Frida's Garden at The Tucson Botanical Gardens is a place for inspiration to grow.

AZPM | By Mark McLemore

Published December 2, 2025 at 3:10 PM MST

frida's garden hero — The Frida's Garden exhibit opened in October of 2025.

Special Collections Library hero — The Special Collections wing of the University of Arizona Libraries.

Frida's Garden at The Tucson Botanical Gardens is a place for inspiration to grow.

Featured on the December 4th, 2025 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with host Mark McLemore:

Listen to the story of the First Presbyterian Church of Douglas, and how it is “rising from the ashes” after a devastating arson fire in 2023. Tony Paniagua has an interview with Reverend Peggy Christiansen about the difficult challenges of the past, and the congregation’s unwavering faith in the future.

Douglas Presbyterian Main Sanctuary — First Presbyterian Church of Douglas (Arizona) was one of two churches targeted by an arsonist in 2023. This main sanctuary can be renovated, but the historic sanctuary at neighboring St. Stephen's Episcopal Church was destroyed.

Douglas Presbyterian Reverend 1 — Rev. Peggy Christiansen during a service in the education room on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Douglas earlier this year.

Douglas Presbyterian Manuel Valenzuela — Church member Manuel Valenzuela stands outside the Agape Fellowship Hall while is was undergoing renovations for use by the congregations.

Douglas Presbyterian Congregation Members — Since their main sanctuary was burned by an arsonist in 2023, the congregation of First Presbyterian Church of Douglas has had to meet in other locations, including their education room.

Douglas Presbyterian Agape Hall — This is a photo of Agape Fellowship Hall while is was undergoing renovations for use by the congregation.

Visit “a place for inspiration", the new Frida’s Garden at the Tucson Botanical Gardens, dedicated to continuing the legacy of iconic Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.

Frida's Garden Tucson Botanical Garden display hero — A display at the “Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life” exhibition at the Tucson Botanical Gardens.

Nature writer Rebekah Doyle returns, with an essay extolling the virtues of taking a walk in the grass.

Himmel Park, City of Tucson, Parks and Rec, Parks, Field — Grass fields at Himmel Park.

rebekah doyle hero — Rebekah Doyle is a short fiction and essay writer who is inspired by the outdoors.

And, from Archive Tucson, the oral history project of the U of A Libraries Special Collections, Carolie Addison and Beth Castro share some memories of what it was like to grow up in Tucson in the late 1950s, when children had more time and space to explore the world around them.

courtesy Special Collections

“Archive Tucson” is an oral history project of Special Collections at the University of Arizona Libraries. You can find many stories from Tucson's past at archivetucson.com.

Arizona Spotlight airs every Thursday at 8:30 am and 6:00 pm and every Friday at 8:00 pm on NPR 89.1 FM / 1550 AM. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, or the NPR App. See more from Arizona Spotlight.

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Frida's Garden at The Tucson Botanical Gardens is a place for inspiration to grow.