The Ritz Carlton, Dove Mountain's lobby has the sweetest cactus garden we've ever seen.
It's made of candy β about 1,000 pounds of it.
These candy craftsmen used more than 100 pounds of fondant to form life-size cacti and critters and around 600 pounds of brown sugar for the dirt, said Stefanie Shirley, a marketing coordinator for the resort.
There are more than a dozen cacti in this garden.
Up close you can see the spines and flowers are made of gummy bears, Swedish Fish, peppermints, Hershey's Kisses and so much more.
Gum drops +pretzels + frosting = cactus.
The sweetest little barrel cactus you ever did see.
There are more than a dozen cacti β prickly pear, barrel, saguaro β snakes, spiders and even a mama javelina with her baby.
Mama javelina with her baby.
You can smell the sugar as you approach.
The resort, 15000 N. Secret Springs Drive in Marana, also has an enormous gingerbread house where you can eat. But it's not cheap. You're looking at $200 to $250, not counting your food.
The house is made of 400 pounds of flour, 100 pounds of ginger powder, 50 pounds of cinnamon, 250 eggs and 10 pounds of nutmeg. It seats six. Make reservations for that by calling 572-3000.
You can dine in Dove Mountain's giant gingerbread house β for a price of $200-plus.
In other life-size candy news, the Hilton El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort, 10000 N. Oracle Road, also has a massive gingerbread house that will make your mouth water.
