Weekend Bird Walks November 21 and 22 at 8:30 a.m.
Walks Continue November 21 and 22, also December 6
Rufous-backed Robin, Cassin's Vireo and Green-tailed Towhee were reported
over the past week. Sharpen your bird identification skills Saturday on a
guided bird walks with photographer Rich Ditch and also Cindy West November
21 at 8:30 a.m. Or visit Sunday, November 22, and learn birding skills with
Marceline Vandewater. Our 2009 bird walk series concludes with a special Sunday
walk December 6 featuring Scottsdale author and Photographer
Jim Burns leading our season finale bird walk at 8:30 a.m. That same
morning we have an 11:00 a.m. slideshow and presentation of "The Birds
of India" with Anand Arya. The avid bird photographer and coordinator
of the Delhi Bird Group describes his presentation as "Birds of India
and Indian Sub-continent - A colorful contingent comprising over 1,300 species
which abound in all habitats: plains, desert, mountain, water, swamps -- birds
found at the 600 protected areas, sanctuaries and national parks. The 8:30
bird walk and 11:00 slideshow/lecture are included with daily admission of
$7.50.
Recent Bird Checklist Reports
Plants of the Bible Guided Walk November 21
November 21, Saturday, at 1:30 then again December 6 and December
19
Learn about botany, history and scripture on this slow-paced and relaxing
Saturday walk down smooth and flat trails that are wheelchair-accessible.
Bible scholar and Mesa resident David Oberpriller leads the walk on the third
Saturday each month during the fall and winter; Arboretum volunteer Leda Fide
guides on the first Sunday of each month -- and her next one will be December
6.
Palms, figs and pomegranates are Plants
of the Bible.
Edible and Medicinal Desert Plants Guided Walk November
22
November 22 at 1:30 p.m., then again December 12 and December 27
Ethno-botanist and Choctaw Tribal Nation member Dave Morris return as our
special guest tour guide November 22, sharing his knowledge about desert plants
which have fed, healed and clothed Sonoran desert peoples for more than a
thousand years. Dave's guided walk lasts about an hour. Apache Junction authors
Jean Groen and Don Wells will guide this walk again December 12; don't hurry
to leave when their walk ends -- Jean usually shares homemade desert edible
snacks back in the visitor center following her guided tour -- and following
the December 12 walk Arboretum Volunteer Robert Lewis will be cooking up his
popular mesquite flour waffles to share, with homemade pomegranate syrup!
** Please note: this tour explores the Curandero Trail, which has steep sections
that are not suitable for visitors who use wheelchairs or walkers.
Read more about jojoba, creosote and prickly
pears
Photography Workshops -- November and December
Fall Foliage walking tour classes November 28 and 29, Maggie Leef Field
Study, Basic Camera Settings and PhotoShop November 4 and 5.
Learn Autumn Foliage photography techniques from Gilbert fine art photographer
Bob Estrin on Thanksgiving Weekend with a class Saturday November 28 from
12-3 p.m. Then on Sunday Scottsdale painter/photographer Paul Kinslow will
teach a class from 9:00 a.m. til 1:00 p.m.
Read more about these photography classes
December 4 and 5 (Friday and Saturday) Springerville artist Maggie Leef returns
to teach a weekend's worth of photography with two "field study"
sessions, one "basic photography" class, and a PhotoShop session.
Field study classes will be mostly outdoors, and taught Friday morning and
also Saturday afternoon. "Basic Camera Settings and Applications"
will be in the classroom Friday afternoon, and the three-hour PhotoShop class
is December 5, Saturday morning. Cost is $30 for Arboretum annual members,
$37.50 for non-members for the Field Study and Basic Camera classes. The PhotoShop
software class is $45 for members, $52.50 nonmembers. Enroll with a call to
our staff at 520-689-2723.
Read more about these photography classes
Fall Foliage Finale -- Thanksgiving Weekend
November 28 and 29 from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. both weekend
days
Aspen and maple leaves have fallen in Arizona's high country by mid-November,
but the true grand finale of autumn foliage in Arizona is right here at the
Arboretum this month, with peak color typically during Thanksgiving weekend.
Invite family and visiting guests for a picnic and to celebrate autumn color
in our famous pistachio grove with spiced apple cider, live guitar and cedar
flute music, photography classes and other activities. Want
proof of our breathtaking color? Check out the gallery of autumn images
on our website! http://ag.arizona.edu/BTA/whatsnew/fallfoliage.html
"The Arboretum
Rocks!" -- geology walking tour November 28
November 28 at 1:30 p.m.
