This Must Be The Place – Breaking Glass Magazine

This Must Be The Place – Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix

September 27, 2023September 27, 2023Posted in Photography, This Must Be The Place

Oasis in the Desert

Phoenix is a sprawling metropolis that grows out instead of up. The city has diverse things to enjoy: music, professional sports, the arts, and green spaces. But if I had only one place that I would recommend, it would always be the Desert Botanical Garden. Except for sports, everything can be seen in the Garden, along with the unique plant life found only in the desert.

Art installations are changed at least twice a year throughout the Garden. Chihuly, who usually only exhibits at a garden once, has had two exhibits here because he likes it so much. I had the opportunity to see some of the exhibits assembled, which was breathtaking as each piece of glass was taken from a large crate and put in place on the metal structure. Another wonderful installation was Lights in the Desert. Lights were projected onto the cactus, along with music playing in the background. As you walked along the path, it felt like you were looking at a coral reef.

Desert Botanical Garden also celebrates people’s cultures. Some of the events are Dia De Muertos (Day of the Dead), Plants & People of the Sonoran Desert Celebration (Arizona’s Native American Cultures), and Juneteenth commemorating the end of slavery in the United States in 1865, just to name a few. The garden shines with Las Noches de las Luminarias, which runs from November to the New Year. Luminaries light the path, and the garden is decked out with Christmas decorations. Throughout the year, there is live music that can be heard drifting through the air.

The best part of all which can be seen anytime that you visit is the unique plant life of the Sonoran Desert. The garden has different paths leading to specialized gardens. During the fall and spring, a butterfly pavilion is installed as the monarch butterflies migrate. It contains a thousand free-flying southwestern butterflies along with a gorgeous array of flowers and trees to feed them. When I wander through the succulent garden, I always think that these otherworldly plants must have inspired Dr. Seuss. In April and May, the cactus flowers bloom, but they are only day bloomers. It’s always a gift to be there when they are showing off their beauty.

Desert Botanical Garden is my sanctuary, where I can find peace and enjoy the beauty and culture of the southwest.

Words and photos © Jennifer Mullins – Website | Instagram

Published 27th September 2023

This Must Be The Place – Clevedon & Portishead

September 18, 2023September 23, 2023Posted in Photography, This Must Be The Place

When you need a break from the bustling city life of Bristol there’s plenty more to discover, with Clevedon and Portishead both just a short drive away.

Small but perfectly formed, Clevedon is a seaside town in North Somerset, complete with Victorian pier and TV filming credits including Broadchurch. On a sunny day, the beach is filled with canoeists, dog-walkers and a general feeling that nothing needs to be done in a hurry.

Probably best known for trip-hopsters of the same name, Portishead has a long history as a fishing port. Though much of its industrial area has been redeveloped, it still has a more dystopian feel than its neighbours, Portishead Point Lighthouse (more commonly known as Battery Point Lighthouse) sitting at the edge of the coastline.

Photos © Morgan Elliott

Published 18th September 2023

This Must Be The Place – Cromer & Sheringham

July 27, 2023September 23, 2023Posted in Photography, This Must Be The Place

With 13 miles between them, Cromer and Sheringham lie on the Norfolk coastal path, a haven for walkers, sea sports and holidaymakers.

The main street in Sheringham leads down to the sea, the rocks and low cliffs straight from a picture postcard, ice cream and chip shops in abundance.

Along the coast in Cromer, you’ll find a Grade II listed Victorian pier, rows of colourful beach huts, and Banksy’s now faded and sea-damaged Spraycation still drawing tourists in.

If you’re looking for traditional seaside living, you won’t go far wrong here.

Published 27th July 2023

This Must Be The Place – Hayling Island

July 7, 2023September 23, 2023Posted in Photography, This Must Be The Place

Hayling Island sits between Portsmouth and Chichester Harbour, its 12 square miles linked to the mainland by road bridge and ferry for an easy escape to or from the quiet life. These photos were taken in the same week and depict the different points of the coastline from morning to evening.