LightsUp! A Festival of Illumination

Garden Story TimeGet Tickets Thousands of LED lights illuminate the trees and custom-built, oversized structures delight the senses. The light tunnel, dancing cypress trees, traditional punched-tin trees, a brand-new crescent moon, and a dazzling display of luminarias ......More

Garden Story TimeGet Tickets Thousands of LED lights illuminate the trees and custom-built, oversized structures delight the senses. The light tunnel, dancing cypress trees, traditional punched-tin trees, a brand-new crescent moon, and a dazzling display of luminarias will wow you! Experience a holiday light show unlike any other in southern Arizona! Upcoming ClassesFamily Garden Story TimeDecember 31 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 7, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am LightsUp!, Family, Special HeadlightsUp!January 10, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Classes, Art Paper DahliasJanuary 12, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Garden Story Time

Garden Story TimeGarden AdmissionThis event is included with Admission Join us for nature-themed stories, songs, puppets, and sensory activities!  Children of all ages are welcome, but the program is geared toward children aged 2 to 7 years old.   Garden Story Time wil......More

Garden Story TimeGarden AdmissionThis event is included with Admission Join us for nature-themed stories, songs, puppets, and sensory activities!  Children of all ages are welcome, but the program is geared toward children aged 2 to 7 years old.   Garden Story Time will be held rain or shine, hot or cold. For location, check on arrival at the Gardens. Upcoming ClassesFamily Garden Story TimeDecember 31 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 7, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am LightsUp!, Family, Special HeadlightsUp!January 10, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Classes, Art Paper DahliasJanuary 12, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

It's Midnight Somewhere!

Garden Story TimeLightsUp! Tickets If staying up till midnight to welcome in the New Year is not your cup of hot cocoa, join us for a little early Auld Lang Syne! Receive a special New Year’s gift with admission to LightsUp! and enjoy music by Nossa Bossa Nova! Bring t......More

Garden Story TimeLightsUp! Tickets If staying up till midnight to welcome in the New Year is not your cup of hot cocoa, join us for a little early Auld Lang Syne! Receive a special New Year’s gift with admission to LightsUp! and enjoy music by Nossa Bossa Nova! Bring the whole family together on New Year’s Eve to celebrate the imminent arrival of 2026 during LightsUp! A Festival of Illumination. Upcoming ClassesFamily Garden Story TimeDecember 31 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am Special, LightsUp! It’s Midnight Somewhere!December 31 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 7, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am LightsUp!, Family, Special HeadlightsUp!January 10, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Garden Story Time

Garden Story TimeGarden AdmissionThis event is free with Admission Join us for nature-themed stories, songs, puppets, and sensory activities!  Children of all ages are welcome, but the program is geared toward children aged 2 to 7 years old.   Garden Story Time will be......More

Garden Story TimeGarden AdmissionThis event is free with Admission Join us for nature-themed stories, songs, puppets, and sensory activities!  Children of all ages are welcome, but the program is geared toward children aged 2 to 7 years old.   Garden Story Time will be held rain or shine, hot or cold. For location, check on arrival at the Gardens. Upcoming ClassesFamily Garden Story TimeDecember 31 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 7, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am LightsUp!, Family, Special HeadlightsUp!January 10, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Classes, Art Paper DahliasJanuary 12, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

HeadlightsUp!

Garden Story TimeLightsUp! TicketsThis event is included with LightsUp! Admission HeadlightsUp! A Holiday Vintage Car Show to celebrate Tucson Botanical Gardens’ 50th Anniversary! Decked out in their very finest holiday lights, vintage cars are returning to Tucson Bota......More

Garden Story TimeLightsUp! TicketsThis event is included with LightsUp! Admission HeadlightsUp! A Holiday Vintage Car Show to celebrate Tucson Botanical Gardens’ 50th Anniversary! Decked out in their very finest holiday lights, vintage cars are returning to Tucson Botanical Gardens on Saturday, January 10, only!  Marvel at a selection of the Old Pueblo’s finest vintage cars – all decked out for the holidays in lights and decorations.  This event is included with LightsUp! Admission. Co-hosted by Tucson Botanical Gardens and Truly Nolen Upcoming ClassesFamily Garden Story TimeDecember 31 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am Special, LightsUp! It’s Midnight Somewhere!December 31 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 7, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am LightsUp!, Family, Special HeadlightsUp!January 10, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Paper Dahlias

Garden Story TimeRegister Here$60 Non-Member / $48 Member Class Capacity 12 In this class you will create a beautiful Crepe Paper Dahlia with petals, leaves and steam. You will learn how to assemble a gorgeous paper flower with all pre-cut paper to create a large flowe......More

