Images Arizona (March 2021)

Tramonto Anthem Desert Hills New River

S ANDERSON LINCOLN

S ANDERSON LINCOLN

LOCATED IN THE HIGHLY DESIRED GATED COMMUNITY

Anthem Golf & Country Club. This completely remodeled home offers spacious living with sought after privacy & spectacular views. The home is located on a rare Daisy Mountain preserve lot in the desired neighborhood of Shinnecock Court. The entry way leads to sweeping backyard mountain views from the formal living & dining room areas. Included is a private owners retreat with large bedroom & bath, separate shower & soaking tub, walk in closets, a large office & powder room. Expansive travertine covered patios, new landscaping, irrigation, lighting & artificial turf. Great flow for indoor & outdoor entertaining from a gourmet kitchen with a gas cooktop & stainless appliances to the new outdoor BBQ. The house is completely updated & Move In ready. Start celebrating the good life with all of the amenities that Anthem Golf

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WIND, WATER, EARTH

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Photography Courtesy of Desert Botanical Garden

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

31

SHIFTING GEARS

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Photography Courtesy of Carson Gillespie/CSG Visuals

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GREEN LUSH

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Photography by James Green

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BLOSSOMING DREAMS

Writer Shannon Severson

Photography Courtesy of Claire Hamilton

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HEALTHIER TERIYAKI BEEF BOWLS

Writer and photographer Kyndra Kelly

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PUBLISHER

Shelly Spence

MANAGING EDITOR

Joseph J. Airdo

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Meaghan Mitchell

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Joseph J. Airdo

Amanda Christmann

Kyndra Kelly

Shannon Severson

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Bryan Black

Brandon Dunham

Kyndra Kelly

Loralei Lazurek

Carl Schultz

ADVERTISING SALES

Cooper Langston 480-544-8721

cooper@imagesaz.com

Images Arizona

P.O. Box 1416

Carefree, AZ. 85377 623-341-8221

imagesarizona.com

II absolutely love this time of the year. It is tremendously difficult to determine exactly which season is my favorite as our state is so stunningly beautiful all year-round. Spring is particularly special, though. The weather has finally warmed up enough to enjoy early morning walks but not yet heated up to a point that prevents afternoon picnics or dinners on the patio.

And when it comes to our heavenly desert community, the more time spent outside the better. Just take a look at this month’s photo essay featuring some of the most astonishing views of the gorgeous greenery in our own backyard. Photographer James Green perfectly captures why so many of us love living here. The magnificence of our natural landscapes is nothing short of breathtaking.

It also fuels the creativity of not only our local artists but also those in other parts of the country. Our native plants supplied floral artists Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz of Waterlily Pond Studio in San Fransisco with an abundance of inspiration for their series of three large-scale living sculptures at Desert Botanical Garden. The story behind that inspiration and their imaginatively resourceful process is featured in this month’s issue.

There are also plenty of other examples in this month’s issue of how beauty blossoms across Arizona this time of the year — be it in the aesthetic of our natural environment, the creativity of our artists, the ingenuity of our business owners, the generosity of our nonprofit organizations or the kindness of our neighbors.

With this month’s issue of Images Arizona, I invite you to take a step outside and witness how our community comes to life like none other on the planet. Take a deep breath of fresh air and let spring’s splendor fill you with joy, optimism and enthusiasm. Cheers!

Shelly Spence

Publisher, Images Arizona magazine shelly@imagesaz.com 623-341-8221

18-karat gold with diamonds

NANIS ITALIAN JEWELS

Dancing in the Rain

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Photography Courtesy of Desert Botanical Garden

DDesert Botanical Garden visitors last month were able to quite literally walk through a beautiful storm of all things Arizona. They could wander around or even directly underneath a cloud of incredible plant materials — including cholla skeletons, yucca stocks, tree branches tumbleweeds and tropical bromeliad and heliconia.

It was a remarkable sight to behold, creatively capturing the chaotic intensity of the haboobs that occasionally engulf our state. However, just as quickly as the violent and oppressive dust storms blow through town, the artistic representation has taken its final bow.

Fortunately, the installation was only the first in a series of three large-scale living sculptures set to debut this spring at Desert Botanical Garden that draw inspiration from the natural events that occur in Arizona. The Wind, Water, Earth exhibition features the work of wife-and-husband duo Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz — artists who imaginatively create installations that combine the emotion of flowers with fascinating structures of industrial materials.

“We are in a very narrow niche of installation art,” Lisitsa explains. “We use a medium of organic materials — not necessarily only flowers per se but branches and cactus and whatever other natural material is available to us — and combine it with the modern cultural form.”

SITE-SPECIFIC INSPIRATION

Originally trained as an engineer, Lisitsa founded her boutique San Fransisco studio Waterlily Pond in 2001. She began her floral career by studying Japanese Ikebana floral design. She has since become a celebrated floral artist on the international design scene.

Meanwhile, Schultz serves as the studio’s technical lead, using his degree in architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and experience as a practicing furniture designer to deliver a deep sense of structural design to every project the team tackles.

Lisitsa and Schultz have been commissioned by modern art museums, cathedrals, public spaces and cultural organizations all around the world to create large-scale floral art, with suspended installations up to 2,000 pounds in weight.

“These installations are quite challenging because we work in a very large scale,” Lisitsa says. “We also have to come up with the sculptural forms as well as provide the water source if it involves fresh flowers and plants. That makes our job quite a bit more challenging than most.”

Schultz adds that the size and weight of their installations also pose challenges in their construction, transportation and reconstruction.

“Our pieces need to quite literally fit through the front door so we usually create them almost entirely in our studio in San Francisco then have to take them apart, put them in the truck, bring them [to their destination] and put them back together again,” he explains. “There are a lot of challenging aspects to it.”

Despite the challenges, the artists love what they do — especially because it affords them the opportunity to visit various places on the planet, gain site-specific inspiration and source organic materials that are unique to that location.

Desert Botanical Garden’s Wind, Water, Earth exhibition features the work of wife-and-husband duo Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz — artists who imaginatively create installations that combine the emotion of flowers with fascinating structures of industrial materials.

Lisitsa says interpreting a location into a floral sculpture is her favorite part of the process.

“The combination of the engineering aspect and the selection of beautiful flowers and plants is what makes it interesting for us,” she notes. “We also enjoy working together. We have been working together for more than 15 years now so we feel fortunate that we are able to do this creative work and use both our talents.”

NATURAL EVENTS

Gaining inspiration from Arizona’s natural events and sourcing organic materials from Desert Botanical Garden was a particular pleasure for the floral artists. After all, our deserts are beautifully distinct and diverse.

