PRSRTSTD US 3418POSTAGEPAIDPHOENIX,AZPERMITNO. CustomerECRWSSLocalPostal
Grayhawk DC Ranch Scottsdale
2 imagesarizona.com April 2022 The approach at the Center for Integrative Healing & Wellness is personalized and combines the best elements of preventative, regenerative, integrative, functional, and anti-aging medicine to help you achieve optimal health. SERVICES & PROGRAMS Concierge Adult Preventative Care Integrative & Functional Medicine Integrative Cancer Care Nutrition & Culinary Medicine Anti-Aging Medicine Hormone Balance Weight Loss IV ExerciseBio-EnergyTherapyTherapy&FitnessCoaching Fabio Almeida, MD, ABOIM, ABNM, ABOM Triple Board Certified Physician Founder | Medical Director Cindy Almeida, CNC Master Holistic, Sports & Obesity Nutritional Counselor Kelly Montana, CPT, TPI Fitness & Performance Expert THE CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE HEALING & WELLNESS Civana Resort - Spa - Sanctuary | 37220 Mule Train Road, Carefree, AZ 85377 | drfabio.com Call to Schedule an In-Person or Telemedicine Visit 480-881-5621 Add Years to Your Life & Life to Your Years! T H E C E N T E R F O R I N T E G R A T I V E H E A L I N G & W E L L N E S S In as little as 3 months we can help you look & feel 10 years younger, lose weight, reverse chronic conditions, relieve pain, and increase function
The MOHR Group MORE THAN $300 MILLION SOLD!! Kendal, Ryan, Janet and Don SINCE 1985 The MOHR group has earned the Prestigious Pinnacle Award for top sales/earnings- only 9 Pinnacle Awards were given out in Realty Executives. ONE MOHR SOLD $795,000 Never Lived In! Walk to Town of Cave Creek! Three Bedrooms plus Den! Call Kendal 480-579-3792 GO TO MOHRHOMES.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION, DRONE SHOTS AND PHOTOS OR CALL US AT 602-980-7653 FOR A PRIVATE VIEWING. $2,997,000 Fabulous SW Contemporary on the base of Prestigious Boulder Strewn Black Mountain! Approximately 6000 square feet! Four Bedroom, 5.5 baths and Guest House! Call Ryan, 480-204-2619 Just under 7000 sq feet resting on the foothills of majestic Black Mountain! 360 Degree Views! Six fireplaces, 6 Bedrooms, 5.5 Baths Walkout Basement with kitchenette! $3,250,000! Land and Luxury! We represent some of the best view lots available and can introduce you to a Luxury Builder that fits your home desires! Call us for more information!
4 imagesarizona.com April 2022 SUE KRZYSTON SOUTHWEST REALISM ARTIST AMY LAY CONTEMPORARY WILDLIFE ARTIST BRYCE PETTIT WILDLIFE BRONZE SCULPTOR TREVOR SWANSON LANDSCAPE AND WILDLIFE ARTIST “Promises to Keep” by Bryce Pettit, 68” x 40” x 20”“A Meeting of Cultures” by Sue Krzyston, 30” x 15”
THURSDAY, APRIL 21 FROM 4 TO 7 PM Sip, Shop and Celebrate with Live Music by NuWrld Jazz Quartet
“Crown of Bright” by Trevor Swanson, 33” by 21” “Sonoran Desert” by Amy Lay, 40” by 30”
Carefree
CAREFREE’S THIRD THURSDAY ART NIGHT
INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES, HOME FURNISHINGS & FINE ART GALLERY 36889 N. Tom Darlington Dr. Suite B1, Carefree | 480-595-0171 | suebickerdyke.com Hours: Mon. thru Sat. 9am - 5pm Allied ASID
SUE BICKERDYKE 26 years in
6 imagesarizona.com April 2022 BACKYARD BLOOMS 26 COMMUNITY 20 COMMUNITY 22 What's Inside?TABLE OF CONTENTS 12 COMMUNITY 3418RECIPE A VITICULTURAL CELEBRATION
7imagesarizona.com April 2022
8 imagesarizona.com April 2022Publisher
Contributing Writers
Joseph J. Airdo AmandaShannonFrancineChristmannColesSeverson
Managing Editor
Alex alex@imagesaz.com602-524-4912Orozco
Y
Shelly Spence
You may notice that this month’s issue of Images Arizona looks and feels a bit different. The truth of the matter is that the world has been a weird place since the spring of 2020 — and we are not immune from that. After all, any true journalism entity is a reflection of the world in which it exists.
You likely remember when, early in the COVID-19 pandemic, toilet paper was in short supply. Who could forget, right? You have also likely noticed that there are just some products that are still missing from store shelves. Depending on the particular product, there is a fairly strong chance that its absence is due not to the scarcity of the item itself but rather an insufficient supply of its packaging — especially if any part of that packaging is made of paper.
