Solender/Hall announced that it has completed a lease for Perky Poodle Grooming & Boutique’s new 2,100 square foot location at 4560 West Mockingbird Lane, Suite 126, Dallas, at the Shops at Mockingbird. Terms of the 10-year deal were not disclosed. After 38 years at 2706 Oak Lawn, Perky Poodle’s building was sold to Long Term Realty Capital, L.L.C./Barry E. Hancock. Jack Gosnell represented the buyer.

A Dallas institution, Perky Poodle has been in business for more than 51 years providing high quality pet grooming. “Perky Poodle’s new location is excellent for its customers as it’s centrally located near the Park Cities and Love Field, offers plenty of parking and easy access for owners and pets, and complements the tenants at the Shops at Mockingbird,” said Eliza Solender of Solender/Hall.

“Our business is both high touch and now high tech,” said Michael Pugh, Perky Poodle’s owner and operator. “From baths to show cuts, our groomers and bathers have close to a century of combined experience for grooming and bathing dogs and cats of all breeds. We all love dogs, and we think it’s a fantastic location as do many of our customers.”

The new facility opened on April 1, 2014. Hub City Productions performed the finish-out of the interior of the new facility. Perky Poodle is open Monday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Tuesday-Friday from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Perky Poodle has seen three owners in its half century of business. Michael Pugh bought the boutique in 2001. He is an ex-Missouri State Trooper and former owner of Prestige Furniture, a chain of 38 stores that operated throughout Texas. After he retired from the furniture business, he didn’t stay retired long before buying Perky Poodle since he used to take his dogs there. He and his wife own Perky IV, a rescue Poodle named Pebbles, and a rescue Schauzer named Sam.

About Solender/Hall:

Since 1991, Solender/Hall has been specializing in the representation of small and medium sized companies and nonprofit organizations in the North Texas area. Find out more at www.solenderhall.com or by calling 214.265.8200.

About Perky Poodle:

From a simple bath to a complicated show cut, Perky Poodle’s master groomers can do it all. Perky Poodle Grooming has been in business for 51 years and its groomers have more than 90 years of combined grooming experience. Perky Poodle was voted Best in Dallas by D Magazine and for six years by the Texas Triangle. Find out more at www.perkypoodle.com or by calling 214.526.3243.

The Dallas Arboretum will host Artscape, a juried fine art and fine craft show on April 26 and 27, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Artscape will feature 75 national and local artists and their nature-inspired artwork on display and for sale including paintings, sculpture, 2-D and 3-D mixed media pieces, photography and more. On both days, artists from the Creative Arts Center of Dallas will demonstrate a variety of art mediums, while acoustic music fills the garden with sounds of spring.

One of the featured artists will be Rowlett resident Diane Antheunisse, who is an accomplished “reverse painter.”  Reverse painting is a technique in which Antheunisse applies liquid mixtures of oil paint to sheets of clear acrylic, working in reverse order. After time, layering and unusual textures emerge making each of her brightly colored and nature-inspired pieces unique. Antheunisse will showcase her works in Booth #26.

“Artscape will transform the Arboretum into a unique gallery of artistic creations, set amidst an explosion of spring color that is nature's own canvas,” said Larry Waisanen, Artscape committee chair.  “In the splendor of our gardens, Artscape offers our guests the opportunity to both view and acquire beautiful works of art."

A members-only preview will take place on April 25 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Members will have a chance to preview and shop at a sneak peek, which includes music and beverages for purchase, before Artscape opens to the public on Saturday, April 26. To attend, members will show their membership cards at the ticket booth for complimentary admission.

Also featured at Artscape are local artists Kathleen Martin of Terrell (Booth #29) and Caroline Crawford of Garland (Booth #60).

About the Dallas Arboretum

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218.  The Dallas Arboretum is also the home of the internationally acclaimed Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. The Arboretum is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. General admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for children 3-12 and free for Arboretum members and children two and under.  There is an additional cost of $3 per person for entrance into the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. On-site parking is $10.  The Dallas Morning News is the principal partner of the Dallas Arboretum.  The Arboretum is supported, in part, by funds from the Dallas Park and Recreation Department.  WFAA is an official media sponsor for the Dallas Arboretum.  For more information on the Dallas Arboretum, visit www.dallasarboretum.org. 

When North Dallas’ Ila Post began volunteering as a docent in the DeGolyer House in 1981, the scene was much different than it is now. “The grounds had been neglected and were in need of everything,” she said. “We couldn’t see White Rock Lake from our grounds in those early years. There was bamboo everywhere. The Arboretum didn’t start from the ground up–it started ‘below the ground’ because they had to dig up all that original bamboo. When they cleared undergrowth and trimmed the trees behind the DeGolyer House, I was amazed.”

