Shopping in Surprise

When Les Blake founded his nursery in Phoenix's Moon Valley neighborhood, he adopted an approach that was unconventional at the time: after selling a tree or shrub, his staffers would also deliver and plant it at no extra charge. Today, Moon Valley Nursery Las Vegas's staffers hold to that mission—they plant any item in their collection, including more than 24 international types of evergreens, 24 species of palm trees, and 20 species of colorful desert trees. Staffers also oversee ranks of citrus trees such as mandarin, lemon, and grapefruit, and shrubs that make lawns explode in yellows, purples, and reds. Free landscaping consultations help customers launch front-yard makeovers, along with lawn pottery and fountains ranging from neoclassical to modern. Customers can feed new plantings with fertilizers such as house-blend Moon Juice, which uses organic enzymes and amino acids to stimulate the growth of plant cells while ensuring they never develop human emotions.

In 1975, Jay Kogan's parents opened up a store that was literally a hall of frames—just a small store stacked with thousands of frames. At the time, they had no idea that that tiny corridor would expand to 12 locations throughout the greater Phoenix area, all still run by the Kogan family. Today, their shops have more than 4,500 custom frame options along with mats of all colors and textures, as well as seven glazing choices and expert assembly. They can answer framing questions and frame everything from documents and artwork to posters and small 3-D objects such as sports memorabilia and very still grandmothers.

When they custom-produce frames, the family cuts their mats exactly, miters frame corners precisely, and installs flawless glass. Or, since the stores' walls are lined with ready-made frames, customers can walk in and find what they're looking for quickly. Since installing framed art is an art unto itself, they also offer hanging services with an eye for placement and ability to install in difficult spaces.

Rated the top nursery for the last 10 years by AZ Business magazine, Moon Valley Nurseries complements its extensive inventory of plants and trees with services such as delivery, installation, and tips for care. The knowledgeable staff can help customers navigate the green aisles of trees and plants, which encompass such Plant Kingdom constituents as Palm Trees, Flowering Trees, Shrubs, and, during the holiday season, Christmas Trees. They also grow their own inventory so they can maintain direct control over the health and well being of their plants, whether treating them with the correct combination of fertilizers or pressuring admittance boards to make sure each seed gets into the best of nursery schools.

At Wacky Zack's Magic, maestros school budding illusionists in the elements of deception. They provide simple step-by-step instruction as they demonstrate how to extract magic from everyday items such as rubber bands and envelopes. The emporium also sells magic accessories, pranks, and balloons to twist into fantastical shapes or functional hamster pillows.

Stone Creek Furniture

Combining the ancient art of carpentry with efficient contemporary tools and designs, Stone Creek Furniture's skilled craftspeople construct custom-designed cabinetry, home furnishings, and office equipment out of sturdy, top-quality hardwoods. Regal beds, towering entertainment centers, and armoires swathed in more than 25 finish colors command attention at display stations scattered throughout four showrooms.

The knowledgeable woodsmiths can also tailor custom creations according to clients’ specific tastes, adorning hutches with moldings and hammering out personalized dressers to fit specific wall dimensions or cardigans made out of plate mail. Chic built-in embellishments revivify rooms with styles ranging from contemporary to classic, and full-scale kitchen and bathroom remodeling can transform staid spaces into fresh, functional workspaces.

A stark contrast to the surrounding arid scenery, Elgin Nursery and Tree Farm’s lush 35-acre grounds yield verdant trees and plants sure to thrive under the searing desert sun. Since 1986, the expansive gardening center has supplied metro-area green thumbs with native, desert-adapted, Mediterranean, and tropical plants, and trees that sprout legal tender despite parents' contradictory opinions. Its staff is comprised of a group of knowledgeable horticulturalists, some of whom are bilingual, as well as two ISA Certified Arborists, who share their expertise on the proper diagnoses for sick plants, solutions for irrigation issues, and other planting advice, The center's packets of seeds and all manners of gardening tools, planters, and charming yard art also vie for the attention and lasting affection of strolling visitors.

Far more than a purveyor of organic matter, Elgin Nursery and Tree Farm also expands its patron’s grey matter with free gardening workshops on topics such as vegetable gardening, pruning, and landscape irrigation. They also offer delivery and planting services in the Phoenix-metro area for an additional fee. The neighborhood arbor hub supports seniors, military members, and frequent visitors with additional discounts, in addition to guaranteeing all plants for one-year after the date of purchase.