The cafe will feature new menu items as well as old favorites. Stop in for lunch on your next visit and enjoy a meal on the beautiful Xeriscape patio. Cafe open daily 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Butterfly Magic, a live exhibit of tropical butterflies. Open daily 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Admission $12 Adults, $6.50 Children 4-12, Children 3 and under, free.
A docent-training course at Tucson Botanical Gardens will be held Wednesday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon starting on Feb.17 and ending on April 28. There are many benefits to becoming a docent at the Gardens including the opportunity to meet new and interesting people, refine or gain new skills, learn more about gardening and the Tucson region, and attend continuing education classes and volunteer field trips. In docent training, docents will learn about the history of Tucson Botanical Gardens, botany for gardeners, gardening for birds and butterflies, water resources and conservation, principles of xeriscaping, desert ecology, ethnobotany and more.
Trained docents at the Tucson Botanical Gardens participate in specialized training sessions, lead garden tours, present educational outreach programs for adults and children, staff educational carts, implement horticultural therapy programs, teach Gardens’ signature classes, participate in training and planning for Gardens educational and outreach programs and staff volunteer booths at community events and the information center to provide Gardens and plant information to visitors as a Gardens’ interpreter.
This 11-week course requires a fee of $65 to cover the cost of materials. Space is limited; call (520) 326-9686, Ext. 39 to register.
Hours & Admission
Docent training class time: Wednesdays, Feb. 17 through April 28, 9 a.m. – noon
Docent training fee: $65 to cover the cost of materials
To register: call (520) 326-9686, Ext. 39
Garden hours: Garden hours are 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Open seven days a week, year round, except July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day and New Year’s Day.
Gardens’ admission: $7 for adults (age 13+), $3 for children 4-12, free for children 3 and under.
March 2-April 26, Artists Reception: Thursday, March 4, 5-7 p.m. Susan Fisher is the Director of the Art Institute at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. She is the former Coordinator for the Botanical Illustration Program at Denver Botanic Gardens. Susan is on the faculty of the Art Institute and Filoli Gardens in California and conducts workshops throughout the country. She is the past president of the American Society of Botanical Artists. Her illustrations appear in numerous periodicals and books, national exhibits and private collections.
2nd and 3rd Thursdays, 11:00 a.m. This 45-minute tour explores the plants and gardening practices that will attract butterflies to your backyard. We also look for and identify the butterflies that visit the Gardens and urban Tucson.
March 12, 13 and 14, 9a.m. – noon Pastels aren’t those pale colors associated with black board chalk. They are the hands-on medium that connects you directly to your art. In fact, pastels have a long history among artists who appreciate their versatility and ease of application. Begin with quick studies that create a roadmap to a finished piece; do exercises in color selection to increase your personal color vocabulary and learn how to make no-fear choices to a finished painting. Individual attention and instructor demonstrations will boost your confidence and your work. Some experience helpful, but not required.$175, $125 members. REGISTER NOW.
Monday, March 15 3p.m. – 4:30 p.m. or 6p.m. – 7:30 p.m.Join part-time Mata Ortiz residents Ron and Sue Bridgemon for a program about this amazing area in Chihuahua. You’ll learn interesting facts from the Mexican Revolution of 1910 to the current ceramic revolution started by Juan Quezada. This program will help you better understand the Mata Ortiz phenomenon prior to attending the Gardens show and demonstration the following weekend. Preregistration required for this FREE class.
Wednesday, March 17, 6 – 8 p.m.
Human fascination with caves is not recent. Ancient cultures believed that caves were the entrance to the underworld where their gods lived. Cave art, thousands of years old, in sites such as France’s Lascaux Cave and Spain’s Altamira also reflects mankind’s use and interest in caves. Recent advances in cave science, including initial cavern formation, speleogenesis (development of fragile cave formations), cave mineralogy and biology suggest that these systems are extremely diverse and in delicate balance. Bob and Debbie Buecher have studied caves for over 35 years and will share their knowledge and fascination with these ‘underground worlds’. They have explored and mapped caves across the U.S., in Mexico and southern China. Bob managed the baseline studies at Kartchner Caverns prior to its opening as a developed cave. Debbie has studied bats in the Southwest and will share her knowledge and interest in these amazing nocturnal creatures. Join Bob and Debbie for a trip through some truly amazing caverns and learn a bit about what fascinates us about caves.$17, $12 members
Third Thursday of the Month, 10:00am, Want to learn more about the original gardeners of the Gardens? Take a trip back in time with a tour that focuses on the family life of Bernice and Rutger Porter. Discover the historical significance of the property; learn about some of Mrs. Porter’s favorite plants, and see some special nooks and secret places.
A Mata Ortiz, Demonstration and Sale, Fine Art Pottery, Jewelry and the Artisans and Culture of Mata Ortiz and Taxco, Mexico. Sponsored by Mata Ortiz to You. Friday, March 19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, March 20, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Watch the pottery being made. Firings each day at 11:30 a.m.
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2150 North Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712 (map)