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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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
Our hours are changing! From October to April we will be open daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Last admission at 4:00 pm.
The cooler weather also means there`s more fun to be had at the Arboretum! Join us for:
🍃Family Workshops
🍃 Weekly walks and tours
🍃Outdoor Yoga and Forest Bathing
🍃 Watercolor and Photography classes
🍃And more!
Check out our events calendar to see all we have planned. See the link in our bio!
#winterhours #thingstodoaz #visitsuperior #visitphoenix #visitmesa #familyactivities #outdooractivites #btarboretum
Want to see the coatis? They`ve been spotted every day this week, so now`s a great time to stop by!
While a coati sighting is never guaranteed, the best place to look for them is in the Canyon Region in the early mornings. They love climbing trees in search of a good snack, or snuffling on the ground for dropped fruit. Keep an eye out as you explore our trails, and maybe you`ll see one exploring right along with you.
If you get any good photos, tag us in your post! We can never get enough cute coati pics.
#coati #coatimundi #WildlifeSighting #arizonawildlife #desertlife #btarboretum
Golf Cart Tours are back!
📅October 2026 – April 2027
🕤 Every Thursday | 9:30 – 10:30 am
Explore the Arboretum with our Docents on a hour long golf cart tour! Our knowledgeable Docents will give you insights into our collections and take you to the best photo ops the gardens have to offer.
Cart tours are limited to 5 guests per tour. Due to limited space pre-registration is highly recommended. Purchase your tickets at our Welcome Center Gift Shop or online at btarboretum.org/event
#golfcarttour #OutdoorAdventure #btarboretum #VisitSuperior #ThingsToDoAZ #naturelovers
Not all cardinals are red!
This is a juvenile Northern Cardinal, and you can see their adult plumage hasn`t quite come in yet. As they get older, their beaks will turn from dark gray to an orange-red. The female`s feathers stay brown, with hints of red in the wings, tails, and crests, but the males turn into the vibrant red we all know so well!
The cardinals love exploring the gardens. When you visit us next, keep an eye out for our feathery friends! And don`t forget to tag us in any photos you post.
#azbirding #birdlovers #northerncardinal #juvenilebirds #DesertWildlife #arizonabirds
Have you started your fall garden yet? While the weather is still hot, you can start by growing these seeds indoors:
🪴Napa Cabbage
🪴Texas Grano Onion
🪴Kale
🪴Broccoli
Once they`ve grown big enough, and the weather gets cooler, you can transport them to your outdoor garden.
In need of new plants? Stop by our plant sale happening October 17 - November 1st! Members get 20% off AND early access on October 16. Sign up to become a member today to save time in line! Link in bio.
#gardeninspiration #gardeningtips #fallplantsale #fallgarden #gardenlovers #arizonagarden