Friday, March 1, 2019

Tucson Botanical Gardens

Tucson/Lazydays KOA
Tucson, AZ
February 8, 2019

Tucson Botanical Gardens is one of the prettiest gardens we have visited.  It's located on N. Alvernon Way...a busy street with businesses, eateries and apartments lining the street.  Chances are you have ridden right past it and never even noticed it was there.  Sue and Dave had not visited these gardens before.  Knowing they love desert flora and birds, we asked them to join us.  


The one room adobe building was the home of the Porters who started Desert Gardens Nursery in 1931.  

The earliest buildings on the grounds date back to the 1920s and were constructed of adobe bricks made on site.
The Robert J Wick: Earth, Life, Man exhibit is featured at the gardens from January thru June.  Each piece carries a living plant or tree.
Robert J Wick says, "The flora are not decorations; but are an integral part of the art defining it's character by quality, shape and nature of the plants used...My works of art are a union of art, man and nature"








The gardens are divided into three parts...the Cacti and Succulent garden, the Herb Garden, and the Barrio Garden.

Cacti and Succulent Garden...























The Barrio Garden...


I didn't get pictures of the Herb Garden this visit so if you haven't been to the Botanical Gardens, you will just have to add it to the "to do" list for Tucson.

Also at the Botanical Gardens is the Cox Butterfly and Orchid Pavilion.  Butterflies from all around the world are featured October thru May.  

A Wandering Violin Mantis...native to India
  

Sue and Dave enjoying the butterflies lined up on the windowsill...
An Orchid Mantis native to Malaysia...
 We also enjoyed listening to and watching the birds...especially the hummingbirds and the thrashers.  I only had my phone so I didn't get any pictures of them. 

After our leisurely stroll thru the Gardens, we enjoyed a great Mexican lunch topped off with Sopaipillas at Guillermo's.  

I'll close with just a few more pictures.  Until next time,








Dave and Joe





















































HAPPY TRAILS !


8 comments:

  1. Wow that's a beautiful garden. One we hope to visit someday. The Painted Lady butterflies are starting to show up in the desert here. It's fun watching them 'flutter by'.

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  2. What a great day! Love all the cacti! So many unusual ones.

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  3. Looks like a fun day , we missed this gardens with all the time spent in Tucson years ago.

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  4. I've not visited that garden, looks like it needs to go on y list!

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  5. I too enjoyed my time at the garden even if it was summertime in Tucson. I may just revisit it to see the new featured exhibit The Robert J Wick.

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  6. It's so funny that of all the places we'd heard about in Tucson, somehow, this one completely missed me. The first time I paid any attention to it was when you and Sue started posting pics on Facebook, but by then, we'd already moved on. Oh well... I know we'll be back! The garden is lovely... The perfect place to wander for an hour or two. Who knew the desert had so many colors and textures??

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  7. I'm bummed I once again missed this amazing place. Love the art pieces and the Barrio Garden. Thanks for sharing a great day with good friends.

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