Answer to this Week's Photo Challenge

Congratulations to Milpitas Patch reader Len Alvear for correctly identifying this week's mystery photo! Len wins a $10 Starbucks gift certificate!

Since some of you wanted to know more about this odd item, here are some more in-depth details for you:

The photo shows one of three art totems at the entrance to on Yellowstone Drive, one block east of South Park Victoria Drive. It's in the Parktown neighborhood of Milpitas.

The collection of totems is called "The Legends of Milpitas." The totem in this photo is called "Legend One."

These are metal sculptures created by artist Vickie Jo Sowell. They were installed in 2003 as part of an "Art in Your Park" gift funded jointly by the City of Milpitas, Community Foundation Silicon Valley, and The Milpitas Alliance For The Arts.

The pictured totem includes the following (from bottom to top):

Century Plant blossom - Symbolic of rebirth, it blooms just once in a lifetime.

Joseph Weller Palm - First planted at the historic Weller's home

Old Laguna School - The first school in Milpitas

Western Pacific Railroad Locomotive - It transported cars that were manufactured at the Ford auto assembly plant in Milpitas

Half Dome, Yosemite - Symbolic of Parktown streets

More details can be found here:

Vickie Jo Sowell webpage:
http://www.unrulyimages.com/publicart/murphypark/index.html  

Alliance For The Arts (Public Art Committee)
http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/government/commissions/public_art.asp

Thanks to all who participated in this week's photo challenge, and check back next week for another!