Superior, AZ – The Boyce Thompson Arboretum is located about 45 miles west of Mesa Arizona at 37615 E. Arboretum Way, Superior, Arizona. We visited in April 2017 while staying at the Monte Vista RV Resort. From their website, “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.”
Inside the Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Boyce Thompson Arboretum is the largest and oldest botanical garden in the state of Arizona. It is one of the oldest botanical institutions west of the Mississippi. Founded in 1924 as a desert plant research facility and “living museum”, the Arboretum is located in the Sonoran Desert on 392 acres along Queen Creek and beneath the towering volcanic remnant, Picketpost Mountain. The arboretum was founded by William Boyce Thompson (1869 – 1930), a mine engineer who created his fortune in the mining industry.
Picketpost House along the Upland Sonoran Natural Area Trail
According to Boyce Thompson Arboretum’s website, there are 3,200 plants encompassed on the grounds. They have wonderful Chihuahuan and Sonoran Desert Gardens and boast 800 types of cacti. A network of interconnecting trails wind through the Arboretum. Along these trails, thousands of water efficient plants from arid and semi-arid regions of North America, South America, the Near East, Africa, Central Asia and Australia arrest visitors’ attention. Arid land plants take on bizarre shapes and curious life styles that have evolved as methods of coping with dry habitats.
Chihuahuan Desert Trail
Cacti and desert plants
We loved the diversity of plants on display
Cactus Garden Trail
While touring the gardens we saw numerous birds including hummingbirds, ducks, and a cardinal. Snakes, tortoises and toads usually venture forth at dawn or dusk. Lizards, such as the desert spiny lizard may be seen basking in the sun during the day. Over 300 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians are found in the Arboretum. Abundant but often unseen insects, spiders and scorpions are also part of the Arboretum’s natural ecosystem.
Cardinal in the gardens
Hummingbirds were pollinating
We enjoyed checking out the Children’s Garden. Other specialty gardens included the Hummingbird-Butterfly Garden, Desert Legume Garden, Cactus Garden, Curandero Trail, Wing Memorial Herb Garden, Eucalyptus Forest and the Demonstration Garden. One of our favorite sections was the Upland Sonoran Natural Area, the trail wound through regional vegetation and terrain, going around Magma Ridge and a man-made lake. This was a great day trip.
Trails lead through the gardens and around Magma Ridge
Flowers in the Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Trail through the riparian area
Ayer Lake is man-made for irrigation but is a hub for wildlife
A reminder that this is a natural environment
Admission costs $15 per adult and $5 for ages 5-12. From May 1 through September 30 the arboretum is open from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily, with the day’s last visitors admitted at 2:00 p.m. so they have an hour to enjoy the trails. From October 1 through 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. As a good amount of the trails area in full sun, we recommend visiting earlier in the day. Don’t forget to take water, sunscreen and your camera.
