If you are a garden enthusiast planning a visit to Phoenix or Scottsdale, you will definitely want to put a visit to the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix on your itinerary!
The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is made for wandering when the weather is comfortable, with several short and easy trails and desert plants and trees arranged meticulously for a pleasing display wherever your eyes turn.
Not only is the plant collection impressive, the educational aspect is outstanding, with labels as well as a lot of interpretive signage that’s fun for adults and kids alike.
Set against a backdrop of picturesque red rocks for which the Sonoran Desert is known, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is spread across 55 acres.
Visiting the garden is one of the top things to do in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area, and indeed one of the best things to do in Arizona.
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Towering saguaro cactus. Airy green palo verde trees. An eye-popping variety of desert plants of all shapes and sizes. The sound of flowing or bubbling water. Thoughtfully curated art installations. You’ll find all these and more at the Desert Botanical garden!
Excited? Let’s discover all the fun things to do at the Desert Botanical Garden, plus get details on how to visit!
Things to Do at the Desert Botanical Garden
1. Walk the Trails
There are five main trails you can walk in the Desert Botanical Garden, and every single one is worth walking if you have the time. Each trail is just .33 mile, or less, and most are flat, with paved parts.
As you enter the garden, you will come upon the Desert Wildflower Trail, which features a bee-friendly garden, a hummingbird garden, and a butterfly garden.
This trail features many flowering plants designed to attract pollinators. We’ve almost always seen one or two hummingbirds busily sipping nectar, and many colorful butterflies.
The Desert Discovery Trail runs through the heart of the garden and includes a wide variety of cacti and succulents. The Sybil B. Harrington Cactus and Succulent Galleries are part of this trail.
Look for uncommon varieties like the crested whortleberry cactus as well as common varieties like globe cactus and barrel cactus.
The Center for Desert Living Trail showcases plants that grow well in the local climate. Here you will find an herb garden and an edible garden.
The Sonoran Desert Nature Trail is actually a little uphill and features a viewing pavilion with telescopes at the top of the trail.
Somewhat less trafficked than other trails in the garden, this trail features cholla cactus and ocotillo among other varieties of desert plants.
Finally, the Plants & People of the Sonoran Desert Trail has replicas of native dwellings and interpretive signs that describe how the various desert plants were used by the people living here.
There are beautiful benches scattered about the garden, along with sculptures and water features. If you like, you can sit for a while and just savor the beauty of the plants and the birdsong.
2. Photograph the plants and Trees
With over 50,000 desert plants from all over the world, there is a lot to see and admire at the Desert Botanical Garden.
Apart from the plants and trees along the trail, there are little garden areas that showcase plants, like the Ottosen Entry Garden, where you can take some fantastic photos, the Lewis Desert Portal, or the Berlin Agave Yucca Forest.
The pink-tinged Opuntia santa rita in the entrance garden is especially striking.
Look for the impressive crested saguaro to take another memorable photo. A docent told us that you only see one of these beauties once in every 200,000 saguaro plants.
The garden also features many lovely palo verde trees, with their distinctive green trunks and branches. The palo verde is the state tree of Arizona. You will see many mature mesquites as well.
If you visit during bloom time in the spring, you will be treated to a dazzling display of cactus and succulent flowers.
But even without flowers, the sculptural shapes and interesting leaves of the plants here will have you reaching for your camera or smartphone over and over, whether you focus on an individual plant or tree, or snap photos of a group of plants or a trail lined with plants.
We visit often, but I can’t resist taking photos every time we go!
3. Do a bit of bird spotting
Enjoy birdwatching? You are in for a treat when you visit the Desert Botanical Garden, especially if you visit early in the day.
We’ve found that between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. you will likely see the best variety of birds here. Members can get in even earlier on Wednesdays and Sundays and enjoy the garden at its quietest best.
Among the birds we’ve seen here are the cactus wren, the European starling, the Gila woodpecker, the curve-billed thrasher, house finches (we’ve seen a cute pair on each of our last three visits!), mourning doves, Gambel’s quail, and roadrunners.
Of course, there are many more bird species here than what we’ve seen so far!
The water feature at the Fine Family Contemplation Garden is one of the best places in the garden to see birds. Birds seem to enjoy taking a dip in the cool water!
If you stand still and wait patiently, sometimes birds will alight on plants and trees near you, allowing you to get great photos.
You will almost always see Gambel’s quail on the Ullman Terrace by the Patio Cafe. They call out to one another as they seek out crumbs left behind by visitors. You may also see them on the Sonoran Desert Nature Trail.
