My wife really wanted to come here for the butterflies. As far as botanical gardens go, Tucson's is a relatively small place. It's a quick walk through despite stopping and reading everything. It's relatively shaded, so it's certainly a nice place to visit on a hot day. There is a small enclosure for the Butterfly pavilion and it was nice that they regulated how many people were in there at a time. They said there were many different types of butterflies in the pavilion, but I only saw five to six different ones. And they had a huge moth in there, too. They have a small children's area, and plenty of places to sit and listen to the birds and relax. However, for $19 a person, it was a little steep for the size of the place. Cute, though. read more

Had a wonderful time visiting the Tucson Botanical Gardens this weekend! We met some of the incredible volunteers and employees who shared so much knowledge about the desert climate and its flora and fauna. A special shoutout to Mary, who provided us with a brief tour around the space. The gardens have a special balance of art and nature, and is a great option for a day visit for kids and adults alike! read more

Tucson Botanical Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I love coming here,it's doable in an hour or so. They do a very good job with exhibits etc. VERY disappointed in the " new" gift shop. I thought the remodel would be an enhancement but they made it smaller and it's not nearly as nice as it was which is disappointing. One of the draws for me was the gift shop. Also, they put in this train thing which I'm sure some people like but now all the beautiful irises are gone. Yes, there's a few here and there but not the array there used to be. So I'd say don't try and expand too much into something different. read more

What a great place! Thoroughly enjoyed our visit. A lot more shade than I thought there would be and plenty of benches and chairs to stop and linger or take a short rest. The plants and grounds are beautiful. A great display of the many colors and cactus of the desert. We also enjoyed walking through the butterfly house and watching all the butterflies fly around us. Great family outing. There is a nice shop to get a few souvenirs or treats. treats. A little surprise was the cafe where we ordered a couple very tasty iced teas and a bowl of salsa/guacamole. Sat in a little courtyard and enjoyed the shade and a cold beverage. Go check them out.... You will have a great time! read more

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When in Tucson, (for whatever reason) GO HERE!! This place is small yet mighty! My girls (5,2) and my hubby and I legit had a great time here. The BUTTERFLY exhibit is a must see. So many beautiful butterflies of all sizes and varieties to see in the tropical temperature controlled green house! We got a discount on admission as well for checking in on Yelp! ($1 per ticket). LEGO SCULPTURES being displayed were an added bonus! Check out all the colorful pictures and you will see how cool they all looked. Cute gift shop! Have time, definitely visit! read more

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Ample parking, friendly staff, and nice layout with areas of shade which helped on a hot sunny afternoon. Really cool place to hang out, I suggest earlier in the morning as the afternoon heat does limit time especially with older visitors like my mom-in-law. Plenty of benches, chairs to take a break and check out the birds, bees and butterflies. There are plenty of restrooms, a gift shop. The Butterfly Exhibit is definitely worth the price of admission, saw stuff that I never saw before. I was able to capture a few pics of the birds flying along the different plants. Definitely will be visiting again !!! read more

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This venue is apparently in a major state of flux, having, according to the docent vending information, bought up some adjacent properties and received a commitment from a large donor, thereby facilitating significant expansion. If you're into model trains, a chunk of the garden has been turned into a big choo choo track. And there's a zen garden. But the mission seems to have veered away from cactus, succulents and native xeriscape. There is at the moment, so much less to see than when we were last here. I imagine that will change over time, but I doubt I'll be back. It would have been helpful to be advised the gardens were undergoing whatever this is. read more

Tucson Botanical Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

A nice, serene Botanical gardens in the desert. My favorite part was the butterfly house. Helpful, friendly volunteers. A great gift shop. Lots to see and learn. read more

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I spent a little time here before hopping on a plane home. It's an interesting place to visit that will show you the wide variety of cacti from around the world, not just near Tucson. I particularly like the butterfly house, but it's really hot and humid so you can only stay for a little while. read more

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Wandering through the Tucson Botanical Gardens offers a wonderful microcosm of the Sonoran Desert's rich environment, with beautiful cacti and succulent patches throughout. There are also herb gardens, composting exhibits, galleries, a gift shop, and a patio bistro (Edna's Eatery). There are also educational exhibits, including the family history associated with the acreage, and I look forward to seeing what types of community events may be offered in the future, such as music in the garden -- there's a lot they can do with this small but beautiful footprint. A lovely place to spend the afternoon! read more

