See the Sonoran Desert in a whole new way

This fall, you can take in the Sonoran Desert in a whole new way at Desert Botanical Garden — through the eyes of machine imaging.

Here's the deal: Desert Botanical Garden will host a newly commissioned multi-sensory art exhibit called "FRAMERATE: Desert Pulse" from Oct. 11, 2025, to May 10, 2026.

• The exhibit from London-based artist-led studio ScanLAB Projects transforms time-lapse 3D scan data of the Sonoran Desert landscape into stunning video installations, blending LiDAR — a scanning technology — with traditional photo and video tech.

Why it's important: The exhibit will display changes invisible to the naked eye — things like cactus bloom lifecycles, fire damage to the desert and shifting sediment along the Salt River.

How it's done: The ScanLAB team and Desert Botanical Garden partnered to select 34 locations across the Valley, from Tonto National Forest to McDowell Mountain Preserve.

• Each day for a year, a team of eight scanning artists used LiDAR to fire millions of laser pulses and measure their return, creating precise 3D records of desert sites.
• Think of it like a long exposure in motion — instead of freezing a single moment, the process froze entire landscapes in full detail.

The result: A series of large-scale immersive works that reveal the resilience, beauty and complexity of the desert, both natural and manmade.

• Visitors will see thousands of images and five video installations as they make their way through the grounds, from the garden to the RAF Exhibit Gallery.

Key numbers: The scale of the exhibit is impressive. "FRAMERATE: Desert Pulse" is the result of:

• 54 terabytes of data.
• 4,833 LiDAR scans.
• 125,000 visual photographs.
• 688 billion data points.

The Garden will host a series of events and experiences through the fall inspired by the exhibit.

• Opening Weekend — Oct. 11-12
  Meet the artists, join mural and journaling stations, connect with photographers, explore wildlife encounters and enjoy activities for kids.
• Rooted: Voices of our Community — Oct. 23, Nov. 20
  Sit in on an intimate storytelling series with Bar Flies.
• Adult Education classes — Ongoing
  There's surely something to pique your interest, from journaling to photography to a panel discussion on changes in the desert.
• Pulse Parties — Nov. 7
  Celebrate the exhibit with desert-inspired music, movement and creativity.
• Desert Studio: Emerging Artists — Nov. 14
  Uncover emerging artists, never-before-heard music and debut albums in this new Garden series for all ages.

The takeaway: With months of programming built around this groundbreaking commission, the Garden is elevating its role as a cultural anchor and environmental storytelling hub, giving Valley residents a chance to see their desert in sharper focus.

Get your advance tickets today.