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

Dragonfly Walk September 6, Saturday
September 6 From 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
 Pierre Deviche joins our roster of tour guides for the dragonfly walk on 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. Plan for summer heat: Tour Guides advise you to wear sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat! And bring binoculars along for vivid close-up views of these insect predators

Learn Your Lizards Guided Walks September 7 and 13
September 7, Sunday, at 9:30 and then our season finale Lizard Walk is September 13 at 8:30 a.m.
 Kids enjoy this popular tour -- bring your kids, grandkids, nephews or nieces to learn about common Sonoran desert reptiles. Desert Spiny lizards here at the Arboretum can grow as big as bratwursts, and this entertaining guided tour teaches how to identify common lizard species such as Western whiptail, Side-blotched and Greater Earless. Our "Sunday Special" lizard walk at 9:30 a.m. September 7 will be guided by Abi King along with Mesa Community College Professor Andy Baldwin. We have two special guests from the Arizona Game & Fish Department here the following Saturday, September 13, at the usual start time of 8:30 a.m. Reptile researchers King and Mike Sredl will guide the "Season Finale" lizard walk on that Saturday. Participants should wear sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat -- and bring along binoculars for the best close-up views of these engaging little reptiles

Monarch Butterfly Field Trips
 September 6, September 14, October 2-4, October 11 and also 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 carpool to the Canelo Hills region August 30 and again September 14, and to Hereford on September 6. An exploratory trip to the Blue River region on Arizona's Eastern boundary will be October 2-4, and there's a special tagging class here at the Arboretum on October 11 at 9:00 a.m. Final trips of the season are to the Hualapai Mountains October 15-1, Perkinsville October 18 and Sonoita on November 1. To learn more about these research field trips, call Chris Kline at 520-689-2723 or email ckline@Ag.arizona.edu. Read more about our monarch butterfly migration research

Gallery Exhibit: Nicole Royse Paintings
 Daily Through September 28 in our Visitor Center Gallery
 The featured exhibit in our art gallery this month is a showcase of paintings by Nicole Royse, then the October exhibit will be paintings by Sharon Sieben of the Mesa Art League. Springerville artist and Arizona State Parks' site steward Maggie Leef has a photography exhibition in the gallery during November, and painter Paul Kinslow is our featured artist in December. Paintings by Tempe resident Nicole Royse will be exhibited during September.

Plants of the Bible Guided Walk
 September 20 (Saturday) at 7:30 a.m. Note: tour time moves to 1:30 p.m. October 18, November 15, December 20
 Learn about botany, history and scripture on a slow-paced and relaxing walk down smooth and flat trails that are wheelchair-accessible. Please note the special 7:30 a.m. start time for our walk on September 20; public hours this month are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but on September 20 we open at 7:30 a.m. for this special and early "Plants of the Bible" guided walk with Mesa resident and Bible scholar Dave Oberpriller. Tour start time moves to 1:30 p.m. for the fall and winter season Oct. 18, November 15 and December 20. Palms, figs and pomegranates are Plants of the Bible.

Pomegranate Class
September 21 (Sunday) at 10:30 a.m.
They're loaded with anti-oxidants, they're the hot new ingredient in everything from ice cream to shampoo…. and they're commonly found as landscape plants throughout Maricopa, Pinal, Pima and Gila Counties. Are pomegranates really that difficult to harvest and to juice? Don't let those healthy fruits go to waste -- learn more, share some recipes and savor a few pomegranate foods and drinks during this new harvest season class September 21 with Apache Junction author Jean Groen ("Foods of the Superstitions"). No pre-registration required

“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.

