Desert Botanical Garden

Botanical Gardens…they interest me BUT desert botanical gardens!!

(FYI: I am not overly fond of deserts.) So when the opportunity to visit a desert botanical gardens, I was hesitant.

However, we are already here in Phoenix, Arizona and the gardens do have an excellent reputation…so, let’s go

Welcome to the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

I do recognize the barrel cactus, but what are those snake-like plants!

Perhaps it would be wise to join a tour and learn a bit.

So, as their website advertises, let’s “Explore the Garden with an expert who will help you understand the extraordinary plants of the Sonoran Desert.”

There are 5 different trails in this large desert garden…

today we are walking the Desert Discovery Trail.

There are labels identifying different plants, some of which our guide stops to talk more about. I thought I recognized aloe…

but learned not to be too quick to identify them.

Apparently there are two types of succulents which look almost the same at first glance..the aloe and the algave. The algave is from the southwest USA and Mexico, while the aloe is from Africa and Madagascar.

So that likely means the large “aloe” we saw in France likely were aloe plants,

while the “aloe” we saw in Mexico likely were algave. See, I am learning something!

Saguaro (Sag-WAR-o)

I discover this cactus is impressive!

The Saguaro grows its first “arm” in its 60th year. After that it grows arms at leisure, and flowers can grow at the top of the arms. A Saguaro cactus can store up to 1000 gallons of water. Wow!

Click on the photo above to enlarge it so you can read a multitude of facts.

I have seen these before..on a much smaller scale though.

Oh, I almost stepped on one of those!

Rather difficult to see, aren’t they.

We learn they are Gambel’s Quail.

And I missed this one completely…

My husband had to point out this bunny sitting SO still amidst the plants.

After our hour long guided tour, we walked the Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert Trail on our own, learning from the activity stations along the way. This would be a wonderful trail to visit with a guide who could add even more information. 

I still “know” I could survive living in a desert! 

But I now do have a much greater understanding of the desert and a greater admiration for those who do live there.

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Happy travels!