Live Music Festival November 14, Saturday
From 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
A Saturday of live music "both acoustic and eclectic" features different
performers each hour in various gardens and collections around the Arboretum.
"The Close Enough String Band" opens with a 10:00 a.m. set in the
morning in our Picnic Area, a different time slot than their show-closing
gigs in previous years. Jim Pipkin plays at 11:00 near the Drover's Shed,
then Alesa Gallian sings at noon. The Mountain Rain trio is on at One O'Clock,
Mark Fogelson plays at 2:00 and then Celinda and John Levno at 3:00. Russ
Braman closes out the day with a set near the Visitor Center at 4:00! Today's
music, like most all of our weekend nature walks, is included with daily admission
of $7.50 for adults, $3 for ages 5-12 (free if you have a State Parks annual
pass or Arboretum membership!) http://ag.arizona.edu/BTA/events/folkfestival.html
Edible and Medicinal Desert Plants Guided Walk November
14
November 14 at 1:30 p.m., then again November 22 and December 12
Apache Junction authors Jean Groen and Don Wells return as tour guides November
14, sharing their knowledge about desert plants which have fed, healed and
clothed Sonoran desert peoples for more than a thousand years. Their guided
walk lasts about an hour. Don't hurry to leave at the end -- Jean usually
shares homemade desert edible snacks back in the visitor center following
her guided walk -- and after this walk Arboretum Volunteer Robert Lewis will
be cooking up his popular mesquite flour waffles to share! Ethno-botanist
and Choctaw Tribal Nation member Dave Morris guides this tour November 22,
and then Jean and Don return on December 12. ** 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
Tom Boggan Photography Walk-A-Bout November
15
November 15, Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
East Valley Tribune photographer Tom Boggan returns with his popular once-a-month
"Photography Walk-a-bout" workshop. Boggan has a talent for portraits
and a passion for nature photography at Boyce Thompson Arboretum, where he
volunteers his time helping people improve their camera skills. Each month
he leads an informal outdoor class teaching basic photography skills including
composition, lighting and exposure -- and offering a chance for one-on-one
time helping students understand the dials and settings on their cameras.
Check
out this gallery of images Tom and students posted.
Workshops 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.
Sunday History Walk
November 15 at 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, November 15, from 10:30 - 11:30 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 November 15 at 1:30
November 15, Sunday, at 1:30 p.m. and again December 20
"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.
Weekend Bird Walks November 21 and 22 at 8:30 a.m.
Walks Continue November 21 and 22, also December 6
Two Rufous-backed Robins were observed in the same Myrtle tree simultaneously
this past week, along with Summer Tanager and Black-headed Grosbeak. Another
rarity reported was a Purple Finch seen and photographed by Brendon Grice.
Guided bird walks continue with photographer Rich Ditch as our guest leader
November 21 -- and we'll also have Cindy West and Diane Krpan here in the
event of a large group which needs to be divided. Marceline Vandewater leads
the tour November 22, Sunday, and then our 2009 bird walk series concludes
with a special Sunday walk December 6 featuring Scottsdale author and photographer
Jim Burns leading our season finale. Read
Bird checklist Reports
Plants of the
Bible Guided Walk November 21
November 21, Saturday, at 1:30 then again December 6 and December
19
Learn about botany, history and scripture on this slow-paced and relaxing
Saturday walk down smooth and flat trails that are wheelchair-accessible.
Bible scholar and Mesa resident David Oberpriller leads the walk on the third
Saturday each month during the fall and winter; Arboretum volunteer Leda Fide
guides on the first Sunday of each month -- and her next one will be December
6.
Palms, figs and pomegranates are Plants
of the Bible.
Fall Foliage Finale -- Thanksgiving Weekend
November 28 and 29 from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. both weekend
days
Aspen and maple leaves have fallen in Arizona's high country by mid-November,
but the true grand finale of autumn foliage in Arizona is right here at the
Arboretum this month, with peak color typically during Thanksgiving weekend.
