By Sharon Cohoon, Sunset senior garden writer

The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is opening its latest attraction, The Sybil B. Harrington Cactus and Succulent Galleries, Saturday, April 5.  The massive shade structure, designed by landscape architect Steve Martino, will protect the Garden's more delicate cactus and succulents from the Sonoran desert's harsh summer sun.  A unique underground heating and cooling system, designed by Dr. Tom Schleifer of ASU and the firm University Mechanical, will further protect the plants from severe changes in the elements. 

The 28-foot-tall canopies of the structure are massive enough for the Garden's most impressive specimen plants, such as 22-foot-tall mountain pipe organ (Stenocereus montanus).  The red columns that support them are the perfect color to accentuate the blues and grays that predominate in desert plants.  And the orientation of the structures make the most of the Garden's desert vistas.

Scott C. Scarfone of Oasis Design Group designed the plant displays in each gallery.