The Desert Botanical Garden one of the many things to do in Phoenix is proud to offer more than 20,000 desert plants, with emphasis on those native to the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. Their internationally acclaimed collection provides a delight for the senses and spirit as well as insight into fragile ecosystems.

The walk through the garden along the roughly one mile trail is a unique experience you won’t want to miss and well worth the time. Even if you are the only person in the park, you won’t be alone on the trail. All manner of native creatures find the garden and Papago Park area a wonderful home, from small lizards that dart across the path and then conveniently pose for a photo to Gambel’s Quail, birds easily recognized by their top knots and scaly plumage on their undersides.

The Garden gift shop is a “must see.” It carries a diverse and thoughtful selection of merchandise and plants that reflect the wonders of the Sonoran Desert and the Southwest. You will find a wide array of books for adults and children, decorative items, gourmet foods, jewelry, apparel, stationary and toys … and, of course, fantastic t-shirts!

The Botanical Garden also offers amazing and fun special events. Yearly events include things like the Fall Plant Sale, the Pumpkin Festival and Las Noches de las Luminarias. The garden also frequently offers special musical events and hosts special guests (like glass sculptor Dale Chihuly’s exhibition). There also plenty of educational opportunities such as workshops, hikes, summer camps and certification classes.

To find out what’s happening at the Botanical Gardens this season, visit their website at http://www.dbg.org/.