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Wow what a fun & festive place for Holiday lights. We had so much fun and displays were great. My 2yr old granddaughter had a blast and she was able to run around. She danced at every speaker. So happy we got to see The Botanical Gardens at night. read more

I love to bring my children here as much as I can, as it is said to be a child-friendly environment. IT IS NOT. I have brought my children here multiple times, but within the last couple of months, a new employee has made me decide to NEVER come back. Over my last four visits, a young, blonde woman has read grotesque PORNOGRAPHY, WITH PHOTOGRAPHS, while on the job at the butterfly exhibit. It was first brought to my attention when my son asked why that lady was acting that way. She had been rubbing her legs together and biting her lip, clearly "enticed". I had to disappoint my children by leaving due to how inappropriate the setting was. I had seen her before, reading different types of erotica, and kindly asked her to stop, as I assumed she was young and this was her first job, but it has just escalated beyond any point of salvation. I hope Tucson Botanical Gardens can make this a child-friendly environment again by doing the right thing, even if it means a tough lesson and self-reflection needs to be learned. I wanted to come this weekend with my children, as they have been asking, but this has not been handled properly, so we will have to find another spot. read more

Beautiful all around anytime of year! I've personally been able to go a handful of times now throughout each season and I have to say their luminary display at Christmastime is by far the best! (Even better than Winterhaven dare I say!). I brought my family from the East coast who enjoyed the lights and Arizona plant displays. You can purchase the tickets online in advance to guarantee your entry time during the holiday show. Parking is limited but you can park North of in the business lot of the garden lot is full. read more

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Recently stopped by with my family & we enjoyed walking around looking at all the different garden areas. While I do enjoy seeing the gardens, the part of the botanical gardens that had me most excited to visit was seeing the butterflies & it did not disappoint. I loved being inside of the butterfly pavilion & seeing not only the butterflies but the gorgeous fish they had in there as well. I think the prices for tickets is just right, we spent about an hour here, we could have spent slightly more time but it started to rain pretty hard to we left a little bit early to get out of the rain, get dry and warm up a bit. The gardens were well kept, clean & there were plenty of areas to stop and take a break if you needed it. Great stop to visit if you are looking for something to do for a short amount of time, it was a relaxing walk through. read more

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What a beautiful experience. $15 admission (make sure you check in before you purchase your ticket)! If you are remotely in the area make some time. The butterfly area alone is with it but there are animals galore. Just as many butterflies on the outside. read more

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It's been a while since I have been to the gardens, so when I saw they were having community service day and the entrance fee was free I said why not? I was really pleasantly surprised at the improvements they've made in the garden since the last time I was there. One could easily spend an afternoon or the better part of a day, relaxing in the shade of the garden. My favorite part was the railroad garden. There were five or six trains running simultaneously. There were several on the ground and a couple running overhead. We spent so much time there, we didn't even make it into the butterfly house, which I have been to and know that it's amazing. This is a great place to spend a day ,not only for tourists but for locals as well . read more

This is for the Lights Up luminaria event. The lights and decorations were really well done. I liked all of it. The trees were wrapped up the trunks some up into the canopy. There were different sections, tunnel, dancing trees, star fall, luminaria lane. It was just magical. I liked it better than Zoo Lights from last year, but this is smaller. The whole way is marked by luminaries lit by white lights, even the path from the parking lot. They were selling bottled drinks as well as hot chocolate and coffee. Drinks were expensive though. We went opening weekend and nothing was burned out or dark in spots. The parking was easy, but I'm sure it will get crowded closer to the main holidays. It's a really good experience overall. Tickets seemed too high, but it is a fundraising event for the garden. read more

