Butterflies at Boyce

If cooler temperatures aren't enough reason to drive north to Boyce Thompson Arboretum during the hot summer months, the butterflies may tempt you. If you stroll the trails at this time of year, you're likely to see recently hatched Queens, Cabbage Whites and Pipevine Swallowtails.

Gardeners wishing to attract these colorful species to their backyards can take home "Desert Butterfly Gardening," a 32-page booklet listing dozens of species of plants and the butterflies that depend upon them for food and habitat. This $2.25 booklet is packed with colorful photos to help you learn to distinguish a Pipevine Swallowtail from a Southern Dogface, as well as landscaping advice and schematics explaining how to plant your yard to attract these colorful visitors. Come see mature varieties of these plants at the Arboretum's beautiful Hummingbird-Butterfly Garden, and bring home a copy of this excellent primer to help start your own collection.

Arboretum admission is $6 for adults, $3 for ages 5-12. For details, call 520-689-2811 or visit their website at http://arboretum.ag.arizona.edu.

Maricopa County Master Gardener Volunteer Information
Last Updated July 28, 2003
Author: Lucy K. Bradley, Extension Agent Urban Horticulture, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County
© 1997 The University of Arizona, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cooperative Extension in Maricopa County
Comments to Maricopa-hort@ag.arizona.edu 4341 E. Broadway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85040,
Voice: (602) 470-8086 ext. 301, Fax (602) 470-8092