Brittle Bush by Mission Road
	Brittle bush - cheerful, robust, dependable... it blooms even when other desert plants aren't ready. I had been admiring its abundant yellow blossoms and sturdy, frosty green foliage on hikes in the wild. In this setting they looked more like large weeds with a lot of personality, sort of damaged by their urban upbringing. The location is Mission Road at the Starr Pass junction. I had intended to paint a view of the overpass bridge, but the flowers reminded me that I like the theme of nature at work in beaten down locations - abandoned lots, alleys, roadsides, etc. - the areas that plant field guides refer to as "waste places." So this turned out to be a randomly assigned spot that got me in touch with my own personal aesthetic, my hidden priorities. A nice one to almost end on.