Boyce Thompson Arboretum Fall Plant Sale Continues Through Oct. 21

October is a prime month to be in your garden or outside and landscaping around your home -- and the seasonal plant sale at Boyce Thompson Arboretum is the time to buy herbs, shrubs and trees. Annual Members also enjoy 20-percent savings on plants throughout the sale, and 10-percent off purchases all year- round. Weekends during the Plant Sale offer opportunities to meet volunteers from nearby University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Master Gardener programs, and also to speak with our own staff if you have specific questions about gardening, horticulture, landscaping or plant care. Special events include:

• Edible / Medicinal Desert Plants Guided Walk at 1:30 p.m. October 13. Meet Apache Junction author Jean Groen ("Foods of the Superstitions"). Don't be in a rush to leave after Jean's guided walk, because she often shares serves homemade desert edibles such as cactus fruit jellies with mesquite meal crackers... and sometimes even a pitcher of refreshingly cold (and nonalcoholic) prickly pear fruit juice margaritas.
  
• Herb Gardening with Mike Hills of the Arizona Herb Association October 20, Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Are there limits to the types of herbs you can grow in the low desert? Mike Hills with the Arizona Herb Association, has long experience with herbs grown in low desert gardens for culinary, medicinal and other uses. Mike will share his experience with herb plants that thrive in Arizona's climates, and how to get your herb garden rejuvenated this Fall. The class will end with a guided tour of our own Wing Memorial Herb Demonstration Garden. Bring your questions! Cost to enroll is $20 members, $27.50 non-members. Call 520-689-2723; spaces are limited and pre-registration is required.
  
• October 20 "Thrillin' Grillin' with the Herb Lady" from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Gather 'round the grille to meet author Catherine Crowley and sample a few of her savory recipes -- just follow your nose to the mesquite smoker near the Smith Building, aromatically nearby the plant sale!

Have you joined the Arboretum and become one of their annual members? If so, you are already aware of the special 20-percent savings which Arboretum members are entitled to during our seasonal plant sales each Spring and Fall.

Memberships begin at just $45 for a couple or $60 for a family.  Other great benefits include invitations to members-only events such as the star night astronomy parties each Fall and Spring. Each weekend during the plant sale arboretum staff horticulturists are available on weekend days to consult with our visitors about plant care. We stock a wide array of books about irrigation design and other topics... and all sizes of drought-tolerant trees, shrubs, vines, cacti, succulents and plants to browse and bring home to landscape and beautify your yard or garden.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum is located at highway 60 milepost #223 near the historic copper mining town of Superior; 20 miles due East of Gold Canyon.

Daily hours in October are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The annual Fall Plant Sale is a fundraising event that supports programs of Boyce Thompson Arboretum; therefore, admission fees are requested even if the purpose of the visit is simply to buy plants during this event.

IF YOU GO....

WHAT: Annual Fall Plant Sale

WHERE: Boyce Thompson Arboretum at highway 60 milepost #223 near the historic copper mining town of Superior; just 20 miles due east of Gold Canyon

WHEN: Continues daily during business hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. through Sunday, October 21

HOW MUCH: $7.50 adult admission ($3 ages 5-12) to enter the grounds, even if the visit is simply to buy plants during the plant sale event

FMI: listen to an updated recording about tours or events by calling 520.689.2811; to check with their staff about whether specific plants are available please call 520-689-2723 during business hours daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.