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Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix
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Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix

Desert Botanical Garden tips and photos posted by real travelers and Phoenix locals.

1201 North Galvin Parkway
• 40 Photos
• 22 Reviews

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Desert Botanical Garden: Unique Botanical Garden in Desert
  • Tip Rating:
  • jumpingnorman
  • Updated By jumpingnorman on January 24, 2009
  • Phoenix Page by jumpingnorman
  • Giant Saguaro with my mom and nephew, Arizona - Phoenix
    Giant Saguaro with my mom
    and nephew, Arizona
    by jumpingnorman,
    1 more photos
    Opened in 1939, this 50-acre oasis is home to 139 rare, threatened, and endangered plant species from around the world. Just remember to bring your hat (or umbrella) and suntan lotion as you explore the amazing collection. There was a plant called the Crown of Thorns and said to be the one used on Jesus (I hope not coz it looked too painful). Then, you'd be surprised how much cacti there are!!! The trails are very nice to follow and descriptions of the desert foliage are very intersting. Around the park (and specially as you are going to it) you will notice very odd-looking hills, red-brown little mountains with interesting crevices characteristic of the Phoenix geographic milieu.

    Open seven days a week, year round except for July 4,
    Thanksgiving Day and December 25.

    Garden Seasonal Hours:
    October - April / 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
    May - September / 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
    During evening hours certain trails are closed.

    Call 480-941-1225 for more information.

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  • Phone: 480-941-1225
  • Directions: Just off of McDowell Road, a major rode linking Phoenix and Scottsdale.
  • Website: http://www.dbg.org
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

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    Desert Botanical Garden: Desert Botanical Garden
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  • By dshinkle on September 3, 2004
  • Phoenix Page by dshinkle
  • Desert Botanical Garden - Phoenix
    Desert Botanical Garden
    by dshinkle
    Although you might think the desert is just cactus, sand, and sagebrush, you might be surprised to know that after it rains the desert comes to life with colorful flowers and lots of beautiful plants.

    At the Desert Botanical Garden they collect together over 20,000 desert plants including thousands of species of cactus. The garden really shines in the spring when all the plants are in bloom. There are walking trails and exhibits to educate you on the various plants.

    The highlight is the butterfly pavilion, which is open from March to May. What kid wouldn't love to be surrounded by butterflies?

    Make a day of it. Be sure to visit the nearby Zoo, Papago Park, and have lunch on Mill Ave in Tempe during your visit.

    http://www.azcentral.com/travel/arizona/attractions/articles/dbgarden.html

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  • Phone: (480) 941-1225
  • Website: http://www.dbg.org/
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Desert Botanical Garden: Learn Bird Watching in Phoenix!
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  • jumpingnorman
  • By jumpingnorman on April 9, 2009
  • Phoenix Page by jumpingnorman
  • Phoenix has the Maricopa Audubon Society which helps amateurs in learning the art of birdwatching!

    You just have to get a pair of binoculars and head off to their FREE "seasonal" meetings held at the Desert Botanical Gradens.

    These gardens showcase the wonderful vegetation and cacti seen in the Sonoran desert. After or before birdwatching, you will enjoy walking around this awesome and unique park!

    The meetings are held every First Tuesday of each month at 730PM (september thru April)

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  • Directions: Just off of McDowell Road, a major rode linking Phoenix and Scottsdale.
  • Website: http://www.maricopaaudubon.org
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    Desert Botanical Garden: Desert Botanical Garden
  • Tip Rating:
  • Hanau93
  • By Hanau93 on February 25, 2004
  • Phoenix Page by Hanau93
  • Desert Flowers in Bloom - Phoenix
    Desert Flowers in Bloom
    by Hanau93
    A must see. A good way to experience the plants of the desert and the proximity to Scottsdale is a bonus as well. We stayed there for half of the day..

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  • Directions: Just off of McDowell Road, a major rode linking Phoenix and Scottsdale.
  • Website: http://www.dbg.org
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Desert Botanical Garden: Chihully glass sculpture exhibition at DBG.
  • Tip Rating:
  • razorbacker
  • By razorbacker on May 15, 2009
  • Phoenix Page by razorbacker
  • Desert Botanical Garden - Phoenix
    by razorbacker, 4 more photos
    Wow! Had never been here before despite living locally 5+ years. The desert Botanical Gardens are wonderful in themselves. Even more fascinating and worthwhile is the temporary exhibition of the Chihully glass sculptures.
    We got there late, just an hour before dusk. If you have the 4:00-8:00 slot, get there by 6:00...or 5:00...even 4:00!

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  • Directions: Just off of McDowell Road, a major road linking Phoenix and Scottsdale.
  • Website: http://www.dbg.org
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

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    Desert Botanical Garden: Take a stroll and be amazed
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  • By cherylrf on January 30, 2008
  • Phoenix Page by cherylrf
  • We visited the Botanical garden in December and what a treat that was. We took a tour that lasted about an hour and was very informative. Our tour guide then told us about another tour that we could go on that talked all about the edible plants and uses of the desert plants. At the end of the tour we were able to taste the items that were talked about during the tour. Being from the east coast and really not knowing much about the desert enviornment it was a really exciting end to the tour. Give yourself a few hours in this garden!
    Very much worth the admission charge.

