机构概况
鲍伊·汤普森植物园（Boyce Thompson Arboretum，简称BTA）是美国亚利桑那州最古老、规模最大的植物园，也是密西西比河以西最古老的植物机构之一。植物园位于索诺兰沙漠腹地，傍依女王溪（Queen Creek），坐落在皮基特波斯特山（Picketpost Mountain）脚下的火山岩峭壁之间。园区面积达392英亩（约159公顷），隶属亚利桑那州立公园系统，同时受三方协议约束，由亚利桑那大学、亚利桑那州立公园与鲍伊·汤普森研究所共同管理。自1924年建立以来，植物园始终践行其使命：通过教育、研究和保护，激励人们欣赏和守护沙漠植物、野生物种与生态系统。
历史沿革
植物园由著名矿业工程师威廉·鲍伊·汤普森（William Boyce Thompson，1869-1930）创立。汤普森在铜矿行业积累财富后，于1920年代初在苏必利尔镇附近建造了冬季住宅”皮基特波斯特之家”。1924年，他出资创立鲍伊·汤普森植物研究院（位于纽约扬克斯，后迁至康奈尔大学），同时在亚利桑那州建立植物园。1927年，鲍伊·汤普森西南植物园正式注册为非营利机构，成为亚利桑那州第一个非营利性科研机构。1929年园区向公众开放。1976年签署三方协议后，植物园并入亚利桑那州立公园体系，同年被列入国家历史遗迹名录。1979年起，园区开始出版学术期刊《沙漠植物》（Desert Plants）。
植物收藏
植物园收藏来自美国、墨西哥、澳大利亚、马达加斯加、印度、中国、日本、以色列、南美、中东、非洲、地中海和阿拉伯半岛等地区的2600余种干旱区植物。园区拥有三项国家级认证收藏：桉树收藏（2018年认证，93个分类群，包括1920年代种植的”大树先生”Mr. Big，是美国最大的桉树之一）；沙漠豆科收藏（2014年认证的国际种子库，含1413种，已存入全球种子金库）；西南橡树收藏（2012年认证，涵盖美国西南部和墨西哥的橡树物种）。此外，澳大利亚收藏（39科93属321种）、芦荟收藏（217种817株，约占世界已知芦荟半数）和麻黄收藏（11种北美观测物种）均属世界前列。
园区特色
园区拥有访客中心、礼品店、研究办公室、温室、示范花园和野餐区。主径约1.5英里，带领游客穿越各类展览区和自然区域。主要展览包括仙人掌园、棕榈与桉树林、澳大利亚区、南美区、芦荟园和香草园。支线步道包括奇瓦瓦步道、库兰德罗步道和高地步道。园区地处女王溪的河岸带（riparian zone），是索诺兰沙漠野生物的重要栖息地，已记录270种鸟类，被奥杜邦协会评为”重要鸟类保护区”。游客可观测到山猫、野猪、浣熊、响尾蛇、吉拉怪物、老鹰、蜂鸟和秃鹫等动物。
参观信息
植物园位于亚利桑那州苏必利尔镇以东约3英里，60号美国公路旁，从菲尼克斯向东约1小时车程。园区每日开放（具体时间请查询官网），收取门票，停车便利。园区内禁止吸烟、禁止进入花圃、禁止举办婚礼和招待会，摄影和小型野餐（10人以内）允许。游客可下载园区地图自行游览，或预约导览服务。植物园是亚利桑那州立公园系统的一部分，持年卡游客可免费入园。
Overview
Boyce Thompson Arboretum (BTA) is the oldest and largest botanical garden in Arizona, and one of the oldest botanical institutions west of the Mississippi River. Located in the heart of the Sonoran Desert along Queen Creek and beneath the volcanic remnant Picketpost Mountain, the arboretum spans 392 acres (159 hectares) and is managed under a tri-partite agreement between the University of Arizona, Arizona State Parks, and the Boyce Thompson Institute. Since its founding in 1924, BTA has been fulfilling its mission to inspire appreciation and stewardship of desert plants, wildlife, and ecosystems through education, research, and conservation.
History
The arboretum was founded by mining engineer William Boyce Thompson (1869–1930), who built his winter home “Picket Post House” near Superior, Arizona in the early 1920s after amassing a fortune in the copper industry. In 1924, he established the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research in Yonkers, New York (later relocated to Cornell University) and created the Boyce Thompson Arboretum on his Arizona property. In 1927, the Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum was officially incorporated as Arizona’s first non-profit research institution. The arboretum opened to the public on April 6, 1929. Following the Tri-Partite Agreement in 1976, it became part of the Arizona State Parks system and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The academic journal Desert Plants has been published by the arboretum since 1979.
Plant Collections
BTA’s living collection includes over 2,600 arid-land plant species from around the world, representing deserts of the United States, Mexico, Australia, Madagascar, India, China, Japan, Israel, South America, the Middle East, Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Arabian Peninsula. Three collections hold national accreditation: the Eucalyptus Collection (accredited 2018, 93 taxa including “Mr. Big,” one of the largest eucalyptus trees in the US); the Desert Legume Collection (accredited 2014, an internationally recognized seed bank of 1,413 species backed up at the Global Seed Vault in Svalbard); and the Southwest Oak Collection (accredited 2012, sourcing oaks from Arizona, New Mexico, west Texas, and Mexico). Notable collections include the Australian exhibit (39 families, 93 genera, 321 species), the Aloe Collection (217 species, 817 plants — nearly half the world’s known aloes), and one of the world’s largest New World Ephedra collections.
Gardens and Trails
The arboretum features a visitor center, gift shop, research offices, greenhouses, a demonstration garden, and a picnic area. The primary 1.5-mile trail loops through diverse exhibits and natural areas including a cactus garden, palm and eucalyptus groves, Australian and South American exhibits, an aloe garden, and an herb garden. Side trails include the Chihuahuan Trail, Curandero Trail, and High Trail. As a riparian zone along Queen Creek, the park provides critical habitat for Sonoran Desert wildlife — 270 bird species have been recorded, and the Audubon Society has designated BTA an Important Bird Area. Visitors may spot bobcats, javelinas, coatimundis, rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, hawks, hummingbirds, and vultures.
Visiting Information
BTA is located 3 miles west of Superior, Arizona on U.S. Highway 60, approximately one hour’s drive east of Phoenix. The arboretum is open daily (check the website for current hours) with an admission fee and ample parking. Smoking, entering planting beds, and hosting weddings or receptions are prohibited; photography and small-group picnics (under 10 people) are welcome. Self-guided maps are available for download, and guided tours can be arranged. Annual passes for Arizona State Parks are accepted. The gardens are accessible by public transit from Phoenix via regional bus services.
发表回复