Summer Gardens Hours (June 1 to August 31): 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Open seven days a week, year round, except July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day and New Year’s Day.
Oct. thru Apr. $13 Adults | $12 Student/Senior/Military | $7.50 Children 4-12 (included entrance to Butterfly Magic)
May thru Sept. $8 Adults | $7 Student/Senior/Military | $4 Children 4-12
Children 3 and under and Members are always free!
Our January community education schedule is packed with classes to help you brush up on your gardening and garden design skills. Join us for classes and workshops on Sustainable Landscape Design, Container Gardening, Managing Garden Insects Naturally, and more.
Browse our January class schedule:
http://www.tucsonbotanical.org/education/adult-classes-trips/january-classes/
Save the date! The next Tucson Botanical Gardens Docent Training starts Jan. 16. Do you love the Gardens and want to share your enthusiasm with others? Want to deepen your knowledge of local flora and fauna, environmental education, water-wise gardening and the cultural connections between people and plants? Become a docent at the Tucson Botanical Gardens and you’ll be part of a team of educators and interpreters serving the Tucson community and visitors from all over the world.
When: Wednesday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon
Jan. 16 to March 13 (nine weeks)
Where: The beautiful grounds of the Tucson Botanical Gardens
Cost: This nine-week training requires a fee of $120, which includes Gardens membership ($70 for current members)
What does a docent do?
Docents at Tucson Botanical Gardens are an active and vital part of our educational programs. After completing training they lead garden tours, present educational outreach programs for adults and children, staff educational stations to engage garden visitors and assist with horticultural therapy programs. Docents also teach Gardens Signature Classes, participate in developing and refining new educational programs, assist with special events and act as interpreters by providing information to visitors and helping them make lasting memories at the Gardens.
Docents take occasional training classes to keep their skills and knowledge fresh. They also commit to serving regularly in their chosen areas of focus.
What do docents learn in training?
• History of the Tucson Botanical Gardens
• Thematic Spaces in the Gardens, from Irises to Cacti
• Skills for Effective Communication with Various Audiences
• Desert Ecology and Local Flora and Fauna
• Botany for Gardeners
• Principles of Xeriscaping and Water Conservation
• Gardening for Birds and Butterflies
• Wildflowers
• Ethnobotany (people-plant connections)
Interested in Learning More?
Join us for coffee at 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, and learn more about what it means to become a docent at Tucson Botanical Gardens. Call Christine Hoekenga at 520-326-9686, Ext. 31, or email her at education2@tucsonbotanical.org to sign up or for more information.
First Sat. of the Month
Dec.1, Jan. 5 and Feb. 2
10 to 11 a.m.
Join us the first Saturday of each month for family story time. At each meeting, young visitors will enjoy books read aloud in the Children’s Discovery Garden (or an indoor location in case of inclement weather) as well as a related hands-on activity or craft. Becoming an official Book Worm is easy — just join us at a meeting and you’re in. Fun for the whole family. Free with Gardens Admission.
As the nights begin to cool the tropical greenhouse at Tucson Botanical heats up in preparation of one of Tucson’s favorite annual events – Butterfly Magic. Fly into the tropical greenhouse and take off on an exotic butterfly adventure that spans eleven countries; let some of the most beautiful and sometimes even rare butterflies of the world surround you. Join the millions of people worldwide who already have a winged obsession.
The first print edition of the Green Pueblo Map showcasing our community’s favorite green places and spaces will be available later this year. If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to make your mark on the map by nominating your favorite sustainable sites at www.greenpueblomap.org.
VEGETABLES FROM MONSOON RAINS
Saturday, June 27
12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Monsoon rains can help produce lush, abundant vegetable gardens when you work with the opportunities and constraints of our desert environment. Come learn about vegetable selection, garden location, soil preparation and harvest of vegetables grown with monsoon rains. Elaine West, a long time vegetable gardener, will talk about learning to work with our desert environment to save time and energy, while successfully growing vegetables in the desert. Limit 25. $20, $15 members
DANCING CHITM…A GARDEN RETREAT
Wednesdays July 15, 22, 29, and August 5 (four sessions)
8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Make the transition from day energy to night calm in the serenity of the Gardens.
Discover a way to move that will have lasting health benefits and is part of the Living/Aging Graceful plan. Dancing ChiTM is a transformative holistic movement practice, drawing from the meditative movement forms of Tai Qi/Qigong and other mind body modalities. Through simple yet powerful flowing moves, you can experience the energy sensation of Qi, as well as the numerous health benefits. At this garden retreat we will explore, in-depth, the 5-principles of Dancing ChiTM while cultivating a Happy Heart, Happy Spirit. You will learn how to incorporate this practice into your everyday life to sustain optimum health and well-being. The Garden Retreat will include an hour of movement followed with time spent in the gardens enjoying a refreshing tea, delicious snacks and the opportunity to connect with others. The final class will include a delicious and healthy brunch, as well as a gift bag. Come and enjoy the Gardens in a new way. Your teacher will be Lynne Marie Jenrow, MA, Certified Mind Body Fitness Instructor, Holistic Movement Educator, WellCoach® and a continuing student of Qigong. No prior experience necessary. Register with a friend and take $10 off both registrations. $135, $125 members
Plant Clinic Wednesdays, 10a-Noon. Dr. Paul Bessey, retired UA Plant Sciences Professor, will be available to answer your questions on plant pests, disease, and nutrient deficiencies.
Saturday, February 28 or
Saturday, March 7 or March 14
12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
If summer means picking the perfect tomato fresh from the vine, then now is the time to start preparing your garden. In this class Gardens docent, Elaine West, will discuss soil, sun, water and other factors for creating a great veggie garden. Don’t miss this chance to learn how to successfully grow veggies in our desert environment. Limit 20. $20, $15 members. Pre-registration required, click here for more information.
Saturday, February 21
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Ready to grow the perfect tomato but can’t find the variety in the nursery? By learning to start your own seeds, Gardens docent, Elaine West, will help you to move your vegetable gardening to the next level. Topics discussed in this class will be seed preparation, soil, watering techniques, sun exposure, bed warmers and transplanting. Limit 20. $20, $15 members. Pre-registration required, click here for more information.
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2150 North Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712 (map)