4. Look for butterflies and beasts
Although birds are by far the most commonly seen wildlife at the garden, you will want to keep your eyes open for other wildlife as well, especially as you head out from the paved areas into the further reaches of some of the trails.
We saw a ground squirrel at our last visit. He was quite unafraid, sunning himself on a rock right in front of us. We are hoping to see a desert tortoise one of these days.
You are likely to see butterflies on the milkweed plants in the Butterfly Garden, but if you visit between March and mid-May, the Cohn Family Butterfly Pavilion is open and features thousands of butterflies.
5. Join a guided walk
If it’s your first time visiting the Desert Botanical Garden, it is well worth joining a tour led by one of the many knowledgable docents at the garden.
Guided tours are offered during the more temperate months of the year, usually thrice daily, at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. Of course, the tour schedule can change, so check the schedule before your visit.
Groups are usually small, and you can ask questions. We’ve found the docents at the Desert Botanical Garden always incredibly helpful and friendly.
If you decide you’d rather wander on your own, there are docents all over the garden if you need information or have a question.
6. Chill at the Patio Cafe or have Lunch at Gertrude’s
The Patio Cafe is located by the Ullman Terrace and is open daily from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
The casual eatery is the ideal place to grab a bite and a drink and enjoy them outside. The menu features salads and sandwiches, and some baked treats.
Gertrude’s, located by the garden entrance, offers a more formal dining experience, perfect for a leisurely sit-down lunch or brunch, or a special dinner.
The menu showcases local seasonal ingredients and the drinks menu features creations by local brewers and winemakers.
If you plan to do dinner here, make reservations ahead of time!
7. Check out the art
Interspersed with the gorgeous plants and trees in the Desert Botanical Garden are many works of art.
As you walk the trails, keep your eye out for these creations. While some of them are colorful, others blend in with the surroundings.
The garden also has temporary art exhibitions and art events.
The most recent exhibition is called Light Bloom, with large geometric art installations all around the garden. They are lit at night.
8. See the lights during the holidays
Planning a visit during the holidays? If you visit in the daytime, enjoy the large Christmas tree made from desert plants, as well as other holiday plant decorations!
But it’s at night that you must visit for an enchanting experience!
The Desert Botanical Garden offers a holiday tradition known as Las Noches de las Luminarias: the Nights of the Lights.
During this time, thousands of luminarias and thousands of tiny white lights are strung up on the trees, lighting up the garden at night. Walking the garden during these nights is indeed a magical experience!
The garden also offers live music (carolers, mariachis, and more!) and other entertainment, as well as holiday eats. Get a cup of hot chocolate or cider and hit the trails!
The event is generally hosted on specific dates at the end of November and through December.
There is a separate entrance fee for Las Noches de las Luminarias, and reservations are required.
9. Get Souvenirs at the Garden Shop!
By the garden entrance is the garden shop, with a large collection of themed souvenirs and gifts, from art prints and books to toys, clothing, and beauty products.
Before you leave, be sure to browse the shop and get some souvenirs to take home!
How to Get to the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix
The Desert Botanical Garden is located at 1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix. If you have a car, you can drive to the Desert Botanical Garden (see map).
The garden is also accessible via Light Rail and the Valley Metro Bus.
From Downtown Phoenix, take the Light Rail east toward Mesa. Get off at the Priest/Washington stop and cross over to the bus stop on Priest (in front of Starbucks). Take the Valley Metro Bus Route 56 going north to the garden. You can also take an Uber from the Light Rail stop.
Desert Botanical Garden Hours
The Desert Botanical Garden is open daily from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. May through September.
Between October and April, it is open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
The garden is sometimes fully or partially closed for special events, so check their website for closures and up-to-date hours of operation before you visit.
Desert Botanical Garden Admission Fees
General adult admission to the Desert Botanical Garden ranges from $24.95 to $34.95 depending on day and time.
The fee for youth 3 to 17 years of age ranges from $14.95 to $19.95 per youth. Kids 2 and under are free.
Active military personnel receive free general admission.
You can visit the garden for free on the second Tuesday of every month.
The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix has a reciprocal arrangement for free general admission with more than 300 gardens, conservatories, and arboreta, so check to see if you are a member of one of the partner entities!
You can buy tickets at the ticket counters on the day of your visit, but if you want guaranteed entry, book your tickets online at the garden website.
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