Thursday, October 19, 2017

My 5th visit to the Desert Botanical Garden

It was just over a year ago that I visited the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, AZ, for the 5th time. It's quite sad it took me so long to share these photos, but I kept thinking I'd write some well-thought-out, detailed, post with photos organized by area and lots of information about different Agave species. When it finally came down to it I deleted over half of my photos. Sure there are beautiful Agaves that will go unmentioned, by me, but that's okay. I can always write that post, next time.

This beauty wasn't labeled. I what to call it Agave titanota, but it may actually Agave 'Felipe Otero'.

This one was labeled Agave titanota, obviously a big difference!

Both have great teeth though!


On account of the fact you've got 58 photos to look through I'll keep the chatter to a minimum and just let you drool...

Agave scabra

Yucca rigida

Agave parryi var couesii

Agave albomarginata

The next few photos are from the "Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert Trail"...

Saguaro skeleton, I bet these go for big bucks!

Ferocactus cylindraceus

The fruit and seed is edible, I didn't try it.

Some sort of Dasylirion I believe.

Ferocactus pottsii

Ferocactus emoryi subsp. rectispinus

If I had a great structure like this I could cover almost my whole garden for the winter!

The Archer House, I'm not certain what goes on here but I really wanted to plop down in one of those chairs and enjoy a margarita!

Agave ovatifolia

I had to laugh when I spotted the tentacle planter, I just didn't expect to see this here!

Synadenium grantii, aka Synadenium compactum var. rubrum, aka Euphorbia bicompacta var. rubra

Dasylirion wheeleri

The rock outcropping looks like it's from a movie set, don't you think?

Mortonia scabrella, Sandpaper Bush

Opuntia macrocentra

The pick-axe Saguaro can be seen in this post.

Reminds me of the balancing cactus puzzle.

There's that fake background again! (no, not really)

Ferocactus emoryi subsp. rectispinus

I came across this strange damage pattern just a couple of months after the Agave edema disaster in my garden (here)...

Any guesses as to what's going on here?

Love this wall, it sets off the plants so nicely...

I think this is a Yucca baccata (?)

Agave xylonacantha

More great Agave teeth!

Pardon me if I've featured this fountain earlier. I thought I had, but then couldn't find it anywhere. I think it's just grand...

Would love to have it in my garden. Then again the evil raccoons would make a mess of it.

We're almost done, just a few more photos...

Aloe striata, aka Coral Aloe

There's strength in numbers!

Okay...that's a wrap. I hope to visit the DBG again soon, maybe even next summer! It's one of my very favorite places...

Weather Diary, Oct 18: Hi 64, Low 49/ Precip .09"

All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

26 comments:

  1. What a wonderful post. It brought back great memories of my previous visits. Like you, I can't wait to go back. If I lived in the Phoenix area, I'd volunteer there.

    An ID-related comment: I agree with you Yucca baccata.

    As for the weird agave leaf damage, I think the pattern is too regular to be natural. The abrasions could be from an animal. But basically I have no clue either.

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    1. Me too! (volunteer) Will you be taking your annual desert trip this winter?

      Isn't that damage just bizarre?

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  2. Great post a feast for the eyes.

    I was about to do ap ost on my agave titanotas asking about names. I think the second one at least is the offical one, not sure if the first has been moved.

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    1. Oh, I hope you do the post, I'd love to see them and read what people think.

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  3. You must have been in heaven in such a beautifully laid out garden. Phil Hebets is my kind of hero!

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  4. Some of those cacti are jaw dropping: Ferocactus cylindraceus...Opuntia macrocentra... An astounding amount of thorns. How would an enterprising bug dare pollinate such a contraption? Yes, I know, very carefully... hopefully no one had to give their tiny life for the lovely fruit they provide. Amazing garden.

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    1. I bet they're masters at avoiding the spikes.

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  5. Oh, I could definitely have taken many more photos. The cacti were so cool. Some day maybe I'll bring a big one home from California. I'd love to have a golden barrel cactus in a big pot.

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    1. I got my golden barrel at Home Depot right here in Portland...

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  6. Beautiful pics! I am going in 2 months, can't wait :)

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  7. No wonder it's a favorite. Your kind of plants. I love the first water feature with the cacti behind it. And you are right about strength in numbers. Those masses of one plant always get me. Love that concept.

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    1. Maybe someday I'll have the space (and the climate) to plant like that...

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  8. Not sure if you know but after seeing your margarita comment I remembered that the garden hosts an "Agave on the Rocks" event every year at the end of March. It is at night and you get a free margarita and then there is food and bands and generally a great time. Have been twice.

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    1. That sounds lovely! If I ever make it down there in March I'll check it out. I've never seen the garden in the evening hours.

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  9. You visit all the best places. Perfect antidote for the dark, wet PNW day we're having.

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    1. Ugh. What a day yesterday was. Looking at the forecast this weekend looks even worse...

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  10. Yes! Yes! Yes! This is such a brilliant botanical garden, covered by a brilliant blog. Mmm-mmm, happy things together.

    It and Boyce-Thompson Arboretum, as a team, I feel, completely embody the ultimate spirit of the Sonoran Desert in Gardening, and the latter may be the only thing (barely, nearly immeasurably) better than the desert botanic.

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    1. Sadly I've never been to the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum, it's on my list. Maybe next summer!

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  11. It's a great garden. I'm fascinated by that sandpaper bush.

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  12. And I haven't even been once! One of these days we'll have to get to Phoenix.

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  13. Katherine Wagner-ReissOctober 21, 2017

    Thanks for sharing.

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