Taliesin West Evening Tour Photo Essay – Part 2

Jeff

Before leaving the studio/office area for the introduction to the tour, the docent pointed to a concept drawing dubbed “The Oasis” which Wright submitted for the construction of the Arizona Capitol building. Apparently too innovative for its time, the design was not accepted. – Read more about it HERE.


AZ State Capitol Rendering
Wright’s concept drawing for Arizona State Capitol Building

Taliesin West backs up to the McDowell Mountains, a beautiful range in Scottsdale, AZ. While the development of Taliesin ensued, petroglyphs were located in the area and collected by Wright who found them of great interest. You can read about a petroglyph project on the property HERE.

“Frank Lloyd Wright was fascinated by the petroglyphs he saw in southern Arizona. It is not a coincidence that he located his winter home adjacent to a cluster of petroglyphs at the foot of the McDowell Mountains outside of Scottsdale.”


Petroglyph located at Taliesin
Wright was intrigued by Petroglyphs and collected some

This (below) is an interesting anomaly we come across in the desert on occasion. A seed of one plant or another finds the smallest of crevices and decides to make it home. Most of these volunteer plants live a shortened life because of the generally less-than-ideal location. This cactus has made its home in a hole in the wall; so to speak.

NOTE – There is a chance that this particular cactus was deliberately planted in the wall, but there is no way to know for sure.


Cactus living in a rock wall
Some plants volunteer to grow in the strangest places.

 

Read more about Taiesin West HERE.

Previous posts and photographs in the Taliesin West series in chronological order:


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All content on this blog is copyrighted by Jeffrey B. Ross with ALL Rights Reserved. While reference links back to JBRish.com are appreciated and encouraged, please acquire approval for any reproduction of original content from this website.

©Jeffrey B. Ross



STATUS QUOtes — 20170704

Jeff

Today’s STATUS QUOtes

 

“Nobody minds having what is too good for them.” — Jane Austen

“No matter how big the glam squad, or how dramatic the dress, sometimes things just don’t work out.” — Jennifer Hudson

“The way you do anything is the way you do everything.” — Tom Waits

“My own business always bores me to death; I prefer other people’s.” — Oscar Wilde

 
See previous STATUS QUOtes HERE

Thousands and thousands of quotes delivered since 2011!

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All content on this blog is copyrighted by Jeffrey B. Ross with ALL Rights Reserved. While reference links back to JBRish.com are appreciated and encouraged, please acquire approval for any reproduction of original content from this website.

©Jeffrey B. Ross


Taliesin West Evening Tour Photo Essay – Part 1

Jeff

Introduction: – Photos Below (Please scroll down)

We have lived in the North Phoenix, AZ area for more than ten years. During our time in the Sonoran Desert, we have heard many things about Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural studio and school. Our interest had been piqued a number of times, but we wanted to wait for a special guest or visitor to express a desire to tour the landmark before we visited.

Last year, good friends stayed with us and they expressed an interest in touring the Frank Lloyd Wright studio as part of the evening tour; bingo!

Taliesin was established as Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter studio and school in 1937. During the summers, Wright would head to Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin.

The Scottsdale, Arizona studio was built to blend in with the Sonoran Desert geography and to take advantage of its perch above Phoenix and the surrounding outskirts. It is an interesting and uniquely personal vision of one of America’s most famous architects.

To learn more about Frank Lloyd Wright and Taliesin and Taliesin West, visit the Taliesin Website.

Notes about Tours of Taliesin West

The Insights Tour is offered during the daytime starting daily at 9 AM. The Night Lights Tour is offered at 7 and 7:15 PM as of this posting. Please check the website or call for current information.

Website – http://franklloydwright.org/taliesin-west/tickets-tours/
Phone – 480.627.5375
Email – info@franklloydwright.org

On July 2, 2017 when I checked the website, this notation appeared:

“This summer, we’re offering a 50% discount to all Arizona residents. This offer is only available through advanced booking and proof of residency must be shown when picking up tickets. Reserve now at the link below.”

As indicated in the introduction above, we selected the Night Lights tour.


The main reception area seen from the parking lot
As we arrived, the moon was rising. This is a photograph of the reception center as seen from the main parking area.

