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Our latest adventure started in the USA in Phoenix Arizona with a visit to the Bruce Munro Sonoran Lights at the Desert Botanical Garden. Arriving after sunset, we experienced a surreal environment. The Desert Botanical Garden is the world’s only botanical garden with a mission focused solely on desert plants, and intermixed we found creative, colorful and artistic light displays.

Each of the Sonoran Lights are unique. My favorite is entitled Water-Towers, a descriptive name for towers of filled water bottles, lit by fiber optic cables that create an ever-changing rainbow of colored lights. Rocket scientist hubby explains this more technically, “the phased LED illumination is guided through fiber optic strands that ‘leak’ light at imperfections and discontinuities in the cable. The refractive index of the water and bottles allows more leakage of light toward the end of the strand resulting in a glowing bulb effect.”

Magical in their own right, I think it was the ethereal music, with an almost native chant like quality that kept me standing mesmerized until my father finally suggested we move on.

Water-Towers in the Bruce Munro Sonoran Lights at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix Arizona
Water-Towers at the Bruce Munro: Sonoran Lights. The silhouette of a man next to the green tower helps put perspective as to the height of these towers.
Photo specs: ISO 1000 f5.6 3.2s

A few other highlights:

Saguaro made of light in the Bruce Munro Sonoran Light at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix Arizona
Saguaro
Photo specs: ISO 1000 f5.6 6s
Beacon sculpture in the Bruce Munro Sonoran Light at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix Arizona
“Beacon” Similar to Water-Tower, this geodesic dome also changes colors with fiber optics, however, the bottles are empty.
Photo specs: ISO 400 f4 1/13s
Closer look at Beacon sculpture in the Bruce Munro Sonoran Light at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix Arizona
A closer look reveals fiber optic cables in the “Beacon”.
Photo specs: ISO 400 f10 0.8s
Close up Beacon sculpture in the Bruce Munro Sonoran Light at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix Arizona
An even closer look at some of “Beacon’s” bottles.
Photo specs: ISO 400 f10 0.8s
Hanging sculpture at the Sonoran Light exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix
“Chindi” This is one of three similar hanging sculptures.
Photo specs: ISO 400 f10 1.6s
"Field of light" Photo Credit: Adam Rodriguez, Desert Botanical Garden
“Field of light” I wasn’t too happy with my shot, so this one is part of the media kit.
Photo Credit: Adam Rodriguez, Desert Botanical Garden

There were more Sonoran Lights, all equally interesting. Being relatively unfamiliar with the desert, I was also fascinated by the succulents. If I were visiting again, I would risk the much bigger crowds and arrive earlier, so as to better see some of these cacti. With a tripod and longer exposure I was able to capture some of the beauty.

Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix Arizona
Photo specs: ISO 1000 f11 15s

 

Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix Arizona
Photo specs: ISO 400 f10 3.2s
Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix Arizona
Photo specs: ISO 800 f7.1 4s

Practical Information:

  • The Desert Botanical Garden is located at 1201 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ.
  • Open most days from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with longer summer hours (May – Sept) opening at 7am allowing visits before the heat of the day.
  • The Bruce Monroe: Sonoran Lights is open 6pm to 11pm nightly, until May 8, 2016.
  • Arriving after 8pm (like we did) will have much smaller crowds, however we felt we missed quite a bit of the flora, as well as the generally stunning desert sunset.
  • Check out the official Desert Botanical Garden website.

Personal Information: Dad and Sandy are doing great. Active and energetic, if not fully recovered, Dad is well on his way to being there. We had a delightful visit, mostly at home. The Desert Botanical Garden was our one major outing.

Have you seen the Bruce Monro: Sonoran Lights at Desert Botanical Garden? Do you prefer the lights or the succulents?

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Water-Towers in the Bruce Munro Sonoran Light at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix Arizona

Disclaimer: I was provided with a complementary entry, however the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

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Comments

  1. hello,
    I am visiting this week in Phoenix. I came across this desert light event. What info can you give me? What time do you think is best to arrive during the week?
    Is it better to come during sunset,or later when the lights are all on?
    Thank you

    Reply

  2. This place looks absolutely incredible. The lights are so cool and look really amazing among all the plants! This would be an awesome place to explore with friends or family, or even by yourself. Very serene and relaxing, it seems! Great post! Thank you so much for sharing!

    Reply

  12. Thank you for sharing this post, Rhonda. My sister lives in Scottsdale AZ and I go there at least two times a year, but I had no idea about this botanical garden. That festival of lights makes the garden look like magic, I would so much love to see this place! I’m glad you finally made it back to the States. Hope to see you sometimes in May.

    Reply

    • These gardens are quite close to your sister if she is in Scottsdale. There is still time for her to get here this season. I am looking forward to meeting with you in May.

      Reply

  13. Beautiful photographs! We spent a week camping in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument last month and I fell in love with the succulents. Had they been lit up with fiber optic lights, it would have made the experience even more memorable. Next time, we’ll have to stop in Phoenix.

    Cheers, Stephanie

    Reply

  17. So beautiful, surreal!
    Arizona, it’s good to visit before the heat hits in the summer! 🙂
    Have a great time. The gardens are lovely, either way!
    Happy end of the A to Z challenge!

    Reply

  18. Hi Rhonda – it must be wonderful to be ‘home’ .. and I’m so glad your father is doing well … as too Sandy being in good spirits.

    Those photos are amazing and what an incredible botanical garden – loved seeing it … cheers Hilary

    Reply

  19. The water tower lights are so beautiful! I wish I could hear the music 🙂

    Reply

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