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.
Photo specs: ISO 1000 f5.6 3.2s
A few other highlights:
Photo specs: ISO 1000 f5.6 6s
Photo specs: ISO 400 f4 1/13s
Photo specs: ISO 400 f10 0.8s
Photo specs: ISO 400 f10 0.8s
Photo specs: ISO 400 f10 1.6s
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.
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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Disclaimer: I was provided with a complementary entry, however the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
Jane kucirek
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
Rhonda Albom
Hi Jane, I know this is an annual event, but I am not sure when it takes place. You might want to check out their webpage for more details.
Morgan
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!
Rhonda Albom
It is even more incredible live.
Psychic Nest
Hi Rhonda,
Oh my, the photos from the Botanical Garden look like out of a movie! They are absolutely stunning! Thank you for sharing!
Zaria
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Zaria
Harry Ramsey
Beautiful sonoran lights. I bet they look even more gorgeous in person..
Rhonda Albom
You are correct.
Indah Nuria Savitri
We were in Arizona as well last week.. But on the other side. It’s beautiful indeed
Rhonda Albom
Too bad you missed these Desert Lights.
Patrick Weseman
Very beautiful. I love the lights. It is a place I need to go.
Rhonda Albom
Are you near Phoenix?
Tamar Strauss-Benjamin
WOW! These are magical!!
Rhonda Albom
It is a really wonderful event.
Tanja
how interesting!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Tanja
Nancy
We went in the daytime. Had I known about this display, I would certainly have lingered to see it.
Very pretty!
Rhonda Albom
It’s not too late now.
Amila
wow!All these are magical moments!
Rhonda Albom
Yes they are.
Amy
What a cool idea! Loving the colours, so clever
Rhonda Albom
It was really bright and beautiful.
Anda
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.
Rhonda Albom
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.
Stephanie Gardiner
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
Rhonda Albom
A week camping in the desert would be cool.
J E Oneil
Wow, what an amazing display. Definitely worth the trip! 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Agreed.
Adrenaline Romance
That must have been an amazing light show! We love the light sculpture made of recycled bottles.
Rhonda Albom
Me too
Comedy Plus
Wow, this is way cool. I would love to see this in person.
Have a fabulous cruise. ☺
Rhonda Albom
You could take a really long road trip 🙂
Yolanda Renee
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!
Rhonda Albom
Agreed. We planned it for this time of year with the weather in mind.
Hilary
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
Rhonda Albom
Arizona was never my home. My parents retired there after I moved to New Zealand.
Kyla Matton Osborne (Ruby3881)
The water tower lights are so beautiful! I wish I could hear the music 🙂
Rhonda Albom
It was really mesmerizing.