Australian Deserts Exhibit

The Australian Deserts Exhibit is a 10-acre homage to the unique biodiversity and culture of Australia’s arid and semi-arid regions.

Australia is the driest continent (second only to Antarctica), with its interior region, more commonly known as the Outback, receiving less than 150 millimeters of rainfall per year. Eighty percent of its wildlife and plants are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else on Earth.

The first plants in the Australian exhibit were trees planted in the 1920’s and 1930’s, shortly after BTA’s creation. Now around a century old, these trees have grown into forests rivaling those found on their native continent. One hundred and three species of Eucalyptus include Mr. Big, the largest red river gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) in the United States. Walking through the eucalyptus forest is a truly immersive experience: trees shed their bark once a year, just as they do in Australia, and release fragrant vapors into the air from the volatile oils in their leaves. Click here for more information about BTA’s nationally accredited Eucalyptus collection.

Recreating the complexity of Australia’s unique ecogeography in Arizona took many years and even a trip Down Under. Seeds were collected from wild plants, propagated on site, and planted in the garden to simulate real natural areas. Today, there are 1,280 native Australian plants in the exhibit, with 321 different species represented across 93 genera in 39 families.

Throughout the exhibit are interpretive displays explaining key aspects of Australian culture. The white-pillared Australian Pavilion at the exhibit entrance showcases the Federation Era architecture common across the country, and even features authentic corrugated metal roofing. Inside, didgeridoos, boomerangs, and other instruments of Aboriginal culture are displayed, and outside a small loop interprets the culinary and medicinal uses of Australian plants. The Drover’s Wool Shed, modelled after cartoons of rural Australian life in the 1900’s, was constructed by a set designer in Superior to recreate the careworn odds-and-ends look of a remote sheep herder’s shed. The popular vintage Dodge Power Wagon out front, while not Australian, was the Arboretum’s first truck. The Outback Bridge spanning Silver King Wash was inspired by a real bridge in New South Wales and offers superb views of the eucalyptus forest. Other features include a replica of a traveling Swagman’s Camp, a “jump-up,” that is, a regional term for a small but abrupt hill in an otherwise flat land, and an Aboriginal seep area containing recreated native paintings, grinding stones, and a ceremonial labyrinth.

Views from the garden

Collecting and directing stormwater is essential for a desert garden's survival. If left unmanaged, pooling rain can damage plants and nearby buildings. Thanks to the generous support of Water Wise Arboretum donors, we now have several stormwater features around the Smith Greenhouses! It helps protect our historic buildings and guides the water to plants that need it most.

You can spot one of these water capture systems in front of the Smith Greenhouses. Arizona poppies are currently blooming inside, a living proof of its success!

#WaterConservation #stormwaterdrain #waterflow #desertgarden #arizonapoppy

It's time for another bird walk! Join us Wednesday, September 2 from 6:15 - 7:45 am for a guided walk through the Arboretum with a birding expert. During last month's walk, we saw more than 30 unique bird species! You won't believe how much life can be found in the desert.

Our bird walks are free with admission! We hope to see you there.

#birdwalk #birding #AZBirding #birdlovers #naturelovers #birdphotography

The Australian Deserts Exhibit is a 10-acre homage to the unique biodiversity and culture of Australia’s arid and semi-arid regions.

The Collections

Australian Culture

Views from the garden

#1Arb