If you’re into fluttering insects, the Desert Botanical Garden’s Butterfly Pavilion is the place to be. Located in southeast Phoenix, the Pavilion is quite the draw for photographers, including my friend and mentor, Judy Vorfeld:

Judy and I visited the Butterfly Pavilion this past Saturday.

You can catch the Butterfly Pavilion exhibit between March 1 and May 11. It’s a guaranteed good time for humans and fluttery things…

Did I mention that Julia butterflies love to pose?

The Pavilion exit is guarded by duster-wielding docents. And everyone gets the brushoff treatment. This is done to keep the butterflies from hitching rides on the backs of departing humans…

When we think of graphic design, we often think of doing clever things with graphics. But why not with words? Designing with type is one of my favorite activities. The above postcard, which was sent to clients and prospects, is an example.

When is a word not just a word? This postcard design was inspired by Andy Warhol and other pop artists of the mid-20th century.

The aloe that I planted four years ago just can’t contain its enthusiasm. This bud is growing through a crack in my retaining wall…

The iceplant is much more tame — except for the flowers…

This was a design-with-type exercise that ended up on a postcard to promote my studio. The sentiment expressed is one of my alltime favorites. It comes from a book on federal law enforcement job opportunities.

Now, if you’re wondering why a graphic designer would read such a book, let’s just say that I’m a literary omnivore. I like to read about all sorts of things. The more the merrier, in fact.

Yesterday was cold, windy, and rainy. Despite the not-so-perfect weather, the annual St. Patrick’s Parade wound its way through Downtown Tucson. The Seven Pipers Society helped lead the way…

Since this was a Tucson parade, it had to include some industrial-strength weirdness. The Mashed Potato Queens were more than happy to oblige…

This puppy found the St. Patrick’s Parade noise to be a bit much…

Since I get around by bicycle, I have more than a passing interest in where bikes can and cannot go. Hence, I am quite opposed to bike bans, especially in these days of high gas prices, global climate change, and widespread obesity.

Leftover bicycle parts and graphic design — a marriage made in heaven!