Whether you have acres to landscape, or just a small patio, a purposeful and comprehensive design can optimize the space you have and make it a pleasure for you to entertain and enjoy quiet time outside. When the weather is more favorable to being outside in the winter and spring, you can extend your home by giving yourself more entertaining …
Tips for Cooling Down Your Backyard
The easiest way to cool off your backyard is to create some shade from the sun. However, keeping your yard cooler when you live in the southwest, in the summer heat, is a whole new challenge. Daytime highs commonly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit and the lows at night barely sink below 90. When temperatures are this high for days on end, …
New to Arizona? 7 Tips to Stay Cool
Welcome to Arizona, neighbor! For many Arizona newcomers, our mild winters and unstoppable sunshine are major draws to the area, but few come prepared for the extremes of our summer heat. Never fear! Learning to adjust to central Arizona’s hot summers may seem like a steep learning curve, but small adaptations to your home and lifestyle can make a huge …
How to Keep Your Kids Safe from the Sun
Too much sun can be a problem for anyone but sun exposure can especially be a risk for young children. Children have sensitive skin and bad sunburns that occur early in life contribute to an increased risk of skin cancer in adulthood. Protecting your kids from the sun isn’t just something to remember at the beach or pool – especially …
7 Great Weekend Trips
While for most of the country, winter is an excuse to hibernate, those of us lucky enough to live in Arizona have access to stunning nature and culture all season long. The rich natural wonder of our state and the warm desert climate make winter weekend trips a must! Here are some of our picks for the best spots to …
Tips for Water Conservation
Part of living well in the desert is using our natural resources wisely. Here in the Sonoran Desert, we can’t forget that water is our most precious resource. Smart water management is part of what makes living well in an arid environment possible. Taps Off Smart water use in the home is a key component to developing good water conservation …
Native Plants that Attract Birds
If you have CC Sunscreens on your Arizona home, you know what it feels like to live in comfort even when summer temperatures turn up the heat. Finding stylish and cooling shade isn’t just a human desire, our desert fauna has adapted itself to find nature’s sunscreens…and you can help. Planting trees, shrubs, cacti and flowers that wildlife like birds …
5 Ways to Keep Your Patio Cool This Summer
Summer is starting to heat up in Central Arizona, but that doesn’t mean you have to lock yourself inside with the AC blasting. If you set up your patio right, summer can still be a great time for outdoor fun and entertaining. Go for A Sunscreen A key component to outdoor fun in Arizona heat is access to shade. At …
Preparing Your Desert Home for the Summer
The start of summer heat means that the annual migration of Phoenix Snowbirds is already underway. Our city’s intense climate is a relief to many in the winter, but a trial in the summertime. If you are packing up your house and heading north for the season, here are some things to consider. Power Down You don’t want your home …
Gardening in Arizona
With spring in Arizona, the desert comes to life, which makes it a great time to get out and garden. During the Spring, the days are getting warmer, but the full heat of summer sun is still in the future. Planting in your garden now is a good way to create some cooling shade in the months to come. Desert …