Excursions by Garth | PhotosByGarth.com Blog

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Desert Botanical Garden

Desert Botanical Garden

April 23, 2011

Today we visited the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, AZ. I love to see the cactus in bloom and there is a great butterfly exhibit in the Spring and Fall here. We went with our good friends Laurie and John and had a very good time exploring this great Botanical garden.

Boojum Tree

This odd looking Boojum Tree (Fouquieria columnaris) is about thirty feet (10m) tall.

Butterfly montage

Here is a montage of some of the many photos I took in the butterfly tent (which is approximately 100 feet long, 25 feet wide and 20 feet tall, made of netting with lots of plants and misters).

tall cactus with odd bloom

I think these are Organ Pipe Cactus but they have a very odd bloom that is very fuzzy.

Chollo Cactus

This is a Cholla cactus (sometimes spelled Chollo, but pronounced choya) which is backlit by the sun to create this startling effect.

Cylindropuntia Fulgida in the Desert Botanical Garden

Another shot of the Cholla Cactus (Cylindropuntia Fulgida) in the Desert Botanical Garden.

chollo cactus or cholla cactus

Cylindropuntia fulgida is also known as the hanging chain cholla, or the Jumping cholla.

more Cholla Cactus

The chollo cactus or cholla cactus is very pretty, but you do not want to touch it. Stay away!

Chilopsis or desert willow flower

I was surprised to see this Bignonia like flower on the Desert Willow Tree (or Chilopsis).

humming bird

This humming bird’s wings are moving so fast they are just a blur in this photo.

Joshua Tree or Yucca Brevifolia

This is one of the tallest Joshua Trees (Yucca Brevifolia) I have ever seen.

Mammillaria compressa flowers

I loved all the little flowers on this group of Mammillaria compressa cactus.

Fouquieria splendens

Although not a great picture of this Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) cactus in bloom, I love the sky behind it. Other names for this plant are desert coral, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, and vine cactus, although it is not a true cactus.

Prickly Pear Cactus Yellow bloom

Here is a beautiful yellow bloom on a Prickly Pear cactus. This plant is also know as Opuntia, nopales or paddle cactus.

Prickly Pear Cactus in bloom

Another Prickly Pear Cactus in bloom. Notice the bee in the top right flower.

Prickly Pear Cactus bloom with bee

Another bee in a Prickly Pear Cactus bloom.

orange colored Prickly Pear cactus blooms

I like these orange colored Prickly Pear cactus blooms

Giant saguaro cactus

These giant saguaro (pronounced suwaro which rhymes with borrow) cactus are always impressive. The scientific name is Carnegiea gigantea.

Saguaro Cactus

This odd looking Saguaro Cactus is about thirty feet tall.

Cardon cactus or Cordon cactus

Although I thought this was another Saguaro Cactus I now think it is actually a Cardón cactus, Pachycereus pringlei, sometimes spelled Cardon cactus or Cordon cactus.

Saguaro Cactus

Another massive Saguaro Cactus with an interesting deformed limb.

saguaro cactus and papago butte

Here are some Saguaro cactus posing in front of the fascinating Papago Butte.

Saguaro cactus stump

Here is a stump from a long dead Saguaro cactus.

Saguaro cactus in front of the Papago Buttes

Another shot of a Saguaro cactus in front of the Papago Buttes in Phoenix, AZ.

Yucca plants in bloom

I found these young Yucca plants in bloom surrounding the stump of a fallen Joshua Tree very interesting.

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