Images Arizona magazine 623-341-8221shelly@imagesaz.com
From toilet paper and cereal boxes to wedding invitations and — you guessed it — magazines, it all boils down to the same paper pulp. The mills that produce it are struggling to keep up with demand while worker shortages and shipping bottlenecks further exacerbate the problem. We, like so many other businesses in the community, have been challenged to find ways to overcome these obstacles.
Joseph J. Airdo Graphic Designer Meaghan Mitchell
Photographers
From the Publisher
Advertising Sales
Carefree, AZ. imagesarizona.com623-341-822185377
Copyright
Reproduction, in
Publisher,ShellyCheers!Spence
The publisher is not responsible for the
Bryan Black Francine Coles LoraleiCarlLazurekSchultz
Fortunately, we have an amazing team that is not only incredibly creative but also committed to continue serving the community. It remains our mission to provide both a superior reading experience and tremendous value for our advertising customers. These pages as well as each and every word and graphic that is printed on them reflect that mission.
Images Arizona P.O. Box 1416
Submission of news for community section should be in to shelly@imagesaz.com by the 5th of the month prior to publication. Arizona is published by ImagesAZ Inc. © 2022 by ImagesAZ, Inc. All rights reserved. whole or part, without permission is prohibited. return of unsolicited material.
Images
If you are feeling as though you could use even more uplifting stories about the people, places and things that make our community sparkle and shine, I encourage you to visit our website — imagesarizona. com — for additional content, including extended versions of some of the stories in this month’s issue, special podcasts and more.
602.375.7500 | SANDERSONLINCOLN.COM | PHOENIX - 2121 W Bell Rd | SCOTTSDALE - 15345 N Scottsdale Rd, K140 S ANDERSON LINCOLNS ANDERSON LINCOLN Our journey is written in the stars . Through the history of Lincoln, there have been countless visionaries, designers, engineers, retailers, and owners along for the ride – a constellation of individuals coming together for one mission: to elevate life on the road. 2022 LINCOLN AVIATOR
[ ]
Seth’s sculpture is meant to invoke conversations, particularly about the absence of individual thought in today’s society. His creations are powerful and provocative, and truly original.
Wine & 4–7appetizersp.m.
Grace Renee Gallery
Historic Spanish Village | 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7 | Carefree, AZ 85377
Hours: Tue.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. By appointment Sun. and Mon.
10 imagesarizona.com April 2022 GRACE RENEE GALLERY APRIL ARTIST
ARTIST
GraceReneeGallery.com480.575.8080
Seth Fairweather
CONTEMPORARY GLASS ARTIST
Thursday,RECEPTIONApril21
CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY CAREFREE ARIZONA
13imagesarizona.com April 2022
“What better way to celebrate this achievement than with Northern Arizona’s foremost wine and culinary festival of the year,” Hunseder queries. “Having this designation boosts awareness of our region and the characteristics of wines made here.”
At this year’s Verde Valley Wine Festival — which benefits the Arizona Vignerons Alliance and the Arizona Wine Growers Association — wine enthusiasts can taste the best of what the region has to offer.
Photography Courtesy of Verde Valley Wine Festival
There is a lot to celebrate in the world of Arizona wines, not the least of which is that the state’s Verde Valley has been officially declared an American Viticultural Area as of the end of 2021. This identifies the region as a distinct, federally recognized grape-growing region characterized by unique climate, soil and elevation. The coveted designation allows wineries to label their bottles as estate wines.
The festival kicks off Friday, April 29 with a VIP platinum winemaker dinner at the beautifully restored Old Town Cottonwood Clubhouse. Attendees will enjoy premium wines and a meal prepared by Merkin Vineyards Tasting Room and Osteria’s executive chef Chris “Smithers” Smith, music performed by the What’s The Big Idea jazz trio and an energetic live auction featuring travel packages, local goods and exclusive experiences.
Air Conditioning • Plumbing • Water Treatment Call or 480.478.3384TexttoScheduleyourAppointment! It’s time for your A/C System Safety Inspection Includes: • 30 + point Inspection • Testing of all Functional Parts • Inspection of Refrigerant Cycle • Standard Cleaning of System • Testing and Flushing Drain Lines
Writer Shannon Severson
T
Festival director Debbie Hunseder says that the recent designation is a huge accomplishment for the Verde Valley Wine Consortium on behalf of local grape growers and winemakers.
14 imagesarizona.com April 2022
“Bodega Pierce is operated by two generations of award-winning Pierce family winemakers with decades of international experience and accomplishments since 2010,” Pierce says. “We have participated in the Verde Valley Wine festival since 2016 and see it as a venue to expose, showcase and educate the public about our wine, our path into the industry and the excitement we see for the future of Arizona wines.”
