Summer weather has arrived, and Boyce Thompson Arboretum is ready to welcome guests with seasonal pricing, adjusted hours, and an ever-changing showcase of desert blooms and wildlife.
From June through August, admission for adults will be just $16 – a savings of $8.95 off the regular price of $24.95. To ensure the comfort and safety of visitors and staff, the Arboretum will be open from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. throughout the summer and will be closed on Tuesdays during these months.
“We have plenty of shaded trails and there are rangers and other staff on site walking around to answer questions,” said Kim Gray, Executive Director of the Arboretum. “Whether you’re hiking, birding, or just enjoying the garden’s quiet beauty, early morning is a magical time to experience the desert.”
The Arboretum is a renowned destination for birdwatching, with frequent sightings of yellow warblers, vermillion flycatchers, black-throated sparrows, Western tanagers, and many others. Visitors may also encounter butterflies and coatimundis, especially in the cool of the morning.
What’s Blooming: A Seasonal Snapshot
Each month brings new beauty to the trails and gardens:
June
- Queen of the Night (Peniocereus greggii) – Rare, fragrant night-blooming cactus
- Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus enneacanthus subsp. brevispinus)
- Golden-flowered Agave (Agave chrysantha) – Seen on the main trail above the lake and along the High Trail
July
- Crepe-myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) – Children’s Garden, Demonstration Garden
- Hedgehog Cactus (Echinopsis spp.) – Cactus Garden, Wallace, Hummingbird/Butterfly Garden
- Texas Sage (Leucophyllum spp.) – Blooms after rain; Children’s Garden, Chihuahuan Trail
- Desert-willow (Chilopsis linearis) – Hummingbird/Butterfly Garden, Wallace Rose Garden
- Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii) – Widespread in Wallace Garden and Aussie Desert
- Fishhook Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus wislizeni) – Cactus Garden, Wallace, Sonoran Upland
- Cardon Grande Cactus (Echinopsis terscheckii) – Cactus Garden, South American Loops
August
- Crepe-myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) – Children’s Garden, Demonstration Garden
- Hedgehog Cactus (Echinopsis spp.) – Hummingbird/Butterfly Garden, Cactus Garden, Wallace
- Texas Sage (Leucophyllum spp.) – Blooms after rain; Children’s Garden, Chihuahuan Trail
- Desert-willow (Chilopsis linearis) – Hummingbird/Butterfly Garden, Wallace Rose Garden
- Sea Squill (Drimia maritima) – Canyon Entrance, Demonstration Garden
- Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii) – Widespread: Wallace and Aussie Gardens
- Cardon Grande Cactus (Echinopsis terscheckii) – Cactus Garden, South American Loops
With shaded trails, expert staff on hand, and remarkable plant and wildlife displays, Boyce Thompson Arboretum provides a cool and captivating escape from the heat.
For more information – including details on upcoming events, memberships, and conservation initiatives – visit www.btarboretum.org, call 520.689.2723, or connect with the Arboretum on Facebook, Instagram, or X (formerly Twitter).
ABOUT BOYCE THOMPSON ARBORETUM:
Boyce Thompson Arboretum is Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden, and one of the state’s top tourism destinations. Founded in 1924 by mining magnate Colonel William Boyce Thompson, the Arboretum spans 372 acres, featuring nearly five miles of trails, 135 acres of cultivated gardens, and more than 20,000 desert plants from regions around the world, including North and South America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. For more information, visit www.btarboretum.org.
