Very nicely laid out with meandering trails. It's impeccably maintained. Overall about a 2 mile easy walk with lots of interesting things to see. Stopped in the art gallery to see a short film about Fernando Botero which was a nice respite from the sun but also educational. Staff is very helpful and cute gift shop. Recommend going early morning before the weather gets too hot.

This garden has an amazing display of desert plants in a curated and cultivated garden. A main loop path leads you to several smaller loops that explore various zones of plants. The trail can get very hot on sunny days, but there are trees and water stations to help provide some shade and cool down. The visitor center, gift shop, and restaurant also provide relief if you are overheating. We stopped at the butterfly house on one of the loops as well. It is easy to spend two or more hours exploring the gardens.

Well worth the trip. Frankly, much more interesting and tolerable than trying to hike in the desert! Accessible. Paths are smooth and graded; I woulld feel comfortable bringing my 88 year-old mother here, and I saw a couple of people on scooters. Plus, you can see and do as much as you want (we walked every loop we could). Stops for cold water, seating, and shade are located along the paths. Signage is in English and Spanish. Make a day of it and have lunch at Gertrudes (the restaurant) and sit outside to enjoy the plants.

Most beautiful gardens, so enjoyable! The volunteers along the way were very knowledgeable about the gardens and overall desert information. Spent a few hours here and also had lunch at their on site restaurant, Gertrude’s. Highly recommend them for a lunch and their dessert menu should not be missed!

When my husband, son and I went they had limited hours, due to the heat, but we still enjoyed visiting a lot and saw everything we wanted to. Things appear to be growing very naturally but there were multiple sections to see different types of desert plants. Of course there were lots of cacti but also grasses plus a pollinator sections for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. There was a herb garden and an edible garden too. While we were there a wedding was happening so they definitely offer that as well. I liked how each section had a distance so you could decide if you wanted to walk it or not. None was over half a mile though. I did wish there was more shade though, so be sure to wear a hat/sunscreen. The gardens do offer reciprocal membership otherwise admission was $25 for adults, $15 for kids 3-17 years old, and free for ages 2 and under. The store offered a nice selection of items to buy as well.

Beat the heat and go early in the morning. We visited in early April and the temperatures still reached 100. There are a good number of shade structures throughout the gardens to provide some relief. This is a really beautiful garden with lots of variety of cactus. Insider tip: If you are not already a garden member, join! The garden membership provides reciprocal benefits to other gardens around the country. On our membership, we visited several other gardens for free due to the reciprocal benefits.

Spent a couple of hours here including a toddler. She really seemed to enjoy it. It’s beautifully maintained and quite impressive. Many Docents and staff all were very informative and helpful. One big surprise was the quality of the restaurant which had unique farm to table items that weee delicious and a wonderful setting especially on the heated patio

This is a great place to enjoy the beauty of the Sonoran desert without having to leave the city. You can spend as little time or as much time as you want here. If you go in the summer, make sure to have water and sun protection.

I so wished we had booked ahead for the illuminated tour! Nevertheless, the garden was better than I remembered it from our visit 6 years ago. Lots to see and great information boards, as well as guides, to explain the "ethnobotany". It is expensive at $25 per ticket but worth it for more than 2 hours of insight into the plants and peoples of the desert

The garden was beautiful and informative and a great way to enjoy the AZ weather. Bonus they currently have a Botero art exhibit that was outstanding! I spent about 4 leisurely hours wandering, learning, and enjoying the views.