ALIVE
THE DESERT COMES
This Fall at the Garden
DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN | FALL 2025
STEP INTO DESERT PULSE Thousands of stunning images. Five monumental video installations. One transformative experience.
Oct. 11, 2025 – May 10, 2026 FRAMERATE: Desert Pulse, a multi-sensory art exhibit by ScanLAB Projects, invites visitors into the visual and emotional energy of the Sonoran Desert. Through photography, LiDAR scanning, motion and sound, it reveals new ways of seeing and deepens appreciation for our vibrant ecosystem.
See it first, see it often, as a Garden member. • • •
Members-Only Preview Oct. 10. Unlimited access. Discounts on Desert Pulse ticketed events and classes. Learn more at desertpulse.org
Meet the Artists Desert Pulse is the visionary creation of Matt Shaw and William Trossell, co-founders of the London-based art studio ScanLAB Projects. Shaw is an explorer moved to bear witness to the environment and society, and interrogate how technology will influence our futures. Trossell’s craft bridges creative development and deep engineering vision with sensor and render technologies revealing alternate perspectives on our material world. Their precision, curiosity and bold experimentation are the pulse behind the exhibition. ScanLAB Project’s award-winning work has been featured on the BBC, The Guardian and The New York Times and has been exhibited internationally, including at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The New Museum NYC, South by Southwest and the Venice Biennale. Desert Pulse is the latest work in ScanLAB’s critically acclaimed FRAMERATE series.
Thousands of stunning images. In 2023, ScanLAB Projects, started composing Desert Pulse. ScanLAB selected more than a dozen distinct scan sites across the Valley and at the Garden. Since October 2023, 3D scans were recorded daily through October 2024. Those 12 months of recorded data revealed unseen environmental changes — the result of human, natural and industrial processes — all impossible to see with the naked eye or through the lens of traditional cameras. The team documented cactus flowering and fruiting, shifting sediment patterns along the Salt River, recent fire-damaged desert and vibrant desert blooms. Locations included a desert development in Rio Verde, a Saguaro growth monitoring site near Needle Rock and recreation areas along North Bush Highway.
Five monumental video installations. Across four monumental screens nestled in the Garden, Desert Pulse unveils a year of transformation through captivating visuals. •
Ottosen Entry Garden Begin your journey where time compresses and cactus burst into life.
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Lewis Desert Portal Traverse landscapes where mesquite forests thrive, agave explode skyward and fire-charred soil blossoms into new growth.
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Sybil B. Harrington Cactus Gallery Witness kaleidoscope of blooms dance across the screen.
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Ullman Terrace Watch seasonality ripple across vast terrain and desert landscapes transform in a symphony of motion.
One transformative experience. The exhibit will culminate with a temporal, immersive experience in The RAF Exhibit Gallery. Like the desert itself, Desert Pulse asks its audience for patience, attention and care. And perhaps, in a quiet way, it suggests that nature doesn’t always announce itself. Sometimes, it waits quietly to surprise us with unexpected beauty.
Beyond the exhibit
Step into Desert Pulse with educational classes that bring the desert to life! From photography to art these experiences pair perfectly with the exhibit. Don’t just see it ... live it, learn from it and create alongside it.
CLASSES
Nature Journaling: Sketching through Time Oct. 16, 23, 30 Take a sketchbook out onto the Garden trails for deep observation, noticing change in the desert each week. This series focuses on the concept of change in desert plants over time.
Seeing Time: A Photographer’s Journey through Change in the Sonoran Desert Oct. 20, Nov. 3 & 17 Experience the Sonoran Desert like never before: through the lens of time. This photography series invites you to observe and document the quiet transformations of the natural world, culminating in a personal photo story inspired by Desert Pulse.
Desert Views: A Conversation Series Exploring Desert Pulse Nov. 6 Learn about the behind-the-scenes of the 3D scanning technology and conservation work that makes Desert Pulse come to life. Join us for an interactive panel discussion and conversation about capturing change in the natural world with a photographer, a research botanist and an ASU professor.
Timelapse Photography for Beginners Nov. 10 This workshop introduces the art and technique of timelapse photography in a desert setting and explores how to tell stories of subtle transformation in the natural world.