15imagesarizona.com April 2022
Then, on Saturday, April 30, more than 3,000 attendees are expected at Cottonwood’s Old Town Activity Park — the site of this fifth year of celebration which features a growing list of 20 Arizona wineries and multiple Arizona brewers and distillers along with culinary offerings to delight the tastebuds, craft vendors to satisfy the shopping bug and live music throughout the day from three local bands.
As an established winery with a rich history of celebrated vintages, Pierce says that the festival helps to raise the overall profile of all Verde Valley wines. Bodega Pierce has made donations to the VIP platinum
“There are many surprises in store for our guests,” Hunseder says.
For winemakers like Barbara Pierce, who is co-owner of Bodega Pierce Winery, this year is a return to tradition and the chance to showcase her own acclaimed wines made from 18 different Arizona varietals. Pierce says that her wines are designed to express the high desert terroir of the Willcox Bench, which is another designated American Viticultural Area.
16 imagesarizona.com April “The2022cacophony of love for Arizona wine — with the sum being greater than the parts — is just a palpable energy we have missed. Kris Pothier “
17imagesarizona.com April 2022 Prefer the Older Tech? No Problem. That’s Easy For Us! • Enjoy Endless Hot Water • Adjust Using WiFi Connectivity • Increase Savings • Little to No Maintenance WaterTanklessHeaters Air Conditioning • Plumbing • Water Treatment SUPPLIED STARTINGINSTALLED&AT: 50 NATURALGALLONGAS50ELECTRICGALLON $1349*$1349* Starting at: $4996* **Pricing Expires 4/1/2021
Pothier says that it is a great feeling to be able to share wine with large groups of happy people, such as those at the Verde Valley Wine Festival.
Instagram:verdevalleywinefestival.com@verdevalleywinefestival
That tide has been boosted by the advocacy of the area organizations supporting the festival.
“It’s always fun to see the familiar faces who attend every year,” says Bostock, who also represents the Arizona Vignerons Alliance, which lobbies at the state level for winegrower representation and works with growers throughout the entire state of Arizona to bring a focus on education and information gathering — including outreach to media, wine critics and experts — to help promote the growing regions.
Friday, April 29 | 6–9 p.m.
“[It’s] equally exciting to meet new folks and introduce them to our wines and our region.”
Cottonwood Community Club House
“We want to make the public aware that Arizona wine continues to improve,” Pierce says. “It helps raise all ships with the tide.”
805 N. Main St., Cottonwood $99+ | verdevalleywinefestival.com
Saturday, April 30 | Noon–5 p.m.
Old Town Activity Park
Experience
187 E. Pima St., Cottonwood $35+ | verdevalleywinefestival.com
VIP Platinum Winemaker Dinner
Kelly Bostock, a wine worker at Dos Cabezas WineWorks, says that the festival’s two-year hiatus took a toll on the organization’s ability to work to its potential, but the return of the festival gets the ball rolling again in a big way.
dinner silent auction and will also have a booth at the Saturday event.
Kris Pothier, president of the Arizona Wine Growers Association and coowner of the charmingly avant-garde Chateau Tumbleweed Winery in Clarkdale, says the AWGA represents more than 100 vineyard owners, grape growers, winemakers and supporting businesses. The organization works with lobbyists and lawmakers on a grassroots level to establish enduring relationships and further modernize Arizona wine laws.
“Because we have such spread-out wine-growing regions, it is great to get three different areas to one location,” Pothier adds. “Consumers can try [many] brands all at once. The cacophony of love for Arizona
Verde Valley Wine Festival
wine — with the sum being greater than the parts — is just a palpable energy we have missed. This festival has always been a fun and successful one. Getting in front of a diverse crowd is so important and this is what we all look forward to.”
Don Bluth Front Row Theatre presents its production of “Camelot.” $28+; youth, senior, student and military discounts available. Don Bluth Front Row Theatre, 8989 E. Via Linda, Suite 118, Scottsdale. 480-314-0841; donbluthfrontrowtheatre.com
18 imagesarizona.com April 2022
The Phoenix Film Foundation hosts its annual event. See website for prices and schedule. Harkins Scottsdale 101, 7000 E. Mayo Blvd., Scottsdale. phoenixfilmfestival.com
April 1
Through April 10
The Holland Center will welcome Nicolette Bonnstetter for a virtual presentation about architecture. Free. 10:30 a.m. RSVP. hollandcenter.org
April 2022
ARCHITECTURE THAT WILL ASTOUND
IRS-certified volunteers will provide basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. Free. Tuesdays and Thursdays. By appointment only. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; mastersofcoin.org
RIPCORD
Through April 24
Writer Joseph J. Airdo
Arizona Broadway Theatre presents its production of “Flashdance: The Musical,” based on the popular 1983 feature film about a welder who dreams of going to a prestigious dance academy and becoming a professional dancer. See website for price and times. Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria. 623-776-8400; azbroadway.org
Scottsdale Arts will host its annual fundraiser benefitting dynamic and diverse performances, exhibitions and arts education and outreach programs. The gala will feature a Hollywood-style, livestreamed red carpet event; culinary and beverage stations; a silent auction, performance artists; a specially designed, three-course dinner; a dynamic live auction; and an energizing and enigmatic grand finale performance by Quixotic. See website for prices and time. Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Road, scottsdalearts.orgScottsdale.
