These gardens were a bit of a disappointment. They cost 21/2 times the Albuquerque and Santa Fe gardens so we expected something extra special. They have trails of over a mile looping through different aspects of the Sonora desert and they were started in 1939 so they have some huge very mature specimens but we weren't very impressed. Firstly they had organised the seating at the end of the trail loops enough for coachload sized parties if necessary but there were lamentably few to zero benches along the loops and as any aged and decrepit person will tell you when you are struggling and wilting under the heat you need to be able to see the next eat to give you somewhere to aim for. Secondly they had adopted the PPIM of giving information aimed at 6th grade children. It is my experience that gardens tend to attract and older clientele, long past 6th grade and that simplistic explanations of "What is a Cactus?" and parallel evolution may not be what they are interested in. Labels naming the plant were insufficient, you would not be easily able to go out and buy a favourite. The first botanist at the garden was responsible for identifying all the different species of agave. I am sure somewhere in the garden each would be labelled.;but you see a plant and think "What's that?" and there's no label. Repeat the next time you see it and the next. Eventually you give up looking. The other thing about the signage was it was incredibly difficult to find the exit. Still lots of healthy plants. I shall try and be inspired for the terrace.
There was some wildlife as well, lizards, hummingbirds, and butterflies, but I did manage to sort of snap a Gambel's Quail,
and some chipmunks
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