Queen Creek Demonstration Garden

I didn't realize until about a week ago that Queen Creek had a garden of any sorts. Located in Desert Mountain Park, this demonstration garden reminds me of a very small-scale botanical garden with prickly pear cactus, sage, and other, more exotic plants that I can't remember the name of.

It would take maybe 20 minutes for the most avid plant enthusiast to meander its pink, crushed gravel paths--so definitely not worth a drive from Glendale--but if you're at Desert Mountain Park for a marathon day of organized kids' sports and need a break, the garden is definitely a pleasant escape.

(Details: 22201 S. Hawes Rd., Queen Creek. 480-358-3700, http://www.queencreek.org/.)

Chapel of the Holy Cross

This beautiful church was designed by Marguerite Brunswig Staude, a sculptor and student of Frank Lloyd Wright. Her inspiration came in 1932 when she viewed the newly constructed Empire State Building from a certain angle and saw what seemed to be a cross imposed through the very core of the structure. Staude had inherited a large sum of money and wanted to build a church that would glorify God and give thanks for the gifts she had received in life. After searching throughout Europe looking for the ideal location, she was struck by the beauty of Sedona and decided to build a "monument to faith" among its red rocks. It was completed in 1956.

The Chapel of the Holy Cross is open to the public daily 9am-5pm and on Sundays 10am-5pm. It is operated by the Diocese of Phoenix and St. John Vianney parish. Parking is limited, and you may not be able to park at the top lot. If not, be prepared to walk. There are also no public restrooms at the chapel (although there is a small portable at the lower parking lot), so go before you go.

(Details: 780 Chapel Rd., Sedona. 928-282-4069, http://www.chapeloftheholycross.com/.)

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

The Boyce Thompson Arboretum is located near Superior, about 30-45 minutes past Apache Junction. More than 3,200 different plants from the Sonoran desert, African, South American, Asian and the Mediterranean regions plus more than 230 bird and 72 animal species call the arboretum home. When I was there last spring with my daughter for a school field trip, we saw birds, ground squirrels and lizards.

The arboretum is part of the Arizona State Parks system, so kids can get a junior ranger booklet to complete during their visit and, like all the other state and Maricopa County parks, there are always classes available ranging from photography to plants of the Bible to juicing a prickly pear cactus.

Bring plenty of water, and keep the temperature in mind. I don't remember there being much shade.

(Details: 37615 US Highway 60, Superior. 520-689-2723, www.arboretum.ag.arizona.edu.)

Queen Creek Stagecoach

This is all that remains of the old Andrada homestead, which the Arizona Stage Company used as a rest stop on its route from Florence to Mesa. It was a simple one-room building about 10 feet by 10 feet with a door on the south side and gun ports instead of windows. The stage company came through Queen Creek and used this site from approximately 1868 to 1916.

New Format

I'm going to a slightly different format on this blog: more photos, less words. Since the blog will be simpler, I'm hoping to post more.

Queen Creek Daily Photo

I started a second blog, Queen Creek Daily Photo (http://queencreekdailyphoto.blogspot.com/). I'm posting a daily image from the town I live and the surrounding area (Gilbert, San Tan Valley, and Florence). I may even throw in a few East Valley photos (Mesa, Scottsdale, Chandler or Tempe) from time to time.

Above is today's daily photo, the sign in front of San Tan Flat.