Our geology tour teaches about some of the rocks and volcanic formations seen
along the main trail -- and will span almost two billion years of geologic
history in just over one educational hour! Join us to learn about Pinal schist,
the volcanic origins of Picket Post Mountain and the Apache Leap tuff with
. Come learn about the rocks that make this region one of the world's
richest in copper and how an active geologic past shaped the landscape we
see today. Alternate month's tours are lead by ASU
Professor Steve Semken
Plein Air Fall Color Paint-Out November 29
November 29, Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Bring your drop-cloth, brushes and easel. Glorious autumn foliage is at peak
around Thanksgiving weekend here at the Arboretum. This artists' invitational
arranged in collaboration with Arizona State Parks coincides with our annual
Fall Foliage Finale Festival. For a complete list of plein air events sponsored
by Arizona State Parks all around the Grand Canyon State, check out http://azstateparks.com/find/pleinair.html
Bring your art supplies and capture garden scenes or desert panoramas on canvas
alongside members of the Mesa Art League and Arizona Plein Air Painters. Check
out these plein air scenes posted at t http://ag.arizona.edu/BTA/pleinairpainters.html
November - December
Gallery Exhibit
Gallery show continues through November 30
Photography by Chandler artist Margaret
Whittaker are featured this month in our Visitor Center Gallery and
may be seen during regular public hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In December
the gallery will feature art works by Barbara
Cox, and her meet-the-artist gallery opening celebration will be Saturday
December 5. In January the gallery features paintings
by Nancy Matus.
Mata Ortiz Pottery Weekend December 5 and 6
December 5 and 6 with sales from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. both days,
pottery firings at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Just in time for holiday gift shopping -- we offer the chance to meet a few
famous ceramic artists in person when they visit this weekend from the village
of Mata Ortiz, Mexico. Back by popular demand and for a third year in a row,
Oscar Trevizo and friends will bring a variety of intricate, unique, artistic
handmade pots. Unique, collectible ceramics will be available for purchase
all weekend, and artists will demonstrate their craft with traditional outdoors
firings at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Artisans to be represented should include
Noe Quezada (son of legendary Mata Ortiz ceramic artist Juan) and his wife
Betty Quezada. Come see some of the newest works, paints and styles of Mata
Ortiz pottery art!
Sunday History Walk December
20 at 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, November 15, from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Did you know the Arboretum once included a homesteader's stone "cave
house?" Ever wonder how BTA founder Colonel William Boyce Thompson came
to build this garden in the desert? Phoenix resident and history enthusiast
Sylvia Lee has been researching Arboretum history for several years, and will
lead a walking tour lasting about an hour and sharing anecdotes from the colorful
seven-decade history of the Arboretum. Her 10:30 a.m. tour is included with
regular adult admission of $7.50 (or $3 for ages 5-12).
Sunday Tree Tour with Terry
Mikel December 20 at 1:30
November 15, Sunday, at 1:30 p.m. and again December 20
"What's an Arboretum?" Terry Mikel is our special guest as tour
guide for a Sunday walk where visitors learn the answer to that often-posed
question during a relaxed and leisurely guided tour through the forested areas
of the Arboretum. Join us for a chance to learn about the towering sycamore
and cottonwood trees, native hackberry, mesquite and many more. Note: from
September-through-April this tour recurs every third Sunday each month at
1:30 p.m.
Tom Boggan Photography Walk-A-Bout December
20
December 20, Sunday -- 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
East Valley Tribune photographer Tom Boggan returns with his popular once-a-month
"Photography Walk-a-bout" workshop. Boggan has a talent for portraits
and a passion for nature photography at Boyce Thompson Arboretum, where he
volunteers his time helping visitors improve their camera skills. Each month
he leads an informal outdoor class teaching basic photography skills including
composition, lighting and exposure -- and offering a chance for one-on-one
time helping students understand the dials and settings on their cameras.
Check
out this gallery of images Tom and students posted.
Workshops are limited to ten students, and pre-payment of $27.50 is required
($20 for BTA annual members).
To enroll by phone have your credit card ready and call Arboretum staff at
520-689-2723.
Christmas Bird Count December 26
December 26 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cynthia Donald coordinates the Audubon Society's annual Christmas Bird Count
for the Arboretum and this region, which includes teams canvassing the Oak
Flat campground, town of Superior, Queen Creek upstream of the Arboretum,
Picketpost Mountain, Hewitt Station Road and Whitlow Dam near Queen Valley,
the westernmost edge of the census circle. Know your Sonoran desert birds?
Join a Christmas Bird
Count team and help make this year's census the most thorough yet
-- volunteers are needed for CBCs across the state -- to help with ours contact
Cynthia Donald by phone at 480-283-4515 or by email to planres@earthlink.net
Homeschool Days: January 6, February 5, March 10, April 9
Each school year we invite homeschool families to gather and experience
Arboretum education programs. January 6 (Wednesday) at 10:00 a.m. we offer
Plants of the Bible, February 5 (Friday) at 10:00 is The Arizona Tour, March
10 (Wednesday) participants are offered the "Trees" tour at 10:00
a.m. and the final homeschool day will be April 9 (Friday) with "Plants
of the Bible" tour at 10 a.m. Pre-payment is required, families are asked
to reserve a spot no later than two weeks prior to each tour by calling 520-689-2723
or else emailing Education Coordinator Lacey Pacheco lpacheco@Ag.arizona.edu
Australia Day January 23, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Join us for a "virtual day in the land down under" as Australian
folklorist Paul Taylor spins stories, poems, and tales. Boyce Thompson Arboretum
is home to one of the largest collections of Australian plants in the country.
Arboretum staff and volunteers will give tours of the Australian walkabout
trail and explain the wonders of the giant eucalyptus and gum trees at
11:00 a.m. Paul Taylor's concert in the eucalyptus grove begins at 1:30 p.m.
