It was a letdown for some when the Chihuly exhibit packed up and left the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. How can you top that? Well, the Garden is doing a good job of bringing new and exciting events and exhibits to Phoenix.
On November 21st the Berlin Agave Yucca Forest and Allan Houser Sculpture Exhibit has the public opening. At 12 noon visitors can enjoy an amazing new placement of agaves, yuccas and huge joshua trees. And, throughout the garden, an installation of Allan Houser sculptures opens to the public.
Alan Houser Sculptures at the Desert Botanical Garden
Considered one of the best-known and celebrated American Indian artists of the 20th century, Allan Houser’s work has been widely recognized throughout the world. The exhibit will be presented at the Desert Botanical Garden and the Heard Museum.
The Desert Botanical Garden exhibition will feature 18 sculptures in bronze that reflect the modernist influences from which Houser drew inspiration for his work. The Heard Museum exhibition will feature paintings, sketches and small-scale sculptures from their collection.
Berlin Agave Yucca Forest
The 11,000 square foot exhibit, located south of the Succulent Gallery, is a fantastic use of outdoor space. Once an unused garden area and desert wash, the newly designed and planted area brings visitors 100 new plants to view from an elevated walkway. A large Yucca filifera, which was salvaged as part of the Succulent Gallery construction a couple of years ago, welcomes visitors into the space as they step off the Desert Discovery Trail and onto Joy’s Overlook. A gently sloping walkway traverses the natural wash with views of massed agaves, and leads into the Yucca Forest—an immersion experience among giant yucca specimens.
The textures and shapes of these desert plants make this area of the garden an especially great area for photography. As you walk through the area, you'll end up in a forest of huge Yucca, not often seen in the Phoenix area.
The moving and planting of these desert giants is a story in itself. This YouTube video shows the planting of one of the smaller yuccas.
Photo Credit: Elizabeth R. Rose
Video Credit: Desert Botanical Garden - YouTube
Comments
I LOVE the botanical garden and liked having a membership. Liked the video, good article!
Some of those desert plants have useful properties. I'm not much of a fan of succulents for attractiveness, though.
Yes, will check it out when there in Dec. Looking forward to visit
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