We stayed in Tuscon to hike trails in late winter.    We saw many flowering plants along the trails at lower elevations in the Sonoran Desert canyons and foothills.   We also visited some botanical gardens in the area and the best of them was the Boyce Thompson Arboretum.

Nestled in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, Boyce Thompson Arboretum stands as a testament to the beauty and diversity of the natural world. Founded in the early 1920s by mining magnate William Boyce Thompson, the Arboretum was born out of a deep appreciation and wonder of plant life. Today, it is Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden, spanning over 320 acres of breathtaking landscapes.

We walked the trails and enjoyed the many gardens – Australian Deserts, Cactus and Succulents, Chihuahuan Desert, Children’s Garden, Heritage Roses, Pollinator Garden, Sonoran Desert, Herb Garden, Legume Garden, South American Deserts, the Demonstration Garden, and more.   We could have spend all day there and a return visit is on our list.    We took lots of photos and are sharing a few in two posts.

Some of the photos of the plants we observed include Texas mountain-laurel (Dermatophyllum sp.), jade plant (Crassula sp.), Oxalis sp., Fiveneedle pricklyleaf (Thymophylla sp.), Rumex sp., Aloe sp., Plains blackfoot (Melampodium sp.), Poponax (Vachellia sp.), spiderwort (Tradesantia sp.), and Cape rain-daisy (Dimorphotheca sp.).

A Google Photos album of some of these flowers is shared here – Boyce Thompson Arboretum

A follow-up post of more plants from the Boyce Thompson Arboretum will be published in the next month.