The Wallace Desert Garden Update

BY CATHY BABCOCK | PHOTO BY DARA HEWARD

WDG FAQs:

Boyce Thompson Arboretum’s newsletter of January 2016 introduced readers to the Wallace Desert Garden project. The article on page 10 in that journal explained who H. B. Wallace was, how the estate garden came to be, what he collected, and why it ended up in Superior, AZ.

As the article further explains, the plants in the collection are from all over the world. Please visit wallace.btarboretum. org for further information.

Did BTA take every single plant from the Wallace Desert Garden?

No. All plants were inventoried by Native Resources International (NRI), including all of the native trees and shrubs. Boyce Thompson Arboretum (BTA) was not allowed to take certain native plants unless they were in the building envelopes. BTA and Logan Simpson, an architectural design group with whom we have been working, went out to the Wallace Desert Garden (WDG) and, over the course of several months, assessed the health of each plant and tagged the plants BTA wished to salvage. BTA then worked with NRI, and tagged the plants to be salvaged with a box size and the season in which they should be moved.

How many plants were relocated?

Between December 2015 and October 2017, just over 2,000 plants were boxed and transported to BTA by NRI. They were moved 75 miles from Sincuidados in north Scottsdale to BTA, which took a total of 100 semi-truck loads. A little more than 3,000 plants were hand-dug by BTA staff between May 2015 and October 2017 and placed in shaded holding areas. Approximately 230 of the plants are legumes that were grown from seed by DELEP, our Desert Legume Program, and given to WDG. When all was said and done, 5,052 plants were salvaged, comprising 1,457 taxa (species, cultivars, hybrids, varieties, etc.). Of these, about 300 are unique and new to the existing collections.

Where will the new trail be located?

We are creating a brand new trail which will be called The Wallace Desert Garden at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. At the time of this writing, almost half of the boxes have been planted. The new trail begins off of the west end of the Demonstration Garden, crosses Queen Creek, and continues on the south side of the creek. There will be 2 loops on the side of the mountain, a main loop around a promontory, and a “barrier free” section of trail planned for wheelchair access when the creek isn’t running, at least until funds are raised for a bridge by the picnic area and High Trail. With the existing topography, and Picketpost Mountain as a backdrop, the new garden will be quite stunning.

The two loops, although not long, are steep in places, making them challenging. The main loop will be flat and easy. Except for the entrance section and mesquite bosque, there will not be a lot of shade along the trail. In all, the new trail will add about a mile to the existing system.

When will the new trail be open to the public?

The grand opening is slated for the fall of 2019. Even though all of the boxed plants should be in the ground by the end of 2018, we still have the smaller, under story plants to install. In addition, there is much fine tuning to do. To name a few things: construction of the entrance memorial; finessing of pathways; installation of signage; and accessioning of plant material. Plus, it takes time to plan a grand party!

Who will take care of the trail? Will BTA need to hire additional staff?

After the deal to move the garden was struck, two dedicated groundskeepers were hired strictly for the Wallace project. Their jobs were to assist with the plant relocation, unload plants from the semis as they arrived, place them in rows according to plant type, work directly with NRI in bringing plants down from the staging area for planting, and maintain the health of the plants after they are in the ground.

Is funding still needed to complete the Wallace Desert Garden project?

Absolutely. We still need funding to build a bridge to connect the trail to the picnic grounds and provide year-round access. Without a bridge crossing, the trail will have to be closed when Queen Creek is flowing.

There are also a number of large specimen cacti and succulents that need protection year round from sun and cold. The grand plan is to construct a state-of-theart pavilion. A temporary structure needs to be built in the interim.

Funding is also necessary for the entrance within the Demonstration Garden, signage throughout the new trail, and an east end irrigation system tied to the new well to take the burden off of the west well. Seating areas are being planned, and benches will be available for purchase throughout the trail.

To contribute to the conservation of the Wallace Desert Garden, please call 520-689-4588 or mail a check to: Boyce Thompson Arboretum 37615 E. Arboretum Way Superior, AZ 85173