SUPERIOR – Near the banks of Queen Creek, Boyce Thompson Arboretum kicked off its 100-year anniversary celebration by launching a tree-planting campaign Saturday morning, with around a half dozen native trees – ironwood, mesquite, palo verde and desert willow. These serve as nurse trees for cacti, will provide shade and, said BTA Executive Director Lynne Nemeth, can increase the number of bird species by 63%.

In the 100 Tree Spree event, which runs through December 2023, the arboretum is partnering with schools, municipalities, community organizations, parks and nonprofits to plant 100 native trees throughout greater Phoenix and neighboring communities.

The arboretum, today the largest botanical garden in Arizona, was established in 1924 by mining magnate Colonel William Boyce Thompson. 

“He had gone to Russia before the (1917) revolution and then after the revolution,” said Nemeth. “He came away from that experience really understanding that plants were the key to human survival.”

The arboretum’s website elaborates on this, stating that in Russia, Boyce Thompson witnessed rampant crop failure and starvation. This experience led him to found not only the arboretum, but also the Boyce Thompson Institute in New York. At this sister institution of BTA, scientists study things like tomato blight and pests affecting tree populations.

When Boyce Thompson first came to the area, said Nemeth, there were no roads and no highway; he reached the site on horseback. “He built the Picket Post House up on the cliff, surveyed the area and thought this would be a great place to have an arboretum. The very first thing he and his first directors did was focus on restoration of the area.”

Over the last 100 years the arboretum has grown to 372 acres, with a collection of 3,897 plant species from arid regions around the world and 4.7 miles of trails. Its oldest collections, said Nemeth, are the cactus garden and the Australian exhibit – where visitors can meet “Mr. Big,” a 117-foot-tall red gum eucalyptus tree planted in 1926.

“We’ve added different demonstration gardens and collections from all the North American deserts,” said Nemeth. One addition has been the Wallace Desert Garden, relocated from Scottsdale to Boyce Thompson Arboretum.

“What we’re doing right now is looking to the future, figuring out how we’re going to augment our collections and adapt them to climate change,” said Nemeth. “We’ve lost some plants this past summer with the heat.”

She added that BTA has started a “Water Wise” initiative. “We ultimately want to be able to reuse every single drop of water. We are installing a new drip irrigation system, and it’s all computerized so we can keep track of every drop. We’re also going to put in rain catchment around some of our buildings and hook that into our irrigation.”

The 100 Tree Spree is only the beginning of the celebration. Starting in October 2023 and through October 2024, the arboretum is unveiling a Then and Now History Installation, with enlarged historical photos placed throughout the grounds. On Oct. 21, 2023, they will host a “Green Gala,” highlighting those who strive to create a more sustainable landscape. At this event, said Nemeth, two awards will be given for sustainability and climate adaptation. From January through October 2024, the “Spiny Splendor” art exhibit will showcase the Boyce Thompson hedgehog cactus. January through April 2024 will feature the Legacy Tour, a docent-led tour highlighting arboretum history and the realization of Colonel Boyce Thompson’s vision.