Teotihuacan - Where Men Become Gods

    We just submitted our 120th story for the website LiveScience - https://www.livescience.com/.  One of our recent stories dealt with the amazing ancient city in the Valley of Mexico known as Teotihuacan.  Here is a link to that story - https://www.livescience.com/63315-photos-teotihuacan-pyramids.html.   If you are interested in learning more about the ancient city of Teotihuacan, here a great website from UNESCO -  https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/414/ and a few pictures from our visit.  Remember, this city was built by people who did not have steel tools nor a domesticated animal bigger than a dog.  Their skills were beyond amazing!

Quetzalcoatl  - The Plumed Serpent

Avenue of the Dead

Temple of Quetzalcoatl

Pyramid of the Moon

Closer view of Pyramid of the Moon

Pyramid of the Sun

Ancient painting

Another view of the Pyramid of the Sun

Looking down the Avenue of the Dead with Pyramid of Sun on the right and Pyramid of the Moon at the far end.

Autumn Comes Again to the Valley of the Sun

     Our 2018 Harvest Moon (first full moon nearest the autumnal equinox) is now over and even for those of us who live in the summer heat of the Sonoran Desert, our thoughts turn to the cooler temperatures and magnificent colors of another Arizona autumn.  Although the hardwood forest of other parts of the United States may be considered the champions of fall colors, Arizona does have several sensational fall road trips that can take one to some very spectacular autumn landscapes.  So, if you are tired of the heat and looking for some wonderful autumn colors in Arizona’s cool north country, let us suggest you check out the following links… 

    -    great overview about Arizona Autumn Colors in the Sept 21, 2018 Arizona Republic - https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/arizona/road-trips/2018/09/21/where-see-arizona-fall-leaves-2018/1353981002/

-La Posada/Hopi Mesas - two of our favorite locations in Arizona and always lovely to visit - http://laposada.org/ and http://www.experiencehopi.com/

-Sedona & Oak Creek Canyon - Fall is wonderful at these two special destinations - https://www.sedona.net/sedona-fall-colors

-Chiricahua Wilderness - Balance rocks and autumn colors - always a great trip to southern Arizona - http://www.amwest-travel.com/awt_maplecamp.html

Boyce Thompson Arboretum - always love Boyce Thompson - http://www.btarboretum.org/

Nearby Prescott - https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/prescott/home/?cid=FSEPRD594609  and Payson - https://www.paysonrimcountry.com/payson-fall-colors

Get out and enjoy Arizona’s autumn colors - the time is now!!!   Here are a few of our favorite autumn pictures we have taken over the years…

Leaves of Prescott

San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff

San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff

Hart Prairie, Flagstaff

Hart Prairie, Flagstaff

Aspen near Flagstaff

Aspen in White Mountains near Greer

Mt Humphreys, Flagstaff

Autumn at Sunset Crater National Monument

Just love fall sunflowers!

Saguaros Are Blooming Again!

       It is that time of year when our magnificent saguaro cacti are blooming again.  Here are just a few of our first 2018 pictures of Arizona's Sentinels of the Desert!

April 25, 2018 A

April 25, 2018 B

April 25, 2018 C

Here are a few of our favorite saguaro blooms from years past...

Notice the drop of saguaro nectar

Remember, we have placed all of our photos found on this blog into Public Domain so that teachers anywhere in the world can use them in their teaching.  We only ask that you give us photo credit - Linda and Dr. Dick Buscher

Arizona Magnificiant Caves

     We just published an article on Live Science dealing with Arizona Caves.  If you love the idea of "going undeground"  then our amazing Arizona could just be your special underground playground as it is truly a treasure of speleological wonders. Speleologists, scientists who study caves, estimate that over 4,000 caves lie beneath the ground of Arizona, with some 1,600 Arizona caves already having been discovered, verified and documented.     

     Our story, linked here - https://www.livescience.com/61153-photos-arizona-caves.html - deals with four caves that are easy to visit.  If you are really interested in going "underground"  let us suggest this resource website - http://www.arizonacaves.org/index.htm

     Caving can be exhilarating but be careful  Here are some good rules to follow...

   Caving Tips & Etiquette from the National Speleological Society - http://caves.org/safety/

1.    Never go alone into a cave.  Always stay with your group.
2.    Plan ahead for an emergency.  Be sure to have multiple sources of light.
3.    Bring the right gear; wear the right clothing.
4.    Tell someone where your caving group have gone and when you plan to return home.
5.    Stick to the pre-established routes in the cave.  Caves are slippery; wear good caving shoes.
6.     Wear protective head gear.
7.      Leave the cave as you found it.  Don’t litter, disturb the cave formations or any wildlife.  Don’t cause any damage to the cave. 

The Harvey Girls

   We just posted a new article about the Harvey Girls on the Live Science website - https://www.livescience.com/.  These young ladies played such an important role in the settling of so many towns along the rail lines that ran from the Midwest to California.  They became the wives and moms in many of Arizona's rough and tumble early railroad towns like Winslow, Flagstaff, Williams and Ashfork.  An amazing and brave group of young ladies - hope you enjoy our article - https://www.livescience.com/61097-harvey-girls-photos.html

Arizona Public Domain Photos

     Welcome to 2018 - we hope the new year is fabulous for you all.  We want to restate once again that we have chosen to place all of our Arizona blog pictures into the Public Domain so that teachers and/or anyone can use our Arizona Public Domain pictures in their classrooms, work and/or leisure.  Arizona Public Domain Pictures are sometime hard to find so we hope that all our blog pictures make the task for those searching for Arizona Public Domain pictures much easier.  We only ask that anyone using our Arizona Public Domain Pictures use the following acknowledgement - Credit: Linda and Dr. Dick Buscher

Here are our first two pictures for 2018 - a short look back at the Christmas day 2017 sunset over Lookout Mountain in north Phoenix.  Arizona always has beautiful sunsets but our winter sunsets, because of the many particulates in the air, are often even more spectacular. Enjoy!

