It has been a long time since I visited the Desert Botanical Garden — dating back to before the COVID-19 pandemic. Well, the gardens caught my eye with a new (temporary) artistic enhancement called "Light Bloom". Here at the beginning of the entrance right off the parking lot is an appetizer — a complex set of polyhedrons with patterns cut in the faces and internal illumination that comes on after dark.

Along the pathway to the entrance is a familiar reminder of the Dale Chihuly glass exhibits that the garden has hosted multiple times. "Desert Towers" was purchased by the Garden with donations from members and friends and is on permanent display. I love it.

Once inside the Garden, we see a golden cube with the promised elaborate cutouts on the faces. It was hard for me to be patient — it would be five hours or so before the sun went down.

This would be a good time to mention that the Phoenix Public Libraries (there are 17 by my count) that offer the use of a "Culture Pass". It will allow two people entrance to any of 16 parks, zoos, museums, etc. for free. And yes, I was enjoying a pass this day as well. Check it out on the library website, by clicking Phoenix Public Library. then click on the box that says "Culture Pass".

Just inside the entrance is a courtyard that includes a garden shop (selling souvenirs, books, knickknacks, etc.). Also, you will find Gertrude's, a very nice little restaurant (where I would be eating dinner in a few hours), bathrooms, etc.

I hear a loud whop, whop, whop as a helicopter flies noisily overhead.

The whole entrance area is nicely landscaped and I looked for and found many plants we offer for sale in the Lowe's Garden Center. The plant in the middle of the photo with the purple flowers looks like Texas Sage.

Oh my, look at this sculpture!!! Four cubes interlocking present a unique artistic piece. I definitely will be back to photograph it after dark.

Ah, this is a familiar view (and photography spot) with various types of cactus and in the background, one of the hills in nearby Papago Park. You often see climbers up on the hill which reminds me of another future destination.

Oh my goodness, this looks like a desert rose. We have these in Lowe's Garden Center but these are much bigger. In fact, the Desert Botanical Garden is where I first saw a desert rose on display. I loved it then and I love them now. Maybe I need one for my garden at home.

Nearby was an exotic-looking cactus with which I was not familiar. The placard tells me that it is a Crested Whortleberry Cactus from Central Mexico. Wikipedia tells me that "The flowers are creamy white, 2–2.5 cm diameter. The fruit is an edible dark purple berry 1–2 cm diameter."

For those who have never been to the Desert Botanical Garden, I will point out that there are many walking paths (both concrete and packed soil) that wind among the many, many desert plants. The staff has done a great job in planting them in attractive arrangements that are different at every turn.

The plant in the foreground looks like elephant feet — although I confess I've never seen an elephant with such tiny feet. They are cute, nonetheless.

This is starting to look like a jungle, although I do recognize the succulents in the middle — they appear to be some variety of yucca, aloe vera, or agave (it is a challenge to tell them apart).

Yuccas are widely grown as ornamental plants in gardens. Many species also bear edible parts, including fruits, seeds, flowers, flowering stems, and (more rarely) roots.

The leaves of Aloe vera contain significant amounts of the polysaccharide gel acemannan, which can be used for topical purposes. There are many products containing aloe vera's acemannan, including skin lotions, cosmetics, ointments, and gels for minor burns, skin abrasions, insect bites, and windburn.

Tequila is made from the Weber blue agave plant, or agave tequilana, which is a large succulent with long, spiked leaves similar to aloe vera. Within the core of the blue agave plant is a bulb called the piña. This bulb is baked and juiced, and the juice is fermented with yeast in barrels to make tequila.