I was born in Phoenix but not been back for many years and had never seen the Desert Botanical Garden (DBG). I was in Phoenix for a conference recently and visited DBG before the meeting began.
One of my hobbies is to learn and use the public transportation system in cities that I visit, so I took the bus from my city center hotel (bus route 3 east along Van Buren Street to the Zoo and bus route 56 north from the zoo to the botanical garden). Phoenix's public transportation system is easy and excellent! A one-day pass costs $2 for folks aged 65 and up or $4 for younger folks.
DBG has an entry fee, and it participates in the American Horticultural Society's reciprocal admissions program. Volunteer tour guides are available, and I explored the garden with Bill Cope as tour leader. Bill's emphasis is on plant adaptations. Each tour is different because the guides emphasize different aspects of the garden.
Bill told us that Parkinsonia microphylla (Palo Verde tree) has very small leaves, which adapts this tree to minimize water loss through transpiration. Photosynthesis takes place not only in the tiny leaves, but also in the green bark of the branches and trunk.
I have been smitten with Agave, especially the blue Agave (century plant) since seeing one at Chanticleer Garden in Wayne, Pennsylvania, where it spent the summer but not the winter outside in the garden. At DBG multiple species of Agave flourish year-round outside.
Unlabeled blue Agave (Blue Agave is used to make tequila.)
Agave stricta (Hedgehog Agave)
Agave macroacantha (Black-Spined Agave)
Agave desmettiana (Smooth Agave)
We saw Giant Cardon Cactus:
and Saguaro Cactus:
and Totem Pole Cactus:
and Santa Rita Prickly Pear:
and an intriguing but unlabeled cactus-like plant:
Two mountains adjoin DBG, one with vegetation and one without:
DBG hosts many student tours and has a special grove for students to meet with their tour leader:
DBG is a must-see garden if you are in Phoenix.
