In keeping with our architectural theme of recent posts I turned to the architecture of nature. All of the things we humans perceive as beautiful usually stems from the golden ratio developed from the Fibonacci sequence of numbers. This ratio can be found in lots of examples in nature. Many of the parts of our own bodies are within the ratio, including our DNA. We are programmed to appreciate this ratio. Greeks used the ratio to design and build buildings. I feel confident the Duomo of Florence was conceived in that ratio. I find myself in the Arizona desert today and went in search of a shape to compliment those reflected in the dome. I found this cactus and it reminded me of the photo by David. The repetitive pattern or rhythm found in his subject it what struck me about the cactus. It’s thorny spines and black contrast against the green of the body of the plant seemed to have that quality of rhythm I was looking for. Fortunately for my image it was an overcast day and this allowed me to exploit my flash against the cactus to highlight it and darken the chaos of clouds as my background. I’m making a leap that this type of cactus is a representative of the golden ratio because so much of what grows is naturally. The odd little growths on the right side of the cactus are premature flowers getting ready to bloom out. It is spring after all, even in the desert.