Photo Essay: Building Garden Basins
August 12th, 2011Well, the monsoons have been with us for more than a month, and count me as unimpressed. I was hoping for giant storms with lots of rain, loud thunder, and bright lightning.
And I'm still hoping.
So far, our rainfall has been scanty, and the sound and light shows have been lackluster.
In the meantime, fall is creeping ever closer, and that means garden time. I mentioned in an earlier post that my two garden basins were allowing water to pool around the edges, rather than in the center. In the sunken garden game, that's a no-no.
The first part of my garden repair project involved finding materials for lining the edges of the basins.
Fortunately, there's a nearby vacant lot in the path of an upcoming road widening project. This lot has all sorts of busted-up concrete, and it's free for the taking. The official name for this stuff is "urbanite." Here it is, awaiting installation in the basins...
I was planning to dig out both basins in one day, but reality intruded. The big basin turned out to be more than enough work.
Said work was made all the more difficult by my neglecting to soak the basin with water. That would have made the digging a lot easier. Oh, well. I eventually got the job done...
In addition to getting my gardening space ready for fall, I'm also drying mesquite beans so that they can be ground into flour. They should be ready for the Desert Harvesters Mesquite Milling Fiesta in November...
What's this stuff? It looks like big drops of water falling from the sky...
The good news is that the water's pooling where it's supposed to be. The even better news is that Mother Nature is soaking the basin where I had yet to dig.
No sense in procrastinating any further. I dug out the second basin...
In a few weeks, it will be garden seeding time. Looking forward to it!
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Photo Essay: Greenway Envy
July 15th, 2011In my previous post, I offered a tour of Tucson's new Fifth Avenue Greenway. This post is about a nearby neighborhood that's suffering from a severe case of greenway envy.
Let's set the stage by talking about the weather – again.
As noted in recent posts, Tucson is experiencing its summer monsoon season. Which means torrential rains like this one that's flooding East Seneca Street between Fourth and Second Avenues...
Like most summer storms, this one didn't last very long. But it left quite a bit of runoff on Seneca...
As if the Seneca Street flood waters aren't enough, Third Avenue also carries quite a bit of runoff. South of Seneca, Third Avenue becomes an alley for a couple of blocks. And it's not a very inviting place...
The storm water runoff that flows into the alley isn't fit to drink or swim in. But it does serve a valuable purpose – it irrigates plants. Here it's irrigating Bermada Grass, an invasive species...
Unkempt areas in the common space tend to attract negative behaviors. They attract litter and become dumping grounds for stolen property like this City of Tucson warning sign...
They also become magnets for criminal activity...
The Fifth Avenue Greenway starts in an alley south of Mansfield Park. There was a time when respectable people avoided this alley because it was such a hotbed of drug dealing, gang activity, and other nefarious goings-on.
Other than one instance of gang graffiti that's already been reported to the city, I didn't notice anything negative during my recent walk through the Fifth Avenue Greenway.
That's why other neighborhoods what their own greenways. Attractive common space encourages positive behavior. And when positive behavior increases, crime decreases.
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Photo Essay: Greenway Park Ramble
July 13th, 2011Looks like our monsoons have taken a vacation. Other than brief sprinkles, we haven't had rain in almost a week.
So, with thunderstorms not threatening Tucson's Tuesday evening, I decided to ramble around the neighborhood. First point of interest was the new Fifth Avenue Greenway, which has transformed the look of this alley between Waverly and Linden Streets...
Well, that Fifth Avenue Greenway stroll sure was nice. Once I exited onto Linden Street, my way south was stopped cold by the Bronx Wash. If ever there was a landmark that is worthy of a Bronx cheer, this is it...
This channelized wash was built to move heavy volumes of water very quickly. Which just compounds the flooding problem downstream. Furthermore, this water is lost to the surrounding ecosystem, where it could nourish flowers, shrubs, and trees.
More green shade could mitigate Tucson's urban heat island effect, which is caused by all of those paved surfaces. If you suspect that they make our hot summers even hotter, you're right.
At the Sixth Avenue end of the Bronx Wash, a group of neighbors got together to create a different approach to water management. It's the Linden Street Pocket Park, and it uses passive water harvesting to irrigate shade trees and shrubs along this rock-lined path...
