In collaboration with the Center for Creative Photography (CCP) and the Laboratory of Tree Ring Research (LTRR) as a component of their joint Trees Stir In Their Leaves Exhibit in Spring 2022, the Campus Arboretum presents Photo Walks Around the World. This mobile self-guided tour includes 15 stops at visually, culturally and scientifically interesting plants from 3 geographic regions. Three "branches" of the tour connect participants walking across campus from CCP to LTRR as if travelling through Southwestern North America (#1-5); South America (#6-10); or the Mediterranean (#11-15). Participants may complete the tour at the beginning of each branch (tour stops 1, 6, or 11) and are encouraged to loop back to CCP at the end of the first branch, to complete the other two branches in turn. Offline, printable versions of the Southwest North America and South America branches of the photowalks are available using the links below.
Tours and Events
Learn the history and the heritage of Arizona's oldest University. Follow our guides as they show you beautiful places and tell you fascinating facts about the growth and development of the University, and how it came out of the sands of the Sonoran Desert to become the jewel of Arizona!
When the University of Arizona was established as a Land Grant Institute in 1891, Dr. James Toumey, a botanist for the Agricultural Experiment Station on campus, recognized the educational value of the native vegetation that evolved in the Sonoran Desert over tens of thousands of years. As such, he started a cactus display garden that, eventually became what we now know as the Joseph Wood Krutch (pronounced KROOCH) Garden. In the 120 years since the genesis of the University and its cactus garden, the University’s practices have advanced to reflect current and evolving understandings of and attitudes toward landscaping and the natural environment. Join the Campus Arboretum docents for this tour to learn more about the ecology and ethnobotany of many Sonoran native plants.
For more than a century the campus landscape has served as testing grounds for arid-adapted trees, supplying the Campus Arboretum with a collection of unusual but delightful specimens. Trees around the World features some of these unique trees and describes their native uses and interesting folklore.
This tour originated as a brilliant idea of an (undoubtedly hungry) undergraduate student, and has been customized for the benefit of all locovores. Join us to learn the identities of trees and plants with edible products which grow well in our campus landscape. The tour features arid-adapted introduced species as well as Sonoran desert native plants.
Plants have been used for centuries to treat and remedy all sorts of ailments; on this tour you will learn about some of the Sonoran Native medicinal plants found here on campus and the current science confirming their therapeutic properties for human health.
This self-guided tour showcases all sponsored trees on campus featuring the inscription for each tribute plaque. Donor contributions provide sole support for Campus Arboretum educational and outreach programs, student training and research projects that promote awareness of sustainable land management and development. Donations also provide needed resources that support professional development and training of grounds personnel, provide for special preservation of existing trees, and expand tree collections and programs.
This tour showcases all donated benches on campus. Donor contributions provide sole support for Campus Arboretum educational and outreach programs, student training and research projects that promote awareness of sustainable land management and development. Donations also provide needed resources that support professional development and training of grounds personnel, provide for special preservation of existing trees, and expand tree collections and programs.
Virtual Tours - We have provided virtual tree tours here. See photos and descriptions of plants from the comfort of your home! Learn more about the virtual tree tours here.
Blooming Tours - The campus provides plants that bloom throughout all of the Sonoran desert's five seasons. Experience and learn about plants in bloom through this virtual tour. Learn more about the plants in bloom here.
Mobile Tours - You may also wish to take a self-guided tour using your mobile device. Learn more about mobile tree tours here.
Other Self-Guided Tours - Self-guided tour booklets can be printed from the links found in many tour descriptions. Return to the main tree tour page to explore each by clicking here.
