Family-owned attractions are often the most engrossing certainly this is the case with Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium, founded as a small enterprise in 1938 by Patricia and Chester "Cactus Slim" Moorten. The gardens have grown exponentially, and are still run by the Moortens. This self-professed 'living museum of desert lore' contains thousands of cactus species from across the globe. If botany is not your thing, Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium might just be the place that piques your interest.
The gardens here only cover 0.4 hectares, but there is plenty to see within them. Book a guided tour ahead of your visit, or peruse the plants yourself. Make your way through the arid biomes, representing the different cactus regions. There are over 3,000 varieties of cacti in all. The Yuma, Patagonian, Succulent Karoo and Great Basin Deserts are just a few of the terrains the Moortens have lovingly replicated. Take in the exhibition entitled “The World's First Cactarium” – the Moortens claim to have coined the word.
Outside, marvel at agaves, boojum trees and a two-storey Pachypodium. Chat with Clark Moorten, who tends the garden today, and find out about his life's love. Plants are on sale here, but check the import restrictions for your journey home.
Before you leave, see the Moorten family home, a Mediterranean-style villa nicknamed “Cactus Castle”.
The Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium is roughly two kilometres from the centre of Palm Springs, on South Palm Canyon Drive. Free on-street parking is available. There's a small entrance fee to the gardens. The attraction is closed on Wednesdays. Special events such as weddings and memorial services are held here from time to time, so check ahead to make sure your visit doesn't clash.
