A Daughter's Garden

Carol Freshley April 26, 2016

I have watched Brynn grow as her garden has grown. It all started about three years ago. At first the garden was small, orderly and productive. Now it is a veritable jungle, takes up much more space and is uber productive. She is ably assisted by her best friend Tim. He inspires her and then delivers on his encouragement by helping her keep it up. I may be assuming here, but bet he does a lot of heavy lifting!

A gift of love from Brynn's garden.  We took it all home. — A gift of love from Brynn's garden. We took it all home.

Brynn met us at the door with sweat and dirt all over her. She radiated happiness and life. She proudly helped us find interesting photo opportunities. You see, she now practices skillful neglect in her garden. This means that plants are allowed to go to seed in place (she collects the seed for next year). It also means that her seasons overlap more than the usual garden. The tall plants protect the smaller new growth. You are likely to find carrots anywhere in the garden. She does not use insecticide, relying instead on pinching off offending predators, loving any visiting lizards and praying mantis.

Shaded by a palm, there are seeding lettuces and, as I recall, some squash coming up underneath.

I could never get my broccoli to grow past March.  This head seems perfectly happy at the end of April! — I could never get my broccoli to grow past March. This head seems perfectly happy at the end of April!

Why plant petunias when you can have this?  She actually has started a garden in the front yard.  Gorgeous and productive. — Why plant petunias when you can have this? She actually has started a garden in the front yard. Gorgeous and productive.

Brynn is happy to take your egg shells.  They add nutrients to her organic garden. — Brynn is happy to take your egg shells. They add nutrients to her organic garden.

Well hidden!  Bright color helps land it in a salad bowl. — Well hidden! Bright color helps land it in a salad bowl.

Baby cauliflower, doing well in a shaded corner.

We grazed as we explored the undergrowth.  A white carrot with a big bite out of it! — We grazed as we explored the undergrowth. A white carrot with a big bite out of it!

Palm trunk, used strategically to shade plants.

Tom smiled and asked me if I remembered having one of these. Yes!

My mom loved gardening and I remember many gardens that she tended as I grew up. She shared her love and advice with Brynn and would have loved to be with us as we spent time in Brynn's garden. Mom always said that her kids turned out pretty good because she raised them with 'skillful neglect'. Brynn seems to get that! There is even a tall 'true' weed growing in her garden. I did not see her pull it before we left! We were given a pair of scissors and a big pan to collect what we wanted to take home with us. "Stay away from plants that are seeding" she said. "They tend to be bitter, but I like them that way too!" Me too.

Dawn with Three Sisters

Carol Freshley April 24, 2016

Tom has wanted to return to photograph the Three Sisters at dawn for a long time. Now that we are parked in east Mesa it seemed like a perfect opportunity. We left at 4:15 am arriving at the turnoff to the Peralta Trailhead just as the blue hour started. We found the road Tom remembered from prior shooting, parked our car about 1/4 mile further up the road. We hiked back to the side road and then hiked that road while the sun came up. The road is a gravel, unmaintained road, but plenty wide to see snakes, navigate around potholes, and easily find our way back to the car.

The road offers a slight incline as you hike towards the rock formation known as the Three Sisters.  I would guess we hiked about a mile and a half, one way.  It does begin to get steeper as you get closer to the mountain.  The answer… — The road offers a slight incline as you hike towards the rock formation known as the Three Sisters. I would guess we hiked about a mile and a half, one way. It does begin to get steeper as you get closer to the mountain. The answer to that is slow down and shoot more frequently so you don't notice it!

The sun came up behind a thick bank of clouds!  Bummer as we did not get the bright light over the lush desert and off the rock crops.  We waited and kept hiking! — The sun came up behind a thick bank of clouds! Bummer as we did not get the bright light over the lush desert and off the rock crops. We waited and kept hiking!

The quality of the light really changed from one direction to another.  We know to expect that.  But to experience it with such a dramatic difference was unusual. — The quality of the light really changed from one direction to another. We know to expect that. But to experience it with such a dramatic difference was unusual.

A hint of sun through the clouds?  Patience paying off?  We kept walking. — A hint of sun through the clouds? Patience paying off? We kept walking.

The sun passing through variably thick clouds or no clouds at all.  Was fun to watch. — The sun passing through variably thick clouds or no clouds at all. Was fun to watch.

If you tire of the Three Sisters there are plenty of other things to shoot.  The desert in this area is lush, a veritable jungle! — If you tire of the Three Sisters there are plenty of other things to shoot. The desert in this area is lush, a veritable jungle!

I was really hoping the road would lead us to the base of the Three Sisters.  Not to happen on this road.  Just a bit further up we got to the end of the road and a barbed wire fence. — I was really hoping the road would lead us to the base of the Three Sisters. Not to happen on this road. Just a bit further up we got to the end of the road and a barbed wire fence.

As we reached the end of the road we also reached the end of our golden light.  The shadows became harsher, the light more flat and uninteresting.  And, most importantly, I kept thinking that the way back was as far as I had already walked! — As we reached the end of the road we also reached the end of our golden light. The shadows became harsher, the light more flat and uninteresting. And, most importantly, I kept thinking that the way back was as far as I had already walked!

Turning around we were treated to a grand perspective towards the south valley.  Then I realized how much we had slowly walked UP. — Turning around we were treated to a grand perspective towards the south valley. Then I realized how much we had slowly walked UP.

Towards the northeast.  Layers of mountains behind huge Saguaros. — Towards the northeast. Layers of mountains behind huge Saguaros.

Tom mentioned how prolific the blooms were on the Saguaros.  Of course, the best blooms are pretty high up and not easy to photograph.  So, on the way out I was determined to find one that had arms with blossoms that could be more easily p… — Tom mentioned how prolific the blooms were on the Saguaros. Of course, the best blooms are pretty high up and not easy to photograph. So, on the way out I was determined to find one that had arms with blossoms that could be more easily photographed.

I saw a Saguaro close to the road and it looked like it had an arm hanging down with flowers.  I pulled alongside and waited in the car with the blinkers on while Tom hopped out with his long lens to capture his best.  Soon he came back, "… — I saw a Saguaro close to the road and it looked like it had an arm hanging down with flowers. I pulled alongside and waited in the car with the blinkers on while Tom hopped out with his long lens to capture his best. Soon he came back, "I can touch the flowers. I need a different lens."

Anyone care to guess what lens Tom took back to get these awesome shots?  No, that is not totally lens effect, but he sure can use that lens as a great macro lens!! — Anyone care to guess what lens Tom took back to get these awesome shots? No, that is not totally lens effect, but he sure can use that lens as a great macro lens!!

We want to go back and explore a different road to see if we can find the one people are using to get a very different perspective of the Three Sisters. They may not be using a road at all, but my guess is that the lush desert jungle would be a hardy trudge without some sort of clearing. Plus, we want to go back for an evening Golden Hour shoot. Just too many photo opportunities around the Superstitions. We promise to share our best.

Da Boyz do da Grand Canyon

Carol Freshley April 23, 2016

Steve, Tom and Greg spent some time at the Grand Canyon on our last trip up to Williams. Is it possible to get tired of shooting that fabulous canyon? Tom said he enjoyed the people more than the Canyon this time. Steve had other interests as well. Just more perspectives on this iconic photo-location.