the sculpture.

And here is Green and Blue Ferns, planted amidst the brush. In the background yet another sculpture.

Oops! Now the photo of Green and Blue Ferns.

Now the Moon

Beautiful! My neighbor, Naomi, has friends who went. She was talking to me about it just this morning. She wished she could go but too much going on. An excellent show.

WOWSER!!! Thanks for posting these paj.

We went to the garden at about 5:00 and photographed until almost 8:00 pm. The sculptures become more dramatic at night. Here is the Saffron Tower, seen in the background in an earlier photo.

Purple Prickly Pear Cactus -- yes it really was that color, no light tricks.

Wow. I love glass sculpture. The bellagio in las vegas has some wonderful pieces. Ok. Need to wipe the drool off the puter

I think the same sculptor did the glass sculpture at the Bellagio. I will have to go see it some day. This was a fabulous show.

Wow, that Saffron tower looks incredible all it up! When I went, we got there about 10 am so we couldn't stay late enough to see it lit.

The show was fabulous in daylight, but even more so after dark. I chose the hours 4-8 for our visit because when we were there it was quite warm during the days, but still cool at night. We were delighted to see how much the drama of the sculptures increased at sunset.

Very nice, both the cacti and the sculptures. What an effort to build those giant sculptures!

Bellagio became my favorite place on the strip when I lived in Vegas. Also has a conservitory where they do different displays of plants thruout the year and a cool art gallery. Small enough to be intimate but big enough to have some great shows. (the gallery that is;)

Tee hee, yes, of course the gallery. I would like to see the Bellagio some day. I have heard a lot about its art. Didn't know about the conservatory. Better than your average casino, I would say.

IMO it is. It's kind of funny. Since I've lived in Vegas I find the casinos here in Reno so uninteresting. I don't gambel but I miss the shows and killer food. =)

Nice pics, and thanks for sharing! I love the Moon sculpture, and that saffron one is gorgeous!

Maybe I will add some more next week when I return from Kansas City.