Eleven O'Clock Daily
Guided Tour
Do century plants really live for 100 years? Where can I photograph
a Cardinal -- and what is the story behind that huge mansion built on a cliff
at the east side of the Arboretum? Attend our daily 11:00 a.m. guided tour
for the answer to these and many more questions -- guides are resident volunteer
Park Hosts; tours explore the main trail and sometimes other collections.
Have there been any Coati sightings this week? And
just what is a Coati, anyway? Check out Christopher Taylor's November
photos and read more about these animals; join our guided tour for a chance
to learn more about Arboretum ecology.
Plants of the Bible Guided Walk February 7
February 7, Sunday, at 1:30 then again February 20, March 7
and 20
Learn about botany, history and scripture on this slow-paced and relaxing
weekend walk down smooth and flat trails that are wheelchair-accessible. Queen
Valley Bible student Leda Fide guides on the first Sunday of each month --
our next one is Febuary 7 -- and then Mesa resident David Oberpriller leads
the walk Febuary 20, Saturday.
Palms, figs and pomegranates are Plants
of the Bible.
Sunday Two O'clock Story Hour February 7, 14,
21, 28
Sundays at 2:00 p.m. every week through April
Parents: are you looking for a good new children's book, a place to get
outdoors with your kids -- and a chance for ages 4-to-10 to learn about Sonoran
Desert plants, birds and critters? Sunday afternoons at Two O'Clock guest
readers present the most entertaining kids' books about Arizona ecology, along
with activities centered around each week's story. Stories continue with The
Adventures of Flat Cactus Jack on February 7. This book will be read
by the authors - Jean Groen and Don Wells;
and a "desert edible" snack served after the reading -- a treat
made from native desert plants. Over In the Garden by Jennifer
Ward will be February 14, Rattlesnake Rules will be read by
its author, Conrad Storad, on February 21 and then Conrad returns to read
Desert Night Shift: A Packrat Story February 28; more stories
are Sundays in March and April.
Barbara Atkinson Gallery
Exhibit
February's exhibit will feature works by Apache Junction
artist Barbara Atkinson. Meet
the artist at her gallery opening celebration February 14, Valentines Day,
from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. During March the gallery showcases paintings
by Nan Lawrence.
Bird
Walks -- Thursday, and Alternate Saturdays and Sundays
Every Thursday in February and March -- and alternate Saturdays and
Sundays
Thursday Bird Walks are a new tour we're offering weekly in February and
March, with Florence resident Jane Wicklund leading general bird walks Thursday
mornings at 8:30 a.m. Weekend guided bird walks at 8:30 a.m. are on alternating
weekend mornings with photographer Richard Ditch leading our "Valentines
Day Bird Walk" February 14, then Scottsdale author Jim Burns leads the
walk February 20. Cindy Marple guides our bird walk February 28; then Troy
Corman on March 6, Kathe Anderson March 14, Cynthia Donald and Pete Moulton
March 20 and also March 28; then Marceline Vandewater returns April 3, Troy
Corman April 11, Cindy West April 17, and Pierre Deviche and Richard Ditch
on April 25. The International Migratory Bird Day spring migrant count will
be May 8, Saturday; volunteers who wish to help count birds at the Arboretum
and other nearby areas are encouraged to sign up with Doug Jenness by phone
520-909-1529 or email d_jenness@hotmail.com.
Language
of Flowers Exhibit and Chocolate Tasting
February 12, 13, 14, 15
Flowers plus chocolates plus a walk in the gardens equals the recipe for
your ideal Valentines Weekend date. Invite your sweetie and bring your sweet
tooth; this colorful, fragrant annual exhibit decodes the ancient, complex
language of flowers and the sentiments conveyed by giving different blossoms,
plants and arrangements. For centuries flowers have been used for discreet
and diplomatic communication -- expressing what words sometimes cannot. You'll
be surprised at some of the meanings of the many flowers and plants you'll
see in our Lecture Room this weekend! The flower show is open daily through
Monday during business hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Carry some cash along
when you stroll down to see the show -- from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. gourmet
chocolates from Cerreta Candy Company in Glendale will be sold at a tasting
table nearby for $1 each.
Edible
and Medicinal Desert Plants Guided Walk February 13
February 13 at 1:30 p.m., then again February 28, March 13 and March
28
Apache Junction authors Jean Groen and Don Wells guide our walk February
13; sharing their knowledge about desert plants which have fed, healed and
clothed Sonoran desert peoples for more than a thousand years. Don't hurry
to leave when the tour ends -- Jean usually shares homemade desert edible
snacks back in the visitor center after the walk. Ethno-botanist and Choctaw
Tribal Nation member Dave Morris returns as our special guest tour guide February
28, Sunday. ** Please note: this tour explores the Curandero Trail, which
has steep sections that are not suitable for visitors who use wheelchairs
or walkers.
Read more about jojoba, creosote and prickly
pears
History
Walk February 20 at 10 a.m.
Saturday, February 20, from 10 - 11:30 a.m. -- than again March 13
at 10 a.m.
Did you know the Arboretum once included a homesteader's stone "cave
house?" Ever wonder how BTA founder Colonel William Boyce Thompson came
to build this garden in the desert? Phoenix resident and history enthusiast
Sylvia Lee has been researching Arboretum history for several years, and will
lead a walking tour lasting about an hour and sharing anecdotes from the colorful
seven-decade history of the Arboretum. Her 10:30 a.m. tour is included with
regular adult admission of $7.50 (or $3 for ages 5-12).
