KEY TO THE GOOD LIFE { from the road } Boyce Thompson Arboretum is one of the oldest botanical institutions west of the Mississippi River. Rejoice! BOYCE! Experience the beauty of the Arizona desert at Boyce Thompson Arboretum LISA PAGEL I Associate Publisher MAR/APR 2022 | 40 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA

W ondrous is the best word to describe the peaceful, well-manicured and extensive landscape of Boyce Thompson Arboretum and Wallace Desert Garden. Located 60 miles east of Phoenix on Route 60, BTA offers visitors an unmatched experience in an exceptional setting. The arboretum was founded in 1924 by William Boyce Thompson, a mining magnate who recognized the importance of plants to our environment and personal health. BTA encompasses 343 acres and features nearly 5 miles of hiking trails. The gardens are the oldest and largest botanical gardens in metro Phoenix, and the nonprofit offers tours, classes, birding and special events throughout the year. Driving east through the Tonto National Forest, you will enjoy the striking, unspoiled Sonoran Desert and its rolling fields of saguaro, cholla, ocotillo, palo verde, prickly pear and much more. The arboretum and gardens are perfectly situated along Queen Creek and Silver King Wash and sit in the shadow of Magma Ridge. The latest addition to BTA is the Wallace Desert Garden, named for Henry Browne Wallace. Opened in 2020, it surrounds Queen Creek and occupies 13 acres, with more than 5,000 plantings. Particularly impressive are the diversity of the garden and how well-marked the trails are with signage for every plant species. Directional signage is excellent, and the route is wheelchair accessible. Just a few of the plant varieties you will encounter are Moroccan mound, agave, aloe, juniper, myrtle and creosote bushes. A large rose garden, recently pruned, will bring more color and FRONTDOORS MEDIA | 41 | MAR/APR 2022