After stopping at this little park, it was on to Mansfield Park and the Northwest Neighborhood Center. The center hosted a town hall with Arizona State Senator Linda Lopez, Democrat from District 29...
Senator Lopez shared her thoughts on how Arizona's budget cuts to health care programs will affect our state. In short, the news is not good.
She noted that Arizona has America's highest percentage of uninsured children, and it ranks 12th overall in the percentage of uninsured residents. And, Lopez added, "Denying coverage does not eliminate the need for medical care."
Where do people without health insurance wind up when they need care? In our already overcrowded emergency rooms. Which makes it even harder for those experiencing life-threatening emergencies to be treated in a timely manner.
Lopez said that the state budget cuts are falling disproportionately on our state's most vulnerable people -- the elderly, the poor, people with chronic physical and mental conditions, and children.
Meanwhile, our Republican-controlled legislature just approved more tax breaks for corporations. No word on whether those corporations will actually create good-paying jobs in this state.
Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio and on this blog. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. I specialize in concerts, festivals, parades, political rallies, and sporting events. To check availability and to request a proposal, please e-mail me or call 520-690-1888.
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Nature Photography: More Monsoon Madness
July 7th, 2011As if a rollicking good Independence Day storm wasn't enough. The weather provided additional fireworks on the 5th of July.
Just like Independence Day, yesterday's tempest was a late afternoon special. It started with a ferocious wind and clouds that turned everything dark and ominous...
The rain came down, and yes, I've said this already, but I really need to fix the garden basin that's nearest to the fence. That compost bucket sitting in water is really embarrassing. It's supposed to be in the highest part of the basin, not the lowest...
I'll conclude this post with a brief lesson in how not to trim a desert tree. The photo below shows a mesquite tree that was blown over during the July 4th storm...
Before its untimely demise, this tree had been trimmed like, well, a tree. It looked like the mesquite equivalent of a lollipop.
Although the tree trimmers were well intentioned, they weakened the tree. Removing the lowest branches from desert trees like the mesquite makes the tree unstable and vulnerable to toppling in high winds. That's what happened on July 4th.
So, if you're sharing your space with a desert tree, let it grow into its natural shape. Yes, it will look like a bush on steroids, but it will be a much stronger tree.
Tip: You can view more nature photography in my portfolio.
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Nature Photography: Monsoons Rival Fireworks
July 6th, 2011The summer monsoon storms have busted back into southern Arizona. The festivities started late last week with a couple of after-dark storms that were loud and rowdy enough to deprive anyone of a good night's sleep.
Not that our July 4th afternoon storm was quiet and understated. Far from it. When it came to noise and drama, this storm rivaled Tucson's big Downtown fireworks display.
It blew in with a huge wind that threatened to tear my flag right off its pole...
After I spirited the wind-whipped flag into the house, I headed back out for more storm-watching. Didn't get much further than the front yard, what with all the entertainment provided by the mesquite tree. Which stood strong in the high winds...
After all the buildup, it's time for the rain. And it didn't disappoint...
Around Tucson, we've been playing the "wait until it rains" game since, oh, the beginning of time. (We've been in a long drought.)
Well, it's time to end the procrastination. Which means that it's time to move the compost bucket to higher ground, then shore up the east side of the garden basin so that the rainwater pools in the middle...
And it looks like it's time to plant something new in this pot. I had some aloe vera plants in there, but they were killed in February's hard freeze.
As for washing the windows and screens, just did that in May. I'll let Mother Nature handle things until next spring...
Tip: You can view more nature photography in my portfolio.
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Photo Essay: Downtown Tucson Revisited
June 22nd, 2011In my previous post, I talked about the good, bad, and ugly aspects of Downtown Tucson revitalization. Time for an update.
I noted a messy situation in the Aviation Underpass, which is on one of the main routes in and out of Downtown. In recent months, this area had turned into one of the littering hotspots of Tucson.
To the point where volunteers on the monthly Meet Me at Maynards Downtown cleanup were told to refrain from doing any trash pickup. From my perspective as one of these volunteers, I found this news to be very disappointing. What's worse, the cleanup's organizer told me that she had called the city four times.
Still no cleanup in the Aviation Underpass.
