Special Events -- Most Are Included With Daily
Adult Admission of $7.50, or $3 for ages 5-12

Tuesday Tours -- and Wednesdays, too!
at 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays May 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28
Learn how the Arboretum was founded more than seven decades ago, and also learn to identify common plants, birds and about the natural history of this Arizona Treasure. Ceramic artist and native plants enthusiast Terry Stone will lead the Tuesday tours at 8:30 a.m., while Arizona State Parks volunteer Marlene Conner will lead Wednesday 8:30 a.m. walks. Bring along a water bottle and a wide-brimmed hat.

Gallery Exhibit: Judy Bottler Photography
 Daily Through May 30 in our Visitor Center Gallery
 A new exhibit by Mesa landscape artist Judy Bottler is in our visitor center art gallery throughout this month.

Plants-of-the-Bible Guided Tour
 May 17 (Saturday) at 7:30 a.m.                 ** please note Summer start time for this tour: 7:30 a.m.
 Learn about botany, history and Scripture on this relaxing, slow-paced walk through the gardens alongside Arboretum volunteer Bible scholars. The tour follows paths that are accessible to wheelchairs and walkers; proceeding through collections including the picnic area, Demonstration and Herb Gardens. The tour will be offered once-a-month at 7:30 a.m. on May 17, June 21, July 19 and August 16 when Summer hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. See photos and read more

Robert Rice Photography Class - Part II
May 18 at 1:00 p.m.
The topic for our second spring Robert Rice photography workshop is “Using Photoshop to Realize Your Photographic Vision.” This workshop is designed to help participants develop their images into fine art prints or for web-based publishing. Topics include preparing your image and adjusting it, using Photoshop for presentation, as a print, or for use on the web. Participants should have basic familiarity with Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. Limited to ten students, enrollment is $35. View galleries and read more on his website: robertricefinephoto.com. Register and arrange payment by calling 520.689.2723

Butterfly Walk
May 24, Saturday, from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. -- and again May 24, June 28, July 26, August 23 and September 27
Learn to identify common species of butterflies -- and about the colorful insects' life cycles -- on a two-hour walk through the Demonstration and
Hummingbird-Butterfly Gardens. Tour guides for this walk will be Fountain Hills authors Kurt and Cindy Radamaker. Read recent butterfly checklist reports

Edible / Medicinal Desert Plants Guided Walk
 May 25 (Sunday) at 9:30 a.m. **** again June 22, July 27, August 24
 Join us for a guided tour where you will learn ways that native desert plants have fed, clothed and healed indigenous peoples for millennia. Tours are alternately guided by Apache Junction authors Jean Groen ("Foods of the Superstitions") and Choctaw tribal nation member David Morris. Don't hurry to leave after Jean's guided walk -- Jean is an award-winning cook and often shares homemade desert edibles such as cactus fruit jellies and mesquite meal crackers following her tour. Tour time moves to 9:30 a.m. during summer months. Please note that this tour explores our Curandero Trail, which has
moderately steep sections and is not accessible by wheelchair. Read more about jojoba, creosote and prickly pears

Learn Your Lizards Guided Walk -- Saturday, May 10
June 1 at 9:30 a.m. and again June 14 at 8:30 (note times); also July 12, August 9 and September 13
Desert Spiny lizards at the Arboretum sometimes grow as big as bratwursts! This unique guided tour shows participants how to identify common lizard species such as Western whiptail, Side-blotched and Greater Earless. Kids enjoy this family-friendly walk on the second Saturday each month. Please note that we also have two additional "Sunday Special" lizard walks June 1 and again September 7. Wear sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat -- and bring along binoculars for the best close-up views of these engaging little reptiles.

Dragonfly Walk
June 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., then again July 5 and also July 6; August 2 and September 6
Queen Creek and Ayer Lake are great places to view Red Rock Skimmers, Blue-eyed Darners and various other species of these insect predators during a
one-hour walk. Please note our "Sunday Special" dragonfly walk on July 6. Bring binoculars along for vivid close-up views of these insect predators.