EVENTS
Members-Only Preview Event Oct. 10 Members see if first! You are invited to a Members-Only Preview of Desert Pulse, enjoy the exhibit, refreshments, a special gift and a chance to meet the artists.
Opening Weekend Celebration Oct. 11–12 Join the Desert Pulse Kickoff Weekend Celebration with hands-on art activities, exciting giveaways, interactive photo stations and the chance to meet the artists behind the exhibition. Get creative in the desert landscape with familyfriendly fun and unique experiences for all ages. Don’t miss this vibrant start to our new season!
Desert Studio: An Emerging Artists Series Oct. 17 & Nov. 14 Experience a fresh pick of entertainment in our new series. We will feature emerging artists, never-before heard music and the occasional album release that is sure to excite Garden members and guests.
Rooted: Voices of Our Community Oct. 23 & Nov. 20 Presented by Bar Flies, six storytellers will share impactful stories that reflect the messages of Desert Pulse.
Pulse Parties Nov. 7 Themed parties in the Garden will get your pulse racing through movement, music, creativity and other engaging experiences.
Learn more about Desert Pulse at desertpulse.org
ALIVE Feel Fall Come
Across the Garden
This Fall, the desert comes alive at the Garden. As the summer heat gives way to crisp fall mornings and stunning sunset evenings, there’s no better time to immerse yourself in the beauty of the Garden.
FRAMERATE: DESERT PULSE
MAJESTIC MARIPOSAS
Oct. 11 – May 10
Sept. 27 – Nov. 16
DOG DAYS
LOTERÍA NIGHTS
Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25 & Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22
Oct. 16 & Nov. 13
R MEMBE IONS AT RESERV E N!
NOW O
P
FALL PLANT SALE Members Day, Oct. 16 | General Public, Oct. 17–19
STRANGE GARDEN
DÍA DE MUERTOS
Oct. 24 & 25
Nov. 1 & 2
R M EM B E O N S TICKET .1
C SALE O
PLANTS AND PEOPLE OF THE SONORAN DESERT CELEBRATION Nov. 15 & 16
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LAS NOCHES DE LAS LUMINARIAS Nov. 28-30, Dec. 5–6, 12–14, 18–23, 26–30
Explore More, Discover More Come Learn at the Garden Adult Education Classes on Sale Now! Take learning into your own hands and enjoy specialized classes located at the Garden. Get inspired and learn new skills through one of our programs in gardening and landscape, photography, nature and ecology, art, cooking and wellness.
LEARN DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER 2025
Check out your Learn Catalogue for all your fall class options.
SEEDLINGS Sept. 3, 10, 17 & 24 Children 3-5 and caretakers can experience the wonder of nature through hands-on lessons that teach kids and adults how to splash, dig, climb and explore together through nature play concepts.
CACTUS CLUBHOUSE Oct. 11, 2025 – May 10, 2026 Cactus Clubhouse is an engaging, hands-on nature play space designed especially for kids 12 and under. Bursting with opportunities for curiosity and discovery, it’s the perfect place for young explorers to let their imaginations run wild! Join us on the weekends too for fun hands-on activities and crafts.
STORYTIME Oct. 24, 25, Nov. 7, 8, 21, 22, Dec. 5, 6, 19, 20 Spark your child’s love for nature with engaging stories, songs and hands-on activities. Designed for children five and under and their caregivers, each session offers a playful introduction to the wonders of the natural world.
DESERT PULSE KIDS Starting Oct. 11 Create with us for Desert Pulse-inspired STEM activities in the Cactus Clubhouse.
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Phoenix, AZ Permit no. 1269
1201 N. Galvin Parkway Phoenix, AZ 85008 480.941.1225 | dbg.org
LUMINARIAS D E S E R T B O TA N I C A L G A R D E N
Alive with Holiday Magic Members can save $5 on adult tickets with discount code LUMI25 through Oct. 16
SELECT NIGHTS Nov. 28 – Dec. 30 Member Tickets On Sale Oct. 1–16, General Tickets On Sale Oct. 17