Sunday Tree Tour with Terry
Mikel February 21 at 1:30
February 21, Sunday, at 1:30 p.m. then again and March 21
"What's an Arboretum?" Terry Mikel is our special guest as tour
guide for a Sunday walk where visitors learn the answer to that often-posed
question during a relaxed and leisurely guided tour through the forested areas
of the Arboretum. Join us for a chance to learn about the towering sycamore
and cottonwood trees, native hackberry, mesquite and many more. Note: from
September-through-April this tour recurs every third Sunday each month at
1:30 p.m.
Tom Boggan Photography Walk-A-Bout
February 21 at 2:00 p.m.
Want
to improve your camera skills on a relaxed morning shooting beautiful garden
scenes alongside a pro -- with plenty of chances to ask questions about the
dials, settings and control on your own camera? Sign up today for our once-a-month
Tom
Boggan "Walk-a-Bout", February 21 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
East Valley Tribune staff photographer Tom Boggan has a talent for portraits
and a passion for nature photography at Boyce Thompson Arboretum, where he
volunteers his time helping visitors improve their camera skills. Workshops
with Tom are limited to ten students, and pre-payment of
$27.50 is required ($20 for BTA annual members). To enroll by phone have your
credit card ready and call Arboretum staff at 520-689-2723.
And Check out this
gallery of images Tom and students posted after their Spring and Summer
workshops. Join us for a chance to improve your basic photography
skills, including composition, lighting and exposure -- and for one-on-one
time with Tom helping students understand the different between aperture,
exposure and light balance.
"The Arboretum
Rocks!" -- geology walking tour February 27
February 27 at 1:30 p.m.
Our geology tour teaches about some of the rocks and volcanic formations seen
along the main trail -- and will span almost two billion years of geologic
history in just over one educational hour! Join us to learn about Pinal schist,
the volcanic origins of Picket Post Mountain and the Apache Leap tuff with
tourguide Ben Henderson, a professional geologist living in Miami, AZ .
Come learn about the rocks that make this region one of the world's richest
in copper and how an active geologic past shaped the landscape we see today.
Alternate month's tours are lead by ASU
Professor Steve Semken
World Desert Fair Feb. 27
February 27, Saturday, from 11:00 a.m. -- 3:00 p.m.
Walk the Arboretum's main trail and you'll see everything from prickly
pear pads of our Sonoran Desert to the pomegranates of Central Asia. The Arboretum
features desert plants from all around the globe; this Saturday event features
exhibit tables in each of these ecosystems giving visitors a chance to sample
food, crafts and cultures from various continents and cultures, all
on a walk around the 1.5 mile long main trail
Arizona Tree Climbing Championship
March 6 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Arizona state Tree
Climbing Championship is hosted here at the Arboretum; spectators are
welcome and event attendance is included with
daily arboretum admission of $7.50 for adults, $3 for ages 5-12. Noncompetitors
aren't allowed to climb trees at BTA, but all are encouraged to visit the
Kids' Zone from to learn about forestry and climbing from 10:00-12:00 and
also 1:00-3:00. Competitors check-in and orientation is from 6:00 - 8:00 a.m.,
then from Eight O'Clock til noon competitors will square off in timed competitions
using skills in the FootLock, Aerial Rescue and other categories. Food vendors
will serve lunch from 12:00-1:00, then from 1:00-3:00 p.m. is the Master's
Challenge for competitors age 40 and older. Winners receive awards from 3:00-4:00
p.m
Homeschool Days: March 10, April 9
The Arboretum invites homeschool families to gather and experience
educational tours which are offered to school groups. March 10 (Wednesday)
participants are offered the "Trees" tour at 10:00 a.m. and the
final homeschool day will be April 9 (Friday) with "Plants of the Bible"
tour at 10 a.m. Pre-payment is required, families are asked to reserve a spot
no later than two weeks prior to each tour by calling 520-689-2723 or else
emailing Education Coordinator Lacey Pacheco lpacheco@Ag.arizona.edu
Spring Plant Sale March
12 - 28
Daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during business hours
This important seasonal fundraiser helps support botancy conservation
and education at the Arboretum -- and offers our members and 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. Check this page again closer to the event date
for an updated list of weekend events, classes, tours and lectures during
the plant sale.
April Herb Festival
April 10, Saturday, from 11:00 a.m. -- 3:00 p.m.
Spring's the season to celebrate herbs -- join us April 10 for a chance
to learn about the culinary and medicinal uses of herbs, tour our own Wing
Memorial Herb Garden, enjoy live music beneath the trees and near the fragrant
rosemary and savory plants -- and check out a variety of herbal products available
from the Arizona Herb Association and other vendors invited to attend our
event.
Artisans at the Arboretum - Third Annual Soroptimists Event
April 24, Saturday, from 11:00 a.m. -- 3:00 p.m.
Three dozen art, craft and food booths will circle the Picnic Area on
a fine spring Saturday, offering a chance to see and purchase unique paintings,
photography -- cruciform art and more courtesy of Soroptimists International
of Gold Canyon. April 24 marks the organization's Third annual fundraising
arts festival here; proceeds help the Gold Canyon Soroptimists, non-profit
women's group devoted to helping women locally and internationally.
Artists: call organizer Barb Plante at 480-288-6195, or else read more about
fees and download a copy of the April 24 event booth application from http://ag.arizona.edu/bta/soroptimistaprilartevent.doc
