I had opportunities to take a couple thousand pictures this year, so it was hard to pick just 10. Most of these favorites  I’ve posted previously, but some have never been seen by anybody before. I admit some are flawed, but I like them anyway, sometimes because of their quirkiness.

I did a lot of hiking this year in desert parks. I just love the look and feel of wilderness. This picture was taken at Boyce Thompson Arboretum:

A blooming cactus at North Mountain Park:

A tree covered with blossoms on the grounds of the Arizona Renaissance Festival:

Every February, wildflowers blanket a yard in my town:

This is an icon in a Greek Orthodox monastery chapel. I purposely took this photo at a wonky angle, because of the candle holder hanging in front of the painting. I wanted to get a good shot of the mother’s sweet face, but it caused the Baby to look distorted:

This was taken in South Mountain Park:

A perfect red rose at the Rose Garden at Mesa Community College:

These wildflowers in my yard grew from an unsolicited packet of seeds sent through the mail from the Sierra Club:

I shot these cactus flowers in my neighborhood on my morning walk:

My daughter Katie on the footbridge at Boyce Thompson Arboretum: