This 30,000-Square-Foot Phoenix, Arizona Garden Market Feels Like An Urban Oasis
Nothing cures a chaotic work week quite like getting utterly lost in a sprawling, thirty-thousand square foot urban jungle that feels a million miles away from everyday life.
Wandering past endless rows of rare tropicals, desert-hardy cacti, and charming pottery, my shoulders finally dropped as I breathed in that crisp, earthy greenhouse air.
A quick trip to pick up just one little succulent turned into a full-blown romance with this desert sanctuary, complete with me whispering sweet nothings to a very dramatic fern.
If there is a better way to spend a sunny Saturday morning than hunting for botanical treasures in a hidden oasis, I certainly haven’t found it yet. Founded in 2015 by Arizona natives, this family-owned space grew from a crowdfunded dream into a full-blown neighborhood institution.
How The Idea Came To Life
Back in 2014, a beloved local nursery shut its doors, leaving a hole in the heart of a Phoenix neighborhood. Two Arizona natives, Tim Bishop and Ryan Jerrell, decided they were not going to let that gap stay empty for long.
Their answer was Dig It Gardens, which opened in October 2015 on the very kind of vacant lot that communities often forget about.
The funding story is just as inspiring as the concept. Bishop and Jerrell launched a GoFundMe campaign and raised $150,000 from supporters who believed in the vision of a green, healthy, community-centered hangout.
That grassroots energy is still woven into the fabric of everything the market does today.
What started as a straightforward garden center quickly grew into something much larger. A customer asking about hosting her wedding there during the COVID-19 pandemic set off a chain of events that transformed Dig It Gardens into a fully functioning event venue. Sometimes the best ideas arrive unexpectedly.
Stepping Into The Urban Oasis Atmosphere
Crossing the threshold at Dig It Gardens feels like pressing a reset button on a hectic day. The scent of hundreds of flowering plants hits you first, followed quickly by a noticeable drop in air temperature that feels like a small miracle when Phoenix is baking outside.
Mature trees arch overhead, garden paths wind through plant-filled corners, and tucked-away lounge spaces invite you to slow down and breathe. The grounds span over 30,000 square feet outdoors, complemented by more than 3,000 square feet of indoor space.
That combination gives the market a sprawling, park-like quality that feels rare in an urban setting. You can wander for a long time and keep discovering something new around every bend.
A mural celebrating the local neighborhood decorates the exterior wall, and the bathrooms feature a living wall that keeps the botanical theme going even indoors. Every detail here feels intentional, crafted to make visitors feel genuinely welcome and refreshed.
A Plant Selection Unlike Any Other In Phoenix
Plant lovers who walk through Dig It Gardens for the first time tend to stop and stare.
The inventory here is genuinely one of the most diverse in the entire Phoenix area, covering everything from spiky cacti and sculptural succulents to lush indoor houseplants, native desert shrubs, edible herbs, and towering trees. There is something here for every kind of gardener.
What makes the selection especially trustworthy is that every plant sold is vetted for the desert environment.
The knowledgeable staff, affectionately known as the plant people, understand the unique demands of the Phoenix climate and make sure customers leave with plants that will actually thrive in their yards and homes.
Unique pottery is also available throughout the market, giving shoppers a chance to find the perfect vessel to pair with their new green addition.
The plant displays were originally designed by Arizona State University landscape architecture students, inspired by the topography of nearby Papago Park. That academic touch gives the layout a thoughtful, gallery-like flow that sets it apart from a typical nursery.
Workshops And Hands-On Learning Experiences
Learning something new feels a lot more fun when you are surrounded by plants and good company. Dig It Gardens hosts a rotating lineup of workshops that cover topics like Kokedama, which is the Japanese art of planting in moss balls, cactus care basics, and creative succulent and cactus arrangement classes.
These sessions are hands-on, relaxed, and genuinely educational. Local artists frequently collaborate on the workshops, including ceramicist Lisa Howe, who creates handcrafted vessels used during the arrangement classes.
