Arizona Native Plant Society
https://aznps.com/grow-native/
Providing resources for folks to substitute native plants to replace invasive plant species that are being sold commercially. Native plants are not only recommended in Sun City by our Development Standards but they can be beautiful, and take far less maintenance than non-native plants. Their benefits includes habitat for healthy local insects, lizards and other critters (and yes, they are helpful!), and pollinators such as butterflies, moths, and honeybees, and to avoid the proliferation of invasive species. We increasingly need native plant “corridors” through urban areas in order to retain healthy populations of our native birds, reptiles, and pollinators. The website provides a Plant List, a section on Planning your Garden, Local Growers, and Native Gardening Resources to help you find the perfect native plant for your landscape. Cross reference this list with our local approved and prohibited plant list above, since some Arizona natives are not native to the Sonoran Desert. Note especially section on Native Plants for Pima County Landscaping.

Center for Biological Diversity
https://biologicaldiversity.org
With headquarters in Tucson, Arizona, this group works at the national level to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. One of the first conservation organizations to adopt a truly biocentric point of view.

Pima County Master Gardeners
https://extension.arizona.edu/pima-master-gardeners
Trained Master Gardeners answer your questions and provide gardening and landscaping information. You can submit your specific questions online for free; and even request an on-site Home Consultation for a small fee. Also available are Gardening Talks and Classes both in person and via Zoom • Free Newsletter • Home Garden Tour • Plant Sales • Campus Arboretum Tours • Demonstration Garden.

University of Arizona Cooperative Extension – Low-Water Landscaping
https://waterwise.arizona.edu/ways-save-water/low-water-landscaping
This is a great source for water-wise landscaping, including rainscapes, how to install drip irrigation, and recommended plants; although focused on Cochise county and a bit higher elevation than Sun City, there is quite a bit of overlap.

Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection

https://www.sonorandesert.org/
Staff and volunteers form a coalition of 32 member groups, who seek to protect and restore Sonoran Desert habitat and wildlife corridors in southern Arizona. Several volunteers from SCOV help to monitor wildlife cameras located surrounding Sun City Oro Valley, an ongoing “citizen science” project to provide data to support advocacy for a protected and connected Sonoran Desert. The Sun City Community Foundation has helped to coalition to purchase cameras, supported by a cadre of volunteers from Sun City.

Tucson Audubon Society
More than birdwatching, Tucson Audubon hosts a vibrant and informative “backyard habitat” program, offers Native Plant Sales throughout the year, a lending library for members, a Nature Shop, and and provides abundant education opportunities and field trips.

Southern Arizona Nature Journal Club

Meets every Thursday | 8am | Tohono Chul Entrance. an observational activity that immerses you in our natural world. Join t his casual meet-up for an observational activity that immerses you in our natural world, going outside, sketching, observing nature and meeting fellow nature enthusiasts.

Local Places for Learning on-site about Wildlife and Native Plants

(Listed from the nearest to the furthest away from Sun City Oro Valley)

Western National Parks Store
https://store.wnpa.org
Non-profit bookstore with park-related gifts, plus regular programs on Arizona and Southwest natural history. Purchases help fund scientific research, community outreach, educational products, and more programs in national parks.

Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve
https://www.preservevistoso.org/
Operated by the Town of Oro Valley, this new nature preserve, still under development, is supported by Preserve Vistoso: Friends of Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve. The existing 6.2-mile, eight-foot-wide concrete path winds through the property providing visitors with views of the Catalina and Tortolita mountains, examples of varied desert vegetation, and the opportunity to view an abundance of wildlife. Preserve Vistoso offers a free online Field Guide to the preserve:
https://www.preservevistoso.org/the-preserve

Catalina State Park
https://azstateparks.com/catalina
Offers several nature trails, a bookshop, and regular programs on natural history.

Panorama Trails (formerly West Lambert Lane Park)
https://www.orovalleyaz.gov/Government/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks/Panorama-Trails
A half-mile loop nature trail has interpretive signs identifying many of the plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert, and includes outstanding scenic views – all close to Oro Valley Library and other services.

Tohono Chul
https://tohonochul.org/
Themed gardens as well as wild nature trails, this desert botanical garden also offers an art gallery, a popular bistro for outdoor dining, garden concerts, Native & Arid Adapted Plant Shop, a gift shop, classes, lectures and workshops on art, gardening, nature journaling, and natural history.

Tucson Botanical Garden
https://tucsonbotanical.org/

A bit smaller than Tohono Chul, and further away from SCOV, this botanical garden offers many of the same services and programs, plus a butterfly garden and many special events.

Mission Garden
https://www.missiongarden.org/
A living ethnobotanical agricultural museum of Sonoran Desert-adapted heritage fruit-trees, traditional local heirloom crops and edible native plants. It is located at the birthplace of the city of Tucson, at the foot of Sentinel Peak (“A” Mountain), at the site of the Native American village of Cuk Ṣon (pronounced Chuk Shon), a place sacred to the Tohono O’odham. Current garden plots include: Native Plants, Early Agriculture, Hohokam, O’odham Before European Contact, O’odham After European Contact, Spanish, Mexican, Chinese, Yoeme, Africa in the Americas, Medicinal, and Youth.

University of Arizona Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill
https://desertlaboratory.arizona.edu/
An interdisciplinary program integrating culture, science, and community, Tumamoc Hill is an 860-acre ecological preserve in the heart of Tucson. In addition to research, the Lab offers education, and outreach focused on the future of life in the desert, including the popular walkway up the hill, interpretive signs, on-site and virtual classes, and more.

University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum
https://gemandmineralmuseum.arizona.edu/
A world-class mineral museum exhibit space with outstanding array of gems and minerals, with many exhibits featuring interactive, touchable, and digital content (video, photos, audio, and visuals). Notably, it is located in the Historic Pima County Courthouse in downtown Tucson which also has the Southern Arizona Visitor Center (with its own large array of exhibits and information about the area, plus the historic courthouse featuring the courtroom where the notorious bank robber John Dillinger was prosecuted, with an audio re-play of the trial.

Watershed Management Group
https://watershedmg.org/
Local non-profit organization offering consultation services to homeowners for advice on water-harvesting features, erosion and flooding, growing native and edible gardens, and general water and energy conservation practices.

Tucson Wildlife Center
https://tucsonwildlife.com/
  Phone: (520) 290-9453
Tucson Wildlife Center is dedicated to the rescue, emergency medical care and rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife before return to the wild, while promoting education, habitat protection and coexistence with wildlife. Before you touch or move any wildlife, call their 24/7 helpline at 520-290-9453 to find out what to do. Read their Rescue FAQs for answers to frequently asked questions about our local wildlife: https://tucsonwildlife.com/rescue-faq/ 
In addition to direct animal care, TWC staff and volunteers provide educational opportunities to the community to teach about habitat protection and peaceful coexistence with wildlife.

Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
https://www.desertmuseum.org/
A combination zoo, botanical garden, art gallery & classes, natural history museum, and aquarium, featuring plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert. Larger than Tohono Chul, but a lot further away.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum
https://btarboretum.org/
Situated on 372 acres of scenic upland Sonoran Desert with nearly five miles of trails, BTA is Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden and one of Arizona’s top tourism sites.