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OVERALL The Tucson Botanical Gardens was smaller than I anticipated, but still an extraordinary place to find inspiration and provide an educational adventure for my young ones. ENVIRONMENT It is in a rather peculiar area - that is, on a busy street right smack in the middle of the desert city, but then again the history of the place was fascinating. There was the expected native plants - especially cacti and succulents, however, I was pleasantly surprised by the plethora of rotating installments. The children's section was a hit with my girls particularly because they got to gently dig for worms. The butterfly exhibit was closed because we got there late. Boo! There were a couple of rotating art exhibitions that we appreciated. My oldest daughter loved watching the three chickens named Jasmine, Angelita, & Marigold. Both of my girls enjoyed the miniature train sets too. SERVICE When we checked in, the guy at the ticket booth didn't know about the Yelp check-in offer. It was the same as buying a ticket online - get a dollar off. He was not particularly friendly or welcoming which was a bit inconceivable. MY FAVORITE PART... The Zen Garden! My kids really want one now. If I build one, I'm not sharing. Lol. Just kidding. NOT SO FAVORITE PART... The price of the tickets on 11/20/21 was a bit steep even with the discount. $15 per adult. $8 for children ages 4-17. LITTLE YELPER'S CLUB They have a small children's garden that little ones will enjoy. PARKING They have their own lot with ample, free parking. TIP Check in to Yelp for $1 off regular admission, up to 4 admissions. "Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Special events not included." Adult tickets for ages 18-61 are $15 each while children 4-17 are $8 each. | Experience: 4 | Service: 3 | Environment: 4 | Price: 3 | read more

Tucson Botanical Gardens - 11/20/21 - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Definitely come early if you can... We went to the TBG on a Friday morning. Pretty early about 10:30 or so. One, it was very peaceful. Two, it wasn't that hot yet. Three, not crowded at all. :) You'll see Lego artwork along several winding paths and a few small benches to enjoy the surroundings. Best part for me was definitely the butterfly garden. It was a little crowded when we passed by with a group of grade school kids. So we just circled back a short time later to enjoy many butterflies from Latin America, Mexico and of course the Arizona region. This exhibit is small but so worth it. If you have questions on what you are looking at just ask any of the staff members working here. Highly recommend. read more

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My colleagues and I had some free time after a nearby conference and decided to wander through the botanical gardens. We arrived a bit late and only spent about a half hour wandering right before they closed.. I can't imagine you would need much more time.. maybe an hour max? The gardens were beautiful, lots of cactus, flowers, and wildlife throughout and lots of places to sot and rest throughout. read more

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Very small botanical garden but, laid out nicely and they seem to have good events. It only cost $15 to get in today. If there was another cool event, I might come back. I also like that they allow dogs to come in during the summertime. There's a lot of shade and dirt pads that would be cool in the mornings. read more

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Well worth a visit. Plan on at least two hours to take in all they have, including the butterfly house and the wonderful model trains. Plenty of shade and a wide variety of gardens on display. We will be going back. read more

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The best botanical garden and I've been to many. Absolutely loved the butterfly exhibit and the model train and historical building models and waterfall area. So charming. And a reasonable entrance price. Wonderful guide with lots of butterfly info. Highly recommend. read more

Absolutely loved this garden! It is the perfect size and has a wonderful layout to the beautiful gardens. The butterfly garden was one of the best I have ever seen, with very knowledgeable staff to answer questions. This is something not to miss when in Tucson. read more

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The gardens were beautiful. Check the train schedule to be sure you visit on the days the train garden is operating. Not sure why proprietor believes political campaign pins from the 1970s to present are relevant to be displayed in the Porter / Yocum exhibit next to Quilts on display? ​ read more

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I love the Tucson Botanical Gardens- it's one of my favorite places to escape in the summer and their Christmas light display every year is a must-do during the holiday season. The gardens regularly bring in special exhibits which are always fun and unique. TBG os a few spot to celebrate special occasions and bring out of town guests, or to just visit and remember why we love living in the desert. read more

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I hadn't been to these gardens since before covid, so it was fun to go back. The butterfly area is always a favorite, and we spent time admiring the variety of beautiful butterflies. We took our time walking through the various areas, enjoying the gorgeous flowers and blooms of so many plants. The cactus area has such a huge variety and is so interesting to walk through. The gift shop has many fun and unique items if you're looking for a Tucson gift to give someone. A bonus at this visit was the Legos exhibit. It amazes me that someone could create such beauty out of Legos! It was a fun morning! read more

