BOYCE THOMPSON SOUTHWESTERN ARBORETUM

The boyce thompson southwestern arboretum (btsa) is arizona's oldest and largest botanical institution. It was established in 1924 by the founder of magma mining company, william boyce thompson, for the purpose of "instilling in people an appreciation of plants." btsa is now visited by over 120,000 people annually.located an hour east of arizona's state capital, btsa covers 350 acres with 135 acres of cultivated gardens from deserts around the world encompassing 4,025 taxa and 20,000 plants.btsa's activities were cooperatively managed by boyce thompson southwestern arboretum, inc., arizona state parks, and the university of arizona; that arrangement ceased to exist by the close of fiscal year 2019. Btsa is now managed solely by the nonprofit btsa.