Guests visiting Loews Ventana Canyon can now encounter the unique nature and wildlife of Arizona just steps from the comfort of their pool chairs with the opening of its new butterfly garden and tortoise exhibit.

The resort, long recognized as an environmental leader for its design and preservation of its desert surroundings, is the first Arizona resort or hotel to feature certified butterfly and desert tortoise exhibits.

“This is just one more way we are embracing nature on our property and giving guests an up-close-and-personal experience with our local flora and fauna,” said Brian Johnson, Managing Director of Loews Ventana Canyon. “In addition to enhancing our beautiful surroundings, these new features offer something that’s unique, educational and fun for visitors to help them connect to Tucson’s wild side.”

The 1,500-square-foot butterfly garden, certified by the National Butterfly Association as a national butterfly garden and a monarch flyway, features 20 types of plants to attract more than 60 species of butterflies. The resort partnered with the Southeast Arizona Butterfly Association to develop the garden and identify plant species such as Mojave milkweed, Arizona foldwing and Arizona milkweed that are most enticing to butterflies.

In addition to the garden, two desert tortoises now reside at the resort in its new 800-square-foot tortoise exhibit certified by the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. The exhibit, built by the resort landscaping staff in consultation with the museum and the Arizona Game and Fish Department, is part of the museum’s Tortoise Adoption Program to benefit the welfare of captive and wild tortoises and turtles.