We love our Desert Botanical Garden! For a family low on cash, buying a membership was a fantastic value. Looking for something to do with an energetic toddler? Go hike around the trails for an hour. Want a fun date night with your spouse? Check out one of the special events like Bruce Munro's installation. We also like the semi annual plant sale where we find a lot of rare species at better quality than the landscape stores.
If you go there one time and enjoy it, think about using that day's fee towards purchasing a membership on the way out. You'll also get a free entrance to a few hundred other gardens through their reciprocal admissions program.