The arboretum is surrounded by rocky mountains, credit L.M. Whited
To capitalize on this belief, and to add to what Thompson began, the Arboretum now holds collections of desert plants from around the world. The collections include plants from the United States, Mexico, Australia, Madagascar, India, China, Japan, Israel, South America, the Middle East, Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Arabian Peninsula—all told 3,900 taxa and 19,000 plants. Boyce Thompson Arboretum’s (BTA) newest garden, the Wallace Desert Garden, offers expansive views, creekside trails, and hundreds of plants new to BTA. At 13 acres and with more than 5,000 new plantings, the addition of the Wallace collection moves BTA into
the top tier of botanical gardens around the world. The main trail is wheelchair accessible.
My husband and I have visited the Arboretum dozens of times, and we have yet to see it all. Of course, we have some favorites that we visit each time. The Rodica Heinz Pollinator Garden draws us because the seasonal plants attract and nurture hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and birds, which are favorite subjects of our photography. During the hot summers, the Arboretum opens at 6 a.m. and you’ll want to go as early as possible. One way to see more of the garden without hiking in the high temperatures is to explore during an hour-long golf cart tour—only
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