Enter the magical cacti world of Moorten Botanical Garden.
C
acti and succulents belong to South California as the Alps to the Swiss, or so they say. And one spot has so many cacti; you cannot even count: Moorten Botanical Garden in Palm Springs. Maybe you could count them, but still, the former residence of the silent movie star Chester “Cactus Slim” Moorten and his wife, Patricia, is filled with more than 3000 species of cacti and succulents. What started as a hobby after the show biz, turned into a small family business and one of the must-visit places in Palm Springs.
The “world’s first cactarium”, as they call it, or simply a greenhouse with cacti, let’s you be eye to eye with desert plants in all shapes and sizes. The light in there is a dream for every photographer. Outside, you can stroll through the gardens, take a break at many benches and admire what Mother Nature can create.
If you like succulents, Moorten Botanical Garden will definitely be worth the trip, especially if you are traveling with a pup in tow. Dogs are absolutely allowed in Moorten Botanical Garden, just remember to bring poop bags 🙂
It will take you no more than an hour to hike the Moorten Botanical Garden’s trail that will lead you through a variety of local vegetation to a little shop where you can buy cute little potted succulents and cacti to take home with you. And if you are looking for an event location, Moorten’s rents out their grounds for weddings, company and private events.
Keep your eyes out for Clark Moorten, the owner of Moorten Botanical Garden, who frequently works the ticket booth. Mr. Moorten is a sweet man with a wealth of knowledge about the garden and surroundings. If you happen to bump into him, make sure to ask about the Botanical Garden’s fascinating link to Hollywood’s silent film era.
So next time your head out to Palm Springs, make sure to stop at Moorten Botanical Garden, make a picture and tag us with #californiaweekend, so we can see how you captured the light.
★Moorten Botanical Garden
1701 S. Palm Canyon Dr.
Palm Springs
hours: 10am to 4:00pm Mon-Sun;
closed Wednesday.
admission: adults: $4 children: $2
