Santa Fe's winter beauty, Part 1

A 5 minute techno-electric sundown, Taos, NM

It's been two weeks since I got back from Santa Fe; I feel like I may be in deep withdrawal. Even though it was cold, it beat the east coast version with all our brutal snows and gray skies. It snowed out there several days, never accumulating much, and the unending blue sky always made it nicer. When the sun followed suit, I knew I was in the right place at the right time. It's why I decided to leave my life in Maryland for a while and stay there. I need their sun and inexplicable energy source. My light just shines brighter out there. Staying here I worry it may go out. No, not in a Edna St. Vincent Millay sort of way, more like a Greta Garbo one... it's easy for me to go insular here for some reason.

Snowdrops off Bishops Lodge Rd.

I went to look for homes to rent, furnished or not and found an amazing assortment of styles and spaces. Since my objective on this trip was housing, I didn't have as much time to go on neglected beauty runs. The stuff I ran into was limited botanically speaking, the southwest winter hid it under layers of snow and shade. Snow-capped mountains provided a perfect backdrop to the bleached adobe facades, and the growth stayed dormant.

Rose hips near Canyon Rd.

My friend Giuli came with me and brought her super-pimped-out camera. Despite the winter scenery, she discovered some wonderful images and things that only an artist would understand. Many of these pictures are hers.

Beautiful branch and shadow on West Santa Fe Ave.

Thank you Giuli for your vision and your company.

Their only major body of water, Rio Grande River, Taos, NM

Downtown Santa Fe

Sculpture on Canyon Rd.

Unknown bittersweet looking plant, by El Farol Restaurant

Pueblo artist, Santa Fe Plaza

A rare picture of Flower Spy with burro

The Spice Man, Chimayo, NM

Pink mailbox off Canyon Rd.

Baby pigs outside gallery off Canyon Rd.

Horses in love, Chimayo, NM

Jesus votives in Chimayo, NM

Stone Sign in Guadalupe Park, Santa Fe

Photos by the Flower Spy and Giuliana Cox