Umbrellas for visitors
Recent rains brought out umbrellas .

Frist stop was an introduction in a nearby meeting room
The tour group stopped at a nearby meeting room for a general introduction.

Read more about Taiesin West HERE.


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All content on this blog is copyrighted by Jeffrey B. Ross with ALL Rights Reserved. While reference links back to JBRish.com are appreciated and encouraged, please acquire approval for any reproduction of original content from this website.

©Jeffrey B. Ross



STATUS QUOtes — 20170703

Jeff

Today’s STATUS QUOtes

 

“Shadow owes its birth to light.” — John Gay

“Even on the most exalted throne in the world we are only sitting on our own bottom.” — Michel de Montaigne

“It is remarkable how much long-term advantage people like us have gotten by trying to be consistently not stupid, instead of trying to be very intelligent.” — Charlie Munger, investing partner of Warren Buffett

“Many a man is saved from being a thief by finding everything locked up.” — Edgar Watson Howe

 
See previous STATUS QUOtes HERE

Thousands and thousands of quotes delivered since 2011!

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All content on this blog is copyrighted by Jeffrey B. Ross with ALL Rights Reserved. While reference links back to JBRish.com are appreciated and encouraged, please acquire approval for any reproduction of original content from this website.

©Jeffrey B. Ross


STATUS QUOtes — 20170702

Jeff

Today’s STATUS QUOtes

 

“Dare to be naïve.” — R. Buckminster Fuller

“A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.” — Theodore Roosevelt

“The future is made of the same stuff as the present.” — Simone Weil

“Give to a pig when it grunts and a child when it cries , and you will have a fine pig and a bad child.” — Danish Proverb

 
See previous STATUS QUOtes HERE

Thousands and thousands of quotes delivered since 2011!

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All content on this blog is copyrighted by Jeffrey B. Ross with ALL Rights Reserved. While reference links back to JBRish.com are appreciated and encouraged, please acquire approval for any reproduction of original content from this website.

©Jeffrey B. Ross


Hiking the Peralta Trail, Gold Canyon, AZ – 20160701

Jeff

The Finale of the Peralta Trail Photo Essay

NOTE – Keep in mind that we took this hike and these pictures represent the trail as we saw it in December, 2009. The trail may have changed a bit since them and some of the flora may no longer be exactly where we are reporting, but this is a good representation of things you may find along the way. Perhaps you will find even more intriguing highlights.

Of course the large rock formations and mountains will remain largely unchanged.


Long shadows, time to head backk
Toward Sunset

After spending some time at the Fremont Saddle and having a snack, we wanted to head back to the trailhead. As you can note from the picture, the shadows were getting longer and with that the cool, soon to be followed by cold, December chill would be setting in.

Even the decaying plants add a beauty to the desert if we take time to notice and appreciate them. Desert life is hard and any plant or animal that can survive gains my immediate and ever-lasting respect.

This is the final post about our experience along the Peralta Trail, Gold Canyon, Arizona. If you like moderate hiking and a walk in a very different and beautiful landscape, I recommend it. Just be prepared, heed all warning signs and read about the hike before you commit.

Read more about the Peralta Trail HERE.

Previous posts and photographs in the Peralta Trail series in chronological order:


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All content on this blog is copyrighted by Jeffrey B. Ross with ALL Rights Reserved. While reference links back to JBRish.com are appreciated and encouraged, please acquire approval for any reproduction of original content from this website.


©Jeffrey B. Ross


STATUS QUOtes — 20170701

Jeff

Today’s STATUS QUOtes

 

“Great thoughts, like great deeds, need no trumpet.” — Philip James Bailey

“The one thing more difficult than following a regimen is not imposing it on others.” — Marcel Proust

“In her single person she managed to produce the effect of a majority.” — Ellen Glasgow

“My photographs don’t do me justice… they just look like me.” — Phyllis Diller

 
See previous STATUS QUOtes HERE

Thousands and thousands of quotes delivered since 2011!

 

All content on this blog is copyrighted by Jeffrey B. Ross with ALL Rights Reserved. While reference links back to JBRish.com are appreciated and encouraged, please acquire approval for any reproduction of original content from this website.


©Jeffrey B. Ross