One of the most amazing little-known gems in North Scottsdale is just minutes down the road from Grayhawk. The Wallace Desert Gardens, located in the gated luxury community of Sincuidados, is a private collection of stunning desert flora, including a variety of cacti from around the world. It is also one of the largest of its kind.
The Wallace Desert Gardens were announced last year to be at risk of closing. Since then, no decisions have been made as to where or when the gardens are to be moved, and exclusive tours are still being held for those who make an appointment. A visit to the Wallace Desert Gardens is absolutely free, though donations are always accepted and encouraged. If you have never been to the gardens, this is a great opportunity to experience their breathtaking beauty before they are relocated.
When Henry B. Wallace and his wife Jocelyn first moved to Arizona, they fell immediately in love with the desert and felt that much like the rainforest, it needed to be protected. In 1987, they founded the Wallace Desert Gardens, then a parcel of land just outside Phoenix. Today, the Wallace Desert Gardens are a vast collection of around 3,000 species of desert plants sitting on 12 acres.
The Wallace Desert Gardens Foundation was formed in 1993 in order to oversee and preserve the gardens through donations and endowments. After the death of H. B. Wallace in 2005, the foundation was only able to maintain the gardens for a short time with money he left behind. Because Sincuidados prohibits running a business within the community, the foundation has not been able to charge a fee to visit the Wallace Desert Gardens.
The Boyce Thompson Arboretum and the Desert Botanical Gardens are two possible future locations for the Wallace Desert Gardens, but for now, nature lovers can enjoy visiting the gardens at their current home in Sincuidados.
If you are thinking of buying Grayhawk real estate, please call us at (602) 791-0536 to schedule a viewing.
Carmen Brodeur JD
Realtor
Trillium Properties, LLC
9825 E Bell Road, Suite 120, Scottsdale AZ 85260
Cell (602) 791-0536
Carmen@TopScottsdaleHomes.com
www.GrayhawkRealEstate.com