By Chris Kline, President & CEO, Desert Botanical Garden
When most people think of Desert Botanical Garden, they picture a beautiful place with iconic landscapes, big community events, and a living collection of plants that tell the story of the Sonoran Desert. That role matters deeply. But as I step into my first months as President and CEO, I believe the Garden’s next chapter is about something bigger: serving as a platform for Arizona’s future.
Arizona is growing faster than almost anywhere in the country. With that growth comes opportunity and responsibility. Water, heat, land use and quality of life are no longer abstract challenges; they are everyday realities shaping our economy, our communities, and our competitiveness. Institutions like Desert Botanical Garden have a unique role to play at this moment: translating knowledge into action and bringing people together around solutions.
At its core, the Garden is about resilience, not just natural resilience, but human resilience. For nearly a century, we’ve studied how desert plants survive extreme conditions. That expertise now matters beyond our gates. The same principles that help plants thrive in heat can inform how cities design shade, manage water and create environments where people and businesses can succeed.
Equally important, the Garden is a place of connection. In a fast-moving, often fragmented world, communities need shared spaces that inspire curiosity, creativity and belonging. We see this every day when families explore together, when artists and scientists collaborate on art exhibitions and when business and civic leaders gather here to think differently about the desert we all call home.
Looking ahead, my focus is on expanding the Garden’s impact while staying true to its mission. That means strengthening partnerships with educators, researchers, cultural organizations, and the business community. It means ensuring the Garden remains financially strong and accessible. And it means positioning Desert Botanical Garden not only as a destination — which is quickly closing in on 1 million visitors each year — but as a civic asset and a place where ideas take root.
The desert has always demanded ingenuity. Arizona’s success has come from people willing to adapt, collaborate, and imagine what’s possible. Desert Botanical Garden is proud to be part of that story, and excited to help keep our region resilient and deeply connected to the shared place we all call home.
We’re here to partner. Reach out any time and let us know how we can work together.