To active individuals who love nature, adventure, and history…
Superior offers top-notch hiking and outdoor adventure, unique annual festivals, and a budding culinary and art scene.
Superior, Arizona has a rich legacy as an important center of mining. Located 40 miles east of the Phoenix Metro area and 2,888 feet up in elevation, it sits in an impressive natural setting with a remarkable scenic backdrop that includes Apache Leap and Picketpost Mountain. Access to the surrounding desert and Tonto National Forest is provided by a convenient system of forest roads and trails including the Arizona National Scenic Trail and the newly completed Legends of Superior Trail.
Things to do in Superior:
Adventure
Community
Culture
Stay & Play
Make your visit to Boyce Thompson Arboretum part of a weekend event! Stay and explore this picturesque, largely undiscovered destination that offers outstanding outdoor adventure, unique annual festivals, fascinating history, and a welcoming food, shopping and arts scene.
#1Arb
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Go touch some grass. No really! Growing grass is a great way to add color and movement to your garden.
We recommending planting native grasses, such as purple three-awn, as they need less water to survive. Purple three-awn also provides forage for wildlife and shelter for small mammals, reptiles, and native bees.
Next time you visit Boyce Thompson Arboretum, stop by the Visitor`s Center to get recommendations on the best grass for your garden!
#nativeplants #nativegrasses #desertgardening #plantlovers #plantfacts #natureeducation
If it looks like a duck and it swims like a duck... it may not actually be a duck! Because it lacks webbed feet, the American Coot isn`t a duck at all, but we still think it`s very "coot".
We spotted this mom and chick enjoying a nice swim at the Arboretum. The top of the chick`s head is a yellow-orange color, but this will darken as it gets older. Plan a visit today to see even more birds that call the Arboretum home.
#americancoot #birdwatching #aznature #birdingphotography #azbirding #naturelovers #animalovers
Today marks the start of monsoon season! Typically beginning June 15th, a shift in winds brings increased moisture while pressure builds in the upper atmosphere. This creates the perfect condition for a monsoon. The added moisture from these storms helps sustain plants and wildlife across the desert.
However, monsoons can also bring hazards like flash flooding. Be sure to check the weather forecast before heading outdoors. If you hear or see rushing water, move to higher ground and never attempt to cross.
Stay safe and enjoy another season of monsoons!
#aznature #monsoonseason #arizonaweather #WeatherSafety
Have you ever wondered why plants from completely different parts of the world can look so similar?
An arid-adapted plant native to Africa may share many characteristics with a species native to the Sonoran Desert, even though they evolved separately. This phenomenon is called convergent evolution!
Although these plants do not share a recent common ancestor, they have developed similar adaptations that help them survive in dry climates.
Visit our East Greenhouse to explore arid-adapted plants from the Eastern Hemisphere and see for yourself how they compare to Arizona`s native desert plants.
#aznature #NatureArizona #1Arb #plantfacts #naturelovers #natureeducation #plantlovers
Start your morning off right at Boyce Thompson Arboretum! By taking advantage of our early summer hours, you can ensure a morning surrounded by the sights, sounds, and smells of nature before the temperature gets too hot.
June Hours:
6:00 am – 12:00 pm
Open Wednesday – Monday
Closed Tuesdays
$16 Admission
#aznature #BTA #BoyceThompsonArboretum #ArizonaNature #SonoranDesert
Experience Boyce Thompson Arboretum from the comfort of a golf cart! Our expert Docents will take you on a tour of the most beautiful parts of the Arboretum while sharing stories, botanical facts, and other insights. These tours are the perfect way to explore the gardens during the hot summer months.
Summer Golf Cart Tours:
🗓1st, 3rd & 5th Fridays and Saturdays
🕣June-August | 7:30 am – 8:30 am
💲$20 per person, plus admission
5️⃣Up to 5 guests per tour
Advance registration recommended!
Register today using the link in our bio.
If you visit us this summer, you will likely see the many Turkey Vultures that call the Arboretum home! Early in the morning before it gets too hot they are often seen perched with wings outstretched toward the sun. As it get warmer, they take flight, utilizing warm air currents called thermals to stay up without ever needing to flap their wings. Their appearance and diet may make them seem frightening, but Turkey Vultures are wonderful birds that work hard to keep the environment clean. Come visit Boyce Thompson Arboretum and see the Turkey Vultures for yourself!
#BoyceThompsonArboretum #ArizonaNature #ArizonaWildlife #ExploreArizona #BTA #birding #azbirding
Fruit trees can thrive anywhere, even in the arid Arizona climate! You just have to know the right ones. At Boyce Thompson Arboretum, we grow apples, peaches, figs, almonds, and more. Come explore our gardens and don`t forget to stop by our gift shop on your way out to pick up a plant of your very own.
#BoyceThompsonArboretum #SonoranDesert #ArizonaNature #deserttrees