Our
Mission Statement
"The Mission of Boyce Thompson Arboretum is to instill in people an appreciation of plants through the fostering of educational, recreational, research, and conservation opportunities associated with arid-land plants."
About Us...
Recorded information (hours, directions, events, etc): 520.689.2811
Business Office Phone: 520.689.2723
Email: BTAinfo@ag.arizona.edu
Fax: 520.689.5858
Or write to:
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
37615 U.S. Highway 60
Superior, AZ 85173
U.S.A.
Our staff list is at the end of this page if you need an email address to
contact Arboretum Director Mark Siegwarth, Business Manager Patti Baynham,
Membership Services Lorrie Polley, or other staff. We do allow weddings; for details download our wedding DOC
Our mission as stated above is "to instill in people an appreciation
of plants through the fostering of educational, recreational, research and
conservation opportunities associated with arid land plants." Every day
our visitors help us achieve this by walking our trails, enjoying the collections,
and reading about the thousands of plants that surround you while you are
here.
The
arboretum is located near milepost #223 on US Highway 60, a one-hour drive
due east of Phoenix or about 90 minutes from the North side of Tucson via
Oracle Road to highway 79 North past Florence to the crossroads with highway
60 -- then another 12 miles East on highway 60.
GPS Coordinates
N 33.28094*,W 111.16135* US-AZ mapcode MC3.WC4
ADMISSION is $12.50 for adults and $5 for
ages 5-12,
and free to children younger than age 5.
HOURS during Summer months of May, June, July, August and September are 6:00 a.m.
to 3:00 p.m. daily, with the day's last admission accepted and last visitors
admitted at 2:00 p.m. so they have an hour to enjoy the trails. From October
1 though the end of April admission is taken daily from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00
p.m., then the Arboretum closes promptly at 5:00 p.m.
PICNIC tables and grills are available for visitors to use.
PETS are welcome - provided they remain leashed at all times and are well-behaved.
Visit our
"LINKS" page for details
about camping, motels, restaurants and nearby amenities.
As you approach the Arboretum on Highway 60 you'll see towering Picketpost
Mountain dominating the southern horizon. The Arboretum brings together plants
from the Earth's many and varied deserts and dry lands and displays them alongside
unspoiled examples of the native Sonoran Desert vegetation. No matter what
the season, you will enjoy a moving and memorable experience of the beauty,
majesty, and mystery of arid land plants. You will also enjoy the many natural
communities that form the arid land environment. Memorable experiences await
you as you walk the Main Trail; you will see enthralling, otherworldly shapes
and forms in the Cactus Garden. You will also find peaceful reflection in
the cool shade of towering trees in Queen Creek Canyon; and intellectual stimulation
in the many and varied displays at the Smith Interpretive Center. You may
enjoy a quiet and intimate time at the Wing Memorial Garden; as well as inspiration
for home or business landscapes at the Demonstration Gardens of Low Water-demanding
Plants. You will see expansive southwestern vistas visible from the High Trail.
There are many gardens here; so find your special places among them.
An important function in the Arboretum's mission is its commitment to education.
This is truly a 320-acre living classroom. New projects are underway for both
the arboretum and this website, so visit often -- both online and in person.
STAFF CONTACTS (note: to thwart address harvesting by junk mailers,
each email below lacks the "@." To make any address below valid
simply replace the word AT with @ and delete the spaces between the person's
name and the address string)
Director Sy Sohmer < shsohmer AT email.arizona.edu >
Business Manager Patti Baynham<pbaynham
AT cals.arizona.edu>
Gift Shop and Plant Nursery Director Lynnea Spencer <spencer
AT Ag.arizona.edu>
Director of Horticulture Cathy Babcock<cbabcock
AT cals.arizona.edu>
Membership Coordinator Lori Coletta <loricoletta AT email.arizona.edu>
Education Program and School Tours Lacey Pacheco <lpacheco
AT Ag.arizona.edu>
Volunteer Program Coordinator <BTAinfo
AT Ag.arizona.edu>
