Beautiful Glass

It's been so long since I last posted that I'm embarassed to be here again.  I don't mean for there to be such lapses between entries, but life has been getting in the way big time lately with several family medical concerns and ongoing issues that we've been dealing with. Sometimes it's just hard to find the heart to get on the computer and post.

Anyway, I'm back now and will do my best to keep posting and reading other blogs. I've missed being here.

What inspired me to post today was our recent trip to Arizona and especially the visit to the Desert Botanical Gardens where there was an installation of many beautiful glass works by the famous and talented glass artist, Dale Chihuly.  I've loved his work since I first encountered it several years ago when we went to Las Vegas and stayed at the Bellagio where the lobby ceiling was covered with his huge glass flowers.

I was so excited when we got to the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix and to discover that their current theme is "Chihuly in the Park".  Have a look...

The park entrance is graced by three towering glass cacti on permanent display.  I take pictures of them every time I go.  And look at that lovely sky...so unusual for us to see in Arizona.  We went to the park on the day after a huge rainstorm and the sky was still somewhat heavy with clouds.   Such a nice change from the unrelenting sun and heat that we usually experience there.

Right inside the entrance the visitor is greeted by a beautiful blue sunburst.  It's hard for these pictures to show you the size and shimmering beauty of these amazing glass structures, but you'll get an idea anyway.

There were several clusters of twisting, curving glass tubes in various colors.  Each tube has a texture, grooves, etc that make them distinctive.

Two Chihuly fans - me and Mickey

It was intresting to see how Mr. Chihuly styled his glasswork to fit into the surroundings.

...and a closer view, looking upward

There were also some interesting clusters of upright glass among the stately cactus

Other smaller yellow clusters seeming to grow among their living counterparts.

I loved the orange and yellow sculptures.

This one was huge and could be seen from many vantage spots along the garden trails. Aren't the saguaro lovely.

Playing with my new zoom lens I was able to capture the woodpecker on top of a giant saguaro near the towering orange and yellow glass structure.

And then there was this spectacular centerpiece - blown glass balls.

...put into perspective so you can see just how large the sculpture is..

But my very very favorite of all the wonderful glassworks on display throughout the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix were these next ones.

The pictures don't do it justice...the beauty and grace of the pink and white pieces was amazing, surrounded by such a lovely shade of lilac.  I wish you could all see it in person.

Well, that's a lot of pictures, but I honestly had a hard time leaving some out. I must give photo credit to Mickey for some of the pictures - I can't remember which ones are hers and which are mine - and to a kind gentleman who offered to take the picture of the two of us together.  Mickey and I missed one whole trail in the garden and I'm sure there were lots more glassworks for us to see and photograph there.  So now we have an excuse to go back, maybe take our husbands with us, and take more pictures.  I'd like to see the gardens after dark when the glass installations are lighted up.   Next time....