Founded by the Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society in 1937[1] and established at this site in 1939, the garden now has more than 50,000 plants in more than 4,000 taxa, one-third of which are native to the area, including 379 species, which are rare, threatened or endangered.
Of special note are the rich collections of agave (4,026 plants in 248 taxa) and cacti (13,973 plants in 1,320 taxa), especially the Opuntia sub-family. Plants from less extreme climate conditions are protected under shadehouses. It focuses on plants adapted to desert conditions, including an Australian collection, a Baja California collection and a South American collection. Several ecosystems are represented: a mesquitebosque, semi-desert grassland, and upland chaparral.
In the 1930s, a small group of local citizens became interested in conserving the fragile desert environment. One was Swedish botanist Gustaf Starck, who found like-minded residents by posting a sign, “Save the desert,” with an arrow pointing to his home. In April 1934 they formed the Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society (ACNFS) to sponsor a botanical garden to encourage an understanding, appreciation and promotion of the uniqueness of the world's deserts, particularly the local Sonoran Desert.[3]
Eventually Gertrude Webster, whose home encompassed all of what is today the neighborhood of Arcadia, joined the Society. She offered her encouragement, connections and financial support to establish the botanical garden in Papago Park. Margaret Bell Douglas provided support as well, donating 1,500 specimens to the herbarium.[4]
Webster served as president of the Society's first Board of Directors and Gustaf Starck, W. E. Walker, Rell Hasket, L. L. Kreigbaum, and Samuel Wilson were the five vice president. The latter also served as Treasurer. Paul G. Olsen was Secretary. In 1938, after much work by the ACNFS, the board hired the Garden's first executive director, George Lindsay, who oversaw the first planting on the grounds. The Desert Botanical Garden opened in 1939 as a non-profit museum dedicated to research, education, conservation and display of desert plants.
Education and art
The Garden offers specialized tours, workshops and lectures on desert landscaping and horticulture, nature art and photography, health and wellness.[2]
The Garden presents Spring and Fall open-air acoustic concert series, art exhibitions, and Las Noches de las Luminarias since 1978. The Luminarias Festival became a Southwestern Holiday tradition featuring live music by the flickering lights of 8000 hand-lit luminaria.[5]
Volunteers were essential in the Garden's creation and development, when the staff was small and finances tight. These early supporters, including a few amateur botanists who donated their own plant collections, helped plan and execute plant sales, photography and art exhibits, and numerous public events.
Volunteers remain a Garden asset, sharing their time, talents and professional expertise. They work closely with staff to maintain the Garden's status as a premier plant research institution and serve as members of the Board of Trustees, setting policy and governing the Garden.
Gallery
Desert Botanical Garden
Desert Botanical Garden
Different species of cacti on display in the Desert Botanical Garden of Phoenix.
The Webster Auditorium building was constructed in 1939 and is located inside the compounds of the Desert Botanical Garden. In 1937, Gertrude Webster joined newly established Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society. The auditorium is named after her. In 1990, the National Park Service certified Webster Auditorium as a national historic site and assigned it the reference number 9000823.
Inside the historic Webster Auditorium. The auditorium was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on May 1, 1990, ref: 9000823.
^Deborah A. Starr, "Desert Botanical Garden", Horticulture, March 1994:48–54.
^ ab. Archived from the original on October 1, 2006. Retrieved October 18, 2006.
^Rhys Lee A shining beacon of conservation: The Desert Botanical Garden 2019-10-04 at the Wayback Machine Arcadia News Oct 1, 2019
^"Margaret Bell Douglas". AWHF. from the original on 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
^"History of Las Noches de las Luminarias". Desert Botanical Garden. 30 Nov 2021. Archived from the original on 15 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Desert Botanical Garden.