No longer on display, the first installation in the couple’s Desert Botanical Garden exhibition — the 16-foot-high and 8-foot-wide Wind — was a visual triumph. Lisitsa and Schultz were inspired by Arizona’s tumultuous dust storms that pick up various objects in their path and toss them across the desert landscape.

“We were really interested in using material found in the desert so we collected creosote branches, palo verde branches, tumbleweeds, dry agaves, cactuses, yucca and other treasures and transformed them,” Lisitsa says. “We literally restored them, painted them gold and incorporated them into our piece.”

The second installation in the exhibition is on display through March 22 in Desert Botanical Garden’s Berlin Agave Yucca Forest. Titled Water, the landscape intervention spans 100 feet, mapping the path of seasonal flooding through the site with 8,000 colored wooden dowels and 1,500 red flowering blooms, from petunias and geraniums to tropical flowers, oriented to flow and spill around rocks and plants.

— especially because it affords them the opportunity to visit various places on the planet, gain site-specific inspiration and source organic materials that are unique to that location.

Floral artists Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz love what they do

Floral artists Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz have been commissioned by modern art museums, cathedrals, public spaces and cultural organizations all around the world to create large-scale floral art, with suspended installations up to 2,000 pounds in weight.

“We were really interested in using material found in the desert so we collected creosote branches, palo verde branches, tumbleweeds, dry agaves, cactuses, yucca and other treasures and transformed them.

Natasha Lisitsa

Schultz says Water is different from Wind — a freestanding sculpture — in the sense that it is built directly into the landscape.

“Our thought was to take inspiration from the fact that the garden itself is a natural wash through Desert Botanical Garden where floodwaters run so to speak,” he explains. “Taking modern colorful materials and building them directly on the landscape and cascading through rocks and around agaves in a sense simulates the flow of water but with a much different texture and color.

“It is bright yellow and incorporates red flowers. These are two colors that you hardly see at all in the landscape of the garden, which is mostly soil and sagey green colors. It is a very graphic insertion into the landscape. You cannot see the whole thing at the same time so it is a bit of an experience to walk alongside it and see it from many different perspectives with the pathways around it.”

The exhibition will culminate April 3–25 with Earth, an installation in Desert Bontanical Garden’s Dorrance Hall that is inspired by the sandstone strata of Arizona canyons. The immersive, room-height, three-dimensional structure will be composed of 25 wood layers of strata cut away to reveal an open archway that visitors can enter. Ten thousand fresh flowers — including roses, orchids and succulents — will line the layers in a palette of desert colors.

“Earth is going to be a real tour de force of fresh flowers,” Schultz says. “We are going to reinterpret the desert landscapes of buttes and canyons with this large sculptural form that, 12 feet tall and 16 feet wide, will be sort of like an archway in the sandstone somewhere in the canyonlands.”

CREATIVE EXECUTION

Schultz says he was excited to work with Desert Botanical Garden and have its team help him and his wife source so many unique

materials for each of the three installations that comprise the exhibition.

“There are not many floral artists out there who have access to this type of material and put a piece together of this scale so we feel really lucky about that,” he adds.

Lisitsa agrees, noting she hopes Wind, Water, Earth encourages people to view the organic materials they may see on a daily basis either in their garden or outside their home in a new way. She also appreciates the new challenge the exhibition offered.

“This is the first time that we have done an outdoor exhibition that lasts for a whole month,” she explains. “We have done a lot of things at indoor locations so this took the challenge to a whole other level. We had to make sure that these pieces could endure the elements for a long time and would not fly away with the wind.”

She says creating three intricate installations in the same geographical location that are each uniquely interesting and utilize a different approach was also a new challenge for the duo. Ultimately, she feels good about the various aspects that each installation is going to show Desert Botanical Garden’s visitors.

And Schultz notes those aspects are innumerable.

“These installations are kind of crazy and require a lot of creativity to execute,” he says. “It is not like we just do one thing. Some artists hone in on one technique or material and do it over and over to great success. But we are always open to new ideas and new materials and different ways of putting things together.”

COMMUNITY

2021 MARCH

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

March 6 ROOM FOR TWO

Physical comediennes

The Ladies bring their newest popup drive-in show to a downtown Tempe parking garage. With the help of the parking garage attendant, The Ladies will create a zany, interactive and completely mesmerizing comedic experience for audiences enjoying the show from the comfort of their own cars. $49.99. 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. wearetheladies.net

Keep in mind

Although Images Arizona magazine has made every effort to publish the most up-to-date information at press time, some events may be canceled or rescheduled to comply with social distancing measures and other factors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Please use the contact information provided to confirm dated details.

Through March 21 CRAZY FOR GERSHWIN

Arizona Broadway Theatre fanfavorite Kurtis Overby will perform a musical spectacular that will transport audiences back to the days when Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers danced across the silver screen to classic Gershwin hits. The toe-tapping production will feature favorite tunes such as “I’ve Got Rhythm,” “A Foggy Day,” “Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off” and “S’Wonderful,” coupled with musical mashups and more. See website for price and times.

Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria. 623-776-8400; azbroadway.org

March 2–April 20

MUSICAL THEATRE OF ANTHEM SPRING MINIS

Musical Theatre of Anthem will host a minis class during which students aged 3–5 will focus on vocal technique, dance skills, showmanship and basic theater terminology. Skills will culminate in a performance for friends and family. $100. See website for rehearsal days and times. Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42201 N. 41st Drive, Anthem. 623-336-6001; musicaltheatreofanthem.org

March 4 CAREFREE ART WALK

Stroll, shop, dine and enjoy an evening celebrating the arts in downtown Carefree while helping to support

local businesses and local creativity — which makes our Arizona culture a better place to live, work and visit. Begin at any gallery, then continue on to other participating galleries. Enjoy a diverse display of artistic styles and mediums, meet the artists, enjoy refreshments and engage in conversation about art and architecture. Free. 4–8 p.m. See website for participating galleries. visitcarefree.com

March 9 CPR TRAINING

Utilizing the American Safety and Health Institute curriculum and certified instructors, Daisy Mountain Fire and Medical will present a CPR class that will require students to demonstrate proficiency on mannequins while on the floor and complete a short written test. Satisfactory completion of the course entitles participants to a certificate valid for two years from date of completion. $25. 6–10 p.m. RSVP. Daisy Mountain Fire Station 143, 35050 S. Old Black Canyon Highway, Black Canyon City. 623-465-7400 ext. 202; paul.schickel@dmfd.org

March 13

GOLDEN REEF STAMP MILL DEMONSTRATION

Arizona’s only fully operational ten-stamp ore crushing mill will run several outdoor demonstrations at Cave Creek Museum. Watch history come alive as the ten 1,000-pound stamps slam down in synchronized precision and hear the pounding echo against the desert foothills — just as it did more than 140 years ago. Also on exhibit outdoors on the museum campus are various pieces of equipment from the early mining days of Arizona and many agricultural tools used at local farms and ranches. See website for times. Cave Creek Museum, 6140 E. Skyline Drive, Cave Creek. 480-488-2764; cavecreekmuseum.org

