You can play an essential role in the conservation and stewardship of desert plants, wildlife, and ecosystems
Support Our Mission
Our mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of desert plants, wildlife, and ecosystems through education, research and conservation.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, IRS EIN: 88-0061520. Every gift helps and every member matters! If you would like to make a gift in honor or memory of a loved one please refer to the ‘Ways to Give’ section below.
Giving Options
Greatest Needs Fund
Your gift to the Greatest Needs Fund provides the flexible support our mission depends on most. It allows us to respond to the Arboretum’s most urgent needs, care for our collections, and invest in education, research, and conservation. Here your generosity can make the greatest impact.
Propagating the Future
We are committed to preserving rare desert plants and expanding conservation efforts through propagation. The Propagating the Future campaign aims to upgrade facilities, enhance research, and increase access to resilient plants that support thriving desert ecosystems.
Water Wise Arboretum
The Water Wise Campaign has strengthened our approach to water conservation and climate resilience. Your support helps sustain these critical improvements through ongoing maintenance, innovation, and sustainable stewardship practices.
Living Collections Fund
Support the dedicated horticulture experts and the plants they care for every day, including three nationally accredited plant collections. Your gift provides the people, tools, supplies, and resources needed to keep the Arboretum’s living collections healthy, vibrant, and thriving while preserving the beauty and biodiversity of our gardens for generations to come.
Educational Initiatives
Your gift supports educational experiences that connect people of all ages with the arid-adapted ecosystems from around the world; from student field trips and STEM learning to guided tours, workshops, our docents, and community programs. Together, we inspire discovery and nurture lifelong stewards of nature.
Desert Legume Program (DELEP)
Your gift supports the Desert Legume Program’s mission to conserve, research, and share the diversity of desert legumes through seed banking, scientific study, and preservation efforts. By protecting valuable plant genetics and advancing knowledge of these resilient species, your support helps safeguard desert biodiversity and promote sustainable solutions for arid environments worldwide.
Desert Resilience Fund
Your support strengthens the Arboretum’s ability to prepare for and respond to the challenges of a changing desert environment, including wildfire risk, extreme heat, water conservation needs, and storm impacts. Your gift helps protect our living collections, infrastructure, and community.
Historic Preservation Fund
Boyce Thompson Arboretum is a treasured historic site where more than a century of conservation, horticulture, and education has shaped a lasting connection to desert plants and ecosystems from around the world. Your gift supports the preservation and care of our historic buildings, landscapes, and cultural resources, ensuring this special place continues to inspire visitors while honoring its rich legacy.
Join the Desert Willow Legacy Society
By including Boyce Thompson Arboretum in your estate plans, you become a member of the Desert Willow Legacy Society, a special community of supporters dedicated to preserving the Arboretum for future generations.
Vision. Growth. Legacy. YOU can shape the future
Other Ways to Give
Green Gala
An unforgettable evening of breathtaking desert views, dinner under the stars, and immersive learning experiences, all while supporting the Arboretum’s mission.
Sustaining Garden Donor Program
Help the Arboretum grow and develop by becoming a monthly Sustaining Garden Donor.
Memorials & Tributes
Commemorate a loved one or important life events with a unique addition to our garden. To learn more, please contact a member of our development team at [email protected].
Amazon Wish List
We are always in need of new supplies to keep our garden growing. Sending us an item from our wish list is an easy and effective way to support our mission!
Questions? We’d love to hear from you!
Connect with our Development team at 520-689-4716 or [email protected].
#1Arb
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When`s the last time you paused to watch a butterfly? 🦋 In a world that moves so fast, there`s something so calming and magical about noticing the small, beautiful things in your path.
Capture this feeling by joining one of our Butterfly Walks! You`ll learn about commonly found species and their host plants with a butterfly expert from Central Arizona Butterfly Association.
📅 October 24 and November 14
🕤9:30 - 10:30 am
🎟️Free with admission
#ButterflyWalk #butterflylovers #arizonabutterflies #pollinatorgarden #insectlovers #thingstodoaz
The outdoors make the best kind of classroom. Join one of our Family Workshops to learn fun facts about nature and participate in a themed craft!
🦇Bats of Arizona: Oct 24 | Craft: Pinecone bat
📝Nature Journaling: Nov 7 | Craft: Nature journal
🍁Fall Color Fun: Nov 14 | Craft: Leaf collage
🌲All About Trees: Dec 12 | Craft: Wood cookie ornament
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 am
Non-Member child (5-17): $10
Member child: $8
Up to 2 adults free with child
#btarboretum #familyworkshops #outdooreducation #natureeducation #NatureFacts #aznature #plantfacts #VisitSuperior #ThingsToDoAZ
🚨Plant Sale starts TOMORROW 🚨
Take a piece of the Arboretum home with you! With over 600 unique plants, you`re bound to find something new and exciting for your garden.
Is there a specific plant you`re hoping will be on sale? Check out our full plant list by clicking the link in our bio.
Fall Plant Sale:
📅October 17 - November 1
⭐October 16: Member`s Preview
🕗8:00 am - 5:00 pm
#plantsale #fallplantsale #btarboretum #cactigarden #azgardening #desertgarden #plantlovers
🍄Did you know that fungi are more closely related to people than plants? They may look like plants, but the way they grow, get nutrients, and evolve is completely different.
Fungi DO interact with plants. They grow by absorbing nutrients from organic material, which is why you often find them on dying trees, logs, or on ground level.
These little guys can be found on the fence surrounding Drover`s Woolshed. Next time you visit, keep an eye out for them and any other mushrooms in your path. Sometimes they pop up in places where you`d least expect!
#MushroomLovers #fungi #fungilovers #mushroomfacts #btarboretum
The Fall Plant Sale is almost here! Take a look at some plants our staff have been eyeing 🪴👀
What plants are you planning on picking up? Let us know in the comments!
Fall Plant Sale
📅October 17 - November 1
🕗8:00 am - 5:00 pm
⭐Member`s Preview: October 16
#plantlovers #plantfacts #naturelovers #btarboretum #plantsale #fallplantsale #azgardening
These beautiful photos were taken by Tim Lee, one of our loyal members! We love seeing our visitors` photography. (Especially when they include cute birds! 🐦)
Want to see some of these birds for yourself? Join us for a Bird Walk! You`ll be surrounded by other avian enthusiasts helping spot and identify our little flying friends.
📅Every Wednesday | October 2026 - April 2027
🕗 8:15 - 9:30 am
🎟️Free with admission
#BirdingCommunity #birding #azbirding #birdinghotspot #southwestbirding #birdingphotography #aznature
We`re looking for our next Director of Education! 📣
Do you come alive on the trail? Love hiking, birdwatching, camping, or simply spending your days surrounded by nature? If the idea of wearing hiking boots to work, spotting wildlife during your lunch break, and being part of a collaborative, mission-driven team excites you, then Boyce Thompson Arboretum may be the perfect place for you.
Learn more about this position and other job oppurtunities by clicking the link in our bio!
#hiring #HiringEducation #btarboretum #1Arb #EducationJobs
The Wing Memorial Herb Garden is a perfect spot to take in the sights, smells, and sounds of nature. At this garden, you`ll find:
🌱 The original Clevenger House built in 1913
🌱 An array of fragrant herbs, pomegranates, and other fruits
🌱 A functional sundial
🌱 If you`re lucky... coati! Due to all the tasty fruits, they love visiting this area.
Have you been to the Wing Memorial Herb Garden? Let us know in the comments what you love best about this garden! 👇
#herbgarden #btarboretum #gardenlovers #coati #aznature #plantlovers