Ethel M Botanical Cactus Gardens
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The Ethel M Botanical Cactus Gardens (3 acres) are botanical gardens located at the Ethel M Chocolate Factory, 2 Cactus Garden Drive, Henderson, Nevada. The gardens, and the factory itself, are open to the public for free.
The Gardens contain more than 350 different cactus and succulent species, forming one of the largest such collections in the United States. Over half are native to the American southwest; the remainder are from Australia and South America. The collection includes varieties such as:
- The giant saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea)
- Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens)
- Pricly pears and chollas (Opuntia):
- Beavertail Cactus (Opuntia basilaris)
- Teddy bear cholla (Opuntia bigelovii)
- Bishop's Cap Cactus (Astrophytum myriostigma)
- Clumping hedgehogs (Echinocereus)
- Compass barrel cactus
- Fish hook barrels (Echinocactus wislizenii)
- Red barrel cactus (Ferocactus pilosus)
- Mesquite (Prosopsis chilensis)
- Twisted acacia
- Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis)
The Botanical Cactus Gardens also include a "Living Machine", their name for a demonstration wastewater treatment facility. Using bacteria, algae, protozoa, snails and fish, the facility recycles 100 percent of the Chocolate factory's wastewater without the use of any chemicals. The water is recycled for use in providing water for the gardens. The ponds from the wastewater facility attract many of the birds that inhabit the gardens.
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