Through April 30
CAMELOT
Fountain Hills Theater presents its production of “Ripcord,” a play about a cantankerous woman who is determined to get rid of the woman with whom she has been forced to share her quarters at a senior living facility. See website for price and times. Fountain Hills Theater, 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills. 480-837-9661; fhtaz.org
COMMUNITYApril2
Through April 3
VITA TAX PROGRAM
FLASHDANCE: THE MUSICAL
ARTRAGEOUSLUMINESCENCEGALA:
Through April 15
PHOENIX FILM FESTIVAL
FRENCH CLASS
THE TEXAS TENORS
Rock the District will host its annual event, featuring music by celebrity headliners as well as artists and bands made up of students from across the Phoenix area. All proceeds will benefit the Cave Creek Unified Education Foundation. $20+. 6–10 p.m. Harold’s Corral, 6895 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek. rockthedistrict.net
April 2
Scottsdale’s premier adult choir Upscale Singers will perform a concert featuring the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Disney, “Grease” and ABBA. $30; discounts available for youth. 2 p.m. The Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. upscalesingers.com
Celebrate America’s love of automobiles and aircraft. Enthusiasts and owners can mingle and take in some of the finest examples of domestic and foreign automobiles and aircraft from around the Valley. The event will feature a mix of classic automobiles and vintage aircraft manufactured prior to 1980. Free. 10 a.m.– 2 p.m. SkyRanch at Carefree, 8302 E. Cave Creek Road, Carefree. carefree-wheels-wings.com
Desert Foothills Library will host an eight-week beginner’s French class that will focus on conversation, using practical vocabulary for everyday situations. $80. Fridays 11 a.m. RSVP. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org
ROCK THE DISTRICT
19imagesarizona.com April 2022
BROADWAY BOUND
The Texas Tenors will take the stage as part of Arizona Musicfest for a concert of repertoire ranging from country to pop and Broadway to classical. $49+. 7:30 p.m. Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org
April 1
April 1–May 20
April 3
CAREFREE CLASSIC WHEELS AND WINGS SHOW
April 2
April 7–17
April 4
SHALL I COMPARE THEE: THE SONNETS
April 9
Arizona Musicfest will present a technically stunning, authentic and explosive concert showcasing two decades of Paul McCartney’s music from The Beatles to Wings. $35+. 7:30 p.m. Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org
American Legion Post 34 will honor several Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipients during a ceremony that includes a meal, a raffle, a silent auction, a live auction and live music. All proceeds will benefit the Arizona chapter of the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation, which establishes a $35,000 educational scholarship for every child who loses a parent serving in the United States Marine Corps or any federal law enforcement agency. $10. 4 p.m. American Legion Post 34, 6272 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek.
DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, JR.
