Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix

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This is simply a necessary stop if you are traveling to the area. Go early for best light and temperatures. Nice walking paths, and a great variety of desert plants and specialty exhibits.
Don't forget to stop at the gift shop, they have some very unique items for sale.

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Simply one of the best botanical gardens around the Southwest. It features 50 acres of 500+ varieties of desert plants, with 137 different cactus. It is a great tour, and takes about 4 hours. See the other page for commentary in addition
Open 8AM-8PM daily and cost is $15 adult, $13.50 senior.

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This is a fabulous botanical garden which holds over 500 desert plants, obviously most are cacti. There are 137 varieties of those scattered throughout the walking paths. The garden complex is about 50 acres, but packed with many great sites on different loop trails. One especially unique is the plants and people loop of the desert depicting how native Indians lived off the dry land, and thrived.
Opening time are 8-8PM daily. Price is $15 adults, and $13.50 for seniors. WE spent 5 hours taking in all the sites, so adjust accordingly.

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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!

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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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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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)

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Every Spring & Fall the Desert Botanical Gardens has a Butterfly Exhibit in the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion. Hundreds of butterflies are released to sip nectar from flowers and sometimes if you are lucky one will land on you. If you love butterflies it is a wonderful opportunity to see these amazing friends up close.