My sister recently visited from out of state, and while she was here, we went to the Desert Botanical Gardens with my dad, one of his favorite places. It was a great time to visit the gardens as the weather was perfect, and many of the cacti were in bloom. I had forgotten what an interesting and beautiful place it is. There is so much to see at the Gardens that I can only give you the tip of the ice berg or maybe I should say the needle on the cactus as to what is there so you will just have to go see it for yourself. But here is a glimpse of what you might encounter.
As you enter you pass by glass sculptures by Chihuly. Every so often his colorful artwork is displayed throughout the garden which just enhances your experience there.
One of the things that struck me immediately is all of the different textures that are represented.
You really have to watch where you are going if you are in the desert!
Fortunately, there are level paths all the way through the gardens.
The Palo Verde trees (our state tree) were in bloom all over the park. They added a lot of color to our walk.
Not only did the Palo Verde trees add color, the blooming cacti were stunning!
Look at the perfect ring of flowers on this cactus. So fascinating.
I love these yellow and orange flowers.
The flowers on the Ocotillo cactus remind me of fire crackers.
So many shapes and colors around every corner.
There are also some really strange types of cactus that I never knew about, and wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley. This is a snake cactus!:( The name fits.
If you get tired, there are plenty of places to sit down.
We got thirsty about halfway through our time there and found a little cafe that had drinks and snacks. They even had macaroni and cheese. That is my kind of cafe.
The best part about our visit to the cafe, was while we were sitting at the tables taking a break, we saw so many little critters.
There were quail, squirrels, and even a Cactus Wren which is our state bird. I think they were hoping for some macaroni and cheese.
After our brief break, we continued on some trails we hadn’t been to yet. Seeing the giant saguaros was such a treat.
I think I had Easter on my brain as everything looked like a bunny to me.
The nearby mountains made a beautiful backdrop for the plants.
And the people (my dad and sister)!
There are different sections throughout the gardens, one of them being a section for plants that thrive in the shade. It contained a water feature and pond and was about 10 degrees cooler in that area.
The desert is full of some strange and wonderful things.
Did you know you can make wine out of the fruit of the Prickly Pear cactus? My husband tried it. It is definitely an acquired taste!
There is so much more you can see at the Desert Botanical Gardens. I highly recommend it as one of the premier things to do if you are visiting the Phoenix area or just want to explore the city you live in. It would be a great thing to do with company from out of town (as long as it’s not summer) or to take your mom to for Mother’s Day. They also have a gorgeous luminary display at night during the Christmas season. Whenever you go, you will come away with a greater appreciation for the diversity and beauty of the desert. Check out the link below to their website for lots more details about all they have to offer.
1201 N Galvin Pkwy
Phoenix, AZ 85008
(480) 941-1225
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Cook AZ I Do 
What a treat to be with you in this beautiful place!! I highly recommend it too!! 🌵
Thanks for your comment, Lori! It was such a great day. I really enjoyed being with you. Hope you have a wonderful week!
That was very interesting – thanks. In our local park there is a Winter gardens area all set in massive glass houses. One of these is dedicated to cactuses. It is a wonderful area with a very different atmosphere. It must be great to see a whole botanic gardens filled with cactuses, especially in flower.
Thanks so much for your comment, Annette! It is such an interesting place. My few pictures cannot do justice to it. How wonderful that you can experience a cactus garden where you live. I really appreciate you stopping by!
Thanks for sharing about the Botanical Gardens–beautiful photos!
Thank you, Nancy! It is such a great place, I just had to. I appreciate you stopping by!
I live in Arizona too. I love the Desert Botanical Gardens! Especially during Las Noches de las Luminarias in November and December! You’ve captured the beauty of the place perfectly with your lovely photos. 🙂
It is really nice to meet you, Sandra! Aren’t the Gardens, great?! I love the luminarias, too. We did that once for my dad’s birthday a while back, and I would like to do it again sometime. Thank you for your kind comment. It is great to know another blogger from Arizona!
I haven’t been to Arizona since I was a wee child, but your post has made me want to revisit this state. I can’t believe the colours and variety of vegetation found in the desert! These gardens are gorgeous. It looks like they’ve done an excellent job showcasing the beauty of what many people believe is a barren area.
Thanks for sharing this!
I hope you can travel to Arizona sometime again, Ruth. The Gardens do such a great job showing the variety of plants in the desert. I’m always amazed at the colors of the blooming cacti and the textures were fascinating to me. The desert can be an acquired taste, but since I’ve lived here all my life, I have come to appreciate it, even love it. Be sure to let me know if you plan a trip here. Thanks for your comment!
I loved experiencing the beauty of spring in the Valley through your photos of the Botanical Gardens, Shari! I thought the Chihuly was an actual plant! Wow! I used to love looking at all of the Palo Verde trees in bloom all over the place . . . so pretty! Love the rock bench and the water feature, I’d love to have those in my own yard! I remember seeing all of this incredible desert beauty when on my walks. I think it’s time for me to get a Phoenix-fix!
I think you need a Phoenix-fix, too, Roz!:) Be sure to let me know if you plan a trip. I love the Palo Verde trees, too! They are blooming everywhere right now, and just add so much color to the valley. It sure doesn’t compare to the beauty of your state, but I’ll take what I can get. I always enjoy seeing your photos of the plants in your area. Thanks so much for your comment!
Awe, you’re so sweet Shari. Truthfully I think that both AZ and SC have their unique types of beauty. We’re not fond of winter here, but winter in AZ was amazing! I love spring in both states, but summer in both AZ and SC is another story as you well know. I miss having a swimming pool and all of the community pools that are in AZ. I guess SC folks are more used to going to the gazillions of lakes here or the beach so close by. But I still miss those clean and clear swimming pools!!!! Until I ever get one again (ha ha), I’ll beat the heat and humidity here inside the house! 🙂
xo
The pools are really nice here. We had one growing up, and I would like to have one again someday. I have to convince my husband first, though!:) I didn’t realize summer in SC was difficult. Thankfully I don’t really mind the heat very much. Probably because I grew up here. I’m so glad you are enjoying your spring, Roz! We are not planting a garden this year, so I will be longingly looking at the pictures of yours!
Hi Shari, I was just there last Friday with family from out of town, it is such a nice place to show off our state.
Hi Cheri, You are so right! It is the perfect place to take out of town guests. It is great for residents of Arizona, too. My dad has a membership which allows him to go anytime for free, once you pay the membership fee. He is a photographer and goes a lot to take pictures of plants at different times of the year. I’m so thankful we have something like this in the valley. Thanks for your comment!
Thanks for this wonderful post, I’ve just had an amazing virtual trip to the garden! 🙂
You are very welcome, Mila. I think the desert is an acquired taste, but I have come to love the uniqueness of it and the open views as well as the color at certain times of the year. I hope you enjoyed your trip!:)