The Holland Center will welcome Larry Charles for a four-week workshop during which participants will learn techniques for painting desert landscapes. $250. 9 a.m. RSVP. The Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Building B, Scottsdale. 480-488-1090; hollandcenter.org
Literate Foodie Club will host a discussion of Bronte Aurell’s “ScandiKitchen: Summer.” The club’s volunteer cooks will serve a sampling of foods related to the book. $10. 12:30 p.m. RSVP. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org
April 4
Carefree Desert Gardens will welcome Desert Botanical Garden’s former cactus collection manager Scott McMahon, who will take attendees on a journey to Namibia — home to some of the most iconic succulents in the world, some of the oldest exposed rock formations and many familiar animals adapted to survive in the desert
THE MCCARTNEY YEARS
FLORA AND FAUNA OF NAMIBIA
LEARN TO PAINT DESERT LANDSCAPES
20 imagesarizona.com April 2022
April 5–26
April 8–17
Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre will present its youth production of “Disney's High School Musical, Jr.” See website for price and times. Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre at Fashion Square, 7014 E. Camelback Road, Suite 0586, Scottsdale. 480-483-1664; desertstages.org
April 3
Writerazpost34.comJosephJ.Airdo COMMUNITY April 2022
AMERICAN LEGION CEREMONY
LITERATE FOODIE CLUB
Southwest Shakespeare Company will perform “Shall I Compare Thee: The Sonnets,” an extraordinary celebration of life, love and the pursuit of happiness in a post-COVID world. $35+. Taliesin West, 12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Scottsdale. swshakespeare.org
April 14 and 26
April 12
GET LIT BOOK CLUB
21imagesarizona.com April 2022 BLACK ELEMENTARYMOUNTAINSCHOOL ersonalized & Project Based STEAM: Science, Technology, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Accredited International AILS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL National Blue Ribbon School LONE ELEMENTARYMOUNTAINSCHOOL Personalized LearningTaughtModelK-6 STEAM: Science, Technology, Join Cave Creek Unified School District! events at each of our A+ Elementary Schools! Bring your Future Falcon for kid-friendly fun to learn more about Kindergarten in CCUSD! M arc h 15 April 13 May 13 Scan the QR code for more information! Bring your Future Falcon for kid-friendly fun to learn more about Kindergarten in CCUSD! APRIL 13 • MAY 13 Join Cave Creek Uni ed School District! Future Falcon events at each of our A+ Elemementary Schools!
Desert Foothills Library will host a happy hour book club featuring Que Mai Phan Nguyen’s “The Mountains Sing.” Free. 5 p.m. RSVP. See website for location. dfla.org
Fountain Hills Theater will present its production of “Suds,” featuring more than 50 well-known songs that topped the 1960s charts. See website for price and times. Fountain Hills Theater, 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills. 480-837-9661; fhtaz.org
The Desert Awareness Committee will host a hike during which attendees may sample edible desert plants. Free. 8 a.m. Desert Awareness Park, 38100 N. Vermeersch Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-1090; hollandcenter.org
April 10
April 15–May 1
April 14–19
Desert Foothills Theater will present its teen production of “Les Miserables.” The show will be performed on an outdoor stage designed and constructed specifically for the epic musical event. See website for price, times and location. 480-488-1981; dftheater.org
April 16
BROADWAY BOUND
LIBRARY BOOK CLUB
LES MISERABLES: SCHOOL EDITION
Scottsdale’s premier adult choir Upscale Singers will perform a concert featuring the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Disney, “Grease” and ABBA. The event will include a cash bar, a raffle and a buffet dinner. $85. 5:30 p.m. Cochise Geronimo Clubhouse at Desert Mountain Golf Club, 10333 Rockaway Hills Drive, Scottsdale. upscalesingers.com
SUDS
environment. $5+. 9:30 a.m. Carefree Town Council Chambers, 33 Easy St., Carefree. 480-488-3686.
Desert Foothills Library will host a virtual book club featuring David Mitchell’s “The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet.” Free. 10 a.m. RSVP. dfla.org
WALK, TALK AND TASTE
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art will present an exhibition of seven large-scale hanging works by Los Angeles-based Mandan/Hidatsa artist Teresa Baker. Combining Native American craft traditions using buffalo hide, willow and other natural materials with artificial materials like AstroTurf and synthetic yarns, the exhibition will contain new works made in response to the landscape of northeastern Wyoming on the high plains — beneath the Bighorn Mountains — and inspired by the vastness of that area, the unique geological formations of giant rocks, petrified logs and the sky. $10; student, senior and veteran discounts available. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480874-4666; 2022
22 imagesarizona.com April 2022
One of the world’s pre-eminent pianists Emanuel Ax will take the stage as part of Arizona Musicfest for a concert of classical music. $41+. 7:30 p.m. La Casa de Cristo Church, 6300 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org
April 18
Ballet Etudes will perform a two-act ballet following the kind-hearted Cinderella, her wicked step-mother, her two clumsy step-sisters and her loving fairy godmother. $21+. Saturday 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday 3 p.m. Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler.
