With temps soon to hit the triple digits, getting outside might be the furthest thing from your mind.
That is, until you check out the summer programming at Tucson Botanical Gardens and Tohono Chul Park.
Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. 326-9686.
Twilight Thursdays
Escape the summer sun and get outside from 5 to 8 p.m. every Thursday evening through Sept. 15. Cafe Botanica will be open during those hours. You can bring your own beer or wine to enjoy with your dinner. Admission is $9 or free with dinner reservations.
Dog Days of Summer
Take your leashed dog for a walk through the gardens from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, June through September. Dog admission is $3 per dog. You can also get your pooch his or her own membership for $20, which includes daily admission. Take Fido to the gardens at 7:30 a.m. June 7 and Aug. 2 to have his picture taken by a professional photographer. Photos are $10 per pose or $15 for two poses.
Mindful Yoga
Certified yoga instructor and massage therapist, Vivianne Uyeda, leads the group in hatha yoga, with an emphasis on movement, breath and mediation for all levels. Yoga is at 8 a.m. Thursdays June 2-30. The series cost is $38.
Early Bird Weekends
The gardens will open at 6:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, June 4 through August 28, so morning walkers can get some exercise before it gets too hot. Admission is a suggested donation until 7:30 a.m. After that, it’s $9 for adults and $5 for children.
Tohono Chul Park, 7336 N. Paseo del Norte. 742-6455.
Desert Discovery Days
Take the kids, grades kindergarten through fourth, to discover the desert at 8 a.m. every Tuesday in June. They’ll learn about everything from bats and saguaros to the monsoons. Call Ext. 228 to register. Free with $10 admission.
Stories in the Garden
The kids can listen to traditional and original stories about the desert and its inhabitants at 10 a.m. Tuesdays in the Children’s Ramada. It’s free with admission.
Blue Star Museum Days
Active duty military members and their families can get into the park for free at 11 a.m. on Saturdays from May 30 through Sept. 5.
Reptile Ramble
Presenters will show the audience captive reptiles. You can touch, if you’re brave. You’ll also get to look for lizards while walking to the tortoise enclosure. The event is at 10 a.m. on Fridays through June 24. It will resume August 5. It’s free with admission.
