Plants-of-the-Bible Tour at 1:30 pm
March 16 and again April 7, April 20
Learn about palms, pomegranates, figs, olives and other plants referenced in scriptural passages on an afternoon walk guided by Mesa resident Dave Oberpriller on the Third Saturday of each month this Winter and Spring on a relaxing and slow-paced walking tour down paths that are wheelchair-accessible. Tours are included with daily admission of $9 for adults, $4.50 ages 5-12 -- and they depart the visitor center breezeway lobby at 1:30 p.m. Queen Valley Bible scholar Leda Fide guides this walk on the First Sunday each month: her next walk will be April 7.
Frankincense was one of the three Gifts of the Magi -- and visitors have a chance to see this exotic plant when Dave Oberpriller guides his walk. Dave propagates this rare plant, and often brings a few potted specimens here
to have available for visitors to purchase. Dave's plants are in one-gallon
pots, they're about 15-18 inches high, and priced at $80 -- which you'll know
is a bargain if you comparison-shop for one on Ebay.
Dave's POTB
tours are slow-paced and relaxing, a weekend walk down smooth, flat trails
that are wheelchair-accessible -- a chance to learn about plants, history
and scripture, too.
Our guided "Plants of the Bible" walk
includes a chance to see palms, pomegranates, figs and many others in our
collections. This leisurely tour proceeds down paths that are easily accessible
by those who use wheelchairs and walkers, and it explores the Demonstration
Garden, Picnic area and Herb Garden.
Third-Saturday-of-the-monthwalks feature Mesa
resident, Bible scholar and Arizona State Parks Volunteer David Oberpriller.
Pomegranates, Olives, Common Fig, Palms...what do these plants have in common
other than being referenced in Scripture? All grow well here in Arizona. These
species are among dozens which may be seen during a walk through along the
Arboretum's main trail and in the Demonstration Garden and Herb Garden collections.
Join this tour to see a fig leaf, pictured at left, and judge for yourself just how much anatomy
it might conceal.
"The people of the Bible were much closer to
nature than we are today and were more aware of the cycles of the seasons,
the weather, and the characteristics and use of plants," said Oberpriller,
guide of our third-Saturday-each-month tour. "This is reflected in the many
passages in the Bible that accurately refer to plants and agriculture."
Holy Land climates are similar to central Arizona
-- basically hot, dry desert regions. Arboretum collections include a number
of plants that are native to the region of the eastern Meditteranean.
"We start with a brief history of Biblical botany
and understand why it is often difficult to determine exactly which species
the Bible refers to when it mentions a plant. We will then follow a leisurely
trail for about 1.5 miles and view over 20 plant species that are likely the
ones referred to in the Bible passages.
"From the first plant mentioned in the Bible
to the intimate understanding of plant growth demonstrated by the writer of
Psalms to towns named after plants growing abundantly around them -- we will
read the bible passages and look at the uses, symbolism, and significance
of these plants to the people of the Bible," said Oberpriller." David Oberpriller
has been a member of the Arboretum for 17 years and is also a volunteer. A
software engineer who lives in Mesa, he is a botanical hobbyist who has researched
Biblical plants which can be found at the Arboretum and will share his observations
begining from the Visitor Center and proceeding about 90 minutes through the
picnic area, Demonstration garden, Pine Loop, palm forest, olive grove, and
the herb garden.
While there is no additional charge for this
guided tour, admission of $9 for adults and $4.50 for ages 5-12 must be paid
for entrance to the Arboretum. Church groups and civic clubs may also arrange
a guided "Plants of the Bible" tour with Mr. Oberpriller or with
other Arboretum volunteers who are versed in both Scripture and botany. Our
regular monthly Plants of the Bible tour is open to all visitors who are here
on time for the tour to begin, and guided tours can also be made by special
arrangement for private groups. To arrange a private you must bring at least
20 people and also arrange the tour in advance with our Education Coordinator.
Regular admission is charged, but there's no additional charge for your tourguide.
Arrange a group tour by calling Instructional Specialist Lacey Pacheco at
520.689.2723, or by emailing lacey via lpacheco @ ag.arizona.edu
Boyce Thompson Arboretum is located about 45
minutes east of Mesa - right near highway 60 milepost #223. From Tucson, the
Arboretum is about a two hour drive via highways 79 and 60. For other information
or directions please call the recorded message line at 520-689-2811
Read mor about Boyce Thompson Arboretum weekend
nature walks and EVENTS