After visiting the “Washed Ashore” exhibit, we wandered through the 20 different gardens that cover the five-and-a-half acre Tucson Botanical Gardens.
In 1964, horticulturist and collector, Harrison G. Yocum founded the Tucson Botanical Gardens at his home. It became a non-profit in 1969. Through the fundraising efforts of local garden groups and Friends of the TBG, the Tucson Botanical Gardens moved to its current location in 1974.
Turns out the TBG came in fourth in the 2024 USAToday’s Reader’s Choice of the 10 Best Botanical Gardens in the country.
Tucson has had a lot of rain this winter so there is going to be a bumper crop of flowers and flowering cacti.
Prickly Poppy
Lady's Glove
Short-leaved Aloe flowers
A fountain in the Zen Garden.
Colorful chairs to sit a spell in the Barrio Garden.
A field trip to the Cox Butterfly and Orchid Pavilion
Once inside, they fly all around you.
Heliconius butterfly
Up close and personal.
Moth Orchid
Malachite Butterfly
An Atlas Moth, considered to be the largest moth in the world. Their wingspans can be up to 12 inches.
Stickpea
Beautiful mosaic memorial benches are everywhere in the gardens.
"The sun shines not on us, but in us" John Muir…
Gorgeous mosaic friendship bench.
Whether you go to see a specific exhibit or just wander around the grounds, the Tucson Botanical Gardens has something for everyone. They offer community classes and events in “an urban oasis in the heart of Tucson.”
Exquisitely beautiful and breath taking, and breat giving, Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing this collection.
Gorgeous, Deb! I don't think I was ever there when we lived there. How could I have been so dumb! We used to go to Tohono Chul a lot, back when it was a small place. I am hoping for a visit this fall, or maybe next year for the book festival, so I've got the Botanical Gardens on my must see list. Love all the photos!