Gardening on the Moon ( GOTM )

Written by Jeff

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The ability to visit the Desert Botanical Garden (DBG) is one of the great pleasures of living in the Phoenix metro area. There is so much to see every time one visits! We take many guests there and although we have been there dozens of times, surprises and wonders are still to be found.

In spring the wildflower trail comes to life. There is a sea of penstemon of all colors. Pictured below is the mass of pink and red penstemon along with other wildflowers.

A decorative grass adds accent to a wondrous display of wildflowers.

The light blue flower in the picture below is called Baby Blue Eyes and it is quite striking with its pale blue color that fades almost to white as it reaches the center of the bloom. Contrasted with the surrounding flowers, it is impressive in its subtle beauty and contrast.

The DBG has special exhibits throughout the year. During the spring, the butterfly pavilion hosts a variety of butterflies. The striking Zebra butterfly flits feverishly from flower to flower (resting here on a yellow columbine) while the orange Queen butterfly is a bit more relaxed preferring to linger on a favored flower (a poppy in this photo).

In addition to the butterflies, the DBG had an exhibit by sculptor Allen Houser. Especially fitting were the more “traditional” native American art pieces such as the one pictured below.

If you are visiting the Phoenix, AZ area, I would recommend visiting the Desert Botanical Garden. You can check their website for exhibits, hours, etc. If you have any interest in plants, this is a “must see!”

Read Part I of Desert Botanical Garden Blooms, Spring 2010 – click here

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post