March 14

CRYSTAL BOWL HEALING CONCERT FOR A CAUSE

The Space Healing Center and Local Jonny’s will present a sound healing concert during which attendees will take part in various meditative practices that ensure a relaxing

and rejuvenating afternoon. The healing experience aims to induce a meditative state with crystal bowls, gongs and other instruments. $25. 4–6 p.m. Local Jonny’s, 6033 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek. 602492-6643; thespaceaz.com

March 14

LUNCH AND LEARN: RISOTTO WITH MIXED MUSHROOMS

Marcellino Ristorante will host a cooking class during which chef Marcellino Verzino will teach participants to cook a creamy risotto with a sauté of mixed mushrooms. After the class, guests will enjoy a delectable lunch of the chef’s dish, a fresh organic salad and Marcellino’s delicious biscotti. $50. 1 p.m. RSVP. Marcellino Ristorante, 7114 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale. 480-990-9500; marcellinoristorante.com

March 19–27

FEFU AND HER FRIENDS

B3 Theater will livestream its production of “Fefu and Her Friends,” a play about a group of eight female do-gooders who are meeting to plan a fundraising event for education. At once the model of innocent wholeness between female friends and the blackest night a woman has had to endure the viewing order of the four scenes in the middle act will be determined by chance thereby creating a unique show each night. $10+. See website for times. b3theater.com

March 20

VISION KIDS: SEND AND RECEIVE

Chandler's Vision Gallery will host a class during which Delia Ibañez will teach youth aged 6–16 to use playful movement, writing and mixed-media collage to explore ideas of community connection and exchange. The workshop, which will be offered virtually on Zoom, is designed to inspire children's creativity and give students the opportunity to develop important avenues for selfexpression. Free. 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. RSVP. visiongallery.org/vision-kids

March 25–28

ALADDIN KIDS

Photo Courtesy of Michele Celentano

Musical Theatre of Anthem will present its production of “Aladdin Kids,” a stage adaptation of Disney’s animated adventure about a street urchin who vies for the attention of a beautiful princess, using a genie’s magic power to become a prince in order to marry her. $13+. See website for times. Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42201 N. 41st Drive, Anthem. 623-336-6001; musicaltheatreofanthem.org

March 23

FIRST AID TRAINING

Utilizing the American Safety and Health Institute curriculum and certified instructors, Daisy Mountain Fire and Medical will present a first aid class that will require students to demonstrate proficiency of skills and complete a short written test. Satisfactory completion of the course entitles participants to a certificate valid for two years from date of completion. $25. 6–10 p.m. RSVP. Daisy Mountain Fire Station 143, 35050 S. Old Black Canyon Highway, Black Canyon City. 623-465-7400 ext. 202; paul.schickel@dmfd.org

March 26–April 18

BEEHIVE

Arizona Broadway Theatre will travel back in time to the 1960s — when girl groups and doo-wop met female empowerment in a groovy

musical that tells the story of this impactful decade through the lens of six women. The soundtrack includes songs by groundbreaking female artists including Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner and Janis Joplin and timeless hits including “My Boyfriend’s Back,” “Son of a Preacher Man” and “You Don’t Own Me.” See website for price and times. Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria. 623776-8400; azbroadway.org

ANTHEM HONORS QUANTICO MARINE ATHLETES WITH PAVERS

During a private ceremony in January, pavers honoring 12 members of the Quantico Marine Athletes who were killed in action while serving in the Vietnam War were installed at the Anthem Veterans Memorial. Anthem resident Lisa Jones led the effort to have

the pavers installed as her uncle, 2nd Lt. John Bruce Capel, was killed in action on May 12, 1966. onlineatanthem.com/avm

ANTHEM RESIDENT BRADLEY JAMES TOBIAS PASSES AWAY

After a years-long battle with a variety of interconnected medical conditions, Anthem resident Bradley James Tobias passed away peacefully at his parents’ home Feb. 2 at age 36. Raised in North Phoenix and Cave Creek, Tobias attended Brophy College Preparatory and, later, Arizona State University. He graduated with a degree in business and management and went on to enjoy a very successful career in renewable energy technology. Tobias was preceded in death by his grandfather Ned Mullan, and is survived by his parents, Louise and

Photo Courtesy of Michele Celentano

Andy Tobias; his brother and sister-in law, Ryan Tobias and Jenni Johns; and niece, Eleanor.

BALLET THEATER OFFERS CLASSES FOR SENIORS

Ballet Theatre of Phoenix is offering sit or stand ballet classes to senior citizens across the community via Zoom. Created in partnership with Jewish Family and Children's Service, the classes are specially designed for older adults to develop flexibility, balance and strength through movement. Free. Noon Fridays. seniorcenter@jfcsaz.org

CHAMBER WELCOMES MEMBER AND VISITOR SERVICES DIRECTOR

The Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce this winter welcomed Ryann Bader to its staff as member and visitor services director. Bader will provide direct support to chamber business members and assist visitors to the chamber office as well as program management while working on special events and projects. anthemareachamber.org

MUSEUM EXTENDS DISCOUNT PROGRAM

Phoenix Art Museum has extended its PhxArt Field Trip for Kids program, which reduces admission to $5 for all visitors younger than 18, offering an affordable way for working families who have been economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to visit the museum. Made possible by a gift from Judy and Bill Goldberg, the program will run through June 30. Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-257-1880; phxart.org

MUSICAL THEATRE OF ANTHEM HOSTS ACTING CLASSES

Musical Theatre of Anthem is hosting weekly acting classes for youth aged 7–14. $10 per class or $75 for 10 classes. 5:45–6:45 p.m. Tuesdays. Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42201 N. 41st Drive, Anthem. 623-336-6001; musicaltheatreofanthem.org

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Opening photograph by Ondrej Prosicky, additional photography courtesy of Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center

LLast year was undoubtedly one for the record books. Among the many things that made 2020 a year that will live in infamy is a pandemic that resulted in stayat-home orders across the country. With indoor dining and movie theaters closed, more people hit the hiking trails. Others stayed inside, playing it safe in the wake of Arizona’s record-breaking 53 days of 110-degree heat.

That unprecedented weather and the increased observational opportunities for nature may have led to another record — one that saw more animals coming into the caring hands of Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center’s staff and volunteers than ever before.

“Last year, we had a record number of 196 babies come into our hands,” says Robin Wilson, Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center’s events and volunteer coordinator. “It is really hard to know why it was a record year. The speculation is that it could have been anything from the extreme heat to the fact that so many people were home noticing nature.”

