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Desert Botanical Garden
1201 N Galvin Pky,
Phoenix,
AZ
Within sight of the red, rocky folds of Phoenixs Papago Park lies the Desert Botanical Garden, home to the one of the worlds largest and most diverse collection of desert plants. A stroll through the Gardens meandering trails will show how much life and beauty the desert holds. The one-third mile Desert Discovery Trail winds past thousands of plants, including more than half the cactus, century plants, and aloe species in the world. Short trails branch off to interpret other aspects of desert life: the uses of plants by people, interactions among plants and animals, desert wildflowers, and landscaping and gardening in the desert. All the trails have interactive signs and guidebooks that identify and explain the plants and have been graded for wheelchair access. Lighting on the main trail and late closing hours allow for the unusual experience of strolling through the desert at night. Visitors can enjoy a variety of guided trail tours, bird tours, demonstrations, and family activities. Children receive the Gardens Desert Detective Game Sheets to use along the Gardens trails. Desert House, the Gardens water and energy conservation house, is frequently open on Sunday afternoons.
