Tucson Botanical Gardens: hidden gem under the desert sun
Published: Oct 31, 2009
Founded in 1968, the Tucson Botanical Gardens quickly grew to become one of Tucson’s best attractions. Tucked away in central Tucson visitors will find a five-acre oasis including an herb gardens, a tropical forest filled greenhouse, xeriscape methods, a wildflower garden, and much more. The Garden colors and variety change throughout the year, so in order to really appreciate the seasonal splendor several visits throughout the year are highly recommended.
The Garden exhibits have grown over time with the addition of many new features including the Native American Crops Garden, added in 1986. Then, the in 1988 a low water use exhibit, the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden began showing Tucsonans the beauty and ease of healthy desert landscaping. This commitment to entertaining and highly useful education drives 100,000 visitors to the Botanical Gardens yearly.
The Gardens can be enjoyed as you go at your own pace with self-guided tours. However; there are also several guided tours available where visitors can get an in-depth view of some of the Garden exhibits. On Fridays, enjoy a morning walk; learn plant trivia and history of the Gardens. On the second and third Thursday of each month enjoy a 45-minute tour that explores the plants and gardening practices that will attract butterflies to your backyard and learn to identify the types of butterflies that visit Tucson.
Every Wednesday the Gardeners of Tucson host an informative plant clinic, and the Tucson Organic Gardeners have helped to create the Home Compost Demonstration Site. There are 60-70 classes and workshops offered annually on a variety of horticultural and desert environmental concerns.
Some of the other Garden exhibits include:
Herb Garden
Tropical Forest Exhibit
Sensory Garden
Cactus and Succulent Garden
Native American Crops Garden
Butterfly Garden
Wildflower Garden
Back Yard Bird Garden
Children's Discover Garden
…and much more.
There are many special events offered year round at the Gardens including a fall festival, butterfly magic exhibit and luminaria nights. Visit the Gardens website for a complete list of events and guided tours available. The website also offers tips for gardening at home.
- by Jennifer Pruett, Phoenix Reporter for HelloMetro
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