Originally constructed
over several years around 1930, the once-lush Cararro Cactus Gardens
slowly withered after the Castle was vacated in 1969. But there is
new life in the Garden. Since early 2006, city staff and hired contractors
have been painstakingly restoring the garden, which provides the lush
desert setting for the landmark Tovrea Castle.
Staff with the Phoenix
Parks and Recreation Department have worked hand-in-hand with cactus
restoration expert Rilée Leblanc and the architectural design
firm e-Group to restore the vibrancy of the garden. The Garden boasts
more than 5,000 cacti in over 100 varieties.
Since beginning work in
early 2006 on the cactus garden restoration, crews have:
purchased and planted
352 Saguaro Cacti.
relocated over 2,000 cacti.
weeded and pruned desert
plants on the entire 20 acres.
removed 38 diseased
Saguaros.
planted 62 trees on
30 acres.
performed 50 cactus
"surgeries" to save diseased cactus.
begun design and started
plantings for four stations of the planned interpretative trail.
inspected all cacti and plants on 46 acres for necrosis and other diseases.
planted wildflower seeds
for winter and spring on 10 acres.
propagated 3,000 cacti cuttings.
Carraro
Garden Cactus Guide Page 1
Carraro Garden Cactus Guide Page 2
(348kb pdf Acrobat)
Take a tour of the Carraro Cactus Garden
Selected weekends - beginning Sept. 27, 2008: Advance Reservations required! No on-site registration.
T-shirts, postcards, coffee cups, and posters will be available
to purchase onsite. NEW ITEMS include beautiful walking sticks, and water bottles with straps. Please arrive 15 minutes before your tour
is to begin. IMPORTANT: Be sure and wear sturdy closed-toe shoes for waking through uneven terraine, and clothing suitable for a desert environment. ALL proceeds from the tours will be used for castle
and garden restoration. For more information call (602) 256-3220.