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They offer military and senior discounts ($2). Also, if you check in on Yelp before you buy your ticket, you can get $1.00 off. I can't even imagine what the gardens look like once it's full blown summer, but everything looks colorful and lush right now. I was amazed at their iris garden - so many flowers were in bloom. One downside was that the butterfly exhibit is currently closed, due to the pandemic. There are some butterflies and moths flying around and there is a window into the exhibit where you can view them in the enclosed habitat. There is also a small hut/booth that has some cocoons and recent butterfly/moth births, but the glare on the plexiglass makes it a bit difficult to view. Otherwise, all of the fruit trees and cacti and other shrubs were in bloom. I couldn't have asked for a more ideal visit or weather. There are a few fountains here and there and also a small space (approx. 50 ppl) for private functions. On the day that I went, staff was setting up for a wedding. If I wasn't married already, I could see myself having an intimate wedding here. There was also a birthday party being held at their café, Edna's Eatery, so I didn't get to take a look at the space. They placed the gift shop at the exit - and limit how many can shop at one time. If there aren't too many people visiting the gardens at that time, the staff will allow you to re-enter the park for more walking around; usually, once you enter the gift shop, you can't re-enter the park. It was a great experience of nature that isn't just cactus and mountains. read more

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Great way to spend the afternoon in this beautiful Arizona weather. Beautiful plants and greenery.

We became a members on the first visit. An extremely important part of our community with a local history that is very enlightening. It's a great place to stop by and visit. The prices are reasonable. The pathways are clearly marked with the plants. Having identifiable plates so you can learn more about the plants as you enjoy a quiet stroll around the garden. read more

Went for holiday light shows. Not really a show as much as plants with string lights and a few older large decorations that could use some repair. Disappointed for the price. 2 parents and 2 kids $96. I just didn't feel it was the same as advertised sadly. And the venue doesn't stagger admission of groups so very crowded on some nights. $25 or 30 would have been a fair price. For that price it would be a good starting effort. The highlight will be the train set with building miniatures in a crowded area toward the exit. Got spoiled in a small town in Oregon with moving light shows in twice the acreage for half the price. Perhaps they are trying to make up for low annual visitation. I know the one in Oregon also doubles as a wedding venue so they can keep prices affordable for all incomes. Volunteers also help control spending and encourage community involvement. read more

Lovely gem of a garden close to UAZ. Features an herb garden, kitchen garden and other spaces which display speciality gardens. Corners with benches to sit and contemplate. During the winter and spring months - October to March - they feature a Butterfly and Orchid exhibit. read more

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Butterfly & Orchid Pavilion had one Atlas Moth found in Asian forests. The rest of the place is ok especially if you're into plants. read more

Tucson Botanical Gardens - Atlas Moth - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Visited the Lights Up holiday exhibit. They've extended the exhibit to Jan 15. Have to say, that it's a brilliant idea. Sometimes, you're just too busy in the run-up to Xmas to enjoy all the things going on. It was nice to wander around the grounds after New Years and enjoy the exhibit. The exhibit is awesome. Lots of lights and I mean LOTS of lights. Trees wrapped in lights from the trunk to the tips of the thinnest branches. Luminaria outline the pathways, in trees and on chandeliers hanging from trees. A riot of color. Holiday music envelopes the grounds. Some lights are synchronized to the music. So yeah, I heartily recommend the Tucson Botanical Garden's "Lights Up". read more

We went for the lights up festival. It was cute but expensive considering that the actual display was a lot shorter than the big map made it seem. The staff were all very friendly. My only other gripe is that the parking lot is small so it filled quickly for 6:45 admission time. There was a guy waving a flashlight to come in the lot and then right by the entrance was another girl walking up to each car saying the lot was full and we needed to go park at the Vasa Fitness parking lot. And she didn't go tell the guy it was full so he kept directing cars in. read more

This is such a great botanic garden, the perfect thing to do with a family on a mellow winter day. We loved the garden beds and the kids especially enjoyed the butterfly pavilion. We are heading back for the winter nighttime light show. read more

I went on a Tuesday night after Christmas. It was beautiful and a fun activity. Awesome walk and saw the amazing lights. It was busy. They were passing out hot chocolate. The volunteers were fun to talk to as well. read more

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Took my dogs for a walk--the path was cool , beautiful and shady. They loved it and so did I. Believe that admissions or memberships for dogs are only available in the summer. Best walk in Tucson! read more

One of my favorite places to visit in Tucson. I will never get tired of coming here. I have created so many memories. They are pet friendly but I'd recommend to contact the garden for further details. It's such a peaceful and beautiful place to be. If you're in Tucson I would add this to my top 5 places to visit. read more

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Attended their evening Christmas Lights in the gardens. Absolutely loved the variety of plants the light displays. We arrived while it was still light and took in all the vast varieties of cacti and other plants. As darkness arrived we were treated to lights throughout the trees and plants. I admit I love fairy lights, lights of any kind especially in foliage. read more

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