The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department and Historic Preservation Office will offer visitors a chance this winter to explore the newly renovated Carraro Cactus Garden surrounding the landmark Tovrea Castle. The city of Phoenix will offer guided, one-hour tours every other weekend from late January through April, 2007. There will be five tours per day between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. The tours will cost $15 per person; proceeds from the tours will help to fund future castle and garden rehabilitation and improvements. Those interested can register for the tours online by selecting the classes and programs link.
The tours kick off the weekend of Jan. 20-21 and will run through early May. Friday tours will be available on selected weekends. The tours will only cover the grounds and do not include access to Tovrea Castle, which is closed as part of ongoing rehabilitation and renovation. Parks staff has been working for years to slowly restore the plants in the garden and recently employed a cactus specialist to restore and rejuvenate many of the cactuses on site. Using period photos, staff also has been repairing and improving the grounds to more closely resemble the way they looked when the castle and cactus gardens were newly completed in the early 1930s. In addition to online registration, those interested also can call 602-256-3220 for more information.
