Find your green-thumb inspiration in the garden's Berlin Agave Yucca Forest or the Desert Wildflower Loop Trail at the Desert Botanical Garden, a naturalist's dream where they showcase more than 145 acres of stunning desert blooms, flora, and fauna year-round. The site opened in 1939 and now boasts over 21,000 plants, including outdoor exhibits and displays, specialty greenhouses, and endangered and fragile species preservation. One-third of the plants are native to the area, while the remaining plants come from all over the world, including special collections from Australia and Baja California. Ecosystems represented include mesquite bosque, semidesert grassland, and upland chaparral scrub.
Experience parts of our past through the eyes of the men and women who take the oath to protect it at Phoenix Police Museum. There, you'll be able to view a fascinating collection of artifacts and historical items from the department's formation in 1881 up to present-day memorabilia. Among the highlights is a recreated 1900s police station and a 1919 Ford Model T Police Car. You'll get a real sense of how the Phoenix Police Department has evolved over the years and its essential role in shaping the city.