Invite family and visiting guests for a picnic and to celebrate autumn color
in our famous pistachio grove with spiced apple cider, live guitar and cedar
flute music, photography classes and other activities. Want
proof of our breathtaking color? Check out the gallery of autumn images
on our website! http://ag.arizona.edu/BTA/whatsnew/fallfoliage.html
"The Arboretum
Rocks!" -- geology walking tour November 28
November 28 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
. 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
Plein Air Fall Color Paint-Out
November 29, Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Bring your drop-cloth, brushes and easel. Glorious autumn foliage is at peak
around Thanksgiving weekend here at the Arboretum. This artists' invitational
arranged in collaboration with Arizona State Parks coincides with our annual
Fall Foliage Finale Festival. For a complete list of plein air events sponsored
by Arizona State Parks all around the Grand Canyon State, check out http://azstateparks.com/find/pleinair.html
Bring your art supplies and capture garden scenes or desert panoramas on canvas
alongside members of the Mesa Art League and Arizona Plein Air Painters. Check
out these plein air scenes posted at t http://ag.arizona.edu/BTA/pleinairpainters.html
November Gallery Exhibit
Gallery show continues through November 30
Photography by Chandler artist Margaret
Whittaker are featured this month in our Visitor Center Gallery and
may be seen during regular public hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In December
the gallery will feature art works by Barbara
Cox, and her meet-the-artist gallery opening celebration will be Saturday
December 5.
Photography Workshops -- November and December
Fall Foliage walking tour classes November 28 and 29, Maggie Leef Field
Study, Basic Camera Settings and PhotoShop November 4 and 5.
Gilbert fine art photographer Bob Estrin will teach a Thanksgiving Weekend
Fall Color class on Saturday November 28 from 12-3 p.m. and Scottsdale painter/photographer
Paul Kinslow will lead one Sunday the 29th. Read
more about these photography classes.
And on December 4 and 5 (Friday and Saturday) Springerville artist Maggie
Leef returns to teach a weekend's worth of photography with two "field
study" sessions will be offered, one Friday morning and the second Saturday
afternoon. "Basic Camera Settings and Applications" will be taught
Friday afternoon, and a three-hour PhotoShop classes December 5, Saturday
morning. Cost is $30 for Arboretum annual members, $37.50 for non-members
for the Field Study and Basic Camera classes -- the PhotoShop software class
is $45 for members, $52.50 nonmembers. Enroll with a call to our staff at
520-689-2723.
Read more about these photography classes
Mata Ortiz Pottery Weekend
December 5 - 6 with sales from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. both days,
pottery firings at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Just in time for holiday gift shopping -- we offer the chance to meet a few
famous ceramic artists in person when they visit this weekend from the village
of Mata Ortiz, Mexico. Back by popular demand and for a third year in a row,
Oscar Trevizo and friends will bring a variety of intricate, unique, artistic
handmade pots. Unique, collectible ceramics will be available for purchase
all weekend, and artists will demonstrate their craft with traditional outdoors
firings at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Artisans to be represented should include
Noe Quezada (son of legendary Mata Ortiz ceramic artist Juan) and his wife
Betty Quezada. Come see some of the newest works, paints and styles of Mata
Ortiz pottery art!
Homeschool Days: January 6, February 5, March 10, April 9
Each school year we invite homeschool families to gather and experience
Arboretum education programs. January 6 (Wednesday) at 10:00 a.m. we offer
Plants of the Bible, February 5 (Friday) at 10:00 is The Arizona Tour, 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
Australia Day January 23, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Join us for a "virtual day in the land down under" as Australian
folklorist Paul Taylor spins stories, poems, and tales. Boyce Thompson Arboretum
is home to one of the largest collections of Australian plants in the country.
Arboretum staff and volunteers will give tours of the Australian walkabout
trail and explain the wonders of the giant eucalyptus and gum trees at
11:00 a.m. Paul Taylor's concert in the eucalyptus grove begins at 1:30 p.m.
