OUTSIDE SPACES
The outdoors, of course, are the best place to savor fully the magnificent beauty of Red Rock Country--not just the stunning vistas but the pungent fragrance of native vegetation as well as the sounds of nature and wildlife--truly a multisensory experience. And all around Talahogan are quiet spaces for doing so.
Patio
Talahogan's rustic patio is one of the most peaceful spaces on the hilltop with wide open views of Red Rock Country's western and northern horizons. In the shape of a Navajo hogan, the spacious eight-sided patio is built around two large juniper trees, divided into sections by weathered railroad ties, and covered with crushed granite. The patio features a large wooden table (octagonal, of course!), a three-burner gas grill with nearby tree table for preparation/serving as well as an outdoor fireplace and roomy tree bench. Off to the side, the five-person Sundance Caprio spa offers not only sweeping views of the red rocks but of the heavens as well, ideal for star gazing! As an International Dark Sky Community, Sedona offers a rich night sky, one where on cloudless nights the Milky Way is not just visible but cuts a wide and naturally bright swath across the sky. Surrounding the patio are large landscaped beds filled with colorful perennials, wild flowers and cacti, which blend seamlessly with the natural pinyon-juniper woodland beyond. To the fragrance of the vegetation, the nearby creek and pond provide the restful sound of flowing water.
Deck
Framing a stunning, expansive view of Sedona's eastern and southern horizons, the large deck provides a dramatic entrance to Talahogan. Made of local tumbled stone and barnwood, the space harmonizes with, and draws the eye to, the magnificent red rock buttes and mountains beyond. The stonework is unique, a blend inspired by the Desert View Watchtower--Mary Colter's architectural masterpiece at the Grand Canyon--and an old Spanish-era barn in New Mexico. To honor the region's Native American culture, replicas of Hopi and Puebloan artwork found on the Watchtower are embedded in the stonework. Lining the garden wall in front of the deck are a variety of sages and yarrow that soften the stone and provide color and fragrance.
Bedroom Terrace
The small terrace off the Boynton Canyon bedroom offers a private, peaceful space to enjoy the back pond, colorful beds and the wildlife they both attract...as well as early morning hot air balloons!--all against the dramatic 2000 ft uplift of the Mogollon Rim and Colorado Plateau to the north and west. Sheltered by the house from the afternoon sun and offering the cooling sound of running water, the terrace offers an inviting place on a summer afternoon.
Bunkhouse Terrace
The sunsets from this hilltop can be spectacular--not just for their brilliant range of colors but also for the imposing rock formations they backlight. From Talahogan, the sun sets behind or near the Cockscomb, the large butte due west of the property. One of the best places to enjoy these evening spectacles in the peacefulness of the open countryside is the terrace on the back side of the Bunkhouse.