From June through September, the Tucson Botanical Gardens opens their desert oasis to well-behaved leashed dogs for the Dog Days of Summer. Last Monday, the McSquare pack spent three hours meandering their pathways and enjoying breakfast at Cafe Botanica..

Sign for Tucson Botanical Gardens located at2150 N Alvernon Way, Tucson AZ 85712

We purchased our tickets in the gift shop. $9 for each adult and $3 for each dog for a one day visit. They were also giving away mugs. Perfect for bringing into work!

With their convenient midtown location around Grant and Alvernon, next summer, I may purchase an individual annual membership for $45. Dog membership is $20 and $10 more for each additional dog. At a total cost of $75, I easily reap the cost benefit of membership after five visits. With a summer break that's usually ten to eleven weeks long, the pups and I could head over to the Gardens once a week to enjoy their exotic sniffs!

Thankfully, Lizzie and Bernie behave in the Tucson Botanical Garden gift shop.

We started meandering around the shaded pathways for the Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life exhibit, which was extended until August 31, 2017.

Walking along the pathways surrounding the Frida Kahlo Art Garden Life exhibit at the Tucson Botanical Gardens.

Statues of little critters are spread throughout the Gardens. Lizzie kept sniffing on and around this little squirrel. We think she was just happy that there were cuddly creatures smaller than her.

Whoops! Lizzie broke the number one Gardens rule for dogs: Stay on the pathways! Before we knew it, she was charging headfirst into this ground cover. Luckily, she didn't do any damage.

Lizzie! You need to stay on the pathways. Not charge headfirst into the ground cover. No matter how good the sniffs.

As her mentor pup and big brother, Bernie gave Lizzie a quick reminder talk about respecting rules when you're a visitor.

Bernie and LIzzie enjoy walking around all the different plants and flowers at the Tucson Botanical Gardens.

Throughout the Gardens, we found various benches that were just too pretty to cover up by sitting on them.

Bernie and LIzzie sniffed every bench we came across in the Tucson Botanical Gardens.

This beautiful javelina bench dedicated in loving memory of Betsy Livingston stood out as one of the most striking for me and Matthew.

Matthew found tiny features like this bird's nest. And then he found The Thornville Garden Railway, which runs around the miniature mountains, garden, and buildings. The pups enjoyed watching the train pass by.

A tiny bird's nest tucked away in the Tucson Botanical Gardens.

Thorneville Garden Railway runs around a tiny town, gardens, and mountains.

Walking around the Cactus and Succulent Garden felt the most familiar, even if some of the cacti and succulents are from deserts around the world.

Strolling through the Cactus and Succulent Garden with Bernie and LIzzie.

After our almost two-hour leisurely walk around the various Gardens, we decided to have breakfast at Cafe Botanica. They set out two stainless steel water bowls for the pups, which was a homey touch.

We split an order of the Huevos Rancheros so we could also indulge in a scone and biscuit, including a side of marmalade. Everything was delicious. We left Tucson Botanical Gardens with happy tummies, and more importantly, happy Doodles.