Celebrate the beauty and extraordinary biological diversity of the Central Highlands in the accessible Native Botanical Gardens when the center hosts its grand opening Saturday, June 3.

Visitors will be able to stroll along the creek on a paved path through Learning Circles illustrating the natural history of the Central Highlands.

Parents are encouraged to bring their children to play on the boulders, sand box and balance beams in a natural Forest Play Area. They’ll be able to listen to birds and sounds of the forest in the Secret Nook or relax in the shade on a comfortable bench.

And they’ll discover how to choose and grow drought tolerant plants for your garden and harvest water to sustain them in our Grow Native Demo Gardens.

The day’s festivities will include Interactive Discovery Carts and Guided Nature Walks.

The walk times will be 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. Street Slice food truck will be on hand and Naturalists will be in the Gardens to facilitate interactive stations on topics such as animals, plants, geology, and countless cycles and interactions in nature.

Discovery Garden Educational Lenses will be available for use in the Gardens.

Other outdoor learning available to the public will include accessible native habitats, naturalist-led nature programs and lens on learning guidebooks.

ABOUT

Formed in 1996, the Highlands Center for Natural History is a non-profit organization developed to foster an appreciation for and knowledge of the natural wonders of the Central Highlands of Arizona. Operating on an 80-acre campus near Lynx Lake through a Special Use Permit with Prescott National Forest, the Highlands Center is a regional hub for lifelong learning, designed to invite discovery of the wonders of nature through on and offsite programs, supported by contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations and community partners. For more information, call 928-776-9550.

For more informatrion, visit: highlandscenter.org