See the Desert Come Alive This Spring at Desert Botanical Garden
November 28, 2025Phoenix, AZ – Step into spring at the Desert Botanical Garden, where the desert comes alive in full bloom. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the season through photography, motion, and sound with our featured art exhibit, Framerate: Desert Pulse. Enjoy a vibrant lineup of experiences for the whole family all season long. General admission tickets for January through May go on sale Nov. 28.at dbg.org.
Exhibitions
Included with membership or Garden admission.
FRAMERATE: Desert Pulse
Now – May 10, 2026 | 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. | Included with membership or Garden admission
FRAMERATE: Desert Pulse, a multi-sensory art exhibit by ScanLAB Projects, invites visitors into the visual and emotional energy of the Sonoran Desert. Through photography, motion, and sound, it reveals new ways of seeing and deepens appreciation for our vibrant ecosystem.
Mark Klett: Desert Citizens
Jan. 24 – Sept. 7 | 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. | Included with membership or Garden admission
Experience the Sonoran Desert through the lens of award-winning Arizona landscape photographer Mark Klett in this photography exhibit. With a career spanning more than four decades, Klett reframes our notions of time, cultural memory and the land around us.
Majestic Mariposas
Feb. 27 – May 10 | 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Included with membership or Garden admission
Celebrate the arrival of spring at the Cohn Family Butterfly Pavilion, where hundreds of colorful Southwestern butterflies fill the air with life. Watch the monarchs and other stunning species dance from flower to flower and discover their incredible lifecycle up close. Snap a photo by our vibrant butterfly mural or simply pause and experience the serene world of pollinators surround you.
Cactus Clubhouse
Now- May 10, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays | Included with membership or Garden admission
This play space for kids 12 and under inspires curiosity through hands-on nature play and imaginative exploration! Weekends feature extra fun with interactive activities and creative crafts.
A Walking Adventure at Desert Botanical Garden
Available during Garden Hours
Welcome to the Desert Pulse Audio Tour. This is a self‑guided audio journey designed to accompany you as you move between the installation sites. As you walk, listen closely—the desert has a rhythm of its own. Each stop reveals a new layer of connection between art and science, between technology and the living landscape. Take your time, pause where you feel inspired and let this audio tour guide you through Desert Pulse.
Events
Dog Days at the Garden
Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 | Feb. 7, 14, 28 | March 14, 21, 28 | April 4, 11, 18 | May 2, 9 | 8-11 a.m. May dates 7 -10 a.m. | Included with membership or Garden admission
Enjoy a weekend excursion with your four-legged friend through the Garden’s trails. A paw-fect place to enjoy the outdoors together with some great photo opps.
Seedlings
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28 | 9:30–11 a.m.| Members: $19.95 per class | General Public: $15 per class. On sale now
Children 3-5 and caretakers experience the wonder of nature through hands-on lessons that teach kids and adults how to splash, dig, climb and explore together through nature play concepts.
Arizona Opera Presents Rusalka, the Littlest Mermaid
Feb. 16 | 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. | Members: Free, General Public $39.95 Adults, $19.95 Children. | Reservation required, includes general admission. Reservations now open.
Join us for an unforgettable underwater adventure! Experience “Rusalka: The Littlest Mermaid”, a magical, child-friendly opera about courage, transformation and following your dreams. Based on Han Christian Anderson’s classic fairytale “The Little Mermaid” and composer Antonín Dvořák’s masterpiece, “Rusalka”, this enchanting performance is perfect for sparking young imaginations.
Lotería Nights
Jan. 15, Feb. 12, March 12, April 9 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Doors at 7 p.m. | This is a 21+ event. No infants or children permitted.
Feel the pulse of Lotería Nights and FRAMERATE: Desert Pulse this spring. Gather your friends for a night of excitement, amazing prices and a colorful, immersive experience. Food and drinks are available for purchase.
Ballet Arizona: An Evening at Desert Botanical Garden
May 13 – May 30 | 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. | Tickets on sale at balletaz.org
By popular demand, An Evening at Desert Botanical Garden is back and better than ever before! Surrounded by the magnificent desert landscape with the setting sun as its backdrop, this audience favorite now features two ballet experiences as a double-feature event.
