Desert in bloom: a photo essay

· by · in Gardens, Outdoors, Travel, Travel with Children. ·
The Desert Botanical Garden shows off its best colors in spring.

The Desert Botanical Garden shows off its best colors in spring.

Claret cup cactus have showy red blooms.

Claret cup cactus have showy red blooms.

I always had a “Lawrence of Arabia” image of the desert in my mind — until I visited the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. Broad expanses of sand disappeared when I encountered a 150-acre landscape of saguaro cactus, creosote bush, agave and aloe, quail and woodpeckers and a jackrabbit that literally jumped out and surprised me. In the distance were mountains with names like Camelback and Superstition. I fell in love with the beauty of the desert.

That visit was nearly 20 years ago. If Phoenix or Scottsdale are on my itinerary, the Desert Botanical Garden is a must. This spring, finally, I got to see the garden in bloom. A rainbow of blossoms, tiny and grand. And to top it all off the Butterfly Pavilion was open and filled with an assortment of winged flowers. (I love butterflies don’t you?)

In the spring, the Butterfly Pavilion is alive with butterflies fluttering by. Watch out, they'll land at your feet or on your shoulder.

In the spring, the Butterfly Pavilion is alive with butterflies fluttering by. Watch out, they’ll land at your feet or on your shoulder.

Over the years, the garden has only grown, and gotten better with better signs, beautifully-wrought pathsand walls, shady spots and places to rest. I was thankful for all the water fountains, too. Our water supply ran out early in our visit. It’s certainly hot as the desert in “Lawrence of Arabia.”

But at every turn, the desert is filled with life, color and beauty.

Take a look…

In the Butterfly Pavilion.
Camelback Mountain about four miles away.
Agave plants shoot a spike into the air with blossoms high above us. Not every spike is straight, however.
The hardscapes — walls and paths, lighting and signs —add to the botanical garden’s good looks.
A mass of color along a desert path.
So many cacti, all in bloom. The yellow was electric.
Lots of critters make the garden their home. Besides this little chipmunk, we saw quail, hummingbirds and a roadrunner, a jackrabbit, lizards and lots of bugs.
Zebra Longings fly among the flowers
Sometimes you have to look up to find the flowers.
I almost missed this little beauty with its wings folded among the spiky leaves.
A boojum tree rises high in the blue sky beside a yellow blooming palo verde tree.
Who said the desert is brown? So many colors.

© Text and photos Mary K. Tilghman

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