Carolina Escobar sculpture featured in the "Whispers of a New World" exhibit at Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix. Photo by Lynn Trimble.

The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix recently opened an exhibit featuring giant sculptures by local artist Carolina Escobar, who says children especially are intrigued by their color and size. “Whispers of a New World” features works made of metal, fabric and resin. One looks like chambers of the heart, and another like a toucan. Some appear to grow from the ground, while others hang suspended in the air.

Another exhibit featuring whimsical works that families can enjoy exploring together opens at the Desert Botanical Garden on Friday, Oct. 26. “The Four Seasons” is a set of four 15-foot fiberglass sculptures by American artist and filmmaker Philip Haas. Each was inspired by 16th century Giuseppe Arcimboldo portraits featuring fruits, vegetables, flowers and more.

Escobar says this work is about 20 feet high. Photo by Lynn Trimble.

The Mariposa Monarcha Monarch Butterfly exhibit — which gives families a chance to walk inside a butterfly habitat filled with colorful plants, flowers and butterflies — has already opened for the season. It features material about the life cycle and migration patterns of butterflies, as well as environmental threats to butterflies and conservation efforts aimed at protecting the butterfly population.

Other events taking place at the Desert Botanical Garden in coming weeks and months include the following:

•Families who enjoy gardening can shop for arid-adapted plants big and small during the garden’s plant sale on Saturday, Oct. 20 and Sunday, Oct. 21.

•Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) altars created by local and renowned artists are being exhibited at the garden Friday, Oct. 26 through Sunday, Nov. 4.

•The garden’s Great Pumpkin Festival features hayrides, live music, a petting zoo, carnival-style games and a hay bale maze Friday, Oct. 26 through Sunday, Nov. 4.

•Families can bring their dogs for Dogs’ Day in the Garden and enjoy presentations on making dog treats and keeping dogs safe in the heat, family photo opportunities, pet-friendly landscape tips, and crafts activities for children and dogs on Sunday, Nov. 25.

•The garden’s Las Noches de las Luminarias features more than 8,000 hand-lit luminaria bags and thousands of white twinkling lights  — plus live entertainment including music and storytelling — several nights during December.

Fall offerings at Desert Botanical Garden also include a Music in the Garden concert series and the National Geographic Live speakers series. Click here for details.

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