From prime seasonal plantings to lush, beautifully appointed home gardens, here is a sneak peek of what’s inside the current edition of our sister magazine.
1. In Bloom Now
Arizona’s rich, variegated array of flowers is on display this month. Landscape architect Greg Trutza took us behind the blossoms to share desert plants that make excellent focal accents, from Texas redbuds to perky powder puffs. “Many of the flowering trees and shrubs explode with a bounty of blooms for pollination and seed set,” Trutza says. “The sheer abundance and diversity of blooming plants is a reason to celebrate!”
2. Supermodel Maker
In an era dominated by digitization and 3D printing, architectural model builder John Penn has proven there is still a need – and appreciation – for handcrafted creations. “He’s such an unsung hero,” architect Erik Peterson says. “He has a way of capturing the essence of a property, which is rare.” We sat down with Penn to take a look inside the lost art of constructing these structural microcosms.
3. Discovering Ghost Wash
Nestled at the base of Camelback Mountain is Ghost Wash, a hauntingly beautiful home with grounds artfully revamped by landscape architect Michele Shelor. “[Owners Lauri and Eric Termansen] wanted the property to reflect their deep appreciation for desert plant life and advocacy for conservation and sustainability,” Shelor says.
4. Play Grounds
Not every kid’s room needs to be a glut of pink, plushies and Superman fandom. We asked nine Valley interior designers to share playroom, bedroom and nursery projects that harmoniously combine a modern aesthetic with functional features that will transcend time. And, we must say, these handsome little hideaways really put the “fun” in functional.
5. Romancing the Stones
“There isn’t another gallery of this size or magnitude in the country or the world,” says gemologist Wayne Helfand of his showroom, Rare Earth Gallery in Cave Creek. “There’s 9,000 square feet of unmitigated beauty here. Some of the pieces are epic in their size and dimension. They’re things you won’t see anywhere else.” Helfand’s enthusiasm for the earth has manifested in a five-decade-long career, with elite collectors flocking to Rare Earth for hard-to-find jewelry and décor pieces made from his menagerie of rare terrestrial treasures.