  • Directions: Just off of McDowell Road, a major rode linking Phoenix and Scottsdale.
  • Website: http://www.dbg.org
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Desert Botanical Garden: Desert Botanical Garden
  • Tip Rating:
  • susanpingu
  • Updated By susanpingu on December 5, 2006
  • Phoenix Page by susanpingu
  • Interesting guided tour - Phoenix
    Interesting guided tour
    by susanpingu,
    4 more photos
    Get a closer look at the desert plants.

    I especially liked the narrated tour because the guides made it so interesting.

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  • Directions: Just off of McDowell Road, a major rode linking Phoenix and Scottsdale. If you take the bus, alight at McDowell and 64th. Then it's a 10-15 min walk to the park entrance.
  • Website: http://www.dbg.org
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Desert Botanical Garden: Desert Botanical Garden
  • Tip Rating:
  • gypsysoul73
  • By gypsysoul73 on January 16, 2007
  • Phoenix Page by gypsysoul73
  • Desert Botanical Garden - Phoenix
    by gypsysoul73, 4 more photos
    This garden serves as a comprehensive introduction to the desert landscape and all its glory. This 50 acre garden which is located near Papago Park, is home to thousands of species of desert plants and succulents. With map in hand, we explored the trails and learned not only about desert plants but also about the desert dwellers, specifically the native people of the Sonoran Desert and how they lived.

    The Garden was teaming with school kids on an educational field trip. We went into the butterfly pavillion with one of the groups. I had fun watching them go gaga over the butterflies. In this age of video games and chat rooms, however, this kind of interaction between youngin and Mother Nature is a rare sight.

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  • Directions: Just off of McDowell Road, a major rode linking Phoenix and Scottsdale.
  • Website: http://www.dbg.org
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Desert Botanical Garden: Desert Botanical Gardens-Must See!
  • Tip Rating:
  • AVG2319
  • Updated By AVG2319 on August 1, 2008
  • Phoenix Page by AVG2319
  • Prickly Pear in Bloom-April - Phoenix
    Prickly Pear in Bloom-April
    by AVG2319, 4 more photos
    Want to see all the varied cacti and plant life AZ has to offer then stop at this gem of a place. The Botanical gardens is in a beautiful setting-centrally located in Phoenix up against the Papago Buttes or the "footprint mountains" as my son used to call them.. It is a true gem in Phoenix and you can learn a lot about desert life and gardening here. The Botanical Gardens was created in 1939 and is one of the few Botanical Gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums. You can either take a guided tour of the gardens or a self-guided tour.

    The garden is divided into several different trails including the brick path
    Desert Discovery Trail, which is the Garden’s Main trail and is has the Botanical Garden’s oldest desert plantings. From this path you can easily become sidetracked if you veer to your right you will enter the Herb Garden, which is a garden of desert adapted herbs. If you walk back to the main brick path you can walk up the next path to the outdoor café or keep walking to the next trail the Sonoran Desert Trail (uphill) with beautiful views of the Saguaro Cacti. The trail next to this one is Plants & People of the Sonoran Desert-this trail is more interactive and one of the kids favorite trails, some great views from here as well. After viewing this trail find your way back to the brick path you will pass the butterfly exhibit and the Succulent and Cactus houses this will bring you full circle to the beginning of the main paved trail. Don’t forget to wander down the The Desert Wildflower Trail, with the backdrop of the striking Papago buttes, you can view the colorful desert wildflowers and learn the importance they play in Arizona’s ecosystem. This trail is off the main trail, it is located to the right of the entrance back behind the Gift Shop.

    The Botanical Garden has many seasonal exhibits throughout the year. Our favorites include the Spring Butterfly Exhibit (usually in March-May) and the Monarch Exhibit (usually Sept-Nov)

  • Phone: 480-941-1225
  • Directions: Right by the Phoenix Zoo and Papago Park
  • Website: http://www.dbg.org
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Desert Botanical Garden: Desert Botanical Garden
  • Tip Rating:
  • goingsolo
  • Updated By goingsolo on May 3, 2005
  • Phoenix Page by goingsolo
  • Arizona - Phoenix
    Arizona
    by goingsolo
    The desert botanical garden is a 145 acre garden in Papago Park features thousands of plant species from Arizona and around the world. It is worth a stop for those with a free day in the Phoenix area, especially if you haven't been to Tucson and visited the Sonora Desert Museum. The Phoenix botanical garden is one of the largest collections of desert plants and is amazing in its diversity and beauty.

    Much like the Tucson Sonora Desert Museum, the botanicl garden has a series of trails which wind around particular areas set aside to showcase particular aspects of desert plant life, i.e., wildflowers, cacti, etc. Walking along the trails in this mostly outdoor attraction, you'll see some great views of the desert and the Superstition Mountains.

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  • Directions: Just off of McDowell Road, a major road linking Phoenix and Scottsdale.
  • Website: http://www.dbg.org
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
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