WELCOME TO THE SONORAN DESERT
We encourage everyone to enjoy the sunshine and beautiful desert gardens of Arizona. Several tours have been pre-arranged for your enjoyment. April is a beautiful month when most of our spring cacti, roses and natives are in bloom. Plan to be amazed.
Be smart about hydration and sun protection. If you start to experience a headache, then you may be dehydrated. Seek a place out of the sun, sit down and drink water with electrolytes.
PLAN AHEAD: Wear a hat – a must! Wear sunscreen and UPF50 clothing. Wear proper walking shoes. CARRY A WATER BOTTLE!
PRE-REGISTRATION: Please register for tours on your convention registration form. We need good headcounts for the tour leaders and docents.
TRANSPORTATION: Vans, carpools, Uber or self-driving… there are many ways to get to these tours. This is city driving and sometimes parking is a challenge. Please read the tour descriptions where we provide notes about directions and parking. For very popular tours, we may choose to rent a 15-passenger van that will be driven by one of our club members or a spouse. None of these tours are through a professional tour company.
If you drive yourself or Uber to any group tour, then please still pre-register and be at the tour site by 15 minutes prior to the times listed.
Pre-Convention Tours on Saturday, April 26th, 2025
Please note that the Saturday Tours are part of the Arizona Federation of Garden Clubs’ Convention and all profits benefit this organization. These tours are available with Arizona Federation GC’s convention registration; you must be a registered attendee to sign-up for these tours. If there are additional costs during the tour, then it is noted in the description.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED! Full Package Deal: Cost $65, limited to 14 people
includes transportation and entry for both tours
The group will meet in the lobby of the hotel at 7:30am. The morning group will go on both tours and will not return to the hotel in between. The group will decide where and when to grab a lunch in between the tours; meal is order off the menu at the selected restaurant. We should be back to the hotel by 3:30pm.
NOTE: Garden Tours are available individually. This means that you must find transportation to and from the site; options include your own vehicle or Uber.
Dinner will be on your own afterwards.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Saturday, April 26th meet at Main Gate at 9:00 am
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED! Cost is $25 if you are not in the Full Package Deal
This docent-guided tour is a 1-hour walk on level ground and offers an exploration of desert plants from around the world. At 10:00am, you may choose to participate in the Arbor Day celebration that BTA is hosting.
With 135 acres of gardens, the collections are divided into 12 gardens and exhibits. There are many areas that offer shade throughout the 4.7 miles of trails.
Desert Wallace Garden is the newest addition to the arboretum. This 13 acre garden offers expansive views, creekside trails and over 5,000 new plantings. The garden was donated by Henry B Wallace and includes a palette of international arid land plants. Of the 1,223 taxa in the garden, 861 are new to BA and 62 species are considered rare or endangered. There is 1.5 mile main trail with a bridge over Queen Creek.
Easy and level walking. The main trail is easy and paved for accessibility for wheelchair and walkers. There are many trails of varying level of exertion.
We plan to arrive at 9:00am and depart the BTA at 12:00pm. You will have approximately 3 hours inside of BTA.
Directions:
address: 37615 E Arboretum Way, Superior, AZ 85173
Just 53 miles east via US-60E (about 50 minutes).
Gold Canyon Garden Club’s Butterfly Garden under Dinosaur Mountain
Saturday, April 26th meet at park at 2:00pm
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED! Cost is $10 if you are not in the Full Package Deal
This member-guided tour is a 30-minute walk on level ground and offers an exploration of native desert plants that support local pollinators. This local park is tucked in the foothills of the beautiful Superstition mountains, with the distinctive Dinosaur Mountain in the background. A certified Wildlife Habitat site and Monarch Waystation, the Gold Canyon Butterfly Garden features a short but beautiful trail, and a member of the Gold Canyon Garden Club will be on hand to talk about the history of the garden and identify native species. We plan to spend about 30 minutes at the butterfly garden.
We plan to arrive at 2:00pm and depart the garden at 2:30pm.
Directions:
address: 5639 S Alameda Rd, Gold Canyon, AZ 85118
Just 34 miles east via US-60E (about 40 minutes).