After I finished last week's post, I did something that I usually don't do. I sent out a batch of e-mail alerts -- and included our current mayor, the six Tucson city council members, and one mayoral candidate on my list.
Very quickly, I heard back from the mayoral candidate and the two city council wards that include Downtown. The even better news is that I was told that Aviation Underpass would get a cleanup.
Indeed it did.
It was monthly cleanup time during this past Monday's Meet Me at Maynards event. And guess where there was very little work for us volunteers to do? In the Aviation Underpass -- which had just gotten quite the cleanup. I had to find other places to fill my garbage bag.
So, thank you City of Tucson.
In the interest of keeping the good Downtown Tucson vibe going, how about some mural art? Murals are one of the many artistic touches that make Downtown such a visual feast...
I'll conclude with a note about the Tucson weather: It's hot out there. But triple-digit temperatures aren't keeping Tucsonans away from the Meet Me at Maynards walk or run. (You can do both, if you're so inclined.)
Smart Meet Me at Maynards participants know that it's important to stay hydrated. Doesn't matter if you're Schatzi the dachshund...
...or a human walker or runner. Make sure you have plenty of water with you...
Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio and on this blog. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. I specialize in concerts, festivals, parades, political rallies, and sporting events. To check availability and to request a proposal, please e-mail me or call 520-690-1888.
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Photo Essay: Downtown Tucson Revitalization
June 14th, 2011Yesterday evening, I did my 100th Meet Me at Maynards walk around Downtown Tucson.
While I padded along in the 100-degree heat, I shot the following photo essay. It's intended to show the positive and negative sides of Downtown Tucson's revitalization efforts. First, the positives:
Let's start with Meet Me at Maynards itself. It's been going non-stop since April 2009. Every Monday evening, it draws hundreds of runners and walkers to the Downtown area...
The Downtown business community has been very supportive of this event. Here's a free water and lemonade stand hosted by Janos Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails...
And there's Downtown Tucson itself. Full of old-fashioned architecture that's still hanging in there. Case in point: Meyer Avenue at Franklin Street..
A few years ago, the Providence Service Corporation moved its headquarters into Downtown Tucson. Providence has been doing some marvelous restoration work on its building on Broadway Boulevard at Scott Avenue...
Further south on Scott Avenue, there are some interesting footprints in the sidewalk. But fear not. In two years of walking the Meet Me at Maynards course, I have yet to encounter the creatures that left these prints...
Okay, time for the negatives.
You're probably thinking that I'm going to launch into a rant about the $230 million that's been spent on Downtown's Rio Nuevo revitalization project, and how there's been very little to show for that expenditure. But I'll spare you. Just read Rob O'Dell's articles in the Arizona Daily Star if you need to get up to speed.
Instead, I'm going to focus on a more visible topic: Public squalor. It's something that this guy's just a few steps away from encountering...
Yeah, I know. Bad photographer -- I just took a picture of my foot...
But look at all that broken glass. It's just a small sampling of what you'll find in the Aviation Underpass, which is part of one of the main routes in and out of Downtown. Great first impression of our city, isn't it?
It gets worse...
Every month, on the third Monday, Meet Me at Maynards organizes a cleanup of Downtown. I've been participating for quite a few months, and I'll have to say that there's something very satisfying about finishing a three-mile walk with a bag full of garbage.
A couple of months ago, the cleanup boss told us not to try to clean the Aviation Underpass. It had just gotten too filthy for Meet Me at Maynards volunteers to handle. She said that she'd be calling the city.
Well, last time I saw her, she said that she's called the city four times (emphasis hers). You can see from the above photos how much effect her calls have had.
So, hello, City of Tucson? Are you aware that one of the main drags in and out of Downtown looks like a garbage dump? Do you care?
And what about the graffiti? Plenty of that around Downtown. Please don't give me that line about how it's artistic expression by the downtrodden. It's vandalism. Nothing more. Nothing less...
Point of history and a little hint for the City of Tucson: As late as the 1980s, the New York subway system had a major problem with graffiti. When William Bratton became chief of the transit police, he led an effort to rid the subway system of graffiti.
It got to the point where tagged trains were called "dirty trains," and they weren't allowed to leave the car yard. I might add that the car yard was up in Harlem.