“It has been wonderful to see it all evolve,” she added.

Year after year, the Arboretum keeps getting more beautiful in Post’s eyes. And after nearly 35 years as a volunteer, she is continually in awe of the natural beauty it offers visitors and volunteers alike. “The transformation the Arboretum has made since those early years is remarkable,” she said. “Now it’s an internationally recognized space, and that makes us all feel so proud.”

And the evolution of Dallas Blooms has been especially spectacular to watch, said Post, who has been a volunteer ever since the festival began 30 years ago. “One of my favorite memories of Dallas Blooms was the peacock where the tail was displayed in colorful plants.” And this year, in honor of the festival’s 30^th anniversary, the peacock topiary complete with its colorful tail will reappear after a 10-year hiatus.

Additionally, Post commented on the creative minds behind all of the exhibits which seem to get more imaginative each year. “I love how the grounds and all of the gardens have evolved,” she said. “And the new ideas implemented–little houses, various themes–they are truly spectacular and have made the gardens something special.”

So what’s her favorite exhibit? “I especially enjoyed the months that the Chihuly Glass was displayed on the grounds,” she said.” Those were such exciting times. We had many, many more people visit and everyone was delighted with the display.  Even when it was raining, extremely hot or stormy, they came in droves.”

Post also added that she has enjoyed seeing all of the brides come through over the years of Dallas Blooms. “Red Maple Rill has been a special place for so many people,” she said. “I like to walk on the grounds and see the faces and hear the comments made by guests as they go through the beautiful gardens. One time I was able to visit with the granddaughter of the DeGolyer’s, who had come for a visit from Canada. I’ve also been able to visit with the niece of the man that designed the ceiling in the DeGolyer House.”

The DeGolyer Estate holds a special place in Post’s heart. “In the old days, there wasn’t money for things like there is today, so we [the docent] did a lot of the upkeep ourselves,” Post said. “For instance, it was one man’s job to keep the spider webs off of the DeGolyer House, and we all [the docents] polished the silver.”

These activities are one reason why the Arboretum’s volunteers are such a close-knit group. “One of my favorite benefits of volunteering here has been the friends I have made over the years,” Post said. “The docents have a strong organization and a real feeling of working together. The Arboretum is a great place to volunteer.”

“I would love to see Dallas Blooms and the Arboretum as a whole keep evolving, though I love what they do with it every year,” she said. “It has meant a lot to me to be a part of it every year.”

About Dallas Blooms:

2014 marks the 30^th anniversary of the Dallas Arboretum’s major floral festival Dallas Blooms with the theme “Birds in Paradise.” Dallas Blooms begins on February 22, 2014, and runs through April 20, 2014. The garden explodes with color as more than 500,000 spring-blossoming bulbs burst, and two beloved 13-foot tall peacock topiaries return to spread their colorful petal tails in the Jonsson Color Garden. As part of Dallas Blooms, the Dallas Arboretum also launches its Bird House Exhibit, four life-size playhouses designed by local architects to complement this year’s theme, Birds in Paradise. These architectural interpretations of bird houses are located in the Lakeside Exhibit Area. Children can learn all about birds as they play in the bird houses. Bank of America is the presenting sponsor of Dallas Blooms, with Park Place Dealerships, Celebrity Cruises, Kimberly-Clark, C.C. Young and Tom Thumb as supporting sponsors.

About the Dallas Arboretum:

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218.  The Dallas Arboretum is also the home of the internationally acclaimed Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. The Arboretum is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. General admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for children 3-12 and free for Arboretum members and children two and under.  There is an additional cost of $3 per person for entrance into the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. On-site parking is $10.  The Dallas Morning News is the principal partner of the Dallas Arboretum.  The Arboretum is supported, in part, by funds from the Dallas Park and Recreation Department.  WFAA is an official media sponsor for the Dallas Arboretum.   More information can be found at www.dallasarboretum.org.

Scott Raybourn, a Class Seven student at Providence Christian School, has qualified for the National Geographic Bee-State Level that will be held at the Pat May Center in Bedford (1849 Central Drive, Bedford 76022) on Friday, April 4 at 9 a.m. Winning the School’s Geography Bee competition in January, Raybourn is one of the top 100 students in Texas who qualified for this competition.

One winner from each state will advance to the national competition, which will be held in May at the National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C.

“We are proud of Scott and his accomplishment and know he will represent Providence well at this state competition,” said Dr. Tony Jeffrey, Providence headmaster.

