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| - If you are looking to enjoy the beautiful serenity of the desert and not leave the city, then check out the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. Set in Papago Park, next to the Phoenix Zoo, the Desert Botanical Garden features a wide variety of cacti, succulents, and other desert plants on extensive grounds. Many of these plants are native and some are exotic to the Sonoran Desert. They recently created a dramatic entrance, with a front display of large cacti, including saguaro, ocotillo, and organ pipe cactus, that greet you the moment you enter the Garden. The pathways are winding and wonderful, but not so rugged that a person in a wheelchair could not navigate the terrain. Some of the inclines lead you to remarkable views of the cityscape and the surrounding mountains. They also have an excellent gift shop.
The spring and early summer months, when the desert flowers bloom and it is not too hot during the day, are an excellent time of year to make a visit. Just as good are the holiday weeks in late November and early to middle December, when the Garden holds Las Noches de las Luminarias. This event is similar in concept to the Farolito Walk in Santa Fe, New Mexico, when luminarias (farolitos) line the walkways to softly illuminate your path, hot beverages are sold, and musicians perform throughout the Garden. The year that Chihuly's glass artwork was featured alongside the luminarias was just incredible.
The Desert Botanical Garden is a great way to spend the day and learn about the beauty of the desert. It is truly one of Phoenix's best offerings.
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