Whatever the reason, our state’s native wildlife were fortunate that Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center was here, up to the challenge of rescuing and rehabilitating them.

“Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center was founded in 1994 by Linda Searles,” Wilson says. “She started with one lone coyote pup that a farmer found while plowing his field.”

Discovering that there was no rescue/rehabilitation facility in all of Arizona, Searles started the nonprofit organization that now — more than 25 years later — rescues, rehabilitates and releases between 100 and 300 animals each year. It also currently serves as a sanctuary to 100–150 animals that are unable to be released due to either human habituation or injury.

MOTHER BOBCATS DO NOT HIRE BABYSITTERS

Animals most commonly come to Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center as babies that have been lost or abandoned for one reason or another. However, Wilson cautions that we must never automatically assume that a baby has been lost or abandoned just because its parents are not around.

“When people notice that there are babies in their backyard, we recommend that they leave them alone and just keep an eye on things,” she explains. “I always say that mother bobcats do not hire babysitters. They leave their babies either tucked under a porch or under a bush while they go off and do their hunting. Those baby bobcats will stay put until their mother comes back. If they are quiet and not making any noise, then they are fine.”

It is when the babies are crying incessantly that Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center’s staff and volunteers may need to intervene. In cases when they are unable to reunite a baby with its mother, the nonprofit organization has developed special precautions like wearing masks, refraining from talking and utilizing sound machines to ensure that the animal does not become habituated to humans.

After all, the ultimate goal is to be able to safely release an animal back into nature. Between 70% and 80% of the animals that come to Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center are released.

Last year, raccoons were the most common baby that Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center rescued with a total of 49 coming into its North Scottsdale facility. Raccoons were closely followed by coyotes at 40, skunks at 36 and bobcats at 35.

“We take in a lot of javelinas as well,” says Wilson, noting that while most mammals have a birth season that starts around March and goes into September, javelinas’ birth season is year-round.

Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center also rescues mountain lions, bears, foxes and Mexican gray wolves — the last of which is an endangered species for which it serves as a sanctuary through a partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. However, that list is only a sample of the types of animals the nonprofit organization rescues and rehabilitates.

“We had a baby coatimundi a hiker found in Tucson that had obviously fallen off a cliff or something,” Wilson says. “That will end up being a sanctuary animal because coatis need a family and we do not have any way to teach it how to be a wild coatimundi without it having a wild family.”

Wilson adds that each situation is as unique as the animal itself and Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center has developed processes to rehabilitate each one. Some of its sanctuary animals that are unable to be released due to injury actually serve as foster parents, facilitating other animals’ eventual release. But, as in the case with the coatimundi, that is not always possible.

Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center takes in animals from all around Arizona and works closely with Arizona Game and Fish. In fact, the nonprofit is the only organization that is allowed to house and create new families for javelinas — an animal that must be a part of a herd (or squadron).

“So when we get single javelina babies come in, we help them create a new family,” Wilson says. “Arizona Game and Fish will then come to pick them up when they are the right age and release them into the wild for us.”

WHY ARE YOU IN THE BOBCAT’S BACKYARD?

Of course, babies are not the only animals that come into the hands of Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center’s staff and volunteers. The nonprofit organization also rescues and rehabilitates sick and injured animals such as those that have consumed rodent poisoning, been hit by a car or come into contact with cacti.

“We have a fully functioning animal hospital here,” Wilson explains. “We bring them in, evaluate them and provide them with any medical treatment they may need. We then see them through their rehabilitation and release them as soon as possible.”

Although Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center only rescues and rehabilitates mammals, it has policies in place to ensure that no creature is ever turned away.

Volunteers of the nonprofit organization’s 24/7 emergency hotline ensure that every creature receives the help it needs, referring out to other agencies — such as Fallen Feathers, Liberty Wildlife, Phoenix Herpetological Society and Wild at Heart — when they receive calls about birds, squirrels, bats, rabbits, reptiles and other members of the wildlife population that are not typically handled at the North Scottsdale facility.

However, it is important to note that Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center does not move perfectly healthy adult animals for residents.

“If the animal is just hanging out in your backyard, you just need to wait for it to leave,” Wilson says. “We get phone calls all the time from people asking, ‘Why is there a bobcat in my backyard?’ I like to ask them, ‘Why are

“[Humans] keep building further out into the desert and taking up more and more land. As the urban sprawl has extended further out into the desert, there has been more need for us because the human-animal conflict continues.

Robin Wilson

you in the bobcat’s backyard?’ After all, they were here first.”

And that is an educational point that has not only been key to Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center’s mission but has become more significant over the past 25-plus years of the nonprofit organization's existence.

“[Humans] keep building further out into the desert and taking up more and more land,” Wilson explains. “As the urban sprawl has extended further out into the desert, there has been more need for us because the humananimal conflict continues.”

That is why Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center has so many educational opportunities available for the community to discover the need for these majestic animals and how to best coexist with them. In addition to preregistered, paid, public tours of its North Scottsdale facility, the nonprofit organization offers outreach programs to schools, festivals and other agencies.

It also hosts numerous events throughout the year, such as wild yoga, wild enrichment parties, full moon tours and baby showers

— all in an effort to educate and engage the community while facilitating the continued rescue and rehabilitation of our state’s unique wildlife population.

With the need greater than ever before and likely to continue to increase over the next 25 years, Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center is hoping to strengthen and expand its ability to rescue and rehabilitate animals with a move within the next 10 years to McDowell Mountain Regional Park, where the nonprofit organization has entered an agreement to occupy 100 acres of land — quite a step up from its current 10 acres. However, that move is dependent on the post-pandemic economy.

If one thing is for certain, though, it is that all of Arizona — from the many fascinating fourlegged creatures to the two-legged people who love them — is grateful to Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center for ensuring that our state remains one of the most wildly extraordinary places on the planet.

southwestwildlife.org

D L Jones Home Team Owners

Our feature home this month is a one-of-a-kind custom home on a one acre lot with a securely gated driveway at the end of a paved cul-de-sac in Desert Hills.

When only the best will do, this meticulously detailed estate residence will more than satisfy.

Altogether, there are 5 large bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, including the 2 room guest casita, plus a 2,000sf+ garage and workshop to store your RV and/or 10-12 car collection.

And while most one acre homesites include a large portion of undeveloped land, this property is fully landscaped with a private pool and patio ready to host your exclusive gatherings of 100+ guests.

Unfortunately, by the time this advertisement arrives in your mailbox, another buyer may have secured this home to be their forever home. To find out if you still have a chance, contact John Luders to schedule a private viewing.