P.S. Please email us and let us know how you have used our pictures.  We would love to hear from you!

December 25, 2017 - Lookout Mountain, Phoenix, AZ

December 25, 2017

Happy Holidays - 2017

     It's the most wonderful time of the year, so we share with you of list of some of Arizona's most spectacular and fun holiday outings - Enjoy!

Prescott - Arizona’s Official Christmas City - Saturday, December 2nd, 2017

Where: The Courthouse Square in downtown Prescott, AZ

Fees: FREE event for all

    Stop at the Courthouse Square to see the start of the annual Holiday Light Parade on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving, the beginning of some wonderful Christmas activities in Prescott, Arizona. The following Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017 you will find the Courthouse lighting a great holiday treat with Christmas carolers and holiday cheer.   Details: Fabulous floats, pets and even people light up the street, and Santa is waving in this community celebration. The Light Parade moves through downtown Prescott on its way to the Courthouse.

After the parade, the beautiful Courthouse Lighting ceremony takes place on Gurley Street. There are carols and more fun during this festive time, with lights ablaze. Sharlot Hall Museum also has a Frontier Christmas Open House with cider and home made cookies by a roaring fire. Everyone gathers to decorate the town's Christmas tree.

For a truly old-fashioned and down-home Christmas, come to Prescott this year.


Payson Electric Light Parade - Historic Main Street - Saturday, Dec 2, 2017 - 6pm = http://www.paysonrimcountry.com/electric-light-parade


La Fiesta de Tumacácori
1891 East Frontage Road, Tumacacori, AZ 85640
-Saturday, December 2, 2017: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 3, 2017: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Free!  and

Christmas Eve Luminaries - Tumacacori National Historical Park - Dec 24, 2017 - not advertised but a amazing and spiritual event at the 1750s church - https://www.nps.gov/tuma/index.htm


35 Annual London Bridge Yacht Club Christmas Boat Parade, Lake Havasu City -  Dec 1 & 2, 2017 - http://lbycboatparadeoflights.com/


Besh-Ba-Gowh Festival of Lights - December 17, 2017, Globe -  http://www.globeaz.gov/visitors/besh-ba-gowah

Princess Resort, Scottsdale - many activities at one of the Valley’s premier resorts - https://www.scottsdaleprincess.com/Seasonal-Events/Christmas-at-the-Princess

Holiday fun in Tucson, Arizona’s Old Pueblo - Check out this list of family fun events going on in Tucson - http://www.emol.org/tucson/events/christmashannukahevents.html


Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix - Las Noches de Las Luminarias - Nov. 24 & 25, Dec. 8-10, 15-17, 19-23, 26-30 - https://www.dbg.org/events/las-noches-de-las-luminarias-0


Midnight Mass at Mission San Xavier del Bac, Tucson - Christmas Eve worship in the historic 18th Century church will be a Christmas to always remember -  http://www.sanxaviermission.org/


Zoo Lights - Phoenix Zoo - November 22, 2017 – January 14, 2018 - http://www.phoenixzoo.org/event-items/zoolights/

Sedona - who doesn’t love Sedona?  - https://visitsedona.com/events-calendar/annual-events/

Flagstaff -  a perfect holiday location - http://flagstaff.citymomsblog.com/holidays/flagstaff-holiday/ and to welcome 2018 - https://www.flagstaffarizona.org/great-pinecone-drop/


Then too there is the Tumbleweed Christmas Tree in Chandler, http://www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=165,  the Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade at Tempe Lake, https://www.tempetourism.com/event/2017-fantasy-lights-boat-parade/.  historic Jerome Lights Up The Mountain festival on the side of Cleopatra Hill in the Verde Valldy, https://www.verdenews.com/news/2017/nov/22/3-reasons-why-jerome-lights-mountain-fun-kids/,  and a free holiday miniature train ride at the Adobe Mountain Desert Railroad Park, http://adobemtndesertrrpark.com/,  and a Pioneer Christmas at Sharlot Hall Museum, Prescott - https://www.rosieonthehouse.com/events/prescott-parade-and-sharlot-hall-frontier-christmas

So get out and enjoy Finding Arizona this holiday season - we are so lucky to live in such a fabulous and diverse state - we wish you and your the happiest of holiday seasons and a happy and healthy 2018. 

Yavapai Courthouse - Prescott

Tumacácori National Historic Park

Tumacácori National Historic Park

Pioneer Christmas - Prescott

North Pole Experience - Flagstaff

Tumbleweed Christmas Tree - Chandler

London Bridge Boat Parade - Lake Havasu City

Payson Electric Light Parade

Besh-Ba-Gowh - Globe

Adobe Mountain Train Park - Phoenix

Zoo Lights - Phoenix

Fantasy of Light Boat Parade - Tempe

Jerome Lights Up The Mountain - Jerome

Pine Cone Drop - New Years Eve - Flagstaff