Tohono Chul

09/04/2026

Something new is taking root at Tohono Chul!

Our brand-new Adaptive Arboretum is a living landscape designed to explore how thoughtful tree choices can help create a cooler, healthier, and more resilient future for our desert community.

And what better way to experience it for the first time than with a cold local b**r in hand?

Join us Saturday, October 3 for the very first Arboretum on Tap, an afternoon of exploring the new garden, enjoying local b**rs, wood-fired pizza from Family Joint Pizza, live DJs, and plenty of shade.

Free with Admission | Free for Members | Children Under 2 Free

🌳This is a recurring event! Arboretum on Tap will be taking place the first Saturday of the Month from October–May.

09/04/2026

This is your sign to figuratively touch grass this long weekend! 🌵

Close your laptop. Put your phone down. Wander down the scenic paths at Tohono Chul.

Our summer hours are 7am-2pm until September 7th.

09/03/2026

You might have noticed an uptick in winged critters fluttering through Tucson’s skies lately! These lil guys are American snout butterflies (Libytheana carinenta), making their way across the Southwest following our summer rains. 🦋

The American snout gets its name from the long, snout-like palps extending from its head. Measuring about 1.5 inches across, it has orange-and-brown upper wings with squared-off tips, while the underside resembles a dead leaf when its wings are closed. After periods of heavy rain, population bursts trigger massive migrations across the Southwest and Texas.

American snout caterpillars rely on native hackberries as host plants, including desert hackberry (Celtis pallida) and netleaf hackberry (Celtis reticulata). Both species grow throughout Tohono Chul, with several located near the Butterfly Garden and Performance Garden. One particularly striking netleaf hackberry can be found in the Desert Living Courtyard near the Education Center.

Want to add some hackberry to your own desert garden? Desert Corner Nursery currently has several netleaf hackberries available in 1-gallon and 5-gallon sizes in the outdoor tree section. Plant one in your yard to support the next generation of American snouts! 🌿

09/01/2026

Early Bird tickets for Terruño: Flavors of the Desert are on sale now for just $125! 🍷

Join us Sunday, November 8 | 4–7 PM for Terruño: Flavors of the Desert, presented in partnership with Tucson City of Gastronomy.

Enjoy expertly paired tastings from some of Tucson’s finest chefs and Arizona winemakers, all among the lush gardens of Tohono Chul.

Featured Chefs:
David Marks, Tohono Chul Garden Bistro
Ryan Clark, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort
Devon Sanner, S&P
Travis Peters, S&P
Ramon Delgado, Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort
John Martinez, Tito & Pep

Featured W**eries:
Callaghan Vineyards
Deep Sky Vineyard
Twisted Union W**e Company
Laramita Cellars
Pillsbury W**e Company
Sonoran W**es

🎟️ Save $25 with Early Bird pricing through September 14! Regular admission: $150 starting September 15.

Tickets here: https://bit.ly/terruno-fall

08/29/2026

Meet a desert bloom with a few surprises! The Sonoran Spider Lily (Hymenocallis sonorensis) gets its name from its blooms made up of six narrow, curved petals surrounding a shallow cup formed by fused stamens, giving this unique flower its signature spider-like shape.

Related to amaryllis and growing from bulbs tucked underground, this Sonoran Desert native likes to keep its feet wet and can be found growing along streams and other moist spots.

See if you can spot the Sonoran Spider Lily on your next walk through the gardens.

08/28/2026

One last summer night at the Chul! 🌵

Join us tonight from 6–9PM for Chillin’ at the Chul. Live music by Garrett James & The Wanderers, drinks and bites from the Bistro, and plenty of family-friendly fun.

Here’s what’s happening:

-Silent Adventures AZ at 7PM
Adults $15 | Children $5

- Paint & Sip with TJ’s Paint Parties from 6:30–8:30PM
Adults $40 | Children $20

-Bitty & Beau’s Coffee will be on site!

🎟️ Members: Free
General Public: $5
Kids under 2: Free

Bring your friends and family, see you tonight.

08/24/2026

Meep meep! You might know it from cartoons, but the real Greater Roadrunner is even more fascinating.

These desert-dwelling birds can reach speeds of up to 20 mph, have uniquely X-shaped footprints to disguise their direction, and take down prey such as scorpions, lizards, and rattlesnakes.

Keep an eye out for them as you explore the gardens and trails!

08/21/2026

What happens in the Sonoran Desert at dusk?

As day gives way to night, light shifts, temperatures change, creatures emerge, and the landscape takes on an entirely different mood.

SONORAN HOURGLASS: Behold the Gloaming Crepuscular explores these subtle and dramatic movements of time through the desert via the rhythms of air, landscape, plants, creatures, earth, and cosmos.
This exhibit is on display now through November 8th in the Exhibit House Main Gallery.

Join us for the curator’s talks on August 25th & 27th at 10 AM (free with admission).

Send a message to learn more