"Sunday Special" Nature Tours
June 8, July 6, August 3 and September 7 at 9:30 a.m.
Our once-a-month Sunday Extra 9:30 a.m nature tours this summer continue with a “Learn Your Lizards” walk June 8, a Dragonfly Walk July 6, Butterfly Walk Aug. 3, and another Lizard Walk Sept. 7. Read recent butterfly checklist reports

6:30 A.M. Summer Bird Walks
June 8, July 13 and August 10 at 6:30 a.m.
Learn to identify native Sonoran desert birds, and exotic migrants as well, on a two-hour bird walk. Admission of $7.50 for adults, $3 ages 5-12 includes guided bird walks. Read recent birder checklist reports

Birding 103
July 12 from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., then Part II is November 22 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
In the final installment of Kathe Anderson's advanced birding class series, the Es and Fs of basic birding are the focus. Anderson will emphasize seeking out different habitats and environments when looking for particular birds. In addition, come prepared to learn how to distinguish different bird families. Two-part class begins July 12 from 7:00 – 10:00 a.m. - and continues Nov. 22 from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. Enrollment is $25 for annual members, $32.50 non-members. Call Arboretum staff daytimes at 520-689-2723

Monarch Butterfly Field Trips
August 12-16, August 30, September 6, September 14, October 2-4, October 15-17.
Education Coordinator Chris Kline invites volunteers to help search for monarch butterflies – then capture, tag & release adults – during offsite research trips. We’ll drive to Jacob’s Lake Aug. 12-15 and Springerville Aug. 16; trips to the Canelo hills are Aug. 30 and again Sept. 14, and then Hereford on Sept. 6. A trip to the Blue River is Oct. 2-4, and to the Hualapai Mountains Oct. 15-17. To learn more about these research field trips, call Chris Kline at 520-689-2723 or email ckline@Ag.arizona.edu

Opuntia Punch (or “How-To-Juice-A-Prickly-Pear”) classes
August 17 at 10:30 a.m. and again August 23 and September 1 (Labor Day)
Have you ever sipped a prickly pear fruit margarita or nibbled candy made from cactus fruit? If so, you know that nothing compares to the subtle flavor and outrageous magenta color of juice from the prickly pear cactus that can be harvested throughout Arizona. This informal hour-long class is offered toward the end of summer when prickly pear fruit ripen. Come learn how to harvest opuntia cactus fruits and extract the juice without turning your hands into a “porcupine” of painful glochids and cactus spines. Apache Junction author Jean Groen (“Foods of the Superstitions”) is the harvest season guest for each of these three class dates.

“Bye-Bye Buzzards”
 September 27 (Saturday) from 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
 One of the Arboretum’s signature events is our seasonal salute to the migrant flock of Turkey Vultures before these huge black birds fly south to spend their winter months in Mexico. Celebrate ornithology and learn about Turkey Vultures, misunderstood scavengers which play an integral role in our Sonoran desert ecosystem. Join our staff and volunteers observing the resident flock from 7-8:30 a.m. Visitors are invited to join our 8:30 a.m. guided birdwalk to learn about other species. Desert Rivers Audubon will be here; Arizona Game & Fish Department wildlife rehab volunteers will bring their popular exhibit of live birds, reptiles and small mammals 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Fall Plant Sale
 October 10 - 26, daily, from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
 Autumn is harvest season; also the time to plant herbs and the right season to prepare your Spring flower garden. Stock up during this annual fundraiser which helps support botany education and conservation at Arizona's oldest and largest botanical garden. Staff horticulturists and groundskeepers are available daily to answer your plant questions.

Plein Air "Paint-Out"
November 28 - 29, daily, from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
 Artists are invited to capture autumnal scenes during our annual Thanksgiving weekend Fall Foliage Finale Festival. Bring your dropcloth, brushes and easel. Glorious Autumn foliage is at peak around Thanksgiving at Boyce Thompson Arboretum; capture garden scenes on canvas alongside members of the Mesa Art League and Arizona Plein Air Painters.

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