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November 2023 by HoyMay P.
A bit of a chillier day to go to the Gardens. The nice thing is it wasn't crowded and the weather was not intolerable. Our main reason for visiting was to view the Fernando Botero's (artist) artwork and then enjoy the surrounding plants and cacti. We walked over to the Dorrance Hall first where the art was being displayed. I felt so fortunate and honored to see his work in person. A tape of him, his artwork and family could also be seen in this Hall. He recently passed away making the work even more important. Many think his work was of "fat" people and animals. According to the tape he liked volume; i.e., bigger is better. Stunning Botero statues were displayed in the Garden and the Hall. His paintings could be enjoyed in the Hall as well.The Garden is undergoing renovations so it may not look the same as you remember. It is still a great place to visit and see cacti, herb garden, and plants. Be sure to stop by the store for a souvenir or just to browse. Large parking lot and WiFi.
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November 2023 by Kevin E.
Beautiful desert landscapes. Such a contrast to the PNW. Big enough to get a good walk in. Docents gave interesting brief talks. Loved the butterfly house. Scary that some of the desert plants needed protection from the sun due to the increasing temperatures. They also have a featured artist to enjoy. Was a bit of a trip on public transportation so took an Uber ride from downtown. It is worth the trip.
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November 2023 by Paul M.
What an astounding garden! This place is totally worth a visit.Amazing landscapes and cacti, beautiful well kept litter free trails, tons of docents around to help you out, lots of bathrooms and water stations, and we got to see some hummingbirds!We absolutely loved this garden, so different from what we are used to coming from Hawaii, but beautiful in a completely different way. Very highly recommended!
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November 2023 by Jessica B.
I came to visit here during a work trip. The layout is beautiful and they have people across the site explaining different things.Dick have the history of the Mesquite tree and I learned so much. You could tell he was extremely passionate about what he was talking about.Tickets: $25Time: Self paced, we stayed about 2 hoursHighly recommend!
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November 2023 by Stephanie P.
This destination is a must if you are visiting Phoenix. What I appreciate the most (besides the beauty of the plants) was that the park knows how hot it is outside so they have several water stations throughout the park and lots of places to sit down in the shade.
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October 2023 by Venkatesh Palakkad
Great selection of desert plants . A bot over priced. The upkeep of the garden needs to improve. The aesthetics are a bit spoilt by clutter or Debris found in some places in the park. The sprinkler water irrigation was also not regulated thereby the water spoiling walkways. Can be maintained couple of notches better compared to American park standards
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October 2023 by Jay B.
Reminiscent to return to DBG after previously visiting 20 some years ago (all Valley public schools had field trips here back in the early 2000's).If you're visiting the Valley or haven't been, this is an observant place to visit for a few hours. I would recommend in cooler weather.BRING YOUR OWN WATER CANTEEN, it's allowed in! There are public water stations, but not cold water due to the heat. If you visit with your girlfriend, be prepared to take photos... everywhere.
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October 2023 by Laura B.
This is a showplace in Phoenix. Near the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. If you want to see almost every kind of prickly cactus known to mankind they are here. Stay on the trails away from all the pokey plants. Just beautiful.
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September 2023 by Tank G.
There is free parking at the garden, which is nice, but I though admission was a bit steep, at least at first. This place is amazing. It is well maintained and has some beautiful exhibits. It is also informational. I learned a lot here. It is also huge. I walked around here for a couple of hours and could have did a couple of more.The garden spans across 55 acres. They have a huge free parking lot and water fountains throughout the garden, which I took full advantage of. You will also find a gift shop and Gertrudes Restaurant onsite as well.The Garden is divided into sections including the Christensen Family Desert Oasis garden, Plants & People of the Sonoran Desert Trail (Native CropGarden, Spanish Gardens, Grasslands, Akimel O'odham Household. Saguaro Harvesting Ramada, Apache Household), Harriet K. Maxwell Desert Wildflower Trail (Butterfly Garden, Hummingbird Garden, Bee Garden, Shade Garden), Desert Discovery Trail , Center for Desert Living Trail (EdibleGarden, Steele Herb Garden, and Weisz Family Plaza) and Sonoran Desert Nature Trail. The garden is home to over 15,476 accessioned flowers and plants and is designated as The National Collection of Cactaceae and Agavaceae by the North American Plant Collections Consortium (NAPCC). My favorite plant was the Carnegia gigantea, Saguaro Cactus. They are astounding and can grow to 40 feet tall. The Garden is also home to a tranquility pool, a snack bar, binoculars pavilion/terrace areas and a small amphitheater where they host private events. You can even have a wedding there, which I think would be awesome. This is not your typical botanical garden, and I really enjoyed my time there. It is an amazing and peaceful spot. I was very thankful for the water fountains placed around the garden grounds. I also like that they placed an emphasis on education, with placards placed around many of the exhibits. Not only are you treated to breathtaking desert plants, and knowledge, but has panoramic views of the surrounding picturesque mountain ranges. This is definitely a must do, while in Phoenix and I highly recommend checking it out.
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September 2023 by Ismael Chavez
Must vist while in AZ!
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July 2023 by Rebecca G.
What a beautiful place to explore! After driving past the entrance to the gardens many time I decided I should stop and take a look and I am SO glad I did. I was lucky enough to be able to see the Chihuly exhibit as well which was stunning! It took me about 2 hours to get through the gardens, but I was taking my time and in some cases circled back to see things again once the sun started to set. I highly recommend walking through as they have done a fabulous job highlighting plants native to the area.
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June 2023 by Natalie Abrosimova
I love Botanical Garden!??❤??
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May 2023 by Mike N.
Phoenix, Az. Definitely worth the price of admission. The extensive grounds are impeccably maintained with many staff members on the grounds assisting visitors and working continuously on the garden. We skipped the butterfly garden, it involved a non moving line. There were plenty of butterflies flitting about everywhere though.The map they give you upon entry is most helpful, I could have gotten lost several times. There's water stations available, and even a restaurant if you're hungry. The restaurant is expensive though, perhaps one can just bring in their own lunch? I'm going to guess yes, it seems to be pretty relaxed and casual here.April and May just might be the best time to come here, a lot of the cacti are in bloom, including the Saguaros. The weather was near perfect, just a tad warm..
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April 2023 by Rachel W.
The Desert Botanical Gardens is hands down one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to! I fell in love with it the moment I stepped foot on the grounds, and I have been a loyal member ever since. The gardens are absolutely breathtaking, with an incredible variety of plants and wildlife that are sure to impress even the most discerning nature lover.The gardens have been the perfect escape for me whenever I need to unwind and relax. The atmosphere is so peaceful and serene, and it's hard not to feel a sense of calm wash over you as you wander through the winding paths, taking in all of the natural beauty around you.And the best part? I am getting married at the Desert Botanical Gardens this spring! I couldn't think of a more perfect location to exchange our vows and start our lives together. The staff has been incredibly helpful and accommodating throughout the entire process, and I know that they will help make our special day truly unforgettable.Overall, I can't recommend the Desert Botanical Gardens enough. It's a magical place that has brought so much joy and beauty into my life, and I know that anyone who visits will feel the same way. Whether you're a nature lover, an animal enthusiast, or just someone looking for a peaceful retreat from the chaos of everyday life, the Desert Botanical Gardens is the perfect destination
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March 2023 by Samantha S.
This is an absolute must see once a year at the very least. Since I'm local I try to hold out for some of the fun events (Dog Days at the Garden or some of the night exhibits with lights). The most recent time I went was a Saturday for the Dog Days and it was such a fun experience to be able to go with my friend and weboth brought our dogs. The garden is huge. There's so much to see I don't even think we covered all of it. I also highly recommend taking guests here as it's just an immersive Southwest plant experience. Keep an eye on their social media or website for events, that's usually how I find out about them. I attempted to call the day before I went just to confirm a few things and couldn't get through to anyone because of the way the phone dialer was set up, it kept rerouting me to different offices/depts so I hoped for the best and everything was fine! I just had some questions about bringing dogs (since that's not allowed all the time). If you haven't been yet you need to add it to your list now and make sure to go before it gets too hot out!
