yesterday i had a few minutes to take a photo walk — one of my favorite ways to spend a little “me time” — so i took a spin around the xeriscape garden at chaparral park in scottsdale. the last time i was there not much was in bloom. this time (and with special thanks to my good friend allegra) i caught a little bit of spring in the desert . . .

a lot of people (including myself at times) picture the desert as brown, dry and let’s be honest…kinda ugly… (our governor and her ugly politics don’t help…sorry; i couldn’t resist) but the desert can actually be vibrant and beautiful:

okay, this last one i actually photographed at the desert botanical garden in phoenix last month, but i had to include it because it’s a stunning example of color in the desert. i love the gorgeous colors of a prickly pear cactus flower in bloom!