Desert Sol: Empty Bowls
Feb. 8 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Included with membership or Garden admission
Experience healing and mindful activities that deepen your connection with nature and rejuvenate your soul. Immerse yourself in music, art and community as you embark on a journey toward balance and fulfillment. Support Tempe Empty Bowls in the fight against hunger and food insecurity. Enjoy live music, art, cooking demos and shop ceramic bowls and pottery. With each bowl purchase is a complimentary soup voucher.
Desert Studio: Emerging Artists Series
Jan 30, Feb 27, March 27, April 17, May 8 | 6:30 – 9 p.m. | Doors at 6 p.m.| Included with membership or Garden admission
Discover the next wave of talent with our new series—uncover emerging artists, never-before-heard music and album drops designed to spark excitement for Garden members and music lover alike! All ages event.
Bottles & Bites with SanTan Distilling
Jan. 28, March 25 | 6-8 p.m. | Members $125, General Admission $135
Join us for Bottles & Bites, an immersive tasting adventure where flavor, craftsmanship and creativity come together in three unforgettable showcases. Stroll through each interactive station and discover the artistry behind exceptional food, drinks and pairings. January: Gertrude’s Founders Bourbon, March: Gertrude’s Founders Gin
Pulse Parties
Jan 23, Feb 13, March 13, April 10, May 1 | 6-9 p.m. | Included with membership or Garden admission
Inspired by Desert Pulse, a dynamic multi-sensory art exhibit that captures the visual and emotional energy of the Sonoran Desert, these themed Garden parties are designed to ignite your senses and elevate your spirit. Move to the rhythm of the desert with immersive experiences featuring music, movement, creativity and more.
Storytime
Jan. 17, 18, 24, 26 | Feb. 7, 9, 14, 16 | March 7, 9, 28, 30 | April 4, 6, 25, 27 | May 2, 4, 16, 18| 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Included with membership or Garden admission
Join Desert Botanical Garden for Storytime. Introduce your child five and younger to the beauty and wonder of nature through engaging books, songs, activities and play. Designed for children and caretakers, each session leads children through an immersive experience of nature learning in the Garden.
Black Love: The Exhale Presented by Centered.PHX
Feb. 7 | 6:30-9 p.m., Doors 6 p.m. | Members: $29.95, General Admission $34.95
Black Love: The Exhale is a storytelling and live music experience that celebrates the richness, resilience and range of Black love in the heart of the desert. Now in its fourth year at Desert Botanical Garden, Centered.PHX returns with a new offering that honors Black love as Black History. Featuring Black couples from across Arizona, the event highlights real stories of connection, commitment, growth and joy during Black History Month.
Spring Plant Sale
March 13-16 | 7 a.m.-3 p.m., last entry at 2 p.m. | Free Admission. Reservations required. Reservations open Feb. 4 for Garden Members and Feb. 18 General Public
Bring the magic of the desert into your garden or green space. Explore our expansive collection of 30,000 desert-adapted plants at the Fall Plant Sale. Expert advice and a picturesque outdoor shopping experience await. Give your landscape a dreamy makeover this spring.
Fund the Farm Celebration
March 20 | 6-9 p.m. | Tickets on sale Dec. 12. | This is a 21+ event. No infants or children permitted.
Fund the Farm Celebration is a festive party helping grow Spaces of Opportunity! Guests can explore tasting stations, regional wines, craft beverages and enjoy live music throughout the Garden’s trails culminating with a headliner performance. Fund the Farm is a 21+ event. No infants or children permitted.
40th Annual Dinner on the Desert
April 25 | 6-11 p.m. | Tickets start at $750
Dinner on the Desert 2026 blends the exquisite beauty of the Garden to create a memorable evening. Event Chair, Hank Arens looks forward to welcoming guests as you enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and the breathtaking Garden views. The event will include the Garden’s signature in-person silent auction, where guests can bid on distinctive plants, pots, garden art and an array of exciting experiences.
Mother’s Day
May 10 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Included with membership or Garden admission. Moms free with a paid admission, use promo code MOMS26 Celebrate all the moms in your life who make life bloom. Enjoy a day surrounded by cactus-filled landscapes, the immersive exhibit, FRAMERATE: Desert Pulse, and a complimentary photo booth.
Adult Education Classes | Winter classes on sale now. Spring on sale Dec. 5.
Take learning into your own hands and enjoy specialized one-time classes located at Desert Botanical Garden. Get inspired and learn new skills through one of our programs in landscape and gardening, photography, art, cooking and wellness.
