The Arboretum at FlagstaffViews, Wildflowers and Birds Make This High Country Gardens a Tranquil Retreat Go to The Arboretum at Flagstaff sections: What Makes the Flagstaff Arboretum SpecialHidden just outside of Flagstaff, we discovered a high country sanctuary of cool, shady forests and sunny, flower-filled meadows.Though it's called an arboretum, this Flagstaff botanical garden is more than just trees.
The Arboretum at Flagstaff is famous for having one of the largest collections of high country wildflowers in the United States as well as over 2,500 species of high elevation plants. What makes this 200-acre Flagstaff botanical garden and nature preserve different from other Arizona botanical gardens? The Arboretum at Flagstaff specializes in plants found on the Colorado Plateau - that vast, open land of deep red rock canyons, forest-covered mountains and broad valleys that stretches over portions of Arizona, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico. We visited during a late August Arizona vacation. Here, at 7,150 feet, it was already the end of summer for the garden and everything was winding down as autumn approached the high country. The Arboretum is southwest of Flagstaff and surrounded by a beautiful swath of ponderosa pine forest. Driving along the unpaved road to the gardens - appropriately named Woody Mountain Road - we felt like we were a world away from the bustle of the busy college town. Here and there, the tall ponderosas opened up to suddenly reveal bright green meadows and gorgeous views of the nearby San Francisco Peaks. The air smelled fresh and fragrant in the way that only high country forests seem to - like the pines had scrubbed the air clean with their resinous scent. We stopped the car and heard only the sigh of the breeze through branches.
We love The Arboretum at Flagstaff for its colorful and serene gardens and its laid back atmosphere. It doesn’t have the structure of the formal gardens that one sees in botanical gardens in other parts of the U.S. Here, the diffuse plantings blend into one another, complimenting their natural surroundings. The Arboretum feels more like a nature preserve than a typical botanical garden, providing one of the most relaxing and tranquil settings in all of Flagstaff. However, we would like to see more identification signs for the plants and more educational displays about the gardens. By the time we visit again, such upgrades may already be in place. Currently, there is a $5 million, five-year improvement plan under way to revamp the main gardens, renovate the buildings and create new exhibits. While it takes a little time and effort to get there, The Arboretum at Flagstaff makes for a lovely, peaceful outing - not too far town - that’s worth the drive. History of The Arboretum at FlagstaffAt one time, The Arboretum at Flagstaff was a working cattle ranch owned by Frances and John McAllister.
Frances loved flowers and wanted to recreate her parents’ garden where she had spent many happy childhood days. Over the course of several years, she began to transform the ranch into the garden of her dreams. In 1981, Frances McAllister donated the 200 acres that the Arboretum now occupies. The beautiful basalt rock and wood visitor center was Frances' former home. What You'll See at the Flagstaff Botanical Garden
The Arboretum at Flagstaff’s winding, gravel paths lead through relaxed gardens and diffuse plantings of woodland plants, spring-flowering bulbs, wildflower meadows and native grasses. Several of the gardens are devoted to special themes. The Penstemon Garden showcases this colorful, tubular flower that attracts hummingbirds and hawkmoths to its abundant nectar. The Edible Garden is a great place to get ideas on how home gardeners can create colorful vegetable gardens by combining plantings of herbs, flowers and vegetables in one space. The Arboretum at Flagstaff’s instructive Water Conservation Garden teaches homeowners how to plant attractive home landscapes using low water use principles. Because you’re in a forest, conserving water may not seem necessary. However, water conservation is very important in areas like Flagstaff that have a dry climate subject to frequent droughts.
This garden demonstrates how homeowners can harvest water from the landscape, how to use native plants and how to grow plants in different zones - such as dry canyon, ephemeral stream and hot dry zone - each with its own unique environmental conditions. The Horticultural Center is a model of energy and resource conservation. It’s central feature is a passive solar greenhouse which primarily uses solar energy for heating. There is also a water harvesting system which collects rainwater and snowmelt in a 3,500 gallon underground cistern via the roof, gutters and rainspout. Other gardens include the Courtyard Garden, the Butterfly Garden, the Mixed Conifer Garden and the Shade Garden. Highlights of the Flagstaff ArboretumIf you visit in the middle of July, when there has been good summer monsoon rains, the Wildflower Meadow will be a blaze of spectacular color.
Look for native flowers such as blanketflower, scarlet gilia and lupines. Beebalm, thyme, feverfew and catnip will also be in full bloom in the Herb Garden. There are more than 200 species of cooking and medicinal herbs here. The bright colors, fragrance and nectar of these plants attract bees, hummingbirds and butterflies, making it a good spot for wildlife watchers. In the fall, The Arboretum at Flagstaff’s many quaking aspen, oak, ash, box elder and maple trees turn brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red. These groves provide some of the best autumn color in the state. Nature trails allow visitors to explore the native plant communities that occur around Flagstaff. We recommend taking the time to explore these trails as you’ll see spectacular views of the surrounding meadows, forests and the San Francisco Peaks. Favorite Feature at The Arboretum at Flagstaff
We think The Arboretum at Flagstaff is a great destination for wildlife watchers as birds and other animals abound on the property. We enjoyed watching golden-mantled ground squirrels, cottontail rabbits, Steller’s jays and northern flickers foraging during our visit to the gardens. Over 100 bird species that call the Arboretum home. Look for hairy woodpeckers and mountain chickadees near the ponderosa pine forests. You may hear the chickadees distinctive chick-adee-dee-dee call before you see them. The pond and riparian areas are good places to spot Cordilleran flycatchers, cliff swallows, belted kingfishers and yellow-rumped warblers. Keep an eye out for Western bluebirds, Western meadowlarks, rufous hummingbirds and broad-tailed hummingbirds in the wildflower meadows and at the hummingbird feeders in the Courtyard Garden.
The Arboretum’s pond has one of the world’s few captive populations of the Little Colorado spinedace (Lepidomeda vittata). This small fish species is threatened in its native habitat due to dams, road construction, agricultural chemical runoff and non-native fish that have been introduced into its environment. If you don’t spot them in the pond, stop by the aquarium in the visitor’s center to get a close up look at this species and other native fish. Flagstaff Arboretum Visitor AmenitiesEvery day, from April to October, the Flagstaff Arboretum hosts live Wild Birds of Prey programs provided by High Country Raptors - a local non-profit that rehabilitates wild birds.
These programs give you a rare opportunity to see hawks, falcons, owls and other raptors up close. During the free flight shows, you’ll watch these magnificent birds fly between handlers, demonstrating the power and beauty of a raptor on the wing. It’s an event not to be missed! This program is free with Arboretum admission and offered daily at noon and 2:00 p.m. The Arboretum also has plant sales, guided tours and a summer concert series. The gift shop sells gardening and nature-themed gifts and has a great selection of gardening and plant books. Fast Facts: The Arboretum at FlagstaffWhat to Know Before You Go:
Location: West side of Flagstaff, 3.8 miles south of Route 66. Address: 4001 S. Woody Mountain Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86001-8775 Phone: (928) 774-1442 Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily April 1 through October 31. Admission Fee: Amenities: Visitor’s center, gift shop, picnic tables. You can purchase water and other drinks and snacks in the gift shop. The Arboretum does not have a restaurant. Activities: Guided tours include wildflower walks and bird walks. The Arboretum at Flagstaff also offers art, cooking and gardening classes. Special Events include:
The information in this review was accurate at the time of our visit. All contact information, availability, access, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the facility before making reservations and/or travel plans. Return to Arizona Botanical Gardens page from The Arboretum at Flagstaff page
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