Garden Story TimeRegister Here$60 Non-Member / $48 Member Class Capacity 12 In this class you will create a beautiful Crepe Paper Dahlia with petals, leaves and steam. You will learn how to assemble a gorgeous paper flower with all pre-cut paper to create a large flower with glue, wire. You will also learn how to use a color pallet to give your flower a more realistic look. We will talk about the origins of dahlias and the diversity of this flower.  Instructor Sandy VillegasBorn in Puebla, Mexico, Sandy has always loved art making drawings and doodling when she got the chance. Her family moved to Sonora, Mexico and after a couple years she decided to come to the United States. She married a military man and while raising two children received an Associate Degree in Digital Arts. Some time passes before her daughter, Brittany, found an art project making paper flowers. Soon Sandy found herself making flowers and a business was born. Refund & Cancellation PolicyNo refund will be issued less than 15 days prior to any Community Class. A $10 cancellation fee will be applied to all refunds. No refunds will be issued for special events. We reserve the right to cancel Community Classes due to insufficient registration, garden closure, or inclement weather, in which case, participants will receive a full refund. People with disabilities should make requests for accommodation as early as possible to allow time to make appropriate arrangements. Upcoming ClassesFamily Garden Story TimeDecember 31 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 7, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am LightsUp!, Family, Special HeadlightsUp!January 10, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 14, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am

Education Building Classroom

Pest Management Around Your Home and Garden - Poison Free

Garden Story TimeRegister Here$30 Non-Member / $24 Member Class Capacity 24 Kathy Neff has lived in the Tanque Verde Watershed for 39 years. Upon rewilding her home yard, the unexpected challenge of managing pests became a necessary part of stewarding the new habitat. L......More

Garden Story TimeRegister Here$30 Non-Member / $24 Member Class Capacity 24 Kathy Neff has lived in the Tanque Verde Watershed for 39 years. Upon rewilding her home yard, the unexpected challenge of managing pests became a necessary part of stewarding the new habitat. Learn practical, non-poisonous strategies to use within your own habitat and feel good about your place on the land. Participants are encouraged to bring their concerns to the class for brief analysis, discussion, or recommendations. instructor Kathy NeffI’m Kathy Neff and have cherished the Sonoran Desert for 39 years. Humans and connectedness with nature has changed. I recently discovered the concept of rewilding, as old as the Earth itself, and a shedding of my northern latitude attitude. Join me on my journey from rewilding to rodent control. Its fun, its rich, I’m an amateur, and merely a human with restored and healthier surroundings. Refund & Cancellation PolicyNo refund will be issued less than 15 days prior to any Community Class. A $10 cancellation fee will be applied to all refunds. No refunds will be issued for special events. We reserve the right to cancel Community Classes due to insufficient registration, garden closure, or inclement weather, in which case, participants will receive a full refund. People with disabilities should make requests for accommodation as early as possible to allow time to make appropriate arrangements. Upcoming ClassesFamily Garden Story TimeDecember 31 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 7, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am LightsUp!, Family, Special HeadlightsUp!January 10, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 14, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am

Education Building Classroom

Garden Story Time

Garden Story TimeGarden AdmissionThis event is free with Admission Join us for nature-themed stories, songs, puppets, and sensory activities!  Children of all ages are welcome, but the program is geared toward children aged 2 to 7 years old.   Garden Story Time will be......More

Garden Story TimeGarden AdmissionThis event is free with Admission Join us for nature-themed stories, songs, puppets, and sensory activities!  Children of all ages are welcome, but the program is geared toward children aged 2 to 7 years old.   Garden Story Time will be held rain or shine, hot or cold. For location, check on arrival at the Gardens. Upcoming ClassesFamily Garden Story TimeDecember 31 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 7, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am LightsUp!, Family, Special HeadlightsUp!January 10, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Classes, Art Paper DahliasJanuary 12, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Botanical Illustration: Drawing Desert Flowers

Garden Story TimeRegister Here$30 Non-Member / $24 Member The desert is full of inspiration. Draw on the unique beauty around us and use basic techniques to create illustrations of desert flowers. Open to all skill levels. Please supply your own art materials. Recommen......More

Garden Story TimeRegister Here$30 Non-Member / $24 Member The desert is full of inspiration. Draw on the unique beauty around us and use basic techniques to create illustrations of desert flowers. Open to all skill levels. Please supply your own art materials. Recommended art materials include: Bristol Board paper Colored Pencil Set of at least 12 pencilsColorless BenderWhite Soft EraserPaper – regular printer paperInstructor Devon MeyerAs an artist, Devon is constantly inspired by nature. The elaborate patterns and gorgeous colors seen in plants, birds or flowers are reflected in the work she does. Watercolor is her favorite medium but she also works in oil, charcoal, pen and ink and colored pencil. Refund & Cancellation PolicyNo refund will be issued less than 15 days prior to any Community Class. A $10 cancellation fee will be applied to all refunds. No refunds will be issued for special events. We reserve the right to cancel Community Classes due to insufficient registration, garden closure, or inclement weather, in which case, participants will receive a full refund. People with disabilities should make requests for accommodation as early as possible to allow time to make appropriate arrangements. Upcoming ClassesFamily Garden Story TimeDecember 31 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 7, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am LightsUp!, Family, Special HeadlightsUp!January 10, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 14, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am

