Phoenix's Desert Botanical Garden

With an inherited love of plants from my grandparents and mother I frequently search out interesting horticultural venues when I travel. Getting out in my yard and gardening is a chance for me to relax and release so I’m always on the lookout for new gardening ideas and opportunities. I mention this in passing as the Travel Professor has departed for the like of Arizona and Nevada.

Admittedly it’s a strange combination, researching the history and heritage of a destination along with their tourism venues, employment options plus the golf courses, spicy chicken wings, authentic Mexican restaurants, brew pubs, arboretums’ and all the other tourism related items but hey someone has to do it.

I’ve been able to visit many fascinating sights on my travels and would like to share a couple of desert gems with you.
When visiting Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun region two unique desert ecosystem locations are worth the visit.

Start off your desert vegetation tour at the Desert Botanical Garden (www.dbg.org) nestled in the buttes of the Papago Park, which is adjacent to the Phoenix Zoo. This one of a kind nature preserve showcases 50 acres of beautiful outdoor exhibits. Home to 139 rare, threatened and endangered plant species from around the world, the Garden offers interesting and inspiring experiences to more than 300,000 visitors each year. There are hiking trails to explore and when you are done visiting the Garden be sure to spend some time and money at the Garden and Plant shops.

In the Garden shop you have a diverse and thoughtful selection of merchandise and plants that reflect the wonders of the Sonoran Desert and Southwest. A full array of books for adults and children, decorative items, gourmet foods, jewelry, apparel, stationary and toys are available.

Then stop by the Plant Shop which specializes in the unique and unusual plants adapted to the desert environment. In addition, we feature cactus dish gardens, seeds, pottery, bird feeders and attractive garden decorations that depict the beauty and serenity of our Southwestern lifestyle.

Special packing and shipping arrangements can be made to get your purchases back home.

In the next post we’ll head east on U.S. 60 for about an hour and explore to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum.