Desert Botanical Gardens
- Good for Kids: Yes
32 Reviews for Desert Botanical Gardens
Marie and I moved to Phoenix from Cape Cod, Massachusetts back in August 2006. A big change from the beach to move into the desert. One of the best things about living in Phoenix is the Desert Botanical Gardens (DBG). Learning about the plants and animals has elevated our appreciation of living in the great Sonoran Desert. We were going there so often that we became members and now go all the time. All of our friends and relatives who visit us in the winter time were treated to the delights of the DBG. They left knowing what a special place our new home is to us.
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Of course I'm always late to the party on this one!
The Mr and I had our second date here. There was a festival going on called Chiles and Chocolate that I thought would be super cool since he's a pastry chef and I'm a total food centric.. he and I walked the grounds almost hand in hand (we were both kind of new) until we found this mud hut (hogan I think).. let's just say it was nice and quiet like over in that part of the gardens.. who knew it would be such a great place for a second date make out session. I felt so lucky to be with a man like him.. as we left the mud hut and continued walking I noticed all the women looking at him, the way I looked at him.. infatuated and palpitated.. he was everything I had been looking for....
Whoa Nelly.. this is about the Desert Botanical Gardens.. the place is great! Super romantic and a great date place!!
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The butterfly garden here was my favorite part of the whole experience. I would highly recommend paying the extra money for the admission into the butterfly garden because it's definitely worth it! It's so pretty!
The whole garden is beautiful and definitely a must see for anyone in the area.
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My husband and I are fans of the cacti and so we planned a visit to the Desert Botanical Gardens on a recent house hunting trip to AZ. The day we went it was close to 100 and so we were happy that there are so many water fountains sprinkled around the gardens. We stayed for about two hours enjoying all the beautiful displays. The gardens are set up so that one can enjoy many different environments. There a also a lot of shady spots with seating to rest and enjoy the surroundings. We will definitely be back soon!
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Entertaining out of town guests has never been easier!
My Girlfriend who I'll call the "The green thumb goddess" has a garden almost as impressive as this one.So imaging her her delight when I agreed to her accompany her on this little adventure.
(see pics)
I'll have to admit I enjoyed it more that I expected I would.
I won't be redundant with my review as there is so many already, but this is a place everyone should visit at least once before it gets too hot, and if you happen to be there during butterfly season then your in for a real treat!
You should also try to take a trip when it's open at night so you can see the garden all lit up!
*wear comfy shoes; this place is bigger than you think
*bring lots to drink; or lots of money to drink
*enjoy the gift shop garden center; you can buy your own cacti
* take your time to bask in the glory that is the Sonoran Desert
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My father made his first trip to AZ a couple of weeks ago, so I jumped on the chance to visit the Desert Botanical Gardens. It was amazing! I have never seen so many different cacti or desert wild flowers. Everything was blooming and simply radiant.
The butterfly exhibit was definitely a favorite, not just because I am a girl, but because you were able to get so close. MY PICTURES ARE AMAZING!
If you are planning to make a trip, I would suggest going early. Starting in May I believe they open at 7am, and I would try to be there at 7am. This place is massive, and you're in the desert... so yeah.
I took well over 300 pictures in the few hours we were there. I will try to post some pictures here, but if you're interested in seeing more hit me up.
~2
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Another place that is really serene and makes you forget you are in a large city! I really liked the Desert Botanical Gardens and I am totally not into flowers or botany! We had been to DBG once before for Luminarias, but it was so dark that we couldn't see much. I'm glad we returned in the daylight.
We took my inlaws yesterday after brunch and they absolutely loved DBG. My father-in-law is totally into photography, so DBG was awesome for him. We saw tons of people with cameras, so it is a photographer's haven. I really had no clue there were so many types of cactus. There are hands on activities scattered throughout (probably for kids on field trips) and boards with information, which comes in handy on the Sonoran Desert Trail when you want to figure out which mountain in the distance is Camelback, Piestewa, Four Peaks, etc. We saw little lizards, hummingbirds, quail, and ground squirrels while wondering around as well.
There is much to see and you can get through the gardens as quickly or as leisurely as you would like. We spent about two and a half hours there, which I think is a perfect amount of time. You see everything and are ready to leave by the end. A very nice place to take visitors on a nice day.
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Every time I vist the Desert Botanical Gardens I am again amazed at how wonderful it is. Last night we attended on of their Jazz in the Garden series concerts. It was perfect!
Khani Cole performed for two hours in the Patio Cafe area with backdrop of Saguaro's, great food and drink. It was a wonderful evening under the stars.
The DBG has a lot to offer, you can learn about the desert and all the wonderful plants, they host events year-round and it's all in a very convenient location.
If you haven't been here you're missing out!
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Finally, I know all there's to know about cacti, bee's, butterfly, thyme, rosemary and chives.
The Botanical Garden, a great place to take a stroll on a beautiful spring day, when the garden is at it's blossoming peak. But as other's have said, go now before it gets too hot!
I really enjoyed my time. Of course, if you go hoping to see a lot of fresh green's, beautiful plants, and flowers, be ready for disappointment.
But for what it is, a desert garden, it certainly delivers.
$10.00 for admission
$3.00 for butterfly exhibit
No dogs
No biking
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The Desert Botanical Gardens are not what you think....
Yes, there are innumerable cacti of every shape and type as well as a great many other plants and even the occasional critter ranging from birds and lizards to jackrabbits. Forget all these things because for a great many of you they are only going to offer a very scenic well cultivated backdrop to some wonderful events that the garden hosts including Jazz in the Garden (Fridays March - May), Agave on the Rocks, The Chile and Chocolate Festival, Luminarias (December), and a host of other events and concerts that are extremely well done.
If your looking for a special night or event that blends natural serenity and entertainment into an exquisitely unified package then check out the special events on the Desert Botanical Garden website www.dbg.org (and yes there is booze).
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We are so lucky! The Valley is home to the Desert Botanical Garden - one of the country's most accomplished and spectacular gardens. Sure it's a great place to give out-of-town guests a sampling of what life in the desert is like. But, did you also know about the Garden's calendar of events?! Go to Agave on the Rocks!!! It will give you a whole new appreciation for desert plants and the sweet nectar known as tequila.
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I am now a true believer in desert beauty. It came true on this fateful day of 1/14/08 when I had the pleasant fortune of hiking around trails in the Desert Botanical Gardens. I soaked up the knowledge as much as I soaked up the beautiful sunshine and breathtaking aerial views that some of the paths led me.
I even lost track of time while I learned about how much water a Saguaro can hold and doing my best to detect the animals that inhabit the gardens. I spotted jackrabbits and many birds (including quail, and hummingbirds)!
One of my favorite paths told me the stories of the people that have survived off the desert lands for the past decades of years! It explained how they would survive with the resources at hand and gave hands on examples of little projects that kids/adults alike would be very interested in doing. This particular path also gave the descriptions of what various plants/trees/cacti are used for currently (i.e. building, fuel, food, medicinal, etc.).
This place is truly an oasis in the desert!
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More of a man's garden . . . .
When I lived in Phoenix (a couple years ago) the Papago Park Desert Botanical Gardens was one of my favorite places to take out-of-town visiting friends and relatives.
You tell them "HEY, LET'S GO TO THE BOTANICAL GARDENS!"
They grumble a little, especially the men. They, of course, expect rose gardens, tulip beds, lavendar and Queen Anne's Lace.
WRONG!
It is a fifty acre garden of beautiful cacti and succulents . . . . beautiful desert plants! But no whoosy northern plants needing moisture here. These are desert survivors. Desert rats! Desert birds! Desert songs! Desert life!
A man's garden of delights . . . tough masculine desert plants here, but with delicate beautiful flowers.
Gardening help, botanical research & education, workshops, event facilities, taste of the desert tours, Monarch Butterfly exhibit, garden tours, special music, art and romantic evening events, children's events. So much to do & see, so little time . . . . . even a man will love it here!
There is ALWAYS something going on at the PAPAGO PARK DESERT BOTANICAL GARDENS.
I can't make up my mind whether to go down for the "SAHNAS BROTHERS SPANISH GUITAR" event in February or wait for the "AGAVE ON THE ROCKS" in March. Hmmm . . . . which one? which one? which one? Can't do both . . . .
Check it out. www.dbg.org
TELL ME WHAT TO DO. Friends are expecting me . . . . it is cooler in Phoenix in February than it is in March . . . . maybe I should let the weather dictate?
No matter the temperature, this is not a place to miss. A delight of the possibilities of our world. Every size, shape and kind of cacti & succulent from around the world is here. Check it out!
www.dbg.org
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Easily one of my favorite places in urban Phoenix. I am a member and we go often. What is there not to like? Its unique. It changes. There are events by a bundle. Even food is semi OK, for such place.
Go there! No i mean it. Go! Stroll through major "Roads", venture to some smaller once, talk to those nice elderly (For the most part) volunteers who will teach you about surviving on Prickly Pears or how Succulent is different from a Cactus.
Do not liter, run around or yell like an idiot, please. Besides that - HAVE FUN! This place is awesome.
"I like"
"Very nice"
Eugene
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This is my kind of hiking! Sidewalks, drinking fountains and restrooms OH MY! Rickie and I took my mom and some visiting cousins here for mom's birthday. We were especially excited for the butterfly exhibit. It was the highlight. Otherwise? Meh! I mean how many cactuses, cactuseses or cacti can you reallly find that interesting? Oh, look. That one is all spikey. That one is so tall. Oooo and that one, is, is, is, well, it's another cactus. I found it to be about as interesting as an episode of Murder She Wrote. I kinda knew what to expect around every little bend. More plants! And every other water fountain was out of order. The two water vending machines we saw were also OOO...(out of order!). Two major exhibits were closed and yet we were still charge three bucks to see those damn butterflies. Total confirmation that I'm a city boy. I find surly homeless people, the stench of sidewalk urine and traffic cones to be much more entertaining.
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I think we picked the wrong time of year to go. It was cool to see all the cacti but noting was in bloom. The most disappointing part was that the Cactus and Succulents Galleries were under construction. It was nice to walk around and learn a few things about the Sonoran Desert. Great place for people of all ages.
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I went here in the winter, so unfortunately I missed the bright beautiful blooms, but it was a fun trip in itself. Make sure you time your visit to go on a tour: you'll learn more about cacti than you ever thought was possible.
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I love this place! After spending a morning there I was ready to sign up for a yearly membership. Who knew there were so many different types of cactus? Its really interesting to see them all and learn about their place within the desert ecosystem. You feel as if you are transported to a world many miles away from Phoenix (just move the telescope a little if a building gets in your line of sight) and its a perfect place to bring an out of town guest as I am positive they have nothing like it where they are from.
The seasonal butterfly exhibit is fantastic, it reminded me of my third grade classroom where we had Monarch butterflies just flying around. (My teacher was a little bit of a hippie) It doesn't have to take up a whole day if you don't want it to and you can explore at your own pace. Come spring time I'm sure that the wildflower portion is beautiful. I'm very excited to go back for the Las Noches de las Luminarias.
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very cool spot and a must visit while in Phoenix. i went by myself today and had a great time. i'm a big cactus/succulent fan, so this place was my heaven.
it's early in the desert flower blooming season, but you could still find gems here and there. weather is great this time of year. do not forget your camera so you can capture the beauty. i went mid-day but wish i had come early in the morning or at dusk when the light is so beautiful.
there are brochures for the botanical gardens at many hotels. bring one with you and receive a dollar off your entrance.
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I am not usually a fan of botanical gardens. They seem too precious, too "perfect" to be of much interest. And, let's face it, flowers and plants are beautiful things, but when you pay to look at them in neat rows, something is lost.
That said, Desert Botanical Gardens is an exception to this garden cynic. Many of these cacti look like they are from another planet, like something you would see in a sci-fi film and say, "wow, it's too bad those crazy plants don't exist." They sprawl out on the ground, weaving and turning every which way, or compose huge bizarre formations high off the ground. I never knew such bizarre life forms existed, or that some cacti look like trees.
The gardens are full of windy paths where one is also likely to find a family of quail, lizards, or a jackrabbit or two. Various species of bird can be seen here as well, especially at dusk. I especially love watching the birds fly in and out of nests they've made in the upper arms of cacti.
This place never grows old. It's a great introduction to the desert for people from out of town, and because the cacti have been collected from around the world, a cool botany lesson for us all here.
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Perfect winter or spring afternoon excursion. That is, if you have a sense of humor. Sure, looking at Man from the Andes and Agave cacti all afternoon isn't the most thrilling, but if you skew your perception, you can see just how comical these things really are. It's informative, too, if that's what you're after.
I've been twice. Both times with out-of-state friends. We walked every trail, took pics and found something funny about Puma Huts and rotting, crawling, oddly bent cacti. Or bird calls. C'mon, didn't you too?
The second time I went during the butterfly exhibit. It's a favorite now and I highly suggest you check it out the next time it appears. There's nothing so oddly extraordinary as watching a pretty insect come and land on your arm. And sit there. And sit there. And sit there. You look at it; it looks at you. And then, for some reason, you feel like the first kid picked during dodge ball. Seriously.
Oh, and a side note: the bathrooms are pretty clean. Bonus!
Odd enough, my favorite aspect of the DBG is this particular tree. It's near one of the "bridges" on the pathway. It's barkless, bright green, smooth and gorgeous.
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The Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, AZ is a great way to get a sample of Arizona's diverse and spectacular flora. Check out The Gardens in the spring, when all of the plant and flowers are blooming in beautiful, vibrant colors. This is a great place to take visiting relatives who love to garden or are just nature buffs. It's an easy walking adventure with many cozy benches to sit and bird or nature watch. Midway through the journey is a nice spot to enjoy a little refreshment and sample some yummy treats. At the end of your journey is a great gift shop with books, jewelry and even plants found on the garden grounds for sale. Visit when the day time temperatures are moderate and you're guaranteed to have an enjoyable time. Be sure to wear sunscreen and bring a camera. Don't forget to have fun!
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Have been going to this wonderful place since moving to AZ in 1990. The desert wildflowers in Springtime are phenomenal. The Desert Oasis pond is lovely and the frogs are something to see, especially on a flashlight walk in June or July (of course it's hot, but worth it; actually saw a Queen of the Night flower open up; a gorgeous sight which only lasts a few hours). Was just at the Garden today and though still February, some wildflowers are already blooming and plenty more are on the way. The wonderful sounds of the birds, lizards and other critters scurrying by, the wind rustling in the reeds and the trees, and the scent of the plants in the sunshine--all make this place a delight to visit. Be sure to check out the Butterfly Pavilion from early March to mid-May (many kinds of butterflies in an aviary-type setting with lovely landscaping), and again in October (for the Monarchs). For more information, visit dbg.org. Enjoy!
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Of course, there is cactus. But there is SO much more to the Desert Botanical Garden than Organ Pipe and Saguaro...
The gardens are well thought out and always well maintained. Watch for jackrabbits and a wide variety of birds. Now is the perfect time of year for a visit, as there will be wildflowers and cacti in bloom and the weather isn't too hot yet. But even in the summer, it's a nice city escape. Just wear a hat & sunscreen and try to go first thing in the morning. There are drinking fountains around every turn and plenty of shade. Try a guided tour if you have the time or are playing host to out-of-town guests. The guides are friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Even if you've lived in AZ all your life (like me) you are bound to learn something new.
