We’re looking at the high 90s for the next week in Santa Fe. At least we've got wonderfully cool Rocky Mountain nights in the 60s. I was just in Phoenix. Talk about hot! There are very few advantages to 110 degrees in the shade, but I enjoyed one: a great rate of well under $200 at the Arizona Biltmore, that sprawling Frank Lloyd Wright-designed resort. I saw grackles and mockingbirds darting among the colorful lantana, white oleanders, and bright hibiscus. Misters blew out the finest sprinkle of cold water at the porte cochere. The Biltmore Cafe had delicious lattes and almond-flour carrot muffins at breakfast. At the Biltmore bar, the best Bloody Mary I've ever had-- a spicy concoction with garnishes of olive, salami, pepperoncini, and mozzarella ball on a toothpick.

There’s a definite Santa Fe--Phoenix corridor. Spanish colonial revival architecture in both cities, and Pueblo revival adobes. Even more Mexican restaurants in Phoenix than Santa Fe! Accountants who double as farriers. Southwest art everywhere. Lloyd Kiva New got his start in Scottsdale, then moved to Santa Fe. Fritz Scholder went back and forth between the two. Sizable Indian populations in both cities, but probably more in Phoenix. I was there helping out on the editing and proofing of Native Peoples’ (www.nativepeoples.com) July/August issue, its biggest ever and also the official Santa Fe Indian Market Magazine, with in-depth articles on contemporary Native arts! Plenty of art galleries with presences in Santa Fe and Phoenix, including Blue Rain, Riva Yares, King, Chiaroscuro, River Trading Post, and Altermann (plus Mark Sublette Medicine Man in Tucson).

Arriving back in Albuquerque at night, I had a tricky drive up I-25, what with all the construction and exit closures. Santa Fe keeps growing! Newest art gallery in town is Wade Wilson Art opening June 29, including works by contemporary artists like ranching photographer Barbara Van Cleve.

Cottonwoods and aspens are in potent young-green bloom everywhere in Santa Fe, the ponds are full in the Nedra Matteucci Galleries sculpture garden, and pink peonies are popping up on the patio at Restaurant Martín. So begins high season. Behind the scenes there’s action, too: Four Seasons Hotels takes over Tesuque’s posh Encantado Resort on June 1, and the beguiling La Posada de Santa Fe with its six acres of gardens is no longer a Rock Resorts property but remains owned by a Swiss bank.

I just went to the Michael McGarrity cocktail party for Hard Country, his sweeping historical Western which is a prequel to his captivating Kevin Kerney mystery series. The party was a benefit for the N. Scott Momaday Creative Writing Scholarship Fund at the IAIA. Looking handsome in his distinguished elder way, Momaday was flanked by his gorgeous daughters.

Everyone wanted a minute with Momaday, and he graciously obliged. He’s been living in Florida but intends to return to Santa Fe. While in town this week, he’s recording some of his written works in his famous basso voice. McGarrity’s writer cronies turned out too, including novelist David Morrell, who wrote the Rambo books and lots of other thrillers; novelist Jann Arrington Wolcott, who has a thriller slated for release in the fall; and poet Luci Tapahonso. Native Peoples publisher Stephen Phillips was there, explaining that Native Peoples (http://www.nativepeoples.com/) is the official Indian Market Magazine this year, and so was philanthropist Charmay Allred, who produced the packed get-together. McGarrity will be appearing at the Michael McCormick Gallery for another gala gathering on Saturday, May 19 at 1 PM (http://www.mccormickgallery.com/)

McLarry Modern is now representing Sharron Evans, who does those fabulous graphic-modernist horse paintings; Waxlander Gallery has some splashy new paintings of Indians on horses by Native artist/playwright Bruce King; Legends Santa Fe has a glowing green and blue glass water jar by Robert Spooner Marcus that’s pretty much a steal at $3,000; and just across the street, Blue Rain Gallery has some of the most elegant tall glass vessels imaginable by Dante Marioni. Oh yes, high season is here.