Carolyn Baecker

Boyce Thompson Arboretum is a nonprofit scientific institution and living museum dedicated to the conservation, research, and public education of desert plants and ecosystems. The private company is based in Superior, AZ. The arboretum features extensive gardens spanning over 135 acres with around 20,000 plants representing more than 4,000 taxa from arid regions worldwide, including specialized collections such as the Wallace Desert Garden and the Desert Legume Program, which preserves legume biodiversity through seed banking and research. It supports about 275 bird species and offers guided bird walks, specialty tours, seasonal events, educational programs, workshops, and family-friendly activities to promote environmental stewardship and awareness of desert biodiversity. The facility includes nearly five miles of paths and trails through plant exhibits from 11 of the world's deserts, a native riparian habitat, and specialty gardens. The company was founded in 1924 by William Boyce Thompson.