As cacti in Arizona bloom from April to June, the University of Arizona campus has its very own cactus garden.  With a long history and several moves, the cactus garden survives as the Joseph Wood Krutch Garden, a small plot of land just south of the Administration Building.  Amid a sea of grass, native Arizona plants showcase the beauty of Sonoran Desert plants.

The cactus garden has its origins with the beginning of the University.  The original cactus garden was created in 1891 by James W. Toumey, botanist for the Agricultural Experiment Station and one of the six original members of the UA faculty.  Special Collections contains several collections related to the papers of the Agricultural Experiment Station including AZ 406, AZ 446 and AZ 447.

The garden was located north of the Pump and Engine House until 1896 when it was moved to the west side of Old Main.  It was moved again in 1929 to the east side of Old Main.  On November 19, 1952 unknown vandals knocked down three 100 year old saguaros and damaged others.  Hedgehog, cholla and barrel cacti were uprooted.  Despite a few problems with theft of rare cactus the garden had always remained unfenced.  Several efforts to end the garden were averted by botanists, garden clubs and others.  By 1967 the current garden on the mall was all that was left of the original. 

The cactus garden was named after author and naturalist Joseph Wood Krutch who wrote several books about the southwest.  President Schaefer approved the name change in 1980.  Special Collections holds the Manuscripts of Joseph Wood Krutch (AZ 164) which contain typescripts of many of his published nature manuscripts as well as travel diaries.

For more information on the Joseph Wood Krutch Garden including its current species see the Campus Arboretum brochure.  For more information on the history of Krutch Garden see the Self-guided tour booklet.  The next time you come to campus stop by the Krutch Garden and visit a piece of UA agricultural history.

-Lisa Duncan