We’ve all heard of the frankincense and myrrh gifted by the magi, or wise men, to the Christ child, but how many of us actually know what those things are?

You don’t have to drive to northern Arizona for New England-esque fall color worth photographing. A pocket of it exists just 50 miles away, at Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior.

As a Valley native, I remember growing up and wishing for the cooler temperatures that come with changing fall leaves. You know, the kind of weather where you need to drink hot chocolate to stay warm!

You don’t have to drive to northern Arizona for New England-esque fall color worth photographing. A pocket of it exists just 50 miles away, at Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior.

Editor's Note: These letters to the editor have been sorted by topic by the Tribune editorial staff in an effort to allow readers to read varied opinions on the issues, candidates, and other circumstances surrounding the 2012 general election. These submissions are the opinions of the author, not the Tribune, and have not been edited for grammar or content.

Amateur photographers will find tricks and treats at an after-hours workshop to find and photograph creatures of the night at Boyce Thompson Arboretum.

Father-and-son brewers Pete and Greg Rendek, of Chandler, have crafted a variety of at-home ales, porters, weissbiers, and even a prickly pear IPA over the years.

It is fall break time for the area schools and with the cooler weather approaching this is a great time to have fun with the kids. Here are 15 easy ideas:

’Tis the season of rust-orange Queens, blue-black Pipevine Swallowtails, yellow Sulphurs and other colorful butterflies. Make the most of their fleeting, fluttering presence during the sixth annual butterfly census, taking place Sept. 15 at Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior.

The Valley must hold some kind of record for how many people vacate the city over Labor Day weekend. It has to, because with temperatures still bordering on insufferable, having three days to escape the heat sounds like a great idea. Consult our roundup of events across Arizona if you’re itching to hightail it to cooler climes for a day or the weekend. Just be sure to call ahead to check for any last-minute changes.

The Valley must hold some kind of record for how many people vacate the city over Labor Day weekend. It has to, because with temperatures still bordering on insufferable, having three days to escape the heat sounds like a great idea. Consult our roundup of events across Arizona if you’re itching to hightail it to cooler climes for a day or the weekend. Just be sure to call ahead to check for any last-minute changes.

For a tiny copper mining town in the Arizona desert, Superior has been known for a lot over the years.

Meet The Artist Reception: Meet Scottsdale wildlife photographer Paul Landau while enjoying his photographs of hummingbirds in motion, on display at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum through July.

On Friday, gardens around the country swing their gates open free of charge in celebration of National Public Garden Day — a day highlighting the work of public gardens in conservation, education and environmental preservation.  Valley gardens, including the Desert Botanical Garden and the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, join the national celebration by offering free admission all day Friday.

From rattlesnakes and pack rats to tortoises and javelinas, no author has made Arizona’s fauna so enthralling for kids than Tempe’s Conrad J. Storad.

From rattlesnakes and pack rats to tortoises and javelinas, no author has made Arizona’s fauna so enthralling for kids than Tempe’s Conrad J. Storad.

From rattlesnakes and pack rats to tortoises and javelinas, no author has made Arizona’s fauna so enthralling for kids than Tempe’s Conrad J. Storad.

There are three things to look forward to when spring hits the Valley: baseball, weather and wildflowers.

There are three things to look forward to when spring hits the Valley: baseball, weather and wildflowers.