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The place to go when you need to see a cactus. Or hundreds of them, along with a variety of other desert plants. I went here with my digital camera and came back with a bunch of photos worth printing. The garden is extremely well-kept and is easily accessable. Admission is cut in half for students, so don't forget that ID card.
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During my honeymoon period with this city, which was about two weeks long, I was taken down to the gardens to see the butterfly exhibit.
It was amazing. They were releasing butterflies and large moths in a netted tent filled with flowers. They would perch on various plants and dry their wings by fanning with them. Hundreds or perhaps thousands of them were in this tent. This many butterflies is really hard to describe as it is something that really needs to be seen.
Apart from this special occasion, they have cactus and arid plants of every kind. If you're new to the desert, it is definitely worth the price of admission.
They also have special events that are supposed to be really wonderful. Check the website and plan way ahead of time as reservations and tickets sell out fast.
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I went here for Las Noches de las Luminarias a little over a week ago (which I think runs through to the end of December) and so I only saw the gardens at night, but it was still a great discovery. They pretty much have different mini-desert-ecosystems placed throughout the garden and with the luminarias lighting up all the pathways at night, the entire place has an even cooler feel to it.
Granted, with this being holiday season, you've got barbershop quartets, bell ringers, and people meandering around drunk on Irish coffee interspersed amongst the countless species of cactus, but beyond that, you've got great walks with several pathways leading you all over the garden.
Definitely will have to come back in daylight sometime.
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I just got back from an Arizona spring training vacation, and one of the highlights was definitely the Desert Botanical Gardens. We came really close to skipping on a visit altogether because it was 5:00pm, but decided to give it a shot...it was worth it! I was a little disappointed that the Butterfly Pavillion had closed for the day at 5:00pm, and several walking areas were being used for weddings/receptions (who could blame these people??) but still got to see a lot of beautiful desert plants and wildlife. We managed to get in for free, not sure if it was because of the time of the day or all the people just walking in for the weddings though, which totally made the park that much more fun. I am not sure I would have gotten as much enjoyment out of it if I'd had to pay $5 to get in...
The little desert rat-sqirrels, and rabbits were totally fun to try to find hiding in the many different plants and burrows. I felt like a little kid ooh-ing and ah-ing at the different varieties of cacti and desert wildflowers, and have to give this place the ultimate rating . If you're ever in Arizona, please give this place a try, it's very well put together and a beautiful site to see.
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Lovely botanical gardens. This is staple on my out-of-towner itinerary. It is quite enjoyable to walk around and check out the bizarre native vegetation. It it much more diverse than you would imagine. The Sonoran desert is lusher than you might imagine.
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The Desert Botanical Gardens are an oasis in the local sea of strip malls and desert. Many and varied plant areas, including an oasis and desert. Summer evening flashlight tours are worth the price of membership.
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this is the perfect time of year to visit DBG.
in spring they start their spring jazz in the garden series (every firday night) with food and cash bar beverages.
you can take painting classes, just stroll around, and now they have this awesome art installation piece made of twigs that you can actually go inside of (completed Feb. 23).
i've been coming here since i was a little 'un and i love coming back. especially if you're a native, you'll love the "desert rain" ... machine? it's basically a strainer with creosote and other desert plant leaves inside, and you turn on the shower fountain head and get an instant whiff of true monsoon season desert rain smell...it's amazing!
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If you're going to go, go now, before it gets too hot to enjoy the beauty of the Desert Botanical Gardens.
DBG has more plants and flowers than you might even imagine. It's a beautiful experience and you'll see many endangered, rare and threatened plants throughout the various natural trails and hikes.
You'll also see little plaques along the way that will tell you about the plants you're viewing to keep you informed. And they have a garden shop for you to take home a souvenir such as a plant, garden seeds, pottery or postcard.
Great place to take the kids, but anyone who appreciates nature will love the Desert Botanical Gardens.
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