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The D.L. Jones Home Team

Desert Hills

Custom 4,667SF

5 BR, 5 5BA, 10-12 Car Garage

One Acre Paradise! $1,499,500

The D.L. Jones Home Team of Expert Agents

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Dennis & Lisa Jones 602-677-4130 (Mobile)

John Luders 623-551-2345 (Mobile)

Dan Bachelor 623-414-1355 (Mobile)

Gordon Brown 602-614-5940 (Mobile)

Sandra Christiansen 623-551-0766 (Office)

WWhen Brian Sheehan was in his late teens, he was what he would call “a highly delinquent speeding offender.” Rather than fighting what was quite likely an uncontrollable battle with a kid who had always been crazy about cars, Sheehan’s parents steered into the skid and enrolled him in Bondurant High-Performance Driving School.

Sheehan was instantly hooked on the hobby and ended up racing semi-professionally for about 20 years. However, as with most things in life, he eventually had to hang up his driving gloves so that he could get behind the wheel of a vehicle with enough room in the back for car seats.

Although his family became his new primary passion in life, Sheehan never lost his automotive appetite and continued expressing his enthusiasm for the industry by attending car shows almost every weekend. However, upon arriving at one particular event in Scottsdale, he was disheartened when officials refused to allow his beautiful BMW M3 convertible in the show.

Having been a self-proclaimed “car guy” throughout his entire life, Shelby is extremely proud of all five vehicles that he owns but holds a special fondness for his show-worthy BMW M3 and Shelby CSX-T. Therefore, he took the rejection quite personally.

Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Carson Gillespie/CSG Visuals

Former semi-professional race car driver Brian Sheehan, who has lived in the Anthem/Desert Hills area since 2001, hosts Anthem Cars and Coffee the first Saturday of every month in the parking lot of Amped Coffee Company.

“I do not care what kind of car is. I do not care if it is $200,000 or $2,000 as long as it is cool looking and it has a story. If you put wrench-time into it, if it was given to you by your dad and you have had it since you were 16 years old or you saved up all of your life saving and bought it, that is the kind of thing that I want at my car show.

Brian Sheehan

“They told me that I needed a Lamborghini or a Ferrari,” Sheehan explains. “But those are not the everyman’s cars. There were not really any car shows out there for the regular guy.”

Sheehan was discouraged but emboldened.

“I decided to start my own car show, giving the regular guys a place to meet, enjoy their cars and show them off,” he says. “I wanted to make a show for the everyman and the everyman's car — not just for people who have a big wallet.”

Sheehan, who has lived in the Anthem/ Desert Hills area since 2001, approached the owners of Amped Coffee Company about hosting the gathering in their parking lot. After getting proper approval from the landlord, they gave him the green light.

Sheehan created a 6-by-5-inch postcard with the words, “Nice car!” in big, bold letters on one side and, “Join my car show the first Saturday of the month in Anthem,” on the other. He then drove around the parking lots of shopping centers, movie theaters and restaurants with his son and placed the postcards on the windshields of every cool car they came across.

From that effort alone, 65 cars showed up to Sheehan’s first show in October 2019. Attendance grew to 100 cars the next month and 125 cars the month after that. Today, more than 200 cars show up to Sheehan’s Anthem Cars and Coffee event each month, with people traveling from as far away as Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria and Surprise to attend.

PUTTING THE PEDAL TO THE METAL

“My mom always said that I was born with a Matchbox car in my hand,” Sheehan says. “I have always been a car enthusiast for as long as I can remember.”

After attending Bondurant High-Performance Driving School, Sheehan was offered an opportunity at age 19 to drive the race car of a friend who had suffered an injury and would be unable to finish out the season himself. From that opportunity, Sheehan entered the semi-professional racing scene.

As he continued racing, Sheehan gained more notoriety, more sponsors and more money — enough to buy his own race car. He also partnered with another friend to open up a performance race shop in Scottsdale. Needless to say, cars are — and always have been — a very big part of his life.

Therefore, the opportunity to continue to pursue his passion through Anthem Cars and Coffee is a dream come true.

“My favorite thing about the show is that I am starting to get regulars who now bring their chairs and it is becoming more of a hangout,” Sheehan says. “It was originally just a two-hour show but I have since extended it to three hours. And now I have car clubs coming to my show unannounced.”

About 24 Corvettes attended Anthem Cars and Coffee in December. Roughly the same number of Mustangs attended the January event.

“All of these guys are using my show as their venue for their clubs and I love that,” Sheehan says.

KICKING THE TIRES

Sheehan paused his Anthem Cars and Coffee event during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic out of an abundance of caution. He resumed the event last June and saw record attendance. However, that record was broken the next month, illustrating the community’s desire to come together and show off their love for their vehicles.

“It just keeps growing and growing,” says Sheehan, noting that Anthem Cars and Coffee benefits more than just the car-enthusiast community.

“My original idea was to have it at this location because I saw that the numbers at the businesses were going down considerably. The [shopping center] was almost empty. I wanted to bring it somewhere that it would benefit the businesses in the area.”

The exposure that the shopping center receives each month as a result of Anthem Cars and Coffee has been very good for business. Amped Coffee Company owner Jeanine Walashek adds that the show has also accomplished a key component of any community — togetherness.

“Anthem Cars and Coffee has been such a wonderful event to bring our community together, which has been an important part of our mission at Amped Coffee,” Walashek says. “We are so grateful that Brian has invited us to be a part of this fun, family event. He works so hard to accomplish this every month and it is evident in how much the car show has grown.”

Sheehan adds that as Anthem Cars and Coffee has gotten bigger, it has gained the interest of vendors who have asked him for permission to set up booths for their goods and services at the show.

He has also partnered with various nonprofit organizations in the community to incorporate a

Cars

charitable aspect into the event, with Daisy Mountain Fire and Medical collecting toys for less fortunate families during the holidays and Youth for Troops collecting items for Veteran care packages. Sheehan is working on obtaining 501(c) (3) status to make Anthem Cars and Coffee an official nonprofit organization so that he can further its charitable possibilities.

Getting the Show on the Road

Sheehan admits that Anthem Cars and Coffee is bursting at the seams but says that he never wants to discontinue or move the event to another location because he is drawn to the social atmosphere of the homegrown community event.

“It is really a nice show because I now have regulars — devoted guys who come to the show every month and bring their friends and grandkids just to hang out and have a good time,” he explains. “That is what the car show has grown into instead of a pretentious rich guys club, which is what I wanted to get away from.”

Sheehan is in talks with Outlets at Anthem to possibly hold a larger car show at the shopping center on a quarterly basis while maintaining his monthly event. He will also offer the first of what he intends to be a biannual car and bike show this month at New River Kiwanis Park.

That March 6 event — which will bump Anthem Cars and Coffee to the second weekend of the month for March only — will include live bands, a pageant show and a trophy ceremony as well as several activities and vendors.

