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.
Join us after dark on a night-time adventure with our Education Staff and Docents! Discover the amazing world of nocturnal life in the Sonoran Desert on this family friendly ‘crawl’. Guests will learn about Sonoran Desert ecology while taking a closer look at the local critters. Plus, you will get the knowledge you…
Explore the arboretum this summer with our Docents on a golf cart tour! We invite you to join us for an hour long cart ride to some of our most scenic spots of the arboretum.…
Explore the arboretum this summer with our Docents on a golf cart tour! We invite you to join us for an hour long cart ride to some of our most scenic spots of the arboretum.…
The Boyce Thompson Arboretum Photography Club is a welcoming community of photographers of all skill levels who are inspired by the natural beauty of Arizona’s high desert. The club meets every third Saturday to explore…
Join us after dark on a night-time adventure with our Education Staff and Docents! Discover the amazing world of nocturnal life in the Sonoran Desert on this family friendly ‘crawl’. Guests will learn about Sonoran Desert ecology while taking a closer look at the local critters. Plus, you will get the knowledge you…
Have you ever seen a leaf with a strange, pigment-free pattern? This is called variegation! It can be caused by a genetic difference in the plant, or a change in cells as it grows. You can see this beautiful phenomenon up close on one of our hibiscus plants in the Demonstration Garden!
Love the Arboretum but live too far away? Book a stay at Hill House!
Less than a mile from Boyce Thompson Arboretum, this ranch-style Airbnb has a 360-degree view of Tonto National Forest. Spend your days touring the Arboretum and your evenings enjoying the sunsets, plants, and wildlife right outside the front door. It`s a perfect getaway for couples, friends, and families alike.
Visit the link in our bio to schedule your stay today!
Can you spot the tiny flowers on this Golden Barrel Cactus?
Sometimes we can be so focused on the goal ahead, we miss small wonders along the way. Next time you visit the Arboretum, pause to notice the little signs of life around you:
🐝A bee pollinating a flower. 🦎A lizard darting up a trail. 🐦The call of a distant songbird. 🌼A small yellow flower blooming on a Golden Barrel Cactus.
What small beautiful thing did you notice today? Let us know in the comments! 👇
Start your morning off right with a guided bird walk this Wednesday, August 5th at 6:15 am! Free with admission, this walk is for advanced and beginner birders alike. Some of our favorite summer birds spotted at the Arboretum are:
There`s only two more chances to join a Critter Crawl this summer!
🌕Friday, August 7 | 7:30 pm 🌕Friday, August 21 | 7:30 pm
Explore the Arboretum from a whole new perspective. See the critters that come out at night and learn more about Arizona`s incredible nocturnal wildlife! We hope to see you there.
Happy International Day of Friendship!👭 May your friendships be as pure as these little Inca Doves.
Inca Doves survive cooler weather by huddling on top of one another in a warm, feathery pyramid - a behavior called pyramid roosting! Can you picture anything cuter? Examples of friendship can be found everywhere in nature. 💚
Did you know Carob pods are edible? When they turn dark brown, wrinkled, and glossy, they are good to eat!
Our Carob trees are flowing with pods. Not only are they enjoyed by the local wildlife, carob pods can also be used as a chocolate substitute for baking! If you`re feeling adventurous, grab some carob powder from the store and see what you can make with it. Don`t forget to tell us the results!
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
