Summer weather has arrived and Boyce Thompson Arboretum is ready to welcome guests with seasonal pricing, adjusted hours and a changing showcase of desert blooms and wildlife.

The arboretum is at 37615 E. Arboretum Way near the town of Superior.

From June through August, admission for adults is $16 — a savings of $8.95 off the regular price of $24.95. To ensure the comfort and safety of visitors and staff, the arboretum will be open from 6 a.m. to noon throughout the summer and will be closed on Tuesdays during these months, according to a release.

“We have plenty of shaded trails and there are rangers and other staff on site walking around to answer questions,” Kim Gray, Executive director of the arboretum, said in the release. “Whether you’re hiking, birding, or just enjoying the garden’s quiet beauty, early morning is a magical time to experience the desert.”

The arboretum is a destination for birdwatching, with frequent sightings of yellow warblers, vermillion flycatchers, black-throated sparrows, Western tanagers, and many others. Visitors may also encounter butterflies and coatimundis, especially in the cool of the morning.

What’s blooming: A seasonal snapshot

Each month brings new beauty to the trails and gardens:

June

• Queen of the Night (Peniocereus greggii) – Rare, fragrant night-blooming cactus
• Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus enneacanthus subsp. brevispinus)
• Golden-flowered Agave (Agave chrysantha) – Seen on the main trail above the lake and along the High Trail

July

• Crepe-myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) – Children’s Garden, Demonstration Garden
• Hedgehog Cactus (Echinopsis spp.) – Cactus Garden, Wallace, Hummingbird/Butterfly Garden
• Texas Sage (Leucophyllum spp.) – Blooms after rain; Children’s Garden, Chihuahuan Trail
• Desert-willow (Chilopsis linearis) – Hummingbird/Butterfly Garden, Wallace Rose Garden
• Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii) – Widespread in Wallace Garden and Aussie Desert
• Fishhook Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus wislizeni) – Cactus Garden, Wallace, Sonoran Upland
• Cardon Grande Cactus (Echinopsis terscheckii) – Cactus Garden, South American Loops

August

• Crepe-myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) – Children’s Garden, Demonstration Garden
• Hedgehog Cactus (Echinopsis spp.) – Hummingbird/Butterfly Garden, Cactus Garden, Wallace
• Texas Sage (Leucophyllum spp.) – Blooms after rain; Children’s Garden, Chihuahuan Trail
• Desert-willow (Chilopsis linearis) – Hummingbird/Butterfly Garden, Wallace Rose Garden
• Sea Squill (Drimia maritima) – Canyon Entrance, Demonstration Garden
• Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii) – Widespread: Wallace and Aussie Gardens
• Cardon Grande Cactus (Echinopsis terscheckii) – Cactus Garden, South American Loops

With shaded trails, expert staff on hand, and remarkable plant and wildlife displays, Boyce Thompson Arboretum provides a cool and captivating escape from the heat.

For information — including details on upcoming events, memberships and conservation initiatives — go to www.btarboretum.org, call 520-689-2723, or connect with the Arboretum on Facebook, Instagram, or X (formerly Twitter).

Boyce Thompson Arboretum is Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden. Founded in 1924 by mining magnate Col. William Boyce Thompson, the Arboretum spans 372 acres, featuring nearly 5 miles of trails, 135 acres of cultivated gardens, and more than 20,000 desert plants from regions around the world, including North and South America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. For information, go to www.btarboretum.org.