Adventure

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power" Alan Cohen

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

sure way to keep you on the trail!
 Last Saturday the sun was shining, temps in the high 70's  and we wanted to get out and enjoy it!  We took a 90 minute drive out to Boyce Thompson Arboretum The Arboretum was created from 1923 to 1929 by a millionaire mining executive who loved the desert and its plants.
View at beginning of main trail
 We had our backyard re-landscaped last fall and now's the time to start looking for desert friendly plants and the Arboretum has hundreds of varieties to explore. There's a small gift shop and plants sale area.  It is a state park and covers about 400 acres near Superior, Arizona.   We walked the main trail which first came to the herb and cactus gardens, looped around the small lake, through a canyon and finally the eucalyptus grove.  There's a few old structures to peak at and many birds about.
Love these grouped together

The variety of cacti and other desert adapted plants is fantastic.  I've been researching what to plant and I was able to see many of the ones I've been thinking about.  Not too interested in the boojum tree, it looks like something out of Dr Seuss!
Boojum tree

Ayer Lake feed by Queen Creek
 The lake created in 1925 has overlooks to sit and rest a bit before continuing on up the trail. 

 Thompson's house is perched on a mountain top (I think its still occupied).

A great way to spend a sunny afternoon.  The staff said that the plants will be coming into bloom in March and April so I'm thinking another trip will be in order soon.

No comments: