Desert Botanical Garden - Phoenix, Arizona

Desert Botanical Garden

On a recent trip I had the opportunity of visiting the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona.  The Desert Botanical Garden is a 140 acre botanical garden located in Phoenix, Arizona that was founded by the Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society in 1937 and established at this site in 1939.  It is the home to more than 21,000 plants, including 139 species of desert plants which are considered rare, threatened or endangered.

Chihuly Glass Art Exhibit Entrance to Gardens

At the entrance to the Botanical Garden is world renowned artist's Dale Chihuly Nature of Glass Exhibit which was originally displayed in 2008. The gardens bought the glass art after the exhibit as a permanent display.

Agave Parrasana (Cabbage Head Agave)

 Fishhook Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus wislizeni)

 The Fishhook Barrel Cactus is a member of the genus Ferocactus, meaning "fierce or wild". These are among the largest barrel cacti of the North American desert and are always cylindrical or barrel shaped.  Prominent ribs armed with heavy spines with one or more central spines curved like a fishhook give the plant its name. The vibrant yellow flowers that appear at the top of the plant develop into fleshy, juicy fruits when mature, but are not usually considered edible. I was thrilled to be able to get a photograph of these in bloom.

 Red Torch Echinopsis huascha

Ferocactus latispinus (DevilsTongue)

Devils Tongue, another member of the genus Ferocactus, grows to approximately 16 inches in height and displays beautiful purple blooms in late autumn to early winter. Its interesting elongated red spines lend towards its name. It is also known as Crow's Claw or Candy cactus.

Aloe Bloom

 Creosote Bush Larrea tridentata

Cresote Bush is a flowering plant of the Sonoran Desert which is extremely drought tolerant once established.  The resinous, waxy coating of the smaller sized leaves are adapted to reduce water loss. 

Agave americana (American Aloe)

Steele Herb Garden

Located along the Desert Living Trail, the Steele Herb Garden highlights a variety of desert-adapted herbs.

Barrell Cacti Sundial

Barbara B. Weisz & Family Plaza

The Barbara B. Weisz & Family Plaza is the home to many Mediterranean herbs.

Herb Garden

 Carnegiea gigantica (Saguaro Cactus)

The giant Saguaro Cactus is one of the defining plants of the Sonoran Desert. These majestic cacti are very slow growing, only reaching a height of one and a half inches tall in ten years, but can grow to an eventual towering height of 40-60 feet.  When fully hydrated Saguaro can weigh between 3200 and 4800 pounds and a healthy cactus can have a lifespan up to 150-200 years! 

 Echinocactus grusonii (Golden Barrel Cactus) Endangered

 Cylindropuntia bigelovii (Teddy Bear Cactus)

Assorted Cacti

Prickly Pear Cactus Fruit

Butterfly Exhibit

Monarch Butterfly

The Mariposa Monarca Monarch Butterfly Exhibit was running during our visit, featuring the life cycle and conservation efforts to save the Monarch Butterfly. The newly planted Monarch Way Station, which was specifically designed to attract butterflies during their migratory journey, is now part of the gardens.

Cholla Cactus

Aloe dichotoma Quiver Tree

Greetings from the Sonoran Desert

Stenocereus thurberi Organ Pipe Cactus

The organ pipe cactus gets its name from the many slender vertical stems that resemble the pipes on an old-fashioned organ.  Stenocereus thrurberi stands at 20-25 feet in height and the stems are only about six inches in diameter. The flower buds that grow from the tips of the stems open at night and are pollinated by nectar feeding bats. The fertilized flowers form into large, spiny red fruit that mature by the end of summer.

 Carnegiea gigantica (Saguaro Cactus)

More of the majestic Saguaro..cannot get enough!

Sonoran Desert Wildlife (Cactus Wren) Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus

The Cactus Wren is the state bird of Arizona and is found in Arizona, southern Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, western Texas, southern California and north-central Mexico.  The cactus wren is the largest North American wren, at 18–23 cm (7.1–9.1 in) long. It feeds off of small insects, fruits and seeds and nests in cacti.

Sonoran Desert Trail

The trail shows a view of the red rock cliffs and cacti of the Sonoran Desert. 

Sonoran Desert Trail

Desert Botanical Garden Phoenix, Arizona

For more information you an visit Desert Botanical Garden.

I hope you enjoyed the visit.

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Sharing at Tuesday Garden Party

  Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up September 2015: Signs of Autumn

September Garden

Welcome to my Long Island garden! As autumn approaches we have been experiencing temperatures in the mid to upper 80's and a significant lack of rain. The long dry spell was finally broken on the 10th. with a day of torrential rain, making up slightly for the moisture that was so desperately needed. There have been hints of autumn with a few days in the lower 80's and cool breezes off the water, a sign of seasonal change. In the garden there are plentiful late summer blooms, graceful grasses with bottle brush plumes,  the formation of seed pods, and berries turning to a reddish hue. Come along with me.

Buddleia Lo & Behold Blue Chip

Our first stop is the dwarf Butterfly Bush which is now in full bloom with fragrant purple panicles, making it a welcome shrub for butterfly visitors.  No butterflies are here at the moment...

Mockingbird

but a different visitor looks from overhead.

Back Raised Garden Bed

In the back raised garden bed Butterfly Bush is joined by Heuchera 'Caramel', Gold Mop Cypress, Barberry 'Rosy Glow' and Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar.

Sedum Brilliant September

Sedum in bloom means summer is winding down.  The voluminous deep pink blooms are 
a treat when the other perennials are coming to the end of their bloom cycle.

Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar, Mugo Pine and Sedum 'Brilliant'

I enjoy combining different textures together and Sedum is the perfect plant for doing
 so since it displays both texture and color!

Sedum 'Dazzleberry' Stonecrop Late Summer

I planted this variety of Sedum a few years ago in order to add more color to the fall garden.  It thrives in drought conditions and displays striking deep fuchsia blooms that are colorful for up to two months!

Hydrangea 'Endless Summer' September

The 'Endless Summer' Hydrangea are sporting their last blooms for the season. I enjoy every stage of their flowering, even as they start to lose their color and turn a pinkish-green hue.

Hydrangea 'Tardivia' September

The 'Tardivia' Hydrangea are still in full bloom and will continue to bloom into fall.

Crape Myrtle 'Sioux'

One of my favorite members of the garden is Lagerstromeia (Crape Myrtle) 'Sioux'.  It has grown to approximately 25 feet in stature and produces magnificent deep pink blooms from the end of July throughout September.  I look forward to its powerful display all summer long, which is well worth the wait!

Knock Out Roses

 Knock Out Roses continue to bloom all summer long and even into the first snow.

Pink Double Knock Out Rose in September

Let's get a close up of the Double Pink Knock Out in the back flower bed.

Weeping Japanese Maple

The trees, both deciduous and evergreen, seem to be in their element at this time of year.  They always look fuller and more bountiful as late summer approaches.  Soon the Japanese Maple will be showing off its inner twisted structure and the Weeping Norway will provide the greenery that is so needed in the winter landscape.

Weeping Norway Spruce with Fountain Grasses in Backdrop and Heuchera 'Palace Purple' in Foreground

These Heuchera (Coral Bells) are at the entrance to the driveway adding a touch of burgundy.

Variegated Liriope in Bloom

Variegated Liriope is in full bloom now as autumn approaches...

Hakonechloa (Japanese Forest Grass)

and Hakonechloa is at its fullest.

Shade Garden Foliage Combination

For more foliage, here is a combination of shade loving Hosta 'Patriot', 'Rependans' Spreading Yew, 'Palace Purple' Coral Bells and Leucothoe 'Auxillis' in the back pool garden.

Back Perennial Border September

In the perennial border, Astilbe, Lamb's Ear, Echinacea and Ornamental grasses are headed into fall mode, displaying their seed heads and flowing plumes.

September Fountain Grass Plumes

As we get closer the plumes on the fountain grasses are prominent...

Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima'

and Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima' is displaying its feathery plumes as well. 

Nandina domestica Berries Forming

With more and more signs of autumn on the way, the berries of Nandina domestica are starting to get their reddish hue...

Wisteria Seed Pods

and the Wisteria sets seed pods in preparation for next season.

September Sunset

September is a wonderful month for transition from summer into fall and many changes are taking place within the garden.  I am happy you were able to come along on this month's tour so I am bidding farewell for now with a September sunset.

September Garden

 Thank you to our hostesses Carol at May Dreams Gardens, who makes it is possible to see blooms on the 15th of every month with her meme Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Pam at Digging for hosting Foliage Follow-Up.  I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Tuesday Garden Party, Today's Flowers, Floral Fridays, Mosaic Monday at Lavender Cottage, I Heart Macro, Macro Monday 2, and Nature Notes at Rambling Woods.  Also check out What's Blooming This Week Garden Update.

I hope you enjoyed your walk through my September garden.

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2015. All rights reserved