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Container Gardening Delight: Colorful Winter Oasis in Your Desert Pots

Garden Story TimeRegister Here$36 Non-Member / $29 Member Turn your desert winter into peak flower season. In this class, Marylee shows you how to design vibrant, bouquet-style winter container gardens that thrive in cooler temperatures. Learn which flowers shine in wi......More

Garden Story TimeRegister Here$36 Non-Member / $29 Member Turn your desert winter into peak flower season. In this class, Marylee shows you how to design vibrant, bouquet-style winter container gardens that thrive in cooler temperatures. Learn which flowers shine in winter, how to choose the right pots, and how to keep your displays blooming with minimal fuss. Ideal for newcomers, snowbirds, and year-round residents, you’ll also learn Marylee’s most effective strategies for keeping pots healthy during long absences. Instructor Marylee PangmanMarylee Pangman founded The Contained Gardener in 1998 as a niche business in the desert community of Tucson, Arizona.  Since then, Marylee has been compelled to share all that she has learned about container gardening over 3 decades of blistering summers and record breaking winters. Marylee sees container gardening as a way to have an oasis garden while conserving water as the demands of pots are far less than heavily planted areas and beds. You can find Marylee’s books, Getting Potted in the Desert, and Riley’s Garden Oasis at the Garden Gift Shop. These two books are excellent resources for creating and caring for potted gardens, advice on container selection, plant lists and much more. https://thepotteddesert.com Refund & Cancellation PolicyNo refund will be issued less than 15 days prior to any Community Class. A $10 cancellation fee will be applied to all refunds. No refunds will be issued for special events. We reserve the right to cancel Community Classes due to insufficient registration, garden closure, or inclement weather, in which case, participants will receive a full refund. People with disabilities should make requests for accommodation as early as possible to allow time to make appropriate arrangements. Upcoming ClassesFamily Garden Story TimeDecember 31 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 7, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am LightsUp!, Family, Special HeadlightsUp!January 10, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 14, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am

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Rooted in Design: 50 Years of Public Garden Architecture at TBG

Garden Story TimeRegister HereFree with Admissions Capacity 60 A panel discussion featuring speakers who played an integral part in the Tucson Botanical Gardens’ design aesthetic, functionality, and success. Panelists include: Margaret Livingston, UA Professor of Landsc......More

Garden Story TimeRegister HereFree with Admissions Capacity 60 A panel discussion featuring speakers who played an integral part in the Tucson Botanical Gardens’ design aesthetic, functionality, and success. Panelists include: Margaret Livingston, UA Professor of Landscape Architecture Maria Voris, Landscape Architect Phillip Van Wyke, Landscape Architect Jeffrey Van Maren, Landscape Architect Moderated by Michelle Conklin, TBG President and CEO Upcoming ClassesFamily Garden Story TimeDecember 31 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 7, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am LightsUp!, Family, Special HeadlightsUp!January 10, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 14, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am

Porter Hall

Woodpeckers of the World

Garden Story TimeRegister Here$30 Non-Member / $24 Member Woodpeckers are spectacular birds – colorful, industrious, and conspicuous. The Feathered Family Portrait series continues with a global look at the Picidae, which also includes flickers, sapsuckers, and wryneck......More

Garden Story TimeRegister Here$30 Non-Member / $24 Member Woodpeckers are spectacular birds – colorful, industrious, and conspicuous. The Feathered Family Portrait series continues with a global look at the Picidae, which also includes flickers, sapsuckers, and wrynecks. Instructor Jeff BabsonJeff Babson is an all-around naturalist, with particular interest in birds, butterflies, moths, beetles and dragonflies. Owner of Sky Island Tours, an environmental education and eco-tour company, Jeff has led birding tours for the Tucson Botanical Gardens, Pima County Department of Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and several birding festivals in southern Arizona (Wings over Willcox, Southwest Wings, Tucson Birding and Nature Festival). He lives in Vail with his wife and two children. Refund & Cancellation PolicyNo refund will be issued less than 15 days prior to any Community Class. A $10 cancellation fee will be applied to all refunds. No refunds will be issued for special events. We reserve the right to cancel Community Classes due to insufficient registration, garden closure, or inclement weather, in which case, participants will receive a full refund. People with disabilities should make requests for accommodation as early as possible to allow time to make appropriate arrangements. Upcoming ClassesFamily Garden Story TimeDecember 31 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 7, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am LightsUp!, Family, Special HeadlightsUp!January 10, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 14, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am