About Providence Christian School of Texas:

Since 1989, Providence Christian School of Texas has provided academically able students from preschool to 8^th grade with a challenging educational experience designed to help them know, love, and practice that which is true, good, and excellent, and to prepare them to live purposefully and intelligently in the service of God and man. Providence’s core values are faith, family, intellect, counterculturalism, and stewardship. More information about the School can be found by calling 214-302-2800 or by visiting www.pcstx.org.

To celebrate the highly acclaimed and new Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden, the Dallas Arboretum hosts Art of Nature in partnership with SMU Meadows School of the Arts on Sunday, April 6, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., in Rosine Hall. This art competition and exhibition is for 3^rd through 12^th grade students to display their nature-inspired artwork for Arboretum guests to see and admire the talent of many students in the community.

For students wanting to enter the competition, artwork submissions will be accepted on March 30, 31, and April 1 in Rosine Hall and must be accompanied by a parental permission form, Visit http://dallasarboretum.org/yearofCG for complete details. SMU Meadows School will provide a scholarship to its Summer Art Program for Best of Show winner to a high school student or a half-day private lesson to a middle school student.

This event is part of the year-long celebration entitled “The Year of the Children’s Garden, “ which includes custom events and programs to highlight the unique educational offerings of this “museum without walls.” Admission is free with paid entrance to the Dallas Arboretum.

Art of Nature Chairwoman Kate Juett said, “This competition will be an excellent experience for students, particularly high school students who are building their portfolios and resumes for college applications. It’s also a fun opportunity for children to exercise their creativity in making art inspired by nature—whether they receive their inspiration from a vine growing on their back fence or a tree or flower in one of the exquisite gardens at the Arboretum.”

One such school participating in the competition is W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy, a DISD middle school based in North Oak Cliff with about 1,500 students total. Of the 1,500, 500 are Academy students.

JoAnna Henry, a visual arts teacher at Greiner, said, “As a native Dallasite, I’ve always loved the Dallas Arboretum and the joy and beauty that institution brings to our city. I visited the Children’s Garden for the teacher preview, heard about the Art of Nature Exhibit, and knew it would be valuable for my students to create beauty in a work of art.” Her 8^th grade students are creating an embossing on metal work with encaustic (melted wax painting).

The W. E. Greiner Arts Academy is designed to attract students from all over the district who have a special interest and talent in the arts. While in 5^th grade, students in classes audition to enter the three-year program starting at 6^th grade. Each grade level has a rigorous year-long study of art, with options for advancing to a two-hour block in the eighth grade. Classes are designed to promote students to Booker T. Washington, the Arts Magnet High School, should they choose to apply there.

Another school participating is St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in East Dallas. Two students have both chosen to do watercolor interpretations of some favorite area of theirs at the Dallas Arboretum. Cindy Lewin of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, said, “The visual arts are a big part the school experience. Each grade level has a different curriculum that incorporates painting, drawing, weaving, metal work, ceramics, and sculpture. I try to also integrate some type of cultural studies along with a science, math, political, or historical aspect to all lessons.”

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School is home to 877 students, grades PK3 through 8^th grade. It is the largest Catholic PK-8th grade school in the state of Texas. In September 2012, the U.S. Department of Education recognized St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

Kaki Hopkins, chair of The Year of the Children’s Garden, said, “This celebration of the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden’s inaugural year provides exciting programs that are presented by respected professionals in the field of nature and chaired by exceptional community leaders. Chair Kate Juett has worked hard to make sure this art competition is top notch, so we hope many will come to see the nature-inspired artwork that these students have created.” More events can be found at http://www.dallasarboretum.org/yearofcg.

About the Dallas Arboretum and the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden:

Officially debuted by the Dallas Arboretum in September 2013, the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden is a sprawling 8-acre interactive garden designed specifically to address state and national science standards in life and earth sciences for preschool to middle school students. Built to encourage youth interest in science and nature, the garden’s interactive exhibits, cutting-edge technology and indoor/outdoor learning labs have earned rave reviews from parents and leading educational experts.  

Located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake, the Dallas Arboretum is among the leading display gardens in the country, set among 66 acres at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas, 75218. The internationally acclaimed Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden is an 8-acre interactive garden designed specifically to address state and national education standards in life, earth and environmental science. Children and adults learn about life and earth science in the 17 galleries that teach the areas in the K-6 grade curriculum standards that can best be taught outdoors. These include photosynthesis, pollination, the solar system, erosion, energy and more. For more information, call 214.515.6500 or visit the Arboretum’s website at dallasarboretum.org.