Official Desert Botanical Garden website
Geographic data related to Desert Botanical Garden at OpenStreetMap
May 05, 2023
desert, botanical, garden, acre, botanical, garden, located, papago, park, 1201, galvin, parkway, phoenix, central, arizona, locationphoenix, arizona, uscoordinates33, 46194, 94472, 46194, 94472, coordinates, 46194, 94472, 46194, 94472area140, acres, establish. Desert Botanical Garden is a 140 acre 57 ha botanical garden located in Papago Park at 1201 N Galvin Parkway in Phoenix central Arizona Desert Botanical GardenDesert Botanical GardenLocationPhoenix Arizona USCoordinates33 27 43 N 111 56 41 W 33 46194 N 111 94472 W 33 46194 111 94472 Coordinates 33 27 43 N 111 56 41 W 33 46194 N 111 94472 W 33 46194 111 94472Area140 acres 57 ha Established1939 1939 FounderArizona Cactus and Native Flora SocietyHabitatsBosque semidesert grassland chaparralPlants50 000Species4 379CollectionsAustralian Baja California South AmericanWebsitewww wbr dbg wbr orgFounded by the Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society in 1937 1 and established at this site in 1939 the garden now has more than 50 000 plants in more than 4 000 taxa one third of which are native to the area including 379 species which are rare threatened or endangered Of special note are the rich collections of agave 4 026 plants in 248 taxa and cacti 13 973 plants in 1 320 taxa especially the Opuntia sub family Plants from less extreme climate conditions are protected under shadehouses It focuses on plants adapted to desert conditions including an Australian collection a Baja California collection and a South American collection Several ecosystems are represented a mesquite bosque semi desert grassland and upland chaparral Desert Botanical Garden has been designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride 2 Contents 1 History 2 Education and art 3 Volunteerism 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditIn the 1930s a small group of local citizens became interested in conserving the fragile desert environment One was Swedish botanist Gustaf Starck who found like minded residents by posting a sign Save the desert with an arrow pointing to his home In April 1934 they formed the Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society ACNFS to sponsor a botanical garden to encourage an understanding appreciation and promotion of the uniqueness of the world s deserts particularly the local Sonoran Desert 3 Eventually Gertrude Webster whose home encompassed all of what is today the neighborhood of Arcadia joined the Society She offered her encouragement connections and financial support to establish the botanical garden in Papago Park Margaret Bell Douglas provided support as well donating 1 500 specimens to the herbarium 4 Webster served as president of the Society s first Board of Directors and Gustaf Starck W E Walker Rell Hasket L L Kreigbaum and Samuel Wilson were the five vice president The latter also served as Treasurer Paul G Olsen was Secretary In 1938 after much work by the ACNFS the board hired the Garden s first executive director George Lindsay who oversaw the first planting on the grounds The Desert Botanical Garden opened in 1939 as a non profit museum dedicated to research education conservation and display of desert plants Education and art EditThe Garden offers specialized tours workshops and lectures on desert landscaping and horticulture nature art and photography health and wellness 2 The Garden presents Spring and Fall open air acoustic concert series art exhibitions and Las Noches de las Luminarias since 1978 The Luminarias Festival became a Southwestern Holiday tradition featuring live music by the flickering lights of 8000 hand lit luminaria 5 Volunteerism EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed September 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Volunteers were essential in the Garden s creation and development when the staff was small and finances tight These early supporters including a few amateur botanists who donated their own plant collections helped plan and execute plant sales photography and art exhibits and numerous public events Volunteers remain a Garden asset sharing their time talents and professional expertise They work closely with staff to maintain the Garden s status as a premier plant research institution and serve as members of the Board of Trustees setting policy and governing the Garden Gallery EditDesert Botanical Garden Desert Botanical Garden Different species of cacti on display in the Desert Botanical Garden of Phoenix A rare cristate Saguaro cactus Webster Auditorium The Webster Auditorium building was constructed in 1939 and is located inside the compounds of the Desert Botanical Garden In 1937 Gertrude Webster joined newly established Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society The auditorium is named after her In 1990 the National Park Service certified Webster Auditorium as a national historic site and assigned it the reference number 9000823 Inside the historic Webster Auditorium The auditorium was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on May 1 1990 ref 9000823 Cactus display The Weisz Family Plaza Cacti and succulents display Butterfly pavilion Cactus flowers Wildflower gardenSee also Edit Arizona portal Gardening portalList of botanical gardens and arboretums in Arizona List of historic properties in Phoenix Arizona List of botanical gardens in the United StatesReferences Edit Deborah A Starr Desert Botanical Garden Horticulture March 1994 48 54 a b Phoenix Points of Pride Archived from the original on October 1 2006 Retrieved October 18 2006 Rhys Lee A shining beacon of conservation The Desert Botanical Garden Archived 2019 10 04 at the Wayback Machine Arcadia News Oct 1 2019 Margaret Bell Douglas AWHF Archived from the original on 2020 09 25 Retrieved 2019 05 15 History of Las Noches de las Luminarias Desert Botanical Garden 30 Nov 2021 Archived from the original on 15 May 2022 Retrieved 15 May 2022 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Desert Botanical Garden Official Desert Botanical Garden website Geographic data related to Desert Botanical Garden at OpenStreetMap Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Desert Botanical Garden amp oldid 1094282815, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