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Roses: Winter Pruning for Spring Blooms

Garden Story TimeRegister Here$30 Non-Member / $24 Member Class Capacity 30 Join Terry Swartz, President of the Rose Society of Tucson and Consulting Rosarian, to learn how to prepare you roses to bloom this November. This hands-on demonstration will illustrate how to p......More

Garden Story TimeRegister Here$30 Non-Member / $24 Member Class Capacity 30 Join Terry Swartz, President of the Rose Society of Tucson and Consulting Rosarian, to learn how to prepare you roses to bloom this November. This hands-on demonstration will illustrate how to prune, feed, and keep pests at bay. Refund & Cancellation PolicyNo refund will be issued less than 15 days prior to any Community Class. A $10 cancellation fee will be applied to all refunds. No refunds will be issued for special events. We reserve the right to cancel Community Classes due to insufficient registration, garden closure, or inclement weather, in which case, participants will receive a full refund. People with disabilities should make requests for accommodation as early as possible to allow time to make appropriate arrangements. Upcoming ClassesFamily Garden Story TimeDecember 31 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 7, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am LightsUp!, Family, Special HeadlightsUp!January 10, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 14, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am

Education Building Classroom

Garden Story Time

Garden Story TimeGarden AdmissionThis event is free with Admission Join us for nature-themed stories, songs, puppets, and sensory activities!  Children of all ages are welcome, but the program is geared toward children aged 2 to 7 years old.   Garden Story Time will be......More

Garden Story TimeGarden AdmissionThis event is free with Admission Join us for nature-themed stories, songs, puppets, and sensory activities!  Children of all ages are welcome, but the program is geared toward children aged 2 to 7 years old.   Garden Story Time will be held rain or shine, hot or cold. For location, check on arrival at the Gardens. Upcoming ClassesFamily Garden Story TimeDecember 31 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 7, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am LightsUp!, Family, Special HeadlightsUp!January 10, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Classes, Art Paper DahliasJanuary 12, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Botanical Art in Ink: Iris

Garden Story TimeRegister Here$30 Non-Member / $24 Member Celebrate the beauty of TBG’s vibrant Iris gardens! Using photo references from last year’s stunning blooms, we’ll explore how to capture the graceful forms of irises by breaking them down into simple, approacha......More

Garden Story TimeRegister Here$30 Non-Member / $24 Member Celebrate the beauty of TBG’s vibrant Iris gardens! Using photo references from last year’s stunning blooms, we’ll explore how to capture the graceful forms of irises by breaking them down into simple, approachable shapes. Along the way, you’ll learn foundational drawing skills, pen techniques, and still-life observation tips. This class is perfect for anyone ready to move past the “tricky” reputation of the iris and discover how fun and rewarding it can be to draw. Main Concepts: Botanical Observation, simplification of complex forms, drawing fundamentals, pen techniques, still life practice, & artistic confidence. List of recommended art materials: 2H or 4H graphite pencil or color pencil with eraser, eraser (Streader),kneaded eraserPens (Copic Multi-liners or Micron) 0.1, 0.3, & 0.5.5”x7” – 8”x10” Paper (Illustration board, mixed media paper, or sketchbook)Plain printer paper or sketchbook for warmupsA few reference photos will be sent out before class begins.Instructor Adela AntoinetteAdela Antoinette (She/Her) is a published illustrator, designer and makeup artist. As a southwest born desert dweller, Antoinette’s work primarily centers on Sonoran Desert flora but fluctuates within botany through visiting different regions across the states. She specializes in various traditional mediums including her favorite, watercolor in which she has taught in workshops and classes at the Denali Education Center and The Drawing Studio. Her work has been displayed in various galleries in Arizona, Alaska, and California. Antoinette studied illustration and design at the University of Arizona, receiving her degree in Visual Communication. She is a Tucson, Arizona artist currently living in New York City. Refund & Cancellation PolicyNo refund will be issued less than 15 days prior to any Community Class. A $10 cancellation fee will be applied to all refunds. No refunds will be issued for special events. We reserve the right to cancel Community Classes due to insufficient registration, garden closure, or inclement weather, in which case, participants will receive a full refund. People with disabilities should make requests for accommodation as early as possible to allow time to make appropriate arrangements. Upcoming ClassesFamily Garden Story TimeDecember 31 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 7, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am LightsUp!, Family, Special HeadlightsUp!January 10, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Family Garden Story TimeJanuary 14, 2026 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am

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