Sheehan is asking those who want to show their cars and bikes during what he is calling Run to the Hills: Spring Fest Car-Bike Show to provide a $10 registration fee to help cover his expenses. However, he will never ask anyone for money to attend his monthly Anthem Cars and Coffee event. Nor will he ever turn anyone away based on the car they bring.

“I do not care what kind of car is,” he says. “I do not care if it is $200,000 or $2,000 as long as it is cool looking and it has a story. If you put wrenchtime into it, if it was given to you by your dad and you have had it since you were 16 years old or you saved up all of your life saving and bought it, that is the kind of thing that I want at my car show.”

anthemcarsandcoffee.com

It was late March or early April and, as we were driving along, we were stunned by the lushness of the desert. We were shocked.

We did not know that there was so much greenery in the Sonoran Desert. We were so excited as we drove along and saw all of the cacti, palo verde and everything else.

James Green

Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by James Green

TTry to accurately describe our astonishing Arizona terrain to someone who has never visited much less spent four full seasons in our great state and you will likely be met with some obstacles. Of course, we are well aware of its colorful charisma, but outsiders often believe our geography is limited to a banal brown.

However, the hues and tones represented in the Sonoran Desert are far more vast — especially in the spring, when our landscape lights up like no other place on the planet. The most comely of all its colors is arguably green, which is present in everything from our stunning saguaro cactuses to our pulchritudinous palo verde trees.

A strong symbol of tranquility, luck and health, green is the quintessential color of nature and the natural world. Arizona’s spring scenery is most certainly alive with depictions of nature that elicit emotions of envy and jealousy (feelings that are also associated with the

color green) in those who reside in other regions that may not experience our emerald environment.

Describing our desert landscape as “lush,” James Green has enjoyed capturing Arizona’s attractive vistas on camera since he arrived in Anthem nearly seven years ago. Upon first glance, the gorgeous green that glosses across the photographer’s expansive artwork is by far the most identifiable and resonant. But a closer examination reveals just how rich our state’s topography is with every color God created.

By showcasing Green’s awe-inspiring work — much of which was captured right here in the North Valley and all of which illustrates the lush greenery that exists in our state — it is our hope that Images Arizona’s March photo essay evokes in you all of the advantageous associations of the color green. May this spring bring you total tranquility, lots of luck and harmonious health.

DESTINY IN THE DESERT

Prior to moving to Arizona nearly seven years ago, landscape photographer James Green and his wife Jean lived in Colorado and had a second home in Las Vegas where their granddaughters resided. When the girls moved to Arizona with their families, the couple was quick to follow them.

“We got to Wickenburg and started heading toward northern Phoenix on Arizona State Route 74,” says Green, noting that he had visited the Valley before for work but his travels were contained to the urban areas. “It was late March or early April and, as we were driving along, we were stunned by the lushness of the desert.

“We were shocked. We did not know that there was so much greenery in the Sonoran Desert. We were so excited as we drove along and saw all of the cacti, palo verde and everything else. We were so happy. The Mojave Desert around Las Vegas is bare. We thought that we were just moving from one bare desert area to another. But this desert is lush.”

Having dabbled in photography throughout his entire life, Green’s hobby took on a new significance and strength once he arrived in Arizona. It encouraged him to explore the art form further than ever before.

Over the past several years, Green has photographed Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park and the Pacific Northwest — and he has plans to visit and capture the beauty of many more geographic regions in the future. But Arizona will always be his favorite place to photograph.

“The variety of cacti here in the Sonoran Desert is pretty amazing,” Green says. “The saguaros alone are so dramatic, so iconic. I love Arizona. It is one of the most unique places in the world.”

My friends tell me that I have a unique eye and that I see things differently than most people. That may or may not be true but I just really love everything about photography and the outdoors. I try to keep my photos as close to ‘the way that God made it’ as I possibly can. James Green

The variety of cacti here in the Sonoran Desert is pretty amazing. The saguaros alone are so dramatic, so iconic. I love Arizona. It is one of the most unique places in the world.

James Green

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER

James Green has always loved everything about the outdoors. Having been born and lived in Ohio for his first 26 years of life, he savored the opportunity to move to Colorado where he spent a great deal hiking the many amazing mountain ranges.

It was only natural that he would eventually pick up a camera to capture their magnificence. After all, he had discovered photography earlier in life when he was serving as part of the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam.

“I am sad to say that, like a lot of people’s baseball card collections, somehow all of those shots that I took in Vietnam are gone now,” he says.

For several years, Green enjoyed exploring Colorado’s spectacular scenery through his camera lens. Then he and his wife Jean moved to Arizona where, awestruck, he became much more serious about the art form.

Green has never had any formal training and instead studies the work of other landscape photographers. He is committed to learning their techniques while maintaining his own personal vision.

“My friends tell me that I have a unique eye and that I see things differently than most people,” Green explains. “That may or may not be true but I just really love everything about photography and the outdoors. I try to keep my photos as close to ‘the way that God made it’ as I possibly can.”

The 75-year-old Anthem resident’s work can be viewed and purchased at Sedona Artist Market, 2081 W. State Route 89A, No. 11, Sedona.

Fulfill Your Fantasy of Luxurious Living at its

Absolute Best

Take one look at this 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath Anthem Country Club home and you will have to have to pinch your arm just to prove to yourself that you are not dreaming. Featuring astonishing LUXE and modern contemporary design and exquisitely remodeled from 2018 to 2021, it is one of the few homes you will find with just as much “wow” factor on the inside as it has in outdoor spaces.

Step inside and have your breath taken away as you witness this home’s dramatic 12-foot ceilings. Custom lighting and fans add a feeling of undeniable individuality with an avant-garde sophistication. Boasting eye-catching attention to detail throughout its entire interior — including its custom designer kitchen, dining room and baths — this home will fulfill your fantasy of luxurious living at its absolute best.

Prepare a delicious family dinner in the charming kitchen, which includes gorgeous granite countertops and an exquisite island. Then share memories in the dazzling dining room before retreating to the family room where you can cozy up in front of a stylish linear fireplace. Gorgeous ceiling beams and highprofile baseboards complete the interior refinement.

Outside, this home continues to stun with amenities that ensure outdoor entertaining is possible on even the hottest summer days and the coolest winter nights. A 2017 pool with bar seating and linear gas fire bar promises some of the most relaxing moments of your entire life. Meanwhile, a covered patio, stackedstone barbecue island and outdoor fireplace guarantee outdoor dinners are possible year-round.

Attractive landscape, travertine pavers and synthetic turf increase the exterior elegance of this amazing home, which is located on a very highly sought after mountain preserve lot. Stop daydreaming and start living today. Call Linda to schedule your private showing and behold all of the beauty that this opulent home has to offer.

Please call Linda for your private showing.

