Buy or renew a Garden-Flex level or above membership by April 20 to participate in the member-only presales.
redbuttegarden.org/concerts Presented by
FRONT COVER
A Moose Family by sculptor
John B. Mortensen, gift of the
John W. and Helen B. Jarman
Family in memory of
Helen Brown Jarman.
Photo by Kristan Jacobsen
BACK COVER:
Volunteers weeding in the Water Conservation Garden.
Photo by Dave Titensor
EDITORS
Kate Randall
Mindy Wilson
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jason Baker
Peter Cain
Glenn Eurick
Leslie Hanna
Kristan Jacobsen
Kate Randall
Dave Titensor
Mindy Wilson
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Leslie Hanna
PