I know, I know,
Arizona is hot, dry and miserable.
Hold that thought.
This week, we welcome guest host, Jude, of Cornwall in Colours, who challenges us to search for Textures in our photography.
When I think of texture, I think of something I want to run my hands through. Something to touch or hold. With a background in horticultural, that reflex is much like that of a culinary chef tasting food.
A lavender field comes to mind.

Textures? Arizona? Plants? Yes, I learned the hard way that not everything in Arizona is touchable. Run your hand across something here and it touches back, bites back. Thank goodness for the chance to visualize texture…sometimes. And just like that, dry and miserable connotes art, doesn’t it?




In truth, Southwest art is a colorful, distinctive addition to our homes and landscape.




And the arts morph into our clothing design as well. Next to flip flops, cowboy boots are commonplace, and the symbolism of native American dress is alive and well. That workmanship? A reflection to perpetuate the legacy of a people.


Be still and the earth will speak to you.- Navajo proverb

Cool, right?
Wind Kisses, Donna
Last week Anne Sandler inspired our photography with with Wildlife Close to Home. Next week, Tina of Travel and Trifles, will host Lens-Artists 227. If you would like to know more about the Lens-Artists community, check here.
Wow, your images are so beautiful, and I love the pokey way of Arizona even though I wouldn’t want to fall into a field of cacti. 🙂
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Thank you Marsha. Took me a bit to appreciate the look but don’t touch mentality. Life lessons are always a good thing.
I have seen a few naive hikers who DO think the Teddy Bear Cholla cacti are cuddly.
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It took me a bit, too. Where I grew up in Indiana, deciduous trees and green grass ruled. 🙂
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Brilliant post Donna. I loved every step of the way. Melted at the last photo ❤
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Thank you. Always love hearing from you.
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🤗
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Absolutely gorgeous, Donna! Arizona and the Southwest are full of colors and textures, although some of the latter aren’t people-friendly. 🌵
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Truth. Thank you Janet. Love our colorful diverse landscape. And, yes, I have been “bit” more times than I would like to admit.
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Very cool, Donna! 😎 My favs are the bee photo and the pink cactus photo! ❣️
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Thank you we live in a beautiful state.
Happiest of Thanksgivings.
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What a delightful colourful collection Donna. Although even lavender can be dangerous to run your hands through when it is full of bees! Love those pots, how I’d like to have some of those in my garden to cheer me up in these dull, grey days. And the pink cactus photo is fabulous. Thanks for joining me this week.
Jude xx
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Hi Jude! I loved your challenge and will revisit it again in a day or so, as I am on travel.
Truth about lavender, but I can’t help myself. So far so good.
Before living in Arizona I lived in a climate much like yours. I remember LOVING these pots when I moved here, and they are around my yard now.
Thank you again for a fun challenge.
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I’ve always thought of Arizona as dry, yes, but not miserable! I love your cactus photos and the cowboy boots, but my favourites are the bee in the lavender and that last shot in Monument Valley 😀
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Thank you so much Sarah. It really is a beautiful and diverse place. Thank you again.
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Wonderful and colorful collection.
Love the cactus.
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Thank you. A unique cactus, a favorite of mine.
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And it’s so lovely
Well captured.
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My favorite textures this week are your cactus photos. I’ve always enjoyed the colors of the southwest 😀
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Thank you Cee.
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Loved your cactus photos! They’re a great thing to take pictures of.
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They ARE fun .
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Miserable? Awww. Some people I know are in Arizona right now rather than wintering in Colorado. 😉 LOVE the cacti shot!!
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We DO love it. In any season.
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Delightful colors and textures Donna! Happy Thanksgiving!
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Thank you Brad . Hope you had a nice holiday.
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Beautiful textures of cacti, so glad you iclude it. I love colorful Southwest art. That bit boot desplay is so cool!
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Thank you Amy.
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I’ve always loved Arizona. It has a beauty all its own and I’ve always been partial to southwest art. The photo at the very top with the flowers and cacti is stunning!
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Thank you. Yes, I remembered our move here and thought, There is so much more to desert beauty than I realized.
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Loved the cactus 🌵 shot, the nature there is so beautiful in its own way. That last photo was precious
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I love this reminder of the desert textures we will be missing in Arizona this year.
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Spectacular! You have truly captured the texture of Arizona!
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Thank you.
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Wonderful as always Donna – especially loved your Arizona plants (including the beautiful opening image) and your closing image and thought. As for the spiky beauty of AZ, I learned that the hard way one year at my brother’s home there when I went into his yard for photography in soft slippers. let’s just say I had to throw the slippers away and took weeks to remove the last spike from my foot !!!
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A teddy bear cactus maybe. Lol. They LOOK cuddly and get onto everything. I keep shoes at my back patio to slip on, and they are specific to the outdoors.
Thanks Tina.
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