Tucson, AZ (May 15, 2025) - Tucson Botanical Gardens is celebrating the final days of spring with American Public Gardens Association’s (APGA) Go Public Gardens and a special Community Day on Sunday, May 18.
As a thank you to our community, the Tucson Botanical Gardens will be open to the public free of charge. Advance bookings are highly recommended on what is expected to be a busy day. TucsonBotanical.org
Enjoy free admission on Community Day. This is an opportunity to visit this family-friendly, award-winning five-and-a-half-acre oasis in the heart of Midtown Tucson. First-time visitors are warmly welcomed! Stroll under the shade of mature trees and through more than 20 pocket gardens such as the Cactus and Succulent Garden, Barrio Garden, and Children’s Discovery
Garden. Catch a little Butterfly Magic before the exhibit closes at the end of the month. Kids of all ages are invited to marvel at The Great Garden Express model train exhibit, set in an Arizona Sky Island inspired landscape. The Garden Gift Shop features the work of local makers and artists, and Edna’s Eatery by Charly’s Grill will be open with its seasonal, garden-inspired menu.
About Go Public Gardens—The APGA’s Go Public Gardens is an evergreen year-round Association initiative to encourage the public to visit, value, and volunteer at public gardens. Every spring, they celebrate Go Public Gardens Days from the Friday before to the Sunday after Mother’s Day.
Michelle Conklin, President and CEO at the Tucson Botanical Gardens, and a Board member of APGA, shared: "We are thrilled to host Go Public Gardens Community Day at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. Public gardens are more than just beautiful spaces—they are living classrooms, peaceful retreats, and vital community assets. They enhance quality of life by providing access to nature, supporting mental and physical wellness, and creating lifelong learning and connection opportunities."
About Tucson Botanical Gardens - Located on the historic Porter family property site in the heart of Tucson, Arizona, Tucson Botanical Gardens is a lush oasis set on nearly six acres. It has been ranked #4 in the USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards three years in a row. More than 7,000 plant species are displayed in over twenty curated garden spaces, including a world-class collection of cacti, grasses, flowers, and mature trees. Gardens include Cacti and Succulents of the World, Nuestro Jardín (a traditional Mexican-American
neighborhood garden), Children’s Discovery Garden, and many more that showcase the diversity of plants that can thrive in the Sonoran Desert. The Great Garden Express is a G scale model railway set in an Arizona, Sky Island-inspired landscape, and the Gardens is home to the only tropical butterfly pavilion in Southern Arizona, open October-May. Tucson Botanical Gardens offers rotating art displays, community classes, events, and international exhibits. The café at Edna’s Eatery by Charly’s Grill serves a seasonal menu daily. Event services are available for
groups, weddings, and social gatherings.
The Tucson Botanical Gardens is at 2150 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712. Learn more and purchase tickets at TucsonBotanical.org.