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 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…
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…
Explore the arboretum 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. Our knowledgeable…
Join us for BTA Photo Club’s beginner class, as we explore alternate approaches that have been shown to result in an elevated photo experience. Participants will have the opportunity to present photos during the October BTA Photo Club…
Boyce Thompson Arboretum has been named an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society, serving as a habitat for numerous species of birds. Join our beginner-friendly guided walk to explore this unique landscape with…
Next time you and your dog are at the Arboretum, take a photo for a chance to be featured in our 2027 Calendar! Submit photos using the link in our bio or go to https://btarboretum.org/bta-dog-calendar
General Rules and Guidelines:
🐾 Photos must be of your dog at Boyce Thompson Arboretum 🐾 Preferred orientation is landscape 🐾 If photo is blurry, pixelated, or unclear, it will not be considered 🐾 Deadline to submit is October 16
If your photo is selected, you will receive a free calendar!
Don`t miss this chance to be a part of our 2027 Dogs of Boyce Thompson Arboretum Calendar!
Since this plant isn`t a true garlic, eating it won`t leave you stinky garlic breath! This made it more acceptable to eat in society.
Interested in growing one of your own? We often have them at our gift shop! Pick up a plant during your next visit and enjoy eating them in society guilt-free 😉
Do you remember our Chicken of the woods post a few weeks back? Look how much it`s grown! 🍄🟫
So... how do mushrooms grow? Unlike plants, they don`t use photosynthesis to get energy. Instead, they absorb nutrients from organic material around them. Because of this, they`re not categorized as a plant OR animal. They are their own special category. Fungi really are something to marvel at.
We are looking for enthusiastic individuals that love to educate youth and explore the outdoors! Please join us as a volunteer field trip guide in our mission to inspire an appreciation of arid climate plants and wildlife.
Our field trip program welcomes school aged kids K-12 to participate in inquiry-based learning adventures. Field trips operate October-April on weekdays. No teaching experience needed! We provide training and shadowing opportunities to learn.
If you are new to volunteering with us, please apply at: https://www.volgistics.com/appform/101413720 Send us a message if you have any questions!
Training Dates:
▶ Session 1: September 16th and 18th | 9:00 am- 11:30 am | Smith Lecture Room
OR
▶ Session 2: September 30th and October 2nd | 9:00 am-11:30 am | Smith Lecture Room
It`s International Vulture Awareness Day! Our ecosystem would be significantly less clean without them, so we really owe Vultures a lot of appreciation! Here`s some fun facts you may not know:
🪶We have two species in Arizona: Black Vultures and Turkey Vultures. Both can be found at Boyce Thompson Arboretum!
🪶Their stomach acid is so strong, it can process anthrax and botulism.
🪶They can smell food up to 1 mile away.
🪶 Groups of vultures have different names depending on what they`re doing: when they`re flying in a circle they are a "kettle", if they`re eating they`re a "wake", and when they`re perched, they`re a "committee", "venue", or "volt."
What`s your favorite fact about vultures? Let us know in the comments! 👇
There`s just two more months until Boyce Thompson Arboretum`s Green Gala! 🌿Have you got your ticket yet?
Support the Arboretum by enjoying fine dining, entertainment, and education under the desert sky. Your generosity is what makes this celebration possible and advances our mission to inspire, educate, and conserve. We hope to see you there!
🗓️Saturday, November 7, 2026 🕛4:00-8:00pm 📍Hill House Property 38815 E Arboretum Way Superior, AZ 85713
Back in March, our team rescued cacti from a construction site in El Paso, Texas. 🌵Now, just a few months later, the relocated Echinocactus horizonthalonius are in full bloom. We hope you enjoy the sight of these vibrant, pink flowers just as much as we do!
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