Hello! Glenn with the Cactus Atlas in Superior, Arizona
about to explore the historic Boyce Thompson Arboretum.
Why don't we kick off with a little bit of history to starting out this one?
Starting. That ain't a word. But ain't is!
[Amy] William Boyce Thompson was a mining operator, financier and philanthropist
responsible for creating the Boyce Thompson Arboretum.
Born in Montana in 1869, Thompson took an interest in mining
and would move between Montana and New York City purchasing mines and
making his fortune in mining stock investments.
One such purchase, Magma Mine located in Arizona was a great success
producing upwards of 24 million tonnes during its lifetime.
Falling in love with the landscape, Thompson chose the hills nearby to build a new home
to retire to with his family in the winter months.
He called this home the Picket Post Mansion named after the nearby Picketpost Mountain.
After a land exchange with the Forest Service he came to own the 400 acres surrounding Picket Post House.
Thompson wanted to utilize a portion of the land to create an arboretum
specializing in the studies of desert plants.
Thompson would pass away in 1930, however, in 1976 the arboretum became part of
the Arizona State Park system.
Today the Boyce Thompson Arboretum is the largest west of the Mississippi
seeing on average anywhere between 75 and 100 thousand visitors per year.
With over 2600 species of arid land plants from around the world visitors will have plenty to see.
Currently at the time of this video the admission is fifteen dollars for adults
and is open from six a.m to three pm in summer and eight a.m to five p.m during winter.
The arboretum is located one hour southeast from downtown Phoenix off Highway 60.
Alright, so Boyce Thompson Arboretum.
Take a really awesome botanical garden, like a desert botanical garden or arboretum,
stick in some beautiful craggly desert rocks and scenery...
You got a really special place here.
Just around almost any corner you run into magnificent cacti and desert plants from around the world.
Quite literally.
So I'm here on a Saturday afternoon in the spring of 2021. The day before Easter Sunday in fact.
I wasn't quite sure what the crowds would be like. I've never been here before.
It's a little warm this afternoon, in the low 90s,
but there's lots of shade here as you can see
and I think I called it right. There's really very few people so far.
Right off the bat this reminds me a lot of the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
down in the Tucson area.
Amy and I visited that years ago now. A couple years ago.
We actually made a video there, in fact, and we'll put a link in the description down below to that.
But one thing that didn't have that this has is some of that really beautiful scenery behind here.
I think this one might be winning the race in my opinion.
These here are Golden Barrel Cacti.
They're beautiful and we've got some of these in my yard at home actually.
Probably three or four I'd like to guess.
Apparently they're not cheap. I didn't put them in.
The previous owner of my home did
but they've been there for well over a decade and they still seem to be kicking.
It's kind of like a miniature labyrinth back here. A labyrinth of cacti.
I'm surrounded as you can see and boy is it beautiful.
The thing I really like about these kind of places isn't really the science of plants.
I mean it's interesting to an extent for me but I'm no botanist I think I've said that before.
I just love the peace and serenity that these kind of habitats offer.
They never seem to be crowded at least when I come
and just always... just absolutely pristine
except for a chainsaw here off in the distance.
Other than that it's pretty dang quiet.
Here's the Boojum.
I think this is found in Baja California.
They have such a stout thick body and small little arms
hence why it reminds me of a T-Rex.
I always thought those things would make a good Christmas tree.
Like a Christmas tree alternative. Maybe something like this size here.
That might be more practical in our house than this one.
I believe the main part of the experience here... and this is my first time mind you but
it seems to be this main trail, this loop trail, goes around the entire property
and then there are many other paths, like capillaries, that just kind of
fork out from the main trail so you could see plant exhibits and catch some really awesome views.
I'm standing on the shores of mighty Lake Ayer.
This is quite a beautiful landscape out here.
I love the contrast of, like, the lush habitats, the trees then the desert
and then, of course, now water to fill it all in. Right on.
I decided to come over to this little, like, shaded area here. This little pavilion thing.
I think I found a turtle. You see that?
[Music and nature sounds
So if you had a suspicion that this is not a naturally occurring lake
here in the middle of the desert, you'd be correct.
This was actually built in 1925 to serve as like a big irrigation tank basically
for the arboretum. Very impressive engineering now.
There's some kind of large crane-like or heron-like creature perched on that rock over there.
Soaking up some rays. Enjoying the cool breeze off that little lake.
