Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
March 13 & 20 - Wildflower Walk
11 am. Arizona Native Plants Society member Cass Blodgett leads Saturday wildflower walks at the Arboretum; author Christine Maxa (Arizona’s Best Wildflowers Hikes) co-leads the tour March 20, and will sign copies of her books as well. See, photograph and learn native wildflowers — both common and rare — along Arboretum trails and in the gardens with experts this month! Eleven O’Clock wildflower tours are included with daily admission of $7.50 for adults, $3 for ages 5-12. Preview a wildflower walk — check out a video of Tucson author Meg Quinn's guided wildflower walk from April 1, 2009.
March 12-28 - Spring Plant Sale
8 am. This important seasonal fundraiser helps support botany conservation and education at the Arboretum -- and offers visitors two weeks worth of great savings on a wide selection of drought-tolerant cacti, agaves, herbs, trees, shrubs, wildflowers and other plants ideal for landscaping here in our Sonoran Desert.
A variety of plants from the world's deserts await you at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park is the place to discover the intricate beauty and many faces of Arizona's oldest and largest botanical garden. Featured are plants from the world's deserts, towering trees, captivating cacti, sheer mountain cliffs, a streamside forest, panoramic vistas, many natural habitats with varied wildlife, a desert lake, a hidden canyon, specialty gardens and more.
The Arboretum was founded in the 1920s by mining magnate Col. William Boyce Thompson. In 1917 Col. Thompson served as co-leader of a Red Cross mercy mission to Russia, where he came to understand the importance of plants as the ultimate source of a large portion of mankind's food, clothing, and shelter. It was then, that he determined to use his great wealth to improve the use of plant resources. The Arboretum is one of his legacies.
Take a 360° Virtual Tour 
Encompassing 323 acres, the Arboretum is Arizona's oldest and largest botanical garden. It was the first purely botanical institution in the inter-mountain states. The Arizona State Parks Board entered into agreement with the Boyce Thompson Arboretum Board and the University of Arizona in 1976 to cooperatively manage the Arboretum.
The University of Arizona also maintains a website for this park, with additional park information and photos. Learn more.
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