AFGC Explore On Your Own on Sunday, April 27th, 2025
Please note that Sunday is part of the Arizona Federation of Garden Clubs’ Convention. If you are not at the state convention then we have a list of places that we recommend for you to enjoy on your own time. You have options for transportation including your own vehicle, Uber or hotel shuttle (if available).
Things to Do On Your Own – click here to download a PDF document listing places to eat, walk or hike and other interesting activities.
Pacific Region Convention Tours
on Monday, April 28th, and Tuesday, April 29th, 2025
Please note that the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Tours are part of the Pacific Region Garden Clubs’ Convention and all profits benefit this organization. These tours are available with Pacific Region GC’s convention registration; you must be a registered attendee to sign-up for these tours. If there is an additional tour cost, then it is noted in the description. The tours that are listed as “On Your Own” means that you need to find transportation to and from the site; options include your own vehicle, Uber or hotel shuttle (if available).
MCC Rose Garden – A Morning Stroll with a Master Rosarian
Monday, April 28th – Garden Tour meets 6:30am – 8:30am
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED! Included with convention registration.
Precedes Pacific Region GC Convention Opening Ceremony.
The sprawling garden at Mesa Community College features over 9,000 rose bushes. April is peak bloom time for roses in the low valley of Arizona. This guided garden tour is provided courtesy of Steve Sheard, Master Rosarian. Pre-registration is required with a maximum of 60 participants in the tour group. Audio sets will be provided at the beginning of the tour. The paved paths through this garden are flat, easy to navigate and are ADA compliant.
Meet in the hotel lobby at 6:30am. Carpooling from the hotel lobby will be assisted by garden club volunteers. Uber is also available in the area. Or you can drive your own car. Groups should plan to leave the hotel no later than 6:45am to arrive at the garden by 7:00am. Please know that this will be a school day so the parking lots at the Mesa Community College will be busy; there is limited Visitor parking.
Text confirmations will be sent to those participants who provided a cell phone number.
Directions
address: 1833 W Southern Ave, Mesa, AZ 85202
approximately 8 mile east of the Wyndham Phoenix Airport / Tempe hotel via US-60E
Arizona Herb Association’s Demonstration Garden Tour
Tuesday, April 29th – Garden Tour meets 6:30am – 8:30am
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED! Included with convention registration.
Precedes Pacific Region GC Convention Opening Ceremony.
The AHA Demo Garden is famous for its collection of many interesting herbal plants and exploration of their culinary uses. This outdoors 60-min walking tour will be led by a AHA Volunteer who will share botany notes and culinary tips. The pace is slow. The paved paths through this garden are flat, easy to navigate and are ADA compliant.
Meet in the hotel lobby at 6:30am. Carpooling from the hotel lobby will be assisted by garden club volunteers. Uber is also available in the area. Or you can drive your own car. Groups should plan to leave the hotel no later than 6:45am to arrive at the garden by 7:00am. Please know that this will be a school day so the parking lot will be busy; there is limited Visitor parking.
Text confirmations will be sent to those participants who provided a cell phone number.
Directions
address: 4341 E Broadway Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85040
approximately 2.5 mile west of the Wyndham Phoenix Airport / Tempe hotel via W Broadway Rd
House and Garden Tour of Taliesin West
SOLD OUT!
Wednesday, April 30th – meets from 2:00pm – 5:00pm
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED! Cost $60, limited to 14 people
Includes transportation in a 14-passenger Touring Van
following Pacific Region GC’s Convention Closing Ceremony.
Taliesin West is Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert laboratory in Scottsdale, Arizona. His home and gardens are listed as a World Heritage site and is a National Historic Landmark. This was his winter home from 1937 until his death in 1959. Wright’s inspiring Organic Architecture showcases his architectural innovation connecting the buildings to the grounds.
Easy Walking for 60+ minutes with limited seating on the property. This tour includes both indoor and outdoor spaces. The grounds of this site do include stairs, loose gravel, desert terrain and some minor elevation changes. This may affect accessibility for some people with mobility concerns.
The audio tour is best experienced on your smartphone with your own headsets and you will download a free app; but if you don’t have the equipment then you can borrow devices from the site.
