The reopening of the newly renovated Phoenix Botanical Garden gave Katie and me an excuse for a mini vacation. We’d waited a year for this to happen. Starting with the drive to Phoenix, along the roadsides were huge clumps of Indian Paintbrush, red penstemons, primroses and ocotillo in flower. On getting closer to Phoenix, we noticed that the Highway Dept. had further enhanced roadsides with oleander, bougainvillea and roses to keep hillsides from eroding.

Our first full day we went to the Botanical Garden. The AAA book indicated that only two hours are necessary to see the garden. Well, four hours later we left and that was by seeing some of the exhibits as fly-bys. What a lovely job they did with the bequest which made it all possible. This photo is of Mexican fencepost cacti used as fencing. This would certainly make it difficult for stray animals, neighbors and tumbleweeds to invade the property.

Later that day, we ventured into the Phoenix Zoo. As a child I came to love zoos and can’t see enough of them. Katie was so happy to see Watusi cattle. They are very impressive. There was also a spotted-necked African otter family. They were about two-thirds the size of American river otters. Of course, they were looking as otters often do, just happy to be having fun.

Day two took us an hour’s drive east of Phoenix to Superior, AZ, home of Boyce-Thompson Arboretum. This is a lovely, well planned garden also. I did feel it was somewhat less commercial appearing than Phoenix Botanical Garden. We spent many hours here also as there was so much to see. Among the plants in bloom, were these aloes. They are stunning.When plants are mentioned, very few people would say they thought the bark of trees was beautiful; however, let me be the first in saying that eucalyptus trees have very beautifully colored, smooth bark. The visit here will certainly be memorable.

The next picture is one of us helping a plant, rather than plants helping us as the fencepost cacti do. This is a cardon which has been moved and, until it roots in its new home, has been given crutches to assist.We saw saguaros, which had been moved to widen a road, given the same treatment.

Now that we’ve done the nature part of our trip, let me tell you about some meals we had planned on having when in Phoenix. One evening we went to Kona Grill where we dined sumptuously. Katie almost swooned over her Pan-Seared Ahi, done rare, with sweet chili sauce and I over my Lemon Grass Crusted Halibut with coconut-curry sauce. Our second meal to-die-for was at a Middle Eastern restaurant. My selection was lamb kebabs and Katie’s was gyros. The accompanying sauces were excellent. The appetizer was a salad of cucumber and tomato wedges surrounding a dish of yogurt along with pita bread. Our leftovers were breakfast the next day. Yum.

What a great time and wonderful trip. Can’t wait until the next one, wherever that may take us.