Santa Fe

CULTURAL & GARDEN WONDERS: SANTA FE

With AHS Hosts Tim and Christine Conlon

A rustic, weathered wooden wagon at the Buckboard area of Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, set against the scenic backdrop of red rock formations and piñon-juniper woodlands.

August 18 to 24, 2025

Program Brochure and Registration

The Experience

Discover the wonders of Santa Fe with the AHS on a unique journey highlighting the region’s stunning gardens, vibrant culture, and rich artistic traditions. Explore the art of high desert-adapted gardening and the striking beauty of plants that thrive in this unique environment. Alongside these horticultural discoveries, enjoy immersive cultural experiences, including iconic Museum Hill and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Santa Fe Opera. With curated visits to historic sites including the Taos Pueblo and Georgia O’Keeffe’s Home, Garden & Studio at Abiquiú, this program offers a delightful blend of nature, history, and art, perfect for gardening enthusiasts eager to explore the fascinating ecological and multi-cultural heritage of the American Southwest.

Trip Highlights

  • Experience the unique blend of natural landscapes and adobe architecture that inspires Santa Fe’s large multicultural artist community.
  • Visit a fascinating variety of high-desert gardens.
  • Immerse yourself in the cultural treasures of Santa Fe’s Museum Hill, home to several iconic museums showcasing art, history, and culture.
  • Enjoy an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Santa Fe Opera, an architectural marvel, with the opportunity to independently attend a performance.
  • Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Taos Pueblo, a multistory adobe complex that has been inhabited by Native Americans for centuries.
  • Explore the historical significance of Los Alamos and the natural beauty of the Los Alamos Nature Center.
  • Take a docent-led tour of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and visit her home, garden, and studio in Abiquiú.

Contact

Travel Study Department
703.768.5500 ext. 117
travel@ahsgardening.org

A breathtaking landscape in Abiquiu, New Mexico, featuring a mix of volcanic ash formations, red rock cliffs, and vast expanses of piñon-juniper forests.
A large, vibrant green yucca plant standing tall at the Santa Fe Botanical Garden, set amidst a backdrop of piñon-juniper woodlands and showcasing the garden's focus on native New Mexico flora
A panoramic view near Los Alamos, New Mexico, showcasing the stunning natural beauty of the surrounding mountains and canyons, with the Jemez Mountains visible in the distance
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, New Mexico, stands as a prominent landmark with its Romanesque Revival architecture, featuring round arches, Corinthian columns, and a stunning rose window.
A bright Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), showcasing its vibrant purple petals drooping around a prominent, dark purplish-brown center cone, highlighting the intricate details of this native North American flower
A bright orange dahlia on display at the Santa Fe Farmers Market
A rustic, weathered wooden wagon at the Buckboard area of Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, set against the scenic backdrop of red rock formations and piñon-juniper woodlands.
Iconic blue doors of Taos Pueblo, New Mexico, painted in the distinctive 'Taos Blue' color, which is often associated with protection from evil spirits and is a long-standing tradition in the pueblo.
Three Black-eyed Susans, with their bright yellow petals and dark brown centers, blooming vibrantly.
The low-growing Beavertail Prickly Pear at Santa Fe Botanical Garden, typically reaching up to 16 inches in height, is adorned with vibrant magenta flowers in the spring, adding a pop of color to the garden's piñon-juniper woodland landscape.
A colorful wagon display in Santa Fe, filled with vibrant plants and flowers
Adobe architecture of Santa Fe, featuring traditional earth-colored buildings made from sun-dried earth and straw, contrasting against the deep blue sky, reflect the city's rich cultural heritage and unique architectural style.