A Note from President/CEO, Jamie Maslyn Larson

A Note from President/CEO Jamie Maslyn Larson: What It Takes to Care for Tohono Chul

Few see the inner workings of Tohono Chul’s dynamic operations, and that is by design. We want every visit to feel effortless, allowing you to become immersed in the garden and fully experience the beauty, wonder, and delight of this treasured place.

Yet the reality is that operating our 49-acre oasis 365 days a year requires significant care, expertise, and resources, and those costs are rising. Expenses like utilities, insurance, and repairs are only part of the picture. Equally important is investing in the talented team, including gardeners, guest services, arts, and engagement staff, whose expertise transforms Tohono Chul into the welcoming setting that nurtures our community.

Admissions, retail, memberships, and events generate essential revenue, but they cover only a portion of what it takes to sustain Tohono Chul. We rely on the generosity of supporters like you to bridge the gap.

This fall, we will open our new Adaptive Arboretum Garden, the vision so many of you helped bring to life as our 2025 annual fundraiser. We are also launching a new event series, Arboretum on Tap, to celebrate this new garden. Soon after, we will unveil a new Master Plan, a bold vision for the next chapter of Tohono Chul and the desert it protects.

And in the very near future, we will launch a beautiful new website that makes it easier than ever to be part of this place you love. In just a few clicks, you can buy tickets, manage your membership, carry a digital card, and set your membership to renew automatically so your connection to the garden never ends.

Today, I invite you to invest not only in what you see, but in everything behind the scenes that makes each visit restorative, inspiring, and memorable. Your gift helps care for our living collections, maintain our historic buildings, support our exceptional staff, inspire lifelong learning, and ensure this community oasis continues to thrive for generations to come. It takes all of us to care for a place this special.

Warm regards,

Jamie Maslyn Larson
President/CEO