Edible and Medicinal Desert Plants Guided Walk
 September 28, Sunday, at 9:30 a.m ** Please note - this tour starts at 1:30 p.m. October 11, October 26 and November 8
Apache Junction author Jean Groen guides this one-hour walk along our Curandero Trail explaining the ways that native desert plants have fed, clothed and healed indigenous peoples for millennia. The tours last about one hour, don't hurry to leave when its over -- Jean usually shares homemade desert edibles such as nopalito soup, mesquite meal crackers -- and sometimes a refreshingly cold pitcher of nonalcoholic prickly pear margaritas. During Summer months the tour start time is 9:30 a.m.; the Fall/Winter schedule is 1:30 p.m. 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

Butterfly Walk
September 27, Saturday, from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. -- and again October 25
 Learn about the ongoing monarch butterfly migration research project, and about the life cycles of these colorful insects on a guided 90-minute walk guided by Adriane Grimaldi and Marceline Vandewater. Hundreds of butterflies were counted in the gardens this week -- join us and look for a variety of common species of butterflies as we explore the Demonstration Garden, Hummingbird-Butterfly Garden and other collections. See colorful photos as well, Read recent butterfly checklist reports

Autumn Guided Bird Walks
October 4, 12, 18, 26 from 8:30 - 11:00 a.m.; also November 1, 9, 15, 23
 Look for the Arboretum's one-of-a-kind hybrid hummingbird or watch autumnal migrants on a two-hour guided walk. Check our website as October approaches for the specific list of bird walk leaders and dates they're scheduled to be here. Recent bird checklists are posted at http://ag.arizona.edu/BTA/events/birdwalks.html

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. http://ag.arizona.edu/BTA/events/plantsale.html

Focus on Insects "BioDive"
 October 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
 "BioDives" are a new program we'll offer this year for high school-age homeschool students. As a part of the activity we will conduct insect/wildflower surveys, study relationships between insect/wildflower groups, and give students experience recording data and using tools such as a GPS and digital camera. Two sessions will be offered from 9:00 am to 12:00 p.m., the first on Friday Oct. 10 ("focus on insects") and the second Friday March 27, 2009, ("focus on wildflowers"). To sign up call 520-689-2723.

Trees of Arizona (new guided tour!)
 October 19 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m., then on November. 16, December 21 and January 18, 2009
 "What's an Arboretum?" Learn the answer to that often-posed question on our new autumn tour through the forested areas of the Arboretum where you'll learn about the towering sycamore and cottonwood trees, native hackberry, mesquite and many more.

Live Music Festival
Nov. 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Did you enjoy the occasional summer series of Saturday nights with music and extended evening hours? A few of the same performers will be showcased Nov. 8 during a Saturday of live music "both acoustic and eclectic" featuring different performances each hour in various gardens and collections around the Arboretum. Visit ag.arizona.edu/bta in September to read the complete list of performers and concert times.

Advanced Birding Class
November 22 from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.
 Arboretum bird walk leader Kathe Anderson concludes her advanced birding class series with this "second-of-two-parts" session on Nov. 22 from 8:30 to 11:30. "The Es and Fs" of basic birding are the focus today, and Kathe will explain how to seek out different habitats and environments when looking for particular birds. Enrollment for annual members is $20; arrange pre-payment with a call to our gift shop staff during daytime business hours at 520-689-2723

Fall Foliage Finale
November 29-30 from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
 Aspen and maple leaves have fallen in the San Francisco peaks and Catalinas 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 music and other activities. Want proof of our breathtaking color? Check out the gallery of autumn images on our website!

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.

Homeschool Day
December 3 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; then again Jan. 30, March 18, April 10
 Each school year we invite homeschool families to gather and experience Arboretum education programs. Dec. 3 participants are offered the "Plants of the Bible" tour starting at 10 a.m., then on Friday, Jan. 30 (2009) the "Arizona Tour" at 10:00 a.m. March 18 , 2009 (a Wednesday) is the "Trees" tour at 10:00 a.m. and the final Home School day will be April 10 (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


2009 events -- 2009 events -- 2009 events
January 24 Australia Day in the eucalyptus grove
 February 13-16 "Language of Flowers" floral exhibit & chocolate tasting
February 28 World Desert Fair
 March 21 "Welcome Back Buzzards" day
 March (Dates To Be Announced) Spring Plant Sale
 March Wildflower Walks: at 12:00 noon March 4, 7, 11, 15, 18, 21, 25 and 29; also April 1, 4, 8 and 12
 April 4 "Artists at the Arboretum"
April 11 Herb Festival
May 2 Dragonfly Walk
 May 9 International Migratory Bird Day
 May 23 Bio-Blitz
 May 9 Learn Your Lizards Guided Walk
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