EMANUEL AX
April 23 and 30
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will welcome iconic music artist Keb’ Mo’ for a concert of songs addressing topics such as immigration, depression, female empowerment and more. See website for prices. 7:30 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587, scottsdaleperformingarts.org
April 21
Galleries throughout Carefree will host an event that offers art enthusiasts an opportunity to enjoy live music and refreshments as they stroll through the breathtaking shadows of Black Mountain in search of their next masterpiece. Free. 4–7 p.m. See website for participating galleries. visitcarefree.com
April 21
April 23 and 24
TERESA BAKER: CAPTURING SPACE
Writersmoca.orgJosephJ.Airdo COMMUNITY April
Jubilate Conservatory will perform a pair of recitals featuring voice, violin, viola, and cello soloists. Free. 1 p.m. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org
KEB’ MO’
CAREFREE ART NIGHT
Big Bronco — a staple of the town of Cave Creek that offers sophisticated homeowners beautiful, artisan-made furniture, décor and gifts — will host a community event featuring live music, food, drinks and more to celebrate and commemorate its 22nd anniversary. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit local horse groups. Big Bronco, 6602 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek. 480575-7025; bigbroncocavecreek.com
CINDERELLA
April 22 BIG BRONCO ANNIVERSARY PARTY
JUBILATE CONCERT
April 16–Oct. 9
The Verde Valley Wine Festival will host a special event that will include premium wine and culinary options, a live auction and live music. See website for price and time. Old Town Cottonwood Clubhouse, 805 N. Main St., Cottonwood. verdevalleywinefestival.com
Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix will perform a concert of water-themed choral music — including sea shanties, rivers, weeping and baptism. See website for prices. April 24 3 p.m. at The Church at Litchfield Park, 300 N. Old Litchfield Road, Litchfield Park; April 26 7:30 p.m. at Velda Rose United Methodist Church, 5540 E. Main St., Mesa; May 1 3 p.m. at Camelback Bible Church, 3900 E. Stanford Drive, Paradise Valley. orpheus.org
April 30
VIP PLATINUM WINEMAKER DINNER
23imagesarizona.com April 2022
WATER IN THE DESERT
April 29
April 24–May 1
April 29
BROADWAY BOUND
RHAPSODY IN BLUE
Salt River Brass will perform a concert of popular and classical music from George Gershwin’s more than two dozen scores for Broadway and Hollywood. $18+; student and senior discounts available. 3 p.m. Mesa Arts Center, One East Main St., Mesa. saltriverbrass.org
THE OFFICIAL BLUES BROTHERS REVUE
Wayne Catania and Kieron Lafferty will take the stage as part of Arizona Musicfest for a night of laughter, dancing and foot-stompin' fun as they capture the infectious humor and unbridled spirit of The Blues Brothers. $35+. 7:30 p.m. Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org
Scottsdale’s premier adult choir Upscale Singers will perform a concert featuring the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Disney, “Grease” and ABBA. The event will include a cash bar, a raffle, a silent auction and a buffet dinner. $55. 5:30 p.m. Fenlon Hall at St. Patrick Catholic Community, 10815 N. 84th St., Scottsdale. upscalesingers.com
April 24
RETURN TO AFTERNOONDOWNTONTEAPARTY
May 14
The Verde Valley Wine Festival will return for its fifth year, featuring more than 20 Arizona wineries and a variety of Arizona brewers and distillers as well as dozens of culinary options and local crafters/exhibitors. Attendees will also enjoy live music throughout the day from three local bands. See website for price. Noon–5 p.m. Old Town Activity Park, 187 E. Pima St., Cottonwood.
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West recently announced the appointment of Michael Zirulnik as its new development director. Zirulnik will be responsible for engaging locally, regionally and across the country, with philanthropic interests to establish the museum as the premier institution to support the art, culture and lifestyle of the American West. He comes to the museum as an experienced professional with two decades of involvement in intersecting industries including higher education, healthcare, aviation and the arts. scottsdalemuseumwest.org
April 30
MUSEUM ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECTOR
Applications for the Sonoran Arts League’s visual arts scholarships are now open to students who have excelled in the visual arts field and have enrolled in higher education at which they plan to continue their artistic studies. A total of $4,000 will be awarded. Applications must be received by April 13. sonoranartsleague.org
verdevalleywinefestival.comWriterJosephJ.Airdo COMMUNITY April 2022
VERDE VALLEY WINE FESTIVAL
Bell Bank Park will host an event that will feature the area’s best food trucks, live music, vendors, games and more. $5+. 3–10 p.m. Bell Bank Park, 1 Legacy Drive, Mesa. bellbankpark.com
YOU COME, TOO
English Rose Tea Room will host a celebratory afternoon tea in preparation of the release of the new major motion picture “Downton Abbey: A New Era.” Costumes are essential while “Downton Abbey”-inspired gifts, music and photo opportunities will be available. $55. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. RSVP. English Rose Tea Room, 201 Easy Street, Carefree. 480-488-4812; carefreetea.com
24 imagesarizona.com April 2022
YUM FOOD-FEST
ARTS LEAGUE SCHOLARSHIPACCEPTSAPPLICATIONS
April 30 and May 1
Sonoran Desert Chorale will perform a concert of music that celebrates coming home, coming together, making a spiritual journey and spending time with loved ones. $18+; student and senior discounts available. Saturday 7:30 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 15 E. First Ave., Mesa. Sunday 3 p.m. La Casa De Cristo Lutheran Church, 6300 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale. 480-305-4538; sonorandesertchorale.org
April 30
25imagesarizona.com April 2022
Photo Courtesy of Mary's Backyard Blooms
Writer Shannon Severson
27imagesarizona.com April 2022
The hardened clay soil of our dry desert might not look like fertile ground, but with a bit of careful tending, timing and persistence, a colorless and barren backyard can teem with colorful blooms — even Theyear-round!Valley
Mary Shirley grew up in Tennessee, working in her grandparents’ “massive” garden. It shaped her as a gardener and as a person.