Linda Rehwalt RE/MAX Professionals 602-402-1136

lindarehwalt@azrealty.com

Writer Shannon Severson Photography by Bryan Black

Artist Amy Lay's paintings are on display at Sue Bickerdyke Interiors, Art Gallery and Home Furnishings in Carefree.

“

Since animals don’t really have a recognizable voice, I think it’s critical to give them one in my paintings; to make them the star, even if it’s a gesture or a look in their eye.

Amy Lay

AA jackrabbit perks up its long ears at some unseen sound; a family of quail perches amidst the brilliant fruits of a prickly pear cactus; a trio of wild horses looks up from grazing amidst tall grass.

These depictions of wildlife are the work of artist Amy Lay, whose paintings are on display at Sue Bickerdyke Interiors, Art Gallery and Home Furnishings in Carefree.

“I was first introduced to Amy’s work in Jackson Hole,” says Sue Bickerdyke, who owns the professional interior design studio and home furnishing boutique that specializes in fabrics, color and comfort. “I was immediately drawn to her work and contacted Bryce Pettit, another artist who displays at my gallery. Amy and I had an immediate connection and people really love her paintings. Her work reflects the natural surroundings we are so fortunate to have in this area.”

Lay’s style defies narrow definition. It is contemporary and colorful with an impressionistic feel, each one brimming with movement and vitality. She begins by sketching with graphite and often charcoal on white canvas, applies a wash of thinned oil paint and then thickens those layers here and there. It gives her paintings a uniquely translucent quality.

“I get a lot of questions about my process because it’s uncommon,” Lay says. “I really think the white canvas is important; it’s like the use of light I learned in watercolor. In traditional oils, it’s a big, heavy layering process. You begin by removing light and then add it back. I like to use the white of the canvas and give it a thin wash; it gives a brighter look.”

This process and her free-flowing style harness the viewer’s attention. Lay’s

depictions of wildlife feel immediate, like a moment captured, but on the brink of action. She prefers not to work with reference material like photographs, instead drawing from her own memories, which are plentiful.

SURROUNDED BY WILDLIFE

Lay has spent her life on her family’s historic homestead in remote Northeast Oregon, amidst the wide-open spaces replete with mountains, lakes, rivers and plains — and, of course, animals.

“I had a unique situation growing up,” she recalls. “I was surrounded by wildlife. Living far from town gave me a focus and intimacy with nature that inspired my creativity. As a child, I learned to occupy my time with animals and it gave me the background to paint wildlife.

“It also instilled in me a sense of the importance of conservation and the need to highlight nature in my work. Since animals don’t really have a recognizable voice, I think it’s critical to give them one in my paintings; to make them the star, even if it’s a gesture or a look in their eye.”

She observes that the propensity for drawing animals is really an age-old practice; it comes naturally to humans. In ancient caves and primitive homes, there are always drawings of animals. Lay says that animals are symbolic of everything. They normalize us and connect us — to our surroundings and to each other.

Her earliest childhood memories include lots of drawing and painting and she always preferred animals as her subjects.

“I would draw on any blank corner of paper I could find,” she recalls. “My parents tell me that I told them I would be an artist when I

Artist Amy Lay's earliest childhood memories include lots of drawing and painting and she always preferred animals as her subjects.

Artist Amy Lay has been encouraged by the response to her paintings. Throughout her life, painting has been a constant.

was 5 years old and I remember declaring that to my teachers all throughout elementary and high school. It was always my great love and the skill I felt most comfortable with.”

Lay credits her family and teachers for encouraging her to develop her talents. Right out of high school, she pursued an art degree at Eastern Oregon University. She says some of the most impactful lessons she learned were the ability to take critiques and what she learned about watercolor painting from a specific professor.

“I still use the same format and simple color palette that he showed me years ago,” she says. “I think my colors are part of my signature style.”

ENCHANTING SCENERY

It’s remarkable that Lay began using oils fairly recently. Before 2013, she used watercolors exclusively. She was motivated to start using oils and mixed medium for the flexibility and permanency, along with eliminating the need to put all her paintings under glass.

“I think the long time I spent with watercolor gave me confidence,” she says. “It also allowed my work a looseness and freedom that translated easily to oils. I hear all the time that watercolors are difficult and I guess my answer to that is to just let them go; let them do what they want. This spontaneous nature is what gives a painting life. It’s what I try to let happen in my work.”

Lay still lives on her family’s land in Oregon with her husband, Thomas — an Arizona native — and their three children. Since she began showing at Sue Bickerdyke Interiors, Art Gallery and Home Furnishings, she has enjoyed the chance to visit our state and be inspired to paint the wildlife here.

“We hike a lot,” Lay says. “It’s one of my favorite things to hike in the desert. I fell in love with it; the fragrance and the scenery … it’s enchanting.”

Bickerdyke says many of her patrons have homes in both the Carefree area and in the mountains. Lay has created paintings that reflect the wildlife and scenery of both these areas so the gallery’s clientele can have art that fits the surroundings of their homes.

“Our clients are mobile and have homes in many different places,” Bickerdyke explains. “Amy has adapted her work for our areas. People really love it. We design our homes to fit how we live and so much of that involves the outdoors — the big skies and the wildlife around us. Amy’s paintings capture that beauty and lifestyle.”

BRINGING PEOPLE JOY

Lay has been encouraged by the response to her paintings. Throughout her life, painting has been a constant. When she began having children, she left a career with the forest service to raise her daughters and son when they were young, earning her teaching certificate in history so that her schedule would coordinate with theirs. After a long day of teaching and mothering, she would get the kids to bed and then went into her studio to paint late into the night.

“I thought to myself, ‘I am not giving up on this,” Lay recalls. “After 10 years, I decided I was going to paint professionally and the galleries I applied to took me on; I immediately started selling.”

It was 2010, the start of her full-time art career. She took her children to showings every weekend, putting in the work to make connections and establish herself with galleries across the West and even as far away as Vermont. Hearing people’s reactions is a rewarding feeling for doing what she knows she was born to do.

“I hear people say, ‘This is so different, it’s happy,” Lay explains. “That’s a huge boost. I want to make people happy. I will always paint, no matter what, but it’s really nice to bring people joy with it. I’ve never painted just for myself. I paint for others. That is the joy and that’s how I communicate.”

suebickerdyke.com

MIKE'S LISTING SOLD AGAIN!

Beautiful Varina model on golf course. MULTIPLE OFFERS ON FIRST DAY... SOLD ABOVE LIST PRICE!!

Writer Shannon Severson // Photography Courtesy of Claire Hamilton

Natalie Gilliland had long dreamed of opening a flower shop that would mimic the cozy, verdant charm of similar spots in Paris and other European cities, but her vision never included Phoenix. Poppies began welcoming customers last September at the Shops at Norterra and the business blossomed from the jump.