In his book, Turnaround, Bratton told of a little game that his staff played with the graffiti artistes. They let them decorate the trains. And, oh, they spray-painted some masterpieces. Took them several lo-o-o-ong nights to do it.
Bratton's staff let them finish their work. They even gave the artistes a chance to admire it.
Then the Metropolitan Transit Authority people removed every last bit of graffiti. You could almost hear the chorus of groans from outside the car yard. But the artistes got the message: Keep your graffiti away from MTA property.
Getting tough on graffiti was one of many things that turned the New York subway system away from its fearsome, crime-ridden reputation. Nowadays it's clean and safe, the people are well mannered, and yes, they'll even help you find your way. I've personally experienced such helpfulness.
I'd like to conclude this post with a look at Tucson's dumbest intersection. It's where Fourth Avenue, Congress Street, and Toole Avenue come together. It's scary in a car, and even worse if you're a bicyclist or a pedestrian.
One bicyclist has already been killed here, and the trolley isn't even running yet. Speaking as a bicyclist, I fear for our collective safety...
Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio and on this blog. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. I specialize in concerts, festivals, parades, political rallies, and sporting events. To check availability and to request a proposal, please e-mail me or call 520-690-1888.
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Best of Bike-tography: Top Bicycling Images
June 14th, 2011Bike-tography is one of those words I made up to describe two of my favorite activities, bicycling and photography. Bike-tography is the act of combining the two.
Here, for your viewing pleasure, is a highly opinionated selection of my best bike-tography images...
Note: The first eight images are from Tucson, Arizona, which is home to one of America's liveliest bicycle scenes.
The final two images -- the deserted gas station and the grasshopper -- come from my bicycle tours through all 50 of the United States. If you'd like to read more about where I went and what I saw, here's a PDF version of my Discovering America book.
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Photo Essays: Graffiti Eradication
May 20th, 2011Graffiti is one of those blights that never seems to go away. These days, it seems as if any object is a tempting target for taggers.
Central Tucson certainly isn't immune from the graffiti plague. Street signs are especially vulnerable...
When they're not being stolen, traffic safety devices are also quite the target...
Locally, there are two approaches to graffiti eradication:
- Get rid of it! This is the approach that the City of Tucson and its eradication contractor, GPC, favor. It's also how the grassroots group, Neighbors Organized To Abolish Graffiti (NoTAG), goes about things. I blogged about NoTAG's free public workshops back in July 2009.
- One-up the taggers! This approach can be a lot of fun. For example, there's that nearby neighbor who awoke to find her back wall covered in graffiti. First, she got mad. Then she rounded up several cans of different-colored paint and went to work, all the while singing her favorite songs. She created a faux finish effect that looked quite attractive -- and it masked the graffiti.
Alas, that neighbor has since moved out of state, the wall has been repainted, and the new property owner doesn't seem to care about the tags that have re-appeared.
Another one-upmanship tactic is to drown out taggers out with big, bright color splashes. That's what's done at the International School of Tucson, and I'll leave you to admire the results...
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Event Photography: 2nd Saturdays First Anniversary
May 19th, 20112nd Saturdays Downtown celebrated its first anniversary this past weekend. This event has been drawing tens of thousands of people to Downtown Tucson for arts, entertainment, shopping, and good old fashioned people watching.
The Ronstadt Transit Center isn't known for its musical entertainment, but haven't you always wanted to sing a song while waiting for the bus? Here are the Desert Melodies with your just-before-six soundtrack...
Further west on Congress Street, Toby Chivers & Deceptively Innocent played outside the Chicago Store. This trio may be young in age, but they can rock it like old pros...
I'll confess to having a real thing for guitar closeups. So, let's zoom in on Deceptively Innocent's bass player...
On to the Scott Avenue Stage, where My Town Music Youth Graduates perform pop and rock...
We still have a little daylight left, so let's backtrack to the corner of Congress and Scott. Here are two performers from the Parasol Project's Living Statues...
Sun's going down at last. Here's Chillie Willie Groove to help you bring on the night...
Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio and on this blog. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. I specialize in concerts, festivals, parades, political rallies, and sporting events. To check availability and to request a proposal, please e-mail me or call 520-690-1888.
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