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Critter Crawl Night Tour
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 need to be prepared for your own night-time treks.
Preregistration is required and limited to 24 guests. For your safety, children ages 4 and under and pets are not permitted.
Register: https://7830.blackbaudhosting.com/7830/Critter-Crawl-Night-Tour-10Jul2026
Distance: Each experience is unique and follows the critters. However, you will walk no more than 1 mile.
Duration: 1.5 hours
Content Notice: This tour contains content regarding snakes, spiders, scorpions, bugs, owls, and other nighttime animals. The arboretum is primarily dark at night and artificial lighting is limited.
What to bring/wear: Close-toed shoes, plenty of water (at least 32oz/person), flashlights/headlamps for each member of your party, and snacks (if needed). Our gift shop will NOT be open to purchase water bottles or snacks.
Trail conditions: Mostly flat, hard packed dirt with small portions of sand and cobblestone. Our trails are not leveled and contain uneven terrain, humps, and dips. Trail width is at minimum 2 ft across.
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Something new is sprouting at the Arboretum!
Next time you visit us, you may notice a little extra dust in the Children`s Garden! It will be closed for a few months while under renovation, with an expected reopening in December 2026.
Some of the exciting changes include:
🌿Updating the existing pavilion into a more open outdoor classroom featuring flexible seating for children, caregivers, and school groups during programs and events.
🌿Integrated nature play elements to encourage curiosity, creativity, and unstructured explorations for kids.
🌿Curated spaces for new programming debuting with the re-opening of the garden.
Once complete, the Children`s Garden will offer an engaging destination for kids to discover, explore, and learn.
This project is made possible through the generous support of @resolutioncopper We look forward to sharing this updated space with you soon!
#childrensgarden #natureeducation #natureplay #OutdoorLearning #btarboretum
Summer blooms add a delightful splash of color to the desert landscape. Seeing something so light and dainty grow on a spiky cactus is a beautiful juxtoposition, reminding us that life can be found in the most unexpected places.
#desertblooms #summerblooms #cactusflowers #arizonaflowers #desertflowers #naturelovers
Do you love vultures? Come enjoy vulture themed activities for all ages Saturday, September 5th from 6:30 am-12:00 pm. Activities include:
🪶Vulture Watch Party
🪶Birding Crash Course
🪶Craft Table
🪶Vulture Discovery Table
No binoculars? No problem! Check out a pair of binoculars at our Welcome Center.
Best of all, it`s free with admission. We hope to see you there!
#VultureEducation #VultureAwarenessDay #turkeyvulture #birdlovers #BirdEducation #FamilyFun #thingstodoaz
Did you know the name "Boojum" comes from a Lewis Carroll poem?
In "The Hunting of the Snark," Lewis Carroll describes a boojum as a dangerous, mystical creature that causes victims to disappear. Because Fouquieria columnaris looks so strange and unusual, it became known as a Boojum Tree!
Fortunately the Boojum Tree will not cause you to disappear, so you can enjoy these Wondlerland-esque trees up close!
#boojumtree #fouquieriacolumnaris #plantfacts #deserttrees #desertplants #arizonaplants
Did you know the Desert Spiny Lizard can change color? This adaptation is called metachromatism.
☀️In the heat, their skin lightens, reflecting sunlight to stay cool.
❄️In cool temperatures, they turn darker, helping them absorb heat from the sun.
The Desert Spiny Lizard can be found throughout most of Arizona, including right here at Boyce Thompson Arboretum! Next time you visit, keep an eye out for these little guys.
#desertspinylizard #metachromatic #WildlifeAdaptations #desertlizards #desertreptiles #animallovers #arizonawildlife
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!
#variegation #plantvariegation #aznature #natureeducation #plantfacts #plantlovers
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!
#airbnbfinds #desertvacation #travelideas #arizonavacation #NatureVacation #naturelovers #visitsuperior
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! 👇
#goldenbarrelcactus #desertblooms #smallwonders #naturelovers #desertlife #cactusblooms