Endless Summer to begin at arboretum

Paul Wolterbeek arranges weekend events and coordinates the volunteer program at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park.

Summer solstice arrives Saturday, and what better way to celebrate the year's longest period of daylight than with an evening of surf guitar music and a barbecue with friends beneath the massive, shady trees at Boyce Thompson Arboretum?

At 45 minutes east of Mesa and 1,000 feet higher in elevation, the arboretum is appreciably cooler than Phoenix and Tucson. Daytime heat dissipates quickly in the gardens and particularly in the picnic area, which is shaded by tall pine, sycamore and mesquite trees. During this summer, arboretum staff have organized once-a-month Saturday nights with live music in the picnic area from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m., and discounted admission after 3.

Kick off your own "Endless Summer" with an evening of tunes by Deane Stanton, whose self-titled debut CD (Deane Can't Sing) sums up his approach to music. The Mesa musician pre-records backing tracks, then plays some scorching lead guitar for audiences who enjoy memories summoned via instrumental surf guitar of tunes from the 60s.

Expect to hear Wipeout, Misirlou, Ghost Riders in the Sky and other familiar favorites of the era by bands such as the Ventures, Duane Eddy, and Dick Dale.

Boyce Thompson is on U.S. 60 at milepost 223 west of Superior.

Summer hours are 6 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. Regular admission is $7.50 for adults, $3 for ages 5-12. The arboretum will be open until 8 p.m. June 21 with $5 admission after 3.

To learn about weekend nature walks and other events, call the recorded message phone at 520-689-2811, or during business hours call 520-689-2723.

Other coming events at the Arboretum include:

• "Plants of the Bible" guided tour lead by Mesa resident and Bible scholar David Oberpriller at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

• "Edible & Medicinal Desert Plants" walking tour at 9:30 a.m. Sunday featuring ethnobotanist and Choctaw tribal nation member Dave Morris.

• Butterfly Walk at 9:30 a.m. June 28. Participants will have a chance to see colorful queen and pipevine swallowtail butterflies, and learn about the arboretum's ongoing Monarch Migration research project.

• Macro Photography classes with Scottsdale naturalist and photographer Paul Kinslow. The two-part workshop starts June 29 and ends July 6.

The June 29 session will include both indoor and outdoor "in the field" instruction, where this multi-talented painter and photographer will explain camera and lens techniques that allow close-up imagery, and offer tips on where to look for elusive and hard-to-find subjects.

Spaces are limited and pre-payment is required. Enrollment is $20 for arboretum annual members and $27.50 for non-members (which includes daily admission). Enroll by phone with a daytime call to 520-689-2723.