You got the right idea my friend.
I rather enjoyed Lake Ayer. I spent quite a bit of time over there just enjoying it.
A family thought of the same idea.
Looks like they brought a cooler and we're having a little picnic there in the shade by the lake.
Swell idea.
Just some friendly words of advice. Bring sunscreen.
Because much of this area is exposed to the sun.
In a pretty major way. I mean look around and you can see not always a lot of trees.
Although there are some very nicely shaded areas too so a nice balance.
Here's a little glimpse of Lake Ayer and then Picket Post Mountain in the background.
I have a goal to climb that.
Probably not now as it's getting hotter but maybe next year when it cools off.
Looks like we're starting to climb in elevation.
I see a man-made structure. I think that's the Picketpost House.
That's where we're actually going now.
I believe the main trail is about a mile and a half long the main loop
but I believe overall there's about five miles of trails and paths that interweave through here.
and I believe it seeing all the little spur trails and little coves you can kind of...
little hidden places you can find stuff. I totally believe it.
I'd say that's pretty effective. You ain't got to tell me twice.
Mm-mmm. Not messing with that.
Just look at that backdrop here at Boyce Thompson.
No wonder Mr Thompson was drawn to this area.
[Music]
So it does appear that the Picketpost House is off limit so
Looks like we're about to descend quite a ways.
I believe down to the bottom of this canyon where I think we'll find Queen Creek.
Maybe we'll see running water today. It's quite possible as green as it is down there.
I would say so far this is the steepest part.
It's been very flat but this is a very easy to manage trail.
Very clear of obstructions.
Not suitable for some folks with accessibility needs but I think most can get this done.
Here's a quick check to show you.
You know, once again started way over there. Walked over there. There's Lake Ayer.
Came around there and we're over here now about to head back down
back around hopefully through the shade most of the time.
You can see we've come down even further now. Down to the base.
Pretty much all the way down I'd say.
Looks like this trail is going to follow Queen Creek and I'm going to imagine it's probably going to be
pretty shady on this part of the walk since we're so close to the creek.
At least that's my hope.
[Music and water sounds]
Just be persistent and you'll find a nice bench with shade.
Look at this beautiful little area back here.
It's actually nice and cool down here in this little area.
Ah. After walking around in the sun up there for that a little bit of time...
More than a little bit of time. Maybe an hour and a half or so. This is very welcome. Very quiet.
This is a fun little pathway hugging this cliffside here.
See? They toss in a little bit of adventure here into the arboretum fare. I like it.
So far there's a lot of variety.
I mean you've got the arboretum...
kind of botanical garden and then you come down here and you've got a lot of, like, bird habitat,
shade, a lot of cool geology to look at, amazing views of the other side of the valley...
I mean come on. This is amazing.
Ah suspension bridge! How cool!
We're walking over Queen Creek now. Look at the water flowing.
What a view!
[squeaking]
So why do suspension bridges just bring out the immaturity in people immediately? I tell you what.
[Music]
I didn't see as many flowering plants as I thought I would at this time of the year.
I know Arizona has had a very dry past year so wildflowers haven't really bloomed too much this year.
There are a few, don't get me wrong, but not quite as vibrant as I thought it was going to be.
I didn't base that off of any fact. I was just surmising and I surmised wrong.
This interesting stone structure behind me is the Clevenger House.
I believe we can actually go inside and take a peek.
So apparently this was a home for people in the early 1900s.
Robert Clevenger and his family were homesteaders in this area
and they left this area in the early 1920s.
To me this looks like the actual rock, the actual cliff,
on this side winding around this way
and they built these artificial walls around it using the actual cliff as part of the structure.
In fact you could see up there where the...
assuming concrete or plaster or something ends and kind of unevenly wraps around there.
That's really cool.
Very clever, Mr Clevenger. Very clever.
There are quite a few surprises in this little part of the arboretum.
This is a... this is a highlight. I really enjoy this Clevenger House
I want to say I heard or watched somebody else's channel that said that five people lived in this small house.
I guess people back then didn't spend as much time indoors as we do today so I guess maybe
you could tolerate people better.
Probably just came back here to cool off and eat and sleep.
Well, there you have it. Boyce Thompson Arboretum.
Absolutely worthy of a day trip if you're from the Phoenix or Tucson area
and even if you're not, this is an amazing place.
I can't wait to come back sometime.
[Music]