The Touring Van will meet in the lobby of the hotel at 2:30pm. You will have 90 minutes at the site which includes a 60-minute audio tour. The Touring Van will leave the site at 4:30pm to return back to the hotel by 5:00pm. Dinner will be on your own afterwards.
Desert Botanical Garden – A Self- Guided Walk
Wednesday, April 30th – meet at 1:00pm to 6:00pm
ON YOUR OWN! Cost is $34.95 at the gate for entry, unless you bring a reciprocating membership card.
following Convention Closing Ceremony.
DBG offers desert gardens with over 50,000 plants spread over 140 acres. Approximately a third of the plants are native to Arizona and include over 380 rare or endangered species. This is an outdoor walk through the garden with numerous benches and seating options. The main path is paved and mostly level for easy accessibility. The Cohen Family Butterfly Pavilion is an open air structure featuring lush garden plantings, a water feature, thousands of live butterflies, engaging programming and state-of-the-art nursery space.
There is onsite dining at Gertrude’s Garden Restaurant or the Ullman Terrace Patio Cafe. The Garden Shop is a gift shop offering many items that are easy to travel with and make great gifts; they will ship domestic orders. The Schilling Library is open until 4pm offering landscaping books and plant guides.
Transportation options include carpooling and Uber. We can help you find a way to get there and back.
Directions
address: 1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008
DBG is 10 miles north of the Wyndham hotel via S Priest Dr.
Post-Convention Tour to Sedona hosted by Sedona Area Garden Club
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED! Full Package Cost starts at $125 per person with optional add-ons. Limited to 14 people.
Includes van transportation, snacks and lunch.
This tour includes Touring Van transportation in a 14-passenger van driven by a garden club member. Sedona Touring Van requires a minimum of 7 participants and has a maximum of 14 participants. The drive is a 3 hour ride each way and will include one stop at the halfway point for restrooms and vending machines. Group will meet in the lobby of the Wyndham Phoenix Airport Tempe hotel on Thursday May 1st at 7:15am. The van will depart for Sedona promptly at 7:30am. You will return in the same Touring Van leaving Sedona at 4:30pm to arrive at the hotel around 7:00pm.
Base Package Option (if you drive yourself) is available at $35 per person. Limited to 10 people.
Pre-Registration is required! Deadline for registration is March 1st. NO REFUNDS AFTER APRIL 1ST.
Red Rock Country with Lunch, Tours and Shopping
Group lunch will be hosted by the Sedona Area Garden Club at the beautiful home of Karon, a Sedona Area Garden Club member. Lunch will be catered by Wildflower, includes a choice of sandwiches. Deserts provided by garden club members. Coffee, tea and water offered. Snacks included and made available all day including on the van rides. It is highly recommended that you bring your own water bottle to refill throughout the day.
Walking tours will be offered in the morning including the historical Hart-Straude Irrigation Ditch and bountiful fruit orchards.
Optional Sedona Trolley Tours are offered to two locations. There will be ample time for shopping in Uptown Sedona where you will find many art galleries, wearable art and crystals. Don’t miss visiting the Tlaquepaque Village shops. Read more about Tlaquepaque at their website.
Optional ATV tour is fun and recommended for off-road adventure. Wind in your hair! Ride to famous Chicken Point with Red Rock views. Get dirty!
| Afternoon Options | Art District Tour | Rock The Canyons And History Tour |
Wild Side Tour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Add-On Cost | +$35.00 | +$45.00 | +$140.00 |
| Departure & Pickup Times | 12:30 – 4pm | 12:30 – 4:15pm | 12:30 – 4:15pm |
| Pace Level | Easy Sidewalk Walking | Easy & Least Elevations | Fast & Fit |
| Mode of Transportation | Van to/fm Uptown | Van to/fm Uptown | ATV Four Wheeler |
| Shopping Spree | Uptown Shopping | Tlaquepaque Shopping | optional Tlaquepaque Shopping |
| Guided Tour Included | Sedona Trolley Ride Tour A, 1-hour |
Heritage Museum &
Sedona Trolley Ride |
Hiking Marg’s Draw |
| Adventure Level | Mild | Mild | High |
