In 1938 a small group of Valley citizens gathered in Papago Park to create a botanical garden whose precepts would encourage an understanding, appreciation and promotion of the uniqueness of the world's deserts, particularly the Sonoran Desert. They foresaw the Valley's potential and unique identity, envisioning the need to conserve their beautiful desert environment. The Desert Botanical Garden, since its inception in 1939, continues to be a testament to their vision.
The Desert Botanical Garden Story: A Legacy of Passion
The Desert Botanical Garden is home to the world’s largest and most diverse collections of desert plants.
Garden Mission Statement
The Garden’s commitment to the community is to advance excellence in education, research, exhibition and conservation of desert plants of the world with emphasis on the southwestern United States. We will ensure that the Garden is always a compelling attraction that brings to life the many wonders of the desert. (Articles of Incorporation, 1937; Amended 2002)
Garden Vision Statement
The Garden's future plans to fulfill its mission are embodied in its vision statement: "The Garden’s vision is to be the premiere center in the world for the display, study and understanding of desert plants and their environments. The Garden strives to be an indispensable resource in the Southwestern United States for helping individuals learn about Sonoran Desert Plants as well as desert plants of the world, so that they will conserve and protect the natural world for the benefit of future generations. Every element of the Garden will reflect excellence, beauty and inspiration to transform the visitor experience into one of discovery and meaning about deserts and desert plants.”
Garden Core Values
The Garden's core values, mission and future plans to fulfill its mission are articulated below.
1. Plants and people need each other ---- our destinies are woven together.
2. Desert plants and environments, especially the Sonoran Desert, must be conserved.
3. The Desert Botanical Garden exists to teach and inspire our community to forever protect and preserve the natural world.
What makes the Desert Botanical Garden unique and distinctive?
The Desert Botanical Garden was founded by a group of individuals who were concerned about rapid development in the Phoenix area and felt the need to protect and preserve a portion of the native desert. Incorporated in January of 1937, the Garden opened to the public on February 21, 1939. The purpose of the Desert Botanical Garden, according to the 1937 Articles of Incorporation "shall be to exhibit, to conserve, to study and to disseminate knowledge of the arid-land plants of the world, with special emphasis on succulents and the native flora of the Southwestern United States."
The 1980s were a time of expansion and growth. During this time, the Garden led a revolution in the way gardens conceptualized their educational mission by modeling the museum experience and expanding interpretive signage and guided tours. In 1983, the American Association of Museums accredited the Garden. The Statement of Corporate Purpose was amended in 1984 to include the study of the ecological context of desert plants, and to emphasize water conservation and the role of desert plants in landscaping. In 1985, the Desert Botanical Garden became a charter member of the Center for Plant Conservation, a consortium of botanical gardens devoted to preserving the rare flora of the United States. Two new outdoor exhibits were opened – the Landscape Demonstration Garden in 1985 and the Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert Trail in 1988. During the 1980s and 90s The Garden achieved distinction for our newly formed volunteer program, our guided tour program, school programs and interpretive signage along each of the Garden’s five major trails. By 1990, the Garden was widely recognized for leadership and excellence in education.
Since 2003, the Garden has participated in a multi-institutional cooperative effort to provide seed collections to the Millennium Seedbank Project directed by Kew Garden in England. The project, titled “Seeds of Success,” has taken the vast mission of documenting approximately 24,000 plant species throughout the world with seeds and herbarium specimens. The Desert Botanical Garden, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management and two other Gardens in the U.S., is collecting over 20,000 seeds representing fifty species.
Researchers at the Garden are often called upon by state and federal agencies seeking for advice on protection of the Arizona habitat. Agencies include the Environmental Protection Agency, the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Parks Service. Garden researchers also conduct botanical inventories on newly acquired state and federal preserve lands in Arizona.
The Plant Propagation Program at the Desert Botanical Garden increases the quantity, quality, and selection of plants available for use in the Garden's permanent collection as well as for sale through the Garden's gift shop and biannual plant sale. Established in 2003, the program has placed 500 new accessions in the Garden’s collection and an additional 500 plants for Garden use including sales to the public. In 2005, the Garden was awarded a grant by the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust to expand the plant introduction program and increase offerings to the public for sale.
The Desert Botanical Garden is a founding member of the Museum Association of Arizona, and plays a leading role in the local, regional and national museum community. The Garden sponsors joint marketing efforts and joint long range planning with its immediate neighbor, the Phoenix Zoo. It collaborates closely with all the residents of Papago Park, including other museums and for-profit ventures, to foster careful stewardship of the Park. The Garden implements joint marketing and programming activities with Phoenix’s Heard Museum, which interprets Native American cultures. Garden staff members participate fully in region-wide collaborations among museums, and numerous Garden staff members hold board positions at partner organizations. The Garden is a founding member of CPC, the Center for Plant Conservation. Garden staff planned and hosted the annual CPC conference in 2006, and our director has just been invited to serve on that board. Garden researchers collaborate frequently with officials from the Federal Bureau of Land Management and the Arizona Department of Fish and Game—mostly on conservation and land reclamation matters.
A SHORT HISTORY
PLANTING THE SEEDS FOR A BOTANICAL GARDEN
A small group of passionate local citizens saw the need to conserve our beautiful 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 1936, 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 our Sonoran Desert. Then Gertrude Webster, whose home encompassed all of what is today Arcadia, joined the Society. She offered her encouragement, connections and financial support to establish the botanical garden in Papago Park.
FIRST BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Garden benefactor Gertrude Webster served as President of the Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society’s first Board of Directors and Gustaf Starck was one of five Vice Presidents. The other VP’s were W. E. Walker, Rell Haskett, L. L. Kriegbaum, and Samuel Wilson, who also served as Treasurer. Paul G. Olsen was Secretary. In 1938, after much work by the ACNFS 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.
FIRST VOLUNTEERS
More than 60 years ago, volunteers created the Desert Botanical garden and keep it humming today. Volunteers who share their time, talents and professional expertise, are vital to the smooth operation of the Garden, bringing an appreciation of the world’s deserts to visitors from all over the world.
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 IN THE GARDEN TODAY
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, bringing an appreciation of the world’s deserts to visitors from every country. Volunteers also serve as members of the Board of Trustees, setting policy and governing the Garden.
With the help of volunteers, the Garden has grown into a compelling attraction and plays a major role, offering wonderful community festivals, events, and educational programming. Volunteering at the Desert Botanical Garden is a world-class experience and wonderful adventure.
Garden Numbers
145 acres
65 acres under cultivation
50,000+ plant displays showcased in beautiful outdoor exhibits
1 of only 44 botanical gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums
1,166 volunteers
70,113 volunteer hours
127 staff
369,016 total yearly attendance
20,123+ member households
About 4,379 school children guided on field trip
