Sometimes, oftentimes, great ideas seem to come out of nowhere.  Such was the case when we were shopping at a Santa Fe mart that featured the work of local artisans.

These rustic planters, featuring cowboys boots and hats, would look great in a natural desert landscape!  These were made of concrete…heavy, yes, and probably too hot for our extreme Phoenix summers.  But why not use a pair of old boots to showcase some Trailing Lantana or tuck a Hedgehog Cactus into a worn hat?

These kinds of personal touches using found objects and desert plants put your stamp on a xeriscape, making it uniquely yours and giving visitors something to talk about.

Prickle this, cactus lovers!  Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden is offering an exclusive walking tour of the Wallace Desert Gardens–a private collection of natural desert plants from around the world.

The tour, taking place on November 5 from 9:30am to noon, starts in the original home of Henry B. Wallace and his wife and meanders throughout the several-acre Arizona property.  Highlights include a covered 6,000 square foot cactus pavilion uniquely designed for climate control, a boojum tree forest, and world-renowned collection of Ephedra, in addition to beautifully manicured desert garden spaces.

We went out there last spring and it was…um…spine-tastic!  The Wallaces collected these plants over the years so expect a little bit of history along the way.  And maybe it’ll inspire your own desert landscaping!

This is a private facility (Mrs. Wallace still lives on the property) and the DBG only does this tour a couple of times a year…and space is limited.  So don’t miss out!  Contact the Desert Botanical Garden to make your reservation!