PART 5--SCOTTSDALE IN BLOOM AND OTHER STUFF....MAY 08 2012...

The other stuff first.  Got my corn and first planting of green beans in the garden yesterday.  Started final prepping of flower beds for mulch. Ran the push-mower around the edge of all the flower beds.  Now....waiting for the mulch delivery. And the fun will begin.......


Now back to the Arizona saga.

On this day we drove to Scottsdale to look for the three castles supposedly there.

While looking for said castles, we saw a lot of Scottsdale you don't normally drive through, and, oh my!, the blooming was incredible.

We found all three castles.  Two were really neat, completely different.  The third was in pretty much dis-aray.  Needed a lot of work. 

First we found Copenhaver Castle, built on the side of Camelback Mountain by a Dr. Mort Copenhaver in the mid 1970's.  Some time back Dr. Copenhaver filed for bankruptcy, and the castle is on the auction block. 

If you want a castle on a mountain in Arizona, with a view, check out when the auction will take place.

Secondly was Tovrea Castle, also known as the Wedding Cake Castle.  I don't know what they use as guidelines for structures becoming castles, but this was certainly far and away --- different? --- or something.

This castle is at Carraro Heights outside of Phoenix.  I learned more history about this castle and will share some of it with you.

In 1928 an Italian immigrant, Alessio Carraro, sold his San Francisco metal business and moved to Arizona searching for his American dream.  He bought 277 acres of desert east of Phoenix city limits.  He built his castle on a small rise and named it Carraro Heights. 

In 1930 the cactus gardens were developed. 

In late 1930 adjoining property was purchased to raise sheep and cattle pens to supply a nearby meat packing plant. 

Discouraged Carraro sold the castle and surrounding land to Della Tovrea in 1931.  Della's husband passed away shortly after,
in 1932, but Della Retained the castle as her Phoenix residence.

Upon her death in 1969 the Tovrea Family Trust assumed control of the property.  The property remained unused with little upkeep until in 1993 the city of Phoenix purchased the castle and 7-1/2 acres immediately surrounding the building.  In 2003 the city purchased an additional 36 acres and is preserving it for future enjoyment and use.

Tomorrow I'll share the story of the Mystery Castle.  Enjoy the rain, just remember, sunshine will follow, and God Bless.