Light Anticipates Music

The Arizona Cactus Garden at Stanford University is a botanical garden which specializes in cacti and succulents. This garden was designed for Jane and Leland Stanford between 1881-1883 by landscape architect Rudolf Ulrich. The Cactus Garden fell into disrepair after Leland Stanford Jr.'s death in 1884. The garden was lovingly restored in the late 1990s.

When I first met my husband, he liked one of my paintings of the Stanford Quad. Ed told me that one of his other favorite places at Stanford was the Cactus Garden. I didn't believe that such a garden existed because I used to ride my bike around Stanford as a kid. Ed then invited me to dinner and took me to the Cactus Garden. This beautiful peaceful spot became a regular destination for the two of us. Ed proposed to me there.

This painting depicts a late afternoon moment before musicians were set to play. "Light Anticipates Music" was juried into the California Art Club exhibit, "Musical Motifs".