Hi friends! Over the weekend my mom and I got to enjoy the Desert Botanical Gardens thanks to Pauls Grandma who gave us her membership passes!
*** PS PIZZA GIVEAWAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST!
I thought it would be fun to share with you guys because I realized in my recent survey that many of you live in very different places in the US. In fact, over half of you are on the east coast! I’ve lived in the desert my whole life, I was born and raised in Phoenix, went to college in Tucson, and went to Grad School at Loma Linda University in the Inland Empire which is still the desert. Sometimes I hate how brown it is, and sometimes this thorny garden blows me away.
To be honest trips to the Botanical Gardens as a kid made me want to run and hide, I found it incredibly boring. Now that I’ve grown up a little bit I appreciate the beauty and education the garden provides at least a bit more. I loved this sign about the Saguaro hotel. Many people who come to AZ ask why the cactus have so many holes in them, that’s because animals make their home in them and drink water form them!
I also thought it was cool they had a live herb and vegetable garden! Proof things do grow in Arizona, just not at my house but that has to do with my lack of gardening skills and less to do with the weather. When you plant at the right time, you can grow a successful edible garden in Arizona!
The best part was the weather was absolutely fantastic, in fact, it might have just been a little cold! Finally, I get to enjoy a little bit of winter! (While Mr. Hungrys Grandma was staying with us we kept the house at like 77, I felt like I was missing out on the little bit of winter we have but now I love every minute!)
There were also some fascinating plants I had never seen before and didn’t know grew in the desert, like this one. 
And in case you are interested in seeing where agave syrup and tequila comes from, here it is:
Lots of excellent views of the many mountains we have surrounding the valley too!
And some Japanese art…
My mom was talking about these Chihuly sculptures forever. She really liked them! Apparently occasionally the art is displayed all over the garden. They are made from hand-blown glass, and the artist only exhibits his work in really unique places.
Wildlife is abundant in the thorny garden, but sometimes you really have to look for it. We saw a lot of cactus rein, quals, and hummingbirds. Can you spot the little cactus rein in this photo? (PS no I would not know that’s what they were called if my mom hadn’t been with me!)
It was a beautiful way to spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon with the nice weather with my momma!
Cali’flour Foods Pizza Giveaway
Now on to part two of today’s post! I recently got to try out Cali’flour foods pizza crusts at FNCE and was immediately impressed. Out of all the things I tried there, this was one of the things that stood out the most to me. That’s saying a lot because there are over 500 vendors at FNCE!!! One of the things that impressed me was the simplicity of their ingredients!
Last night I wanted something healthy for dinner but with little hassle. This weaning off caffeine thing is affecting me WAY more than I thought it would. Maybe I should have just gone cold turkey because the weaning off thing leaves me feeling like crap for at least 48 hours every week. Anyways, the nice folks at Cali’Flour Foods recently sent me some of their crusts to try out, so I figured it was the perfect night for pizza!
We gobbled them down traditional style with pepperoni and cheese which was DELICIOUS. However, the crusts were so good on their own; I think I might just eat the next one plain, they were THAT good! I also think they would make delicious breakfast pizzas; I see a recipe coming soon! PS my oven is a POS, the heat gets all messed up, so we are getting it repaired. So it’s not the pizzas fault or my fault they got a little burn on the edges, that’s the oven’s fault. Working on getting that fixed, not ideal for a food blogger to have a broken oven!
Anyways you guys have GOT to try these pizza crusts, and they are freaking DELICIOUS. Just like if you made a cauliflower pizza crust at home but without the mess or hassle! The awesome people at Cali’flour Foods are giving one lucky Hungry Hobby reader a $50 gift card to try them out! AND it gets better! You can also get 10% off any order over $50 bucks of Cali’flour Pizza Crusts using the code HungryHobby at check out! Get on it people and make sure to #hungryhobby and #TheNewWhiteFlour if you share make them!
I realized I have never actually been to a dessert and your botanical gardens are MUCH different than what you see growing here on the east coast lol. I love all the cacti though, so cool! And yes to cauliflower pizza crusts! I haven’t been able to find Cali’flour crusts and would love to try them!
I haven’t been able to find them either, but you can order them which is nice! I need to find out where they are located, I think they are currently in Whole Foods but I’ll ask!
I love visiting botanical gardens! :] This one looks like it’d be such a pretty one to visit!
Also, thanks for the giveaway!! *-* I love cauliflower and have been wanting to try making a cauliflower crust pizza–this would make it so much easier! 😛
Right!?! Who has time these days to put cauliflower in a food processor and grind it up. It’s super messy too!
Healthier pizza!, yes please! That is such a good momma/daughter date!
Have you ever been????? Have you been to the dome or whatever it is in Tucson? I never got to go!
I have not been to the one in Phx, but I want to the desert museum in Tucson not too long ago. The biosphere (big white thing north on oracle)? I have been there actually! We took a little field trip with friends a few years ago, it was cool, there is a rainforest in there.
I’m impressed with the statistics showing that healthy can be achieved. Our problem is that we choose the wrong products. Time for a change. Thank you for the giveaway.
I enjoy reading your post as much as I enjoy looking at the pictures of those plants that can be found in the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. It’s amazing that there is a place like this. I’m looking forward to visiting the place as it intrigues me what kind of plants I will see in the garden. By the way is that a giant Aloe Vera?