That partnership with local makers gives each workshop a distinctly personal and community-rooted feel that you will not find at a big-box garden store.
One practical tip worth knowing: the indoor workshops are held in air-conditioned spaces, which is a serious bonus during the scorching Phoenix summer months.
Spots fill up quickly, so reserving your place in advance is strongly recommended. Whether you are a total beginner or a seasoned plant parent, these classes offer a genuinely enjoyable way to deepen your connection with the green world around you.
The Event Venue That Grew From A Pandemic Idea
Not many event venues can trace their origins to a single phone call during a global pandemic, but Dig It Gardens can. When a customer reached out asking if she could hold her wedding among the plants and pathways, the founders said yes, and a whole new chapter of the business began.
Today the market is a sought-after venue for weddings, receptions, bridal and baby showers, birthday celebrations, corporate gatherings, and fundraisers. What separates Dig It Gardens from traditional event venues is the flexibility it offers.
Clients are encouraged to bring in their own vendors and shape their celebrations however they see fit. That open-door approach creates events that feel personal and authentic rather than cookie-cutter.
The setting does a lot of the decorating work on its own. With mature trees, winding garden paths, and a lush green backdrop at every angle, the space photographs beautifully and creates a mood that no rented ballroom could replicate.
Hosting a celebration here means your guests will be talking about the setting long after the party ends.
Stroll Coffee And The Bites That Keep Visitors Lingering
Spending a few hours wandering through thousands of plants works up an appetite, and Dig It Gardens has that covered too. Stroll Coffee operates inside the market, giving visitors a reason to pause, sip something warm or cold, and soak in the surroundings a little longer.
It fits the laid-back, community-hangout vibe of the place perfectly. A small, rotating sandwich menu has also been part of the experience, with a former chef on the team known for crafting green chile burgers that earned a loyal following among regulars.
The food offerings are simple but satisfying, designed to complement a leisurely visit rather than rush you out the door.
Having a coffee shop built into a garden market is the kind of detail that turns a quick shopping stop into a full afternoon outing. Grab a cup, find one of the tucked-away lounge spots scattered across the grounds, and let the sounds of the macaw parrots and rustling leaves keep you company.
Few places in Phoenix make it this easy to simply enjoy being somewhere.
Landscape Design Services Through Dig It Design
Falling in love with the look of Dig It Gardens and wishing your own yard could feel the same way is a completely understandable reaction.
Fortunately, the team behind the market also runs a sister company called Dig It Design, which offers full-service landscape design for homeowners and businesses throughout the Phoenix area.
The same philosophy that shapes the market, prioritizing plants suited for the desert climate and creating spaces that feel alive and welcoming, guides every Dig It Design project.
Clients get expert guidance from people who genuinely know and love the land they are working with, not just a generic landscaping crew following a template.
For anyone who has ever struggled to figure out which plants survive a Phoenix summer or how to create a backyard that feels cool and inviting rather than dry and sparse, this service is a practical resource worth exploring.
The connection between the retail market and the design studio means you can shop for plants and plan your entire outdoor space all in one place, which is a rare kind of convenience.
Planning Your Visit To Dig It Gardens
Getting the most out of a trip to Dig It Gardens starts with knowing when to show up. The market is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and also on Sundays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Mondays are the one day the gates stay closed, so plan accordingly.
The full address is 3015 North 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016, which puts it in a centrally located neighborhood that is easy to reach from most parts of the city.
You can reach the team by phone at 602-812-7476, and their website at digphx.com has updated event schedules, workshop listings, and additional details about their services.
Morning visits tend to be the most comfortable, especially in the warmer months, when the air is still manageable and the garden feels especially fresh. If a workshop is on your agenda, book your spot well ahead of time since they tend to fill up fast.
First-time visitors should budget at least an hour or two to really explore, because this is not a place you want to rush through.