Next on our Chihuly Tour is the "Scarlet and Yellow Icicle Tower", which reminds me of the Desert Towers on permanent display at the entrance to the Desert Botanical Garden (click here). The bright Arizona sun really lights up this piece in spectacular fashion.

From a bit of a distance and from a different angle, the tower strikes an impressive pose against the distant hills of Papago Park and the nearby desert flora.

After the sun sets, the tower really puts on a show in the fading twilight.

Here we see "Olive Reeds" neatly camouflaged among the cacti and other desert plants. This is unlike the vivid color contrasts provided by most of Chihuly's glass artwork.

Lit up at night, they do seem to offer a bit more artistry than during the day.

This display is called "White Belugas", which I assume is inspired by Beluga whales. I love the way the glasswork is interspersed with the dried skeletons of saguaro cactus.

For those of you who do not live in the desert, you may be surprised to learn that saguaros contain a cylinder of woody ribs that help support the enormous weight of the plant. When the plant eventually dies, the softer tissue decays first, leaving behind the ribs. And that is what you see here.

Here a closeup of the glasswork itself.

At night, they seem to come alive — perhaps marching through the desert to the nearest ocean.

Continuing down the Sonoran Desert Loop Trail, we encounter the "Sonoran Boat" filled with exotic looking shapes, colors and textures. And I love the mirror-like reflection provided by the still water in this small pond.

The nighttime view is even more impressive. Hard to walk away but there are more exhibits to see.