Bright and colorful bulbs, flowering fruit trees, and deciduous trees and shrubs in full leaf are not prominent during winter at the Albuquerque Botanic Garden.  That is the season when the evergreen trees shine, and architecture and sculptures are much more visible.  The vision and planning of the people who have worked on the garden over the last nearly 30 years is impressive.  I hope all of them are proud.  

The Mediterranean and Desert Conservatories are housed in the glass and metal building designed by Architect Edward María and fellow architects Edith Cherry and James See.  When I originally walked into the garden in 1998, two years after the Botanic Garden opened, the most prominent feature was the Conservatory.  During our recent visit, I had to walk a bit before seeing it.  Even in the high desert of New Mexico, trees grow in 30 years.  Thus, as gardens should be, the vegetation, architectural, and sculptural elements are complementary rather than competitive.

ABQ Botanic Garden Conservatory 1 2025

From the inside, one gets an idea of how large the building really is, with walkways winding in and over three levels, and the New Mexico sky everywhere in the inviting, warm, and humid space under cover of glass and metal structural elements.

ABQ Botanic Garden Conservatory 2 2025   

Myriad species of plants are grown within the bounds of both the Mediterranean and Desert sections of the Conservatory.  The blue and gold barrel cacti show below, are native to Baja, California.  

ABQ Botanic Garden Conservatory blue barrel cactus 2025 ABQ Botanic Garden Conservatory gold barrel cactus 2025

There were several areas of the Botanic Garden I had not seen previously, including the G scale model railroad that winds its way on two 400 feet loops from near the Garden entrance.  

ABQ Botanic Garden G scale railroad garden 1 2025

A lighthouse shown below is just one of the buildings that populate the Railroad Garden.  

ABQ Botanic Garden lighthouse in G scale railroad garden 1 2025

There were a number of things that were surprises in other parts of the Garden, including the stained glass skylight in the entrance breezeway of the High Desert Rose Garden.  Just to whet the appetite for what is to come in the spring, summer, and fall, the roses are very much Charles Rennie MacIntosh in feel.  

ABQ Botanic Garden Conservatory High Desert Rose Garden window 2025

Another lovely visual is the castle tower of the Children's Fantasy Garden.  A bit Medieval and a slightly Disney in feel. 

ABQ Botanic Garden - Children's Fantasy Garden tower wall

Thanks to Claudia, Barbara F. R., Jean & Sam, Connie T., Carolyn S., Paule Marx, Steve, Victoria, and Rebecca A. for your comments this week.  I hope that the coming week brings warmth, sunshine, peace, and abundant photographic possibilities around your world!

until next Monday,

DB

a passion for the image©