The mission of Boyce Thompson Arboretum is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of desert plants, wildlife, and ecosystems through education, research and conservation.”
Every visit supports research, environmental education, and directly benefits the mission and success of Boyce Thompson Arboretum.
Get outside this summer with our staff on a family friendly educational hike! On this sunrise hike, learn about our unique collection plants, Sonoran Desert ecology, and meet our resident Sonoran Desert Tortoises. Be sure…
Join us after dark on a night-time adventure with our Education Staff! Discover the amazing world of nocturnal life in the Sonoran Desert on this family friendly ‘crawl’. Learn about Sonoran Desert ecology while taking…
Get outside this summer with our staff on a family friendly educational hike! On this sunrise hike, learn about our unique collection plants, Sonoran Desert ecology, and meet our resident Sonoran Desert Tortoises. Be sure…
Join BTA and Arizona Game and Fish for a special members-only evening of bat netting! Witness the beauty of these winged creatures up close and personal and learn about their important ecological role as pollinators…
What if the insects we often overlook could stop you in your tracks with beauty? Step into a world where dragonflies hover overhead, butterflies balance on petals, and bees shimmer in sunlight—each one larger-than-life and…
Boyce Thompson Arboretum will be closed on Friday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day. We’ll reopen Saturday, July 5th from 6 AM to 12 PM. Wishing you a safe holiday!...
With a tongue longer than its body and a sweet tooth for nectar, the Mexican long-tongued bat is one of the desert’s most important — and least seen — pollinators. By night, they hover like hummingbirds, sipping from saguaro and agave blooms — and in doing so, they pollinate the plants that define the Southwest. Their work helps ensure the future of tequila, wildflowers, and entire desert ecosystems.
Meet the cactus bee — a fuzzy, fast-moving specialist that’s only interested in desert blooms like saguaro and prickly pear. They’re native. They’re solitary. And they’re vanishing. Know them. Love them. Protect them. #NativeBees #BeeAware #desertpollinators
Last week, 40+ Arizona educators took home $100 stipends, classroom-ready materials, and new ways to spark curiosity—thanks to our Teacher Development Sessions in Casa Grande and Superior! From the 5E model to hands-on desert plant investigations, these sessions delivered practical tools teachers can use right away.
Special thanks to @resolutioncopper for making this professional development series possible for our educators.
Think butterflies are just pretty? Think again. They’re vital desert pollinators — and moths are even tougher, working night shifts in the heat. From monarchs to hummingbird moths, these wings keep wildflowers blooming. Want to help? Plant milkweed, leave the porch light off, and skip the spray. #ButterflyEffect #DesertPollinators #MothMatters...
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