REAL ESTATE
March 2020
An iris mural at a home in Globe; Photo by LCGross
THE ROYAL FLOWER By Patricia Sanders
Fragrant and exquisitely beautiful, irises have been a beloved garden flower for thousands of years. They have graced gardens at least since the days of ancient Egypt, when King Thutmose III discovered irises in Syria and brought them back to Egypt. There, they came to represent the renewal of life. Later, Christianity in Europe adopted the iris as a symbol of purity, associated with the Virgin Mary. The three petals were thought to represent faith, wisdom, and valor, and the rhizomes were used to make incense. The iris inspired the fleur-de-lis, prominent in heraldry; the fleur-de-lis has been connected with French royalty since at least the 11th century – and still serves as an emblem for the Boy Scouts. They’re named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow, and their fantastic variety of color matches the name. Legend has it the goddess Iris came to earth on a rainbow, and wherever her feet touched the ground, Photo by Anastasiya Romanova posted on colorful flowers blossomed. Unsplash.com; A bearded iris. Offering practically every color of the spectrum, from burgundy to violet – with the exception of true red, there are nearly 300 species including Siberian, Louisiana, spuria, aril, and arilbred irises. A big draw for gardeners everywhere is the fact that iris are easy to grow, bring early color to sunny parts of the garden and many can live for generations.
Globetrotting, Continued from page 8
As I explored the area, I was surprised to see that signs/ads went back a thousand years. The Hohokam petroglyphs carved into stones and Apache petrographs painted 200+ years ago onto rocks in the Oak Flat region totally blew me away. We are richer because of these indicators of our shared heritage. The recent defacement of some of these historic treasures is absolutely unfathomable to me. Some people don’t understand the loss created when these heritage markers are gone, be they 800-yearold petroglyphs or 80-year-old neon signs. I realized over the years that not everyone valued our vintage signage. Perhaps thinking it modernizes the buildings, we have lost many of our historic signs and ghost ads. I feel heartache when these are removed, but encouragement with those that still exist and/or are restored like the “El Rey Reynosa” sign. I am grateful for those that were saved when remodeling was occurring (I’m looking at you, Western Reprographics!) Similarly, I appreciate the existing businesses that choose engaging signs to draw people into our community like “Good Junk”, the huge “GLOBE” on the back of the train depot, the “Drift Inn Saloon,” “Bloom,” and others. To all who have caught on to how important these public art features are to creating the uniqueness of our area, thank you for valuing this part of our history and working to restore and preserve these cultural icons. A sense of place is created from many things, including a lot of intangible features like how a place “feels.” These vintage and engaging signs are features that contribute to what makes our community feel unique and special. These are part of what make our home a place we choose to stay and why I love Globe/Miami/San Carlos. u
March 28,2020 – 9am-2pm Early Iris Exhibit and Potted Iris Sale Arcadia Color Garden Nursery 1828 N. 52nd St • Phoenix
Irises have been called the backbone of the home garden – whether because they bloom during a time when the garden can otherwise lack color, after spring bulbs but before peonies and delphiniums – or because they make such a spectacular addition to borders. Irises are magnificent cut flowers that will last ~ Mary McLeod Bethune about a week, while left to stand in the garden, they attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Some irises will bloom again in summer or fall. Irises companion well with daylilies, lavender, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and phlox, as well as ornamental sages and peonies. But give them plenty of space, as most irises dislike crowding and need good air circulation. This month and next the Sun Country Iris Society in the Valley will be hosting iris shows and sales at several nurseries in the Valley. The Society was established in 1969 as an affiliate of the American Iris Society to share expertise among members and spread the joy of growing irises where they donate iris rhizomes to various charities and school organizations. To expand your own collection or to get started on one, take a trip to Phoenix to see one of their shows and pick up a new variety - or two! Or check out our local greenhouse, Golden Hills Nursery, which also carries a variety of bulbs. Either way, it’s time to think about the color in your garden. u
It’s not just a living, it’s my life!
Stacey Herrera Murry Broker\Owner
April 25, 2020 – 9am-2pm Late Iris Exhibit and Potted Iris Sale Summerwinds Nursery 3160 S. Country Club • Mesa
I have had more than half a century of such happiness. A great deal of worry and sorrow, too, but never a worry or a sorrow that was not offset by a purple iris, a lark, a bluebird, or a dewy morning glory.”
Thea Wilshire works as an author, psychologist, speaker, healthcare consultant, and AirBnB host. Her passions include community development, the creation of public spaces, trying new adventures, and sharing her therapy dog with schools and medical facilities. Find her blog at http://www.acornconsulting.org/blog.
We make it simple.
April 11, 2020 – 9am-2pm Iris Show and Potted Iris Sale Summerwinds Nursery 17826 N. Tatum Blvd • Phoenix
$350,000
4 bd, 2 ba, 2,280 sf, 67.31 acres Spacious floor plan with spectacular 360 degree views
$259,900
(928) 425-5753 1177 E. Ash Street • Globe, AZ 85501
www.globemiamihomes.com
3 bd, 1.75 ba, 2,088 sf, 0.25 acre Private oasis with gated driveway, beautiful landscaping and large workshop and garage
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