Water You Lookin’ At?

Water gardening in the desert?

It might seem like a strange idea, but once you consider all the benefits of having a backyard pond — everything from the relaxing sound to the ability to conserve water — it makes a lot of sense.

I visited many of the homes on the annual Tucson Watergardeners Pond Tour last fall and captured some images to get you started on your own design. Established more than a decade ago, the Tucson Watergardeners have some 190 members, and they’re always happy to share tips and suggestions and to help you get your feet wet in this unique form of landscaping.

What could be better than sitting on the patio on a cool September night, enjoying the sound of your trickling waterscape, and sipping a glass of wine? Many folks are discovering that it pays to protect their precious investment by installing a wine cellar in their home. Whether you have a whole room to fill, or just a tiny closet, there’s a design that will work for you. You can see some samples starting on page 32.

You may want to pair some of that fine wine with food of an equal caliber, and that’s part of the appeal of the Opera Feasts Series, an annual series of fundraisers for Arizona Opera. We spotlight last year’s “Feast at the Kasbah” to whet your appetite for the upcoming season.

While we’re toasting the beginning of fall events, we also raise our glasses to the annual Homes of the Year, presented by the Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Elsewhere in this issue, read about Copenhagen, a Pros Who Know now celebrating their 40th anniversary, and Sun Lighting, which has been keeping Tucsonans out of the dark for almost two decades.

Lastly, our regional artisan this month — Susan Nowell — has found a way to take her work beyond the canvas, developing a technique that really rocks!