When she moved to Arizona nearly seven years ago, she wanted enough land for chickens and a garden of vegetables and flowers. But the flowers brought her so much joy that she soon found herself replacing the vegetable beds in favor of flowers.
It’s forthingswhatamazinggrowingcandoyoursoul.
T
gardening community is full of flower-growing enthusiasts who have found connections on social media — particularly Instagram — where they share photos of seedlings to bouquets as well as trade tips and even seeds.
“I would spend my summers picking peas, collecting vegetables and watching my grandma can pizza sauce,” Shirley says. “I think it made me who I am. It gave me my strong work ethic.”
Mary Shirley “
MARY’S BLOOMSBACKYARD
28 imagesarizona.com April 2022
Photos Courtesy of Mary's Backyard Blooms
MARY’S BACKYARD BLOOMS
“The garden and growing things have given me such peace, hope and passion,” Shirley says. “I hope my flowers and posting will inspire those passions and hope in other people — even in difficult times. For me, personally, it has made such a difference in my life, my mental health, and my outlook on the world. It’s amazing what growing things can do for your soul.”
Shirley says that the gardening community here in Arizona is like nothing she’s ever experienced; she’s found her fellow gardeners to be generous and inspiring. Sharing online has led to camaraderie and some great results in the garden. The benefits don’t stop at what can be arranged in a vase.
29imagesarizona.com April 2022
“[David Austin roses] take my breath away,” Shirley says. “Some even smell like citrus. They’re bred for their scent and dozens or hundreds of petals and they grow here so easily.”
“The flowers just bring pure magic to my desert backyard,” Shirley explains.
One of her absolute favorite flowers to grow is roses. Specifically, David Austin roses, of which there are more than 200 varieties. These beauties are bred by an Englishman of the same name and in his nearly 60 years of work he has drawn a dedicated following. Some have so many-layered petals they appear to be peonies.
Instagram: @marysbackyardblooms
Some of her favorite surprises have been daffodils, dahlias and hollyhocks. A pack of hollyhock seeds she threw out on the desert soil has now come back year after year with mostly just rainwater.
30 imagesarizona.com April 2022
Photos Courtesy of The Potters Bench
THE POTTER’S BENCH
“People are just shocked to learn that we can grow these flowers here in Arizona,” Walker says. “It’s been fun to educate people and help them realize we tweak our growing season a little and can grow almost everything anyone else can grow. The bonus is we can really grow year-round. That’s one of the biggest plusses for vegetable gardens, especially. We can harvest from our vegetable gardens year-round if we choose to.”
THE POTTER’S BENCH
Sunflowers are planted successively — a tray of seedlings goes in the
“I feel we all need a little boost,” Walker says. “Growing up in Colorado, my parents always had a garden. I didn’t really like it at the time because it meant pulling weeds on Saturday morning, but I appreciated it. When my husband and I bought our first home 22 years ago, we had this little 8-by-10 garden bed that we started and that was really fun.”
That small garden bed has blossomed into an acre of land in Queen Creek, a master gardener designation from University of Arizona and a full-time business — The Potter’s Bench, a flower farm and garden consultancy that includes a website and blog, newsletter, workshops and a Community Supported Agriculture bouquet subscription service.
31imagesarizona.com April 2022
Stephanie Walker also finds gardening and being out in nature to be therapeutic.
Walker starts thousands of seedlings indoors and plants everything in full sun. Her summer crop bursts forth full of zinnias, cosmos, celosia, amaranth and lisianthus, planted in blocks of color. She is also a David Austin rose enthusiast and has at least 40 shrubs from the purveyor.
Photos Courtesy of Cottage Garden
COTTAGE GARDEN
32 imagesarizona.com April 2022
IMAGESARIZONA.COM TO READ AN EXTENDED VERSION OF THIS STORY, FEATURING
STEPHANIE
EXTENDED VERSION
Duringbulbs.the
to her verdant space include watching her children play, observing the comings and goings of bugs and insects and a little hummingbird who has made the Moghina garden its home since they moved in.
Moghina is known on social media for her charming cottage garden design. She works to mimic the look of plants that won’t grow well in Arizona by finding flowers similar in texture and color. For instance, most lavender doesn’t like our climate but Egyptian or fern leaf lavender does. David Austin roses figure prominently in her gorgeous garden, as do ranunculus, salvia, wallflowers, society garlic and various winter and spring
COTTAGE GARDEN
AND MICHELLE MOGHINA’S TIPS FOR GROWING A GORGEOUS GARDEN IN ARIZONA.
