Community Day brings free Garden admission

Free Day at the Desert Botanical Garden Is Tuesday

If you have been meaning to visit the Desert Botanical Garden but keep balking at the price tag, Tuesday is your day. The Garden hosts its monthly Community Day on February 10, opening its gates to the public at no charge from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Regular admission during peak season runs nearly thirty-five dollars for adults and close to seventeen dollars for kids, so free entry for the whole family is a deal Valley residents should not sleep on. The Garden holds Community Day on the second Tuesday of every month, and February's timing could not be better. Temperatures this time of year are ideal for strolling the five walkable trails that wind through one of the finest collections of desert plants anywhere on Earth.

This month visitors also get the bonus of experiencing FRAMERATE: Desert Pulse, a multi-sensory art exhibit by London-based ScanLAB Projects that is included with general admission. The installation uses LiDAR scanning, photography, and immersive sound to capture a full year of subtle changes across the Sonoran Desert. Five monumental video installations are spread along the Garden paths with a stunning indoor experience inside the RAF Exhibit Gallery. The exhibit runs through May 10 and has drawn rave reviews since its opening.

Reserving an arrival time in advance is strongly recommended. Free days draw big crowds and walk-ups may not be admitted. Reservations can be made through the Garden's website.

The Desert Botanical Garden sits at 1201 North Galvin Parkway in Phoenix, tucked against the red buttes of Papago Park near the Phoenix Zoo. For those looking for another budget-friendly option, the Garden also participates in the Culture Pass program through local libraries, which provides free admission for two on any regular day.

Mark the calendar. Tuesday is the day to go.

Sources: Phoenix New Times | Desert Botanical Garden | DBG Events | KJZZ | ABC15