“

In the middle of a pandemic, we opened a flower shop. I felt confident that joy was something people really needed; I was blown away by the response.

Natalie Gilliland

NNew River resident Natalie Gilliland knew that the odds might be stacked against a retail business launching in the current economic climate, but she has always never been one to shy away from taking a risk — especially when it just seems meant to be.

“In the middle of a pandemic, we opened a flower shop,” Gilliland says. “I felt confident that joy was something people really needed; I was blown away by the response.”

Gilliland had long dreamed of opening a flower shop that would mimic the cozy, verdant charm of similar spots in Paris and other European cities, but her vision never included Phoenix.

The mother of three boys left her career in education to help grow her family’s landscaping business with her husband, Mike. She had what she likes to call a “midlife crisis” at age 40. Her kids were growing up and she was

ready to have something of her own. When Mike brought up the flower shop idea, she wasn’t quite ready.

“I always saw it as a retirement business, but not in Phoenix,” Gilliland recalls. “I grew up in California and I wanted a boardwalk flower shop on the beach — in a place where people walk a lot. I just couldn’t see it happening here in the desert. Mike suggested we think and pray about it.”

In the meantime, Gilliland began taking floral design classes, building on her instinctive bent for art and creativity. She fell in love with the process and her instructor told her she was a natural.

“Mike said, ‘I told you so,’” she says, laughing at the memory. “In 2019, my instructor retired and we ended up purchasing his assets in Tempe. There was no retail space; it was a warehouse operation. I was able to use my training to take over his weddings and corporate events business.”

Gilliland’s idea for her flower shop was a brand new retail concept planned for another North Phoenix shopping center. When the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the events business and the intended retail space fell through, everything looked uncertain.

“I said, ‘God, what do I do?’” she recalls. “Looking back, it gave us the chance to focus on the retail process. Two spots opened up in Norterra and within two weeks, we had our keys. It was the right thing.”

Poppies began welcoming customers last September at the Shops at Norterra and the business blossomed from the jump.

COMFY AND QUAINT

Gilliland knew that she couldn’t compete with the average grocery store floral section in the price category, but she could create an experience that would develop a loyal following.

“When you step through the doors, I want you to feel like you aren’t in the middle of the desert,” she says. “My vibe is comfy and quaint. I want to create a customizable experience that resonates with people. We put thought into each bouquet and every product we carry. I’m picky about what we carry and what vendors we select. I really try to keep everything local and true to our values and faith.”

Gilliland admits to being a perpetual shopper. She peruses Instagram for local artisans and stocks her shelves with items that she herself might pair when purchasing flowers or plants for a friend or loved one: thoughtfully chosen cards, candles, candy and books, which naturally hold a special place in the former teacher’s heart.

“I love books and knew I wanted to have them in the store,” she says. “I’m old school and love walking into a bookstore, reading books that I can hold in my hands. We have gift books and books on plants and flowers that you can’t find anywhere else.”

As an educator, Gilliland always knew she wanted to offer classes and began doing so back in the Tempe warehouse days. And she still has customers who make the trip from Tempe for their Poppies fix.

“I had a nice following there,” she explains. “When the pandemic hit, I started doing Zoom flower classes. It was outside my comfort zone, but it was really fun and it filled a need. I knew that when we had a retail space, classes would be a huge component of what we offered. I love to teach and floral design is such a fun skill to learn. Anyone can do it.”

The classes range from small make-and-takes to open classrooms where a staff member is on-hand to assist while participants drop in to use the large project table in the back and the shop’s array of tools. Then, they can walk away from the mess and enjoy their arrangement. The schedule stays flexible to accommodate busy lifestyles. It has created a community feel at the shop and customers who learn a new skill return to purchase blooms to arrange on their own.

THOUGHTFUL TOUCHES

Beyond the retail element, Poppies still maintains a base of corporate customers and its weddings and events services are thriving. The shop typically commits to just one wedding per month, choosing to give complete focus to each couple. Gilliland says she loves the chance to experiment with color for business accounts and to create special events that reflect the tastes of brides and grooms.

The day-to-day at the shop remains Gilliland’s biggest joy, though, and takes up the lion’s share of her time. She’s gotten to know her many regulars and loves it when people discover Poppies for the first time.

“With the chaos and disconnectedness of the world, I feel like people are more invested in doing thoughtful things,” Gilliland says. “Those thoughtful touches do matter. When people come in and might be a bit overwhelmed, we can help personalize a bouquet for the recipient and the purpose of the gift. You can’t get that with mail order where you just tick a box and press ‘send.’”

In response to customer requests, Gilliland is now offering four-week Introduction to Floral Design courses. Classes are limited to just six students, who learn hands-on skills — including base arrangements, hand-tied bouquets and flower care. These types of courses are not readily accessible in the Phoenix area, so Poppies will offer the series a few times per year.

“We’ve entertained the idea of having other locations, but I’m a wife and a mom first and I don’t want to lose any time pouring into what I have here at Norterra,” Gilliland adds. “I’m rolling with it and working hard on whatever comes my way.”

Whatever the future brings, Gilliland’s flower shop dreams have come true at Poppies — much to the delight of local flower lovers.

Poppies Flower Shop

2450 W. Happy Valley Road # 1147, Phoenix 480-649-7100

poppiesflowershop.com

Prior to opening Poppies, Natalie Gilliland began taking floral design classes, building on her instinctive bent for art and creativity. She fell in love with the process and her instructor told her she was a natural.

The day-to-day at Natalie Gilliland’s flower shop remains her biggest joy and takes up the lion’s share of her time. She’s gotten to know her many regulars and loves it when people discover Poppies for the first time.

Healthier Teriyaki Beef Bowls

My mom used to make teriyaki beef bowls for us growing up. They were always one of my favorite dinners. This recipe is great because it has no refined sugar, is completely gluten-free, and has less sodium.

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

2 filet mignon (or other beef of your choice)

1 cup broccoli (or other vegetables of your choice)

1 cup coconut aminos

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

1 tablespoon dark balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1-1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 cup water

Cooked rice

Directions:

Place beef in freezer for 10–20 minutes, making it easier to slice.

In a small saucepan, combine the coconut aminos, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, ginger and garlic powder. Whisk until well-combined and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Combine cornstarch and water in a small measuring cup.

When the sauce mixture just begins to boil, reduce to a simmer and whisk in the cornstarch and water mixture. Let lightly boil until thickened, stirring constantly.

Thinly slice beef into small strips. Heat olive oil in a skillet over mediumhigh heat. Add beef strips and cook until browned. Add vegetables and cook for 4 more minutes.

Add 2 tablespoons of the sauce to the meat and vegetables and allow to caramelize until desired doneness is achieved.

Serve over rice, pouring more of the sauce on the top.

Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly kyndraclaire.com