A Desert Garden

On Saturday, we drove about 35 miles east on Highway #60 to near Superior to see the Boyce Thompson Arboretum.  In 1923, Colonel William Boyce Thompson came to this area to oversee a copper mine that he had just purchased. Trying to escape the heat of the town, he began to build a winter  home in this valley near Picketpost Mountain. As the years went by, he added to his gardens while keeping it as natural as possible with pathways around the magma rock outcroppings and along Queen Creek.

Children's garden with flowers in all the colours of the rainbow.

Cactus garden looking toward Picketpost Mountain. The temperature got to 88F but there was a cloud overcast and a breeze so it was quite comfortable.
Humidity was only 9%!

Reflections on Ayers Lake - made by damming Queen Creek.

Well, indeed! We stayed back but further along the trail - at two different points, we saw rattlesnakes - one slithered into the grass in front of us and the other was just off the side of the path. This warm weather brings them out to sun and warm up on the rocks. We watch closely the sides of the trail as we are hiking.

The suspension bridge gives one an opportunity to hike along the High Trail or take the lower easier trail to the herb garden and the Australian area.
We chose the High Trail.

In a grove of eucalyptus trees, this is known as Mr Big. Planted as a sapling in 1928, the Red Gum eucalyptus  tree has grown to 8' around and 100' tall.

There was even a labyrinth nestled in the eucalyptus grove - a wonderful contemplative walk in a fragrant forest.

The wildflower garden

The aloe vera plant is blooming

 

 An arbour created by a huge Lady Bank's Rose plant - earlier this afternoon, there was a wedding here in the garden and the bride met her groom under the arbour!