Weddings
Rich with authentic Arizona character and landscapes, Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden is the perfect location to host your wedding ceremony. The Arboretum offers a selection of six distinct wedding locations, two elopement locations, two larger-scale ceremony spaces, and two reception areas. Please review the descriptions of the ceremony spaces below to see which location fits best with the vision for your special day.
Elopement Locations
Choose from either our West or East Greenhouses for an intimate ceremony space surrounded by unique cactus and succulents. With built-in bench seating and historic stonework, you couldn’t ask for a more picturesque location. Can accommodate up to 10 guests.
Our most remote and rugged elopement location encapsulates the beauty of the Arizona high desert. With beautiful views of Picketpost Mountain, framed by stately saguaros, this is the spot for you if you are looking for a genuine desert ceremony. Can accommodate up to 10 guests.
Ceremony Locations
Our most popular ceremony location, the Woodland Garden features beautiful, mature eucalyptus trees that provide dappled shade while a stylish circular bench creates a focal point for your vows. Can accommodate up to 100 guests.
This space is perfect for a small ceremony. Our Perennial Garden is tucked away in an intimate corner of the garden with beautiful views of the mountains. Offering blooms from late spring to early fall, this location features a covered patio and circular brick focal point. Can accommodate up to 50 guests.
Reception Locations
The Smith Building Patio provides a unique indoor/outdoor space perfect for an intimate reception. This historic building features desert plants of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Can accommodate up to 100 guests.
With awe-inspiring views of PicketPost Mountain, the Picnic Area is a wide-open outdoor space under mature trees located a short walk from both of our ceremony spaces. This space offers a perfect blank canvas for your dream reception. Can accommodate up to 150 guests.
Private Events
We have four private event rental locations throughout the Arboretum and are confident that one of them will suit your needs. All areas are accessible and parking is available at no extra charge. BTA Circles Members and above enjoy a 20% discount on facility rentals. As you consider booking one of our spaces, please note that you will have private use of the designated rental area only.
Private Event Locations
The Picnic Area is a gorgeous, wide-open outdoor space under mature trees and is perfect for parties, bridal showers, celebrations of life, conferences, and team- building activities. Can accommodate up to 100 guests.
The Smith Building Patio and Greenhouses provide a unique indoor/outdoor space for luncheons, dinner events, meetings, parties, and conferences. Can accommodate up to 100 guests.
The Smith Lecture Room is an indoor room and is a great setting for business meetings, workshops, retreats, educational speakers, and small parties. Can accommodate 30-40 guests.
The Visitor’s Center Patio is a beautiful outdoor patio for small parties, receptions, bridal showers, dinner events, and celebrations of life. Can accommodate 30-50 guests.
Weddings at the Arboretum
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♻️Do you recycle? These birds do! Meet nature`s best clean up crew: the Turkey Vulture. Next time you visit us, keep an eye out for these incredible birds. If you get any pics, don`t forget to tag us in your post!
#turkeyvulture #vulturelove #BirdingCommunity #azbirding #birdfacts
Boyce Thompson Arboretum will be closed on Saturday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day. We`ll reopen Sunday, July 5th from 6 am to 12 pm. See you then!
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As our fiscal year comes to a close, we`re reflecting with gratitude on the incredible community that makes Boyce Thompson Arboretum thrive.
Your support doesn`t take the summer off. During these hottest months, your generosity helps care for thousands of desert plants, provides vital habitat for Arizona wildlife, advances conservation and research, and prepares us to welcome thousands of students and visitors in the seasons ahead.
Every thriving bloom, shaded trail, and wildlife sighting is possible because of supporters like you.
Thank you for growing with us, believing in our mission, and helping protect Arizona`s desert landscapes for generations to come.
It`s not too late to add your support! Donate Now --> https://tinyurl.com/donateBTA
Join us Wednesday, July 1, for an early morning Bird Walk! This guided walk is perfect for beginners and seasoned birders alike. Don`t have binoculars? No problem! Loaner binoculars are available at our admission window. We hope to see you there!
📆Wednesday, July 1
🕕6:15 - 7:45 am
🚶🏽♀️Walk size: 15 people
🎫Free with admission
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Have you seen our raised garden beds? 🌿Located by the Smith Greenhouses, this spot is proof that growth can happen even in small, compact places. Take a look and get inspiration for your own garden!
Pictured plants:
🌱 Zinnia
🌱Amaranth
🌱Corn
🌱Nasturtium
🌱Cucumber
🌱Yellow Zucchini
Plan a visit today!
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When we think of pollinators, our minds probably go to birds and bees first. But at night, a different type of creature takes over pollination duties! A total of 29 bat species live in Arizona, making our state second in the nation for bat diversity. While many eat insects, some species drink nectar, making them a valuable part of our ecosystem.
Photo credit: Bruce D. Taubert
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Next time you are admiring a saguaro in bloom, make sure to thank the white-winged dove! These beautiful birds are key pollinators of saguaro cactus. In fact, they are so highly dependent on saguaro, they have synchronized their migration to match its reproductive cycle!
And of course, we can`t forget hummingbirds, the most famous of pollinating birds. Arizona has at least 17 species of these small creatures, each playing an important role in pollinating our beautiful desert plants!
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Many plants go dormant during the winter, but the Sea Squill does the opposite! When temperatures start to rise and water becomes less available, this plant sheds its leaves and conserves energy until conditions become more favorable.
During its flowering cycle, the Sea Squill attracts insect pollinators like bees and butterflies, giving it an important role in the pollination cycle!
#PollinatorWeek #seasquill #desertplants #planteducation #plantlovers #plantfacts