Boyce Thompson Arboretum’s newest garden, the Wallace Desert Garden, offers expansive views, creekside trails, and hundreds of plants brand-new to BTA!
At 13 acres and with more than 5,000 new plantings, the addition of the Wallace collection moves Boyce Thompson Arboretum into the top tier of botanical gardens around the world. The main trail is wheelchair accessible.
The Story
In 2014, the Arboretum was approached with a unique offer. Would BTA accept a donation of an entire garden’s worth of plants collected by Henry B. Wallace—the Wallace Desert Gardens collection? H.B. had filled his garden with an international palette of arid land plants—a stunning array of thousands of mature trees, shrubs, cacti and succulents. He had passed away in 2005 and his foundation was no longer able to maintain the valuable collection in Scottsdale, but they wanted to keep the collection together. At BTA the plants would get the same amount of rain as at the Scottsdale location and would have the same dew point and elevation.
Not only did BTA need to design a new garden, it had to transplant 5,870 plants. Beginning in December 2015, most of H.B.’s collection was moved 75 miles from north Scottsdale to BTA—by truck, car and semi. Logan Simpson Architects, Native Resources International, the Wallace Desert Gardens Board and staff, and Boyce Thompson Arboretum all collaborated to bring the mammoth endeavor to completion. The team developed and designed a 13-acre garden with 1.5 miles of new trails, and a bridge over Queen Creek.
Experience the Garden
Perfectly situated next to Queen Creek, the Wallace Desert Garden expertly exhibits H.B. Wallace’s collection by region. From the Yucca Forest to the Baja Loop, you’ll see plants arrayed in a natural setting along winding trails. Of the 1,223 taxa (species, cultivars, hybrids, varieties) in the garden, 861 are new to Boyce Thompson Arboretum, and 62 species are considered to be rare or endangered.
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We`re glad you`re here! Stay a while and enjoy the sights and sounds of the arboretum in the rain. We are open daily - rain or shine.
#desertrain #rainydays #OpenRainOrShine #naturelovers #btarboretum #getoutside
🪴Prepare for our Fall Plant Sale by previewing our lineup of succulents, cacti, perennials, shrubs, and more! View the complete list by clicking the link in our bio.
All plants are in limited supply and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so if there`s a plant you`re eyeing, come get it before it`s gone!
Fall Plant Sale:
📅October 17 - November 1
⭐October 16: Member`s Preview
🕗8:00 am - 5:00 pm
#fallplantsale #fallgardening #gardening #arizonagardening #desertgardens #cactiforsale #plantlovers
The Sonoran Desert is home to at least nine species of leopard frogs. Who knew something that depends so much on water could survive in a place like Arizona?
These frogs can be spotted in the Demonstration Garden pond and the Desert Legume Garden pond. They can be shy and will hide when you first approach, but if you give them time you`ll be rewarded with some cute froggy faces.
#leopardfrog #DesertWildlife #FrogLovers #frogsofinstagram #naturelovers
It`s officially spooky season!
What better way to celebrate than showing some appreciation for our tarantula friends? Tarantulas are the biggest spiders in North America and are expert hunters. The hairs on their body help them sense movement, guiding them to their prey. They are known to eat beetles, grasshoppers, and sometimes even mice!
These unique spiders are timid and fragile, so always keep a safe distance when observing in the wild.
#deserttarantula #tarantula #spookyseason #spiderlovers #DesertWildlife
Join us every Wednesday from now through April 2027 for a guided bird walk! As an Important Bird Area, Boyce Thompson Arboretum is the perfect place for new and advanced birders alike.
📆 Every Wednesday
🕣 8:15 - 9:30 am
🎟️Free with Admission
No binoculars? No problem! Loaner binoculars are available at our admissions window.
Walk size is 15 people. Registration is first come, first serve. To register for a walk, sign up at the Gift Shop. Reservations are not accepted.
**Due to the holiday, there will not be a Bird Walk on December 23**
#birdwalk #arizonabirding #birdsofarizona #ImportantBirdArea #birders #birdlovers #BirdEducation
Is your garden ready for fall? Here`s some garden chores you can getting started on:
🌱Plant trees, shrubs & perennials.
🌱Start your vegetable garden.
🌱Clean up after monsoon season.
In need of more plants? Mark your calendars for our Fall Plant Sale! Starting October 17th (with a member`s preview on the 16th), you can shop for plants from around the world perfectly adapted to our climate.
#plantsale #fallplants #FallGarden #arizonagarden #gardenchecklist #gardenchores
With the Green Gala almost a month away, we wanted to take some time to appreciate all our sponsors! Your generosity makes this celebration possible and advances our mission to inspire, educate, and conserve.
Interested in attending? It`s not too late! See the link in our bio for more information.
#greengala #btarboretum #SponsorAppreciation #donorappreciation #natureeducation #NatureConservation
Seeing an Easter Lily Cactus bloom is a very special experience. The flowers are large and showy, a beautiful thing to observe, but are only open for a single night. They demonstrate that even if something is temporary, it doesn`t make it any less meaningful.
#easterlilycactus #cactusbloom #desertblooms #cactuslovers #aznature #plantlovers #plantfacts