As heat waves become longer and hotter in the Southwest, public gardens face new challenges in keeping their outdoor spaces safe and comfortable. This study looks at how hot different garden areas get during extreme heat, especially where people walk, work, or rest. To do this, we used a special mobile weather station called MaRTy and stationary sensors to measure how much heat people may be exposed to. We focused on two major locations: the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson and the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. Measurements were taken at midday throughout the extreme heat wave of June 2024. We looked closely at how different surfaces, trees, shade structures, and water features affected the heat people felt. The data helped us find the hottest spots in each garden and see which types of shade or materials helped people stay cooler. Our findings can help garden designers, managers, others make outdoor spaces more comfortable and safer during future heat waves. This research offers useful, science-based ideas for improving comfort in public gardens and similar outdoor places, helping desert cities adapt as the heat waves get hotter and last longer.