“She eats from my hand,” Moghina says. “She chases away the birds and bees and flies to me when I come into the garden. It’s worth all the work to be able to watch my kids enjoying the garden.”
She and her vegetable-gardening husband have made gardening a priority in every home they’ve owned and have transformed blank slate backyards into magical oases
blooming season, she brings bouquets to friends who might need a lift and sells bouquets — mostly to other Romanians in her community. It helps finance her seeds and Addedsupplies.benefits
VISIT MARY SHIRLEY, WALKER
33imagesarizona.com April 2022 Air Conditioning • Plumbing • Water Treatment Call to Schedule Complimentarya Estimate 480.478.3384 • Extends your A/C system’s Lifespan • Today’s Necessity to Lower Utility Bills all Year Long • Stay Cooler in the Summer and Stay Warmer in the Winter • Limited Lifetime Guarantee on homes fully Reinsulated Benefits of a Properly Insulated Home ProSkill Now InsulationOffers
ground every week so they’re ready to sell throughout the season. The tall, large-headed sunflower stalks and blooms are strategically planted on the south and west sides of her vegetable garden, creating a natural shade screen.
“I recall my mom bought a packet of zinnias and that’s the first thing she planted, along with a Rose of Sharon tree,” Moghina says. “I helped her plant and weed and water. When I was married 20 years later and moved to Arizona, it was a whole new ballgame; I had to re-learn a lot.”
Instagram: @azcottagegarden
Instagram:thepottersbench.com@the_potters_bench
“By the time it gets really hot in June, they’ve grown enough to shade my plants and I don’t have to rig up shade cloths,” she reveals.
teeming with flowers that attract pollinators for the vegetables. With five children, they have quite a few helpers in the garden.
Michelle Moghina’s earliest gardening memories were working in her family garden in Romania. The family escaped communism when she was nine years old after her father first swam the Danube into Serbia and settled first in New York City as a religious and political refugee. The family eventually moved to Michigan and her mother’s first requirement was to have a garden.
Writer and Photographer Francine thefancypantskitchen.comColes
34 imagesarizona.com April 2022
Ingredients:
of spring, I love the idea of creating a piece of art out of your delicious bread. This spring bouquet focaccia is such an easy way to elevate a simple focaccia and make it worthy of any gathering of friends or family. It is perfect for Easter, graduation, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, showers or any other special occasion!
1 pint cherry tomatoes
Serves: 12
Arrange chives to resemble flower stems. Spread out parsley stems to look like leaves at the top of the chives. Cut cherry tomatoes in a zigzag fashion through the center, discarding seeds if possible. Cut some cherry tomatoes vertically in four segments without cutting through the base and fan open, arranging them to resemble flowers.
2 boxes chives
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 bunch Italian parsley
Brush a 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with two tablespoons of oil. Transfer the dough to the baking sheet and, using your fingers, spread to the edges. Press all over to form dimples. Drizzle with two tablespoons of oil then cover loosely with plastic wrap and set aside to rest until the dough puffs up slightly, about 30 minutes.
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
Lightly grease a large bowl with one tablespoon of oil, then add the dough, cover with plastic wrap and set aside to rise until the dough has just slightly more than doubled in size, about one hour.
Set a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees. While the oven preheats, decorate the dough with herbs and vegetables.
Remove the focaccia from the oven and let cool slightly before using an offset spatula to slide it onto a cutting board. Top with basil and let cool completely, then cut into pieces and serve.
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
In a medium bowl, add yeast, honey and one cup of lukewarm water then stir to combine. Set aside until foam forms on the surface of the liquid, about five minutes. Add 1/4 cup of oil followed by flour and salt. Using a fork, stir until a dough forms then turn out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead until the dough is smooth and supple, about 10 minutes, then form into a ball.
2-1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
Directions:
RECIPEAswewelcomethestart
Drizzle decorated dough with the remaining two tablespoons of oil and sprinkle with flaky salt, to taste. Bake until the focaccia is golden at the edges and browned on the bottom, about 20 minutes.
Spring Bouquet Focaccia
35imagesarizona.com April 2022 " T h e U l t i m a t e K i t t y C a t H a n g o u t " NOW YOUR CATS CAN ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS... WITHOUT THE RISKS. www.gethomegrown.net 1-888-85GROWN MADE IN USA ROC# 331531 Surrounded in PetTex™ Screen Multipe Entry / Exit Options Fully Equipped / Turnkey "Predator Proofing" Options LIFETIME WARRANTY T M
