Desert Botanical Garden Ottosen Entry

The Ottosen Entry Garden represents the first phase of Desert Botanical Garden’s 20-year Master Plan, which we completed in 2008. The garden offers a preview and introduction to the rest of the experience, setting a botanic tone in an evocative indigenous hardscape.

The heart of the concept is topographic, framing surrounding views, reflecting the geography of the Phoenix basin and establishing a distinctive sense of place in the larger landscape. The space is divided into three distinct gardens, stepping up from basin to mesa, and carved by a rectilinear grid of paths and plantings, showcasing a selection of Sonoran desert plants. Each garden then features its own distinct palette, integrating ideas about geology and topography, highlighting the sculptural qualities of the materials and creating a unique and immersive interaction with nature that underscores the beauty and diversity of desert plants.