EXPERIENCE ARIZONA

experience. arizona PHOTOGRAPH PECULIAR GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS

Photographer Jerry Sieve, who has published more than 500 photographs and a dozen covers with Arizona Highways since 1977, will lead a September 24-28 workshop to some of the Southwest's most unusual locales.

During the workshop, sponsored by the Friends of Arizona Highways, participants will be taught how best to photograph the varied textures and spectacular lighting of the slot canyons. Visits to unusual sites-including Horseshoe Overlook, the outlandish Paria Bluff "hoodoos" and petroglyphs near Buckskin Gulch - also will challenge participants' imaginations and skills.

For more information on this or other upcoming photography workshops, contact the Friends of Arizona Highways at (602) 712-2004 or toll-free at (888) 7907042. Images taken by workshop leaders and past participants, as well as additional information on trips and other programs, are available on the Web site: www.friendsofazhighways.com.

OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

July 20-25 Summer Wildflowers

July 26-30 Summer Storms at the North Rim

September 6-10 Spirits of the Navajo

October 4-8 Autumn at the North Rim

SEEING SPOTS

June 1-30; Mount Lemmon Ski Valley "Ladybird, Ladybird, fly away home. Your house is on fire. Your children will burn." When a ladybug lands on you, this childhood chant is meant to drive away the brightly colored beetle unharmed, as it is considered unlucky to kill one. The carnivorous ladybug helps farmers by destroying agricultural pests like aphids.

If you take the skyride to the forested top of Mount Lemmon during the Ladybug Elevation Celebration, you'll have plenty of opportunities to use the rhyme. Adult ladybugs hibernate in the forest. When they emerge this month, it'll be in huge swarms of tens of thousands. Information: (520) 576-1321 or 576-1400.

A WOOLLY WEEKEND

June 1-2; Flagstaff Wool's lightness, resilience and insulating properties make woolen textiles highly prized. The fleece of sheep, usually shorn once a year and removed in one piece, weighs an average of 10 pounds. Other wool-bearing animals shorn for fine textiles include rabbit, alpaca, camels, Kashmir and Angora goats, llama, reindeer and vicuña.

To get an up close look at wool production, stop by the Pioneer Museum during the 7th Annual Flagstaff Wool Festival. Watch shearing, felt-making, carding, spinning, weaving and dyeing demonstrations.

Visitors get to try shearing a sheep, and the kids will enjoy viewing a collection of live wool-bearing critters. Information: (928) 774-6272.

WEST FEST

June 7-8; Holbrook Although Tombstone and Jerome gained notoriety for lawlessness and corruption, Old West rowdiness stirred up ranching towns, too. Holbrook, once home to the Hashknife cattle operation, had its share of violence and vice, gunfights and hangings. Saloons like the Bucket of Blood encouraged carousing, and on almost any night you could find hell-raising cowboys and outlaws bellying up to the local bars.

Things are tamer nowadays, but the town reminisces about its Western heritage at the 20th Annual Old West Days and Bucket of Blood Races. Enjoy Indian entertainment, arts and crafts, a car show, kids games, a 2-mile fun run, a 10K footrace and a 21-mile bike race. Information: (928) 524-6558 or toll-free (800) 524-2459.

When hot, dry weather arrives in the lower deserts and aphids disappear, ladybugs migrate to cooler elevations to feast on pine pollen.

SADDLES AND SPURS

June 29-July 6; Prescott During lazy summer days on the open range, Prescott's cowboys would compete in mock roundups and roping contests and test their ability to sit on an unbroken horse.

In 1888, Prescott citizens organized the first recorded paid-admittance rodeo.

To celebrate professional cowboy culture, check out Prescott Frontier Days World's Oldest Rodeo. Kick up your heels with a parade, fireworks, live music, professional rodeo events and a Western dance. Information: (928) 445-3103 or toll-free, (800) 358-1888.

Other Events

Sacred Mountain 10K/5K Prayer Run and 2K Fun Run/Walk; June 1; Flagstaff; (928) 526-2968. Footraces honoring the San Francisco Peaks.

Mayer Daze; June 1-2; Mayer; (928) 632-8107. Deep-pit barbecue, carnival, crafts and dance.

Folk Arts Fair; June 1-2; Prescott; (928) 445-3122. Folkart demonstrations, games and hands-on crafts.

Sedona-Verde Valley Astronomy Festival; June 7-8; Sedona; (928) 634-7332. Stargazing and workshops.

Spring Plant Sale and Garden Fair; June 15; Flagstaff; (928) 774-1442. Gardenand nature-related activities.

Winslow Jaycees Fishing Clinic; June 15; Winslow; (928) 289-3383. Free clinic with equipment provided.

Bluegrass Festival; June 21-23; Prescott; (928) 445-2000; toll-free (800) 266-7534. Performances and workshops.

Underground Film Festival; June 28-30; Bisbee; (520) 432-5421. More than 20 independent films.