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A Landscape Out of a Dr. Seuss Book…

Landscape Design
Echinopsis-theiegorta
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Have you ever read a Dr. Seuss book?

It may be hard to find someone who hasn’t.  I had quite a few of his books as a child and “Green Eggs & Ham” was my favorite.  

As a mom, I made sure that Dr. Seuss books had a place on my kid’s bookshelves.

One of the things I love about Dr. Seuss, is his illustrations.  His imaginative drawings of plants, especially.

Earlier this month, my mother and I spent some time at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.  As I walked along the garden paths, there were times that I felt that I had walked straight into a Dr. Seuss book….

Crawling succulents

Crawling succulents

Spiky Yuccas

Spiky Yuccas

Sundial made out of cacti

Sundial made out of cacti.

Desert Botanical Garden

Doesn’t this look like a brain?

Desert Botanical Garden

A towering forest of Cardon cacti.

Desert Botanical Garden

One word…”ouch!”

Desert Botanical Garden

 The drooping leaves of a Ponytail Palm.

Desert Botanical Garden

The strange shapes of Prickly Pear cactus and Agave.

Desert Botanical Garden

This Boojum tree would fit nicely in a Dr. Seuss book, don’t you think?

Desert Botanical Garden

 An ‘old’ cactus growing a beard.

Desert Botanical Garden

Arching Yuccas lean over the pathway as you leave.

I love spending time at the Desert Botanical Garden.  Of course, in addition to weird and strange plants – they also have beautiful flowering trees, shrubs and perennials.

Desert Botanical Garden

So, take some time for a visit and see what Dr. Seuss book they remind you of. 

************************
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Noelle Johnson, aka, 'AZ Plant Lady' is a author, horticulturist, and landscape consultant who helps people learn how to create, grow, and maintain beautiful desert gardens that thrive in a hot, dry climate. She does this through her consulting services, her online class Desert Gardening 101, and her monthly membership club, Through the Garden Gate. As she likes to tell desert-dwellers, "Gardening in the desert isn't hard, but it is different."
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https://www.azplantlady.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Echinopsis-theiegorta.jpg 424 640 arizonaplantlady@gmail.com https://www.azplantlady.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/AZ-Plant-Lady-Logo-small.jpg arizonaplantlady@gmail.com2012-10-26 17:52:002021-01-31 08:18:50A Landscape Out of a Dr. Seuss Book…
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7 replies
  1. Desert Dweller
    Desert Dweller says:
    October 26, 2012 at 6:14 pm

    I hope to visit there again on one of my next trips down…my first time this past spring has me hooked. Dr Seuss is the truth!

  2. Rohrerbot
    Rohrerbot says:
    October 26, 2012 at 8:09 pm

    I love this place! I especially love that first shot. Cacti forms are so unique when they are allowed to grow "wild". I have several friend in the Phoenix area that have enclosed yards that are full of creeping swirly cacti forms. Extremely beautiful.

  3. Bernie H
    Bernie H says:
    October 26, 2012 at 8:28 pm

    What a magnificent place. The variety of Cactus are just amazing. That creeping succulent in the first shot is simply amazing. What a spectacle.

  4. Rose
    Rose says:
    October 26, 2012 at 9:54 pm

    Thanks for the imaginative tour of one of my favorite places, Noelle. The Boojum tree even has a Seussical name!

    The DBG was always on my agenda when I visited my daughter, and I appreciated seeing some familiar sights–I think I've probably taken photos of that same cardon several times. My daughter moved to Houston earlier this year, so I'm going to miss visiting this beautiful desert showcase.

  5. Nicole
    Nicole says:
    October 27, 2012 at 2:00 pm

    Noelle those pictures and those plants are truly amazing! Thanks for the great tour. I hope I get to go there sometime.

  6. Hoover Boo
    Hoover Boo says:
    October 27, 2012 at 9:04 pm

    Oooh, I need to visit there, too. Thanks for the motivation to make the trek! 🙂

  7. Timeless
    Timeless says:
    October 29, 2012 at 7:44 am

    Add a number of Biosphere-2 (City of Domes or Planet of the Apes Architecture) buildings in amongst those plants and I think you'll have your Dr Suess wishlist.

    –

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Noelle Johnson, aka, 'AZ Plant Lady' is a author, horticulturist, and landscape consultant who helps people learn how to create, grow, and maintain beautiful desert gardens that thrive in a hot, dry climate. She does this through her consulting services, her online class Desert Gardening 101, and her monthly membership club, Through the Garden Gate. As she likes to tell desert-dwellers, "Gardening in the desert isn't hard, but it is different."

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