Tucson Botanical Gardens - Tucson, Arizona - Collection of Botanical Gardens

The Tucson Botanical Gardens is a group of 16 beautiful botanical gardens in Tucson, Arizona. The property as a whole dates all the way back to the 1930's. At that time, it was the private home of Bernice and Rutger Porter. The Tucson Botanical Gardens as they are known today were officially founded in the year 1964 by the renowned horticulturist Harrison G. Yocum. In the early 1970's, Bernice Porter and Mr. Yocum joined forces, as she was looking for a way to see to it that her home and gardens were properly preserved for all time. It was at that time that the location of the gardens was moved to her home.

Today, the Tucson Botanical Gardens is a non-profit, private organization that is largely supported by proceeds earned from admissions, memberships, gift shop sales, and so forth. It is also partially funded by donations from generous individuals and corporations. Volunteers are also an important part of the intricate machine that helps keep the gardens up and running.

The gardens themselves showcase a wide variety of indigenous plants and flowers from in and around the Tucson area. The grounds are also divided into several sub-gardens that include the Backyard Bird Garden, the Herb Garden, Aloe Alley, and Nuestro Jardin - each showcasing and offering an educational experience in regards to a different type of plant.

Admission to the Tucson Botanical Gardens includes access to scheduled garden tours. Although which tours are available on a given day vary according to schedule, they include the following options. The Exploring Tucson Botanical Gardens Tour is a morning tour that not only shows visitors the native plants in their best light, but also educates them in regards to the plants themselves. The Butterfly Walk is a 45-minute tour that focuses on plants and flowers that are known for helping to attract butterflies into your garden, as well as on lessons in regards to identifying the butterflies themselves. The Birds and Gardening Tour is a 45-minute tour that focuses on identifying and learning about various indigenous birds, as well as on methods for attracting them to a home garden. The Historical Tour of the Gardens aims to educate visitors on the origins of the Botanical Gardens themselves, as well as on the original founders.

When it comes to food options on site, there is the delightful Gardens Caf,. Here visitors can partake in an outdoor lunch on a beautiful patio. The menu featured at the caf, is specially built to showcase the use of fresh, seasonal produce and herbs. There are also quick snack options and a children's menu available, as well as a full selection of bakery fresh pastries, coffees, and teas.

The Gardens Gift Shop is the place to go to pick up a souvenir of your visit. Here you'll find an array of unique novelty items that are far from your typical gift shop fare. They include seeds, handbags, garden tools, teas, jewelry, food, and toys. An extensive selection of educational books on gardening, plants, herbal remedies, Southwestern culture, cooking, and more are also available for those who would like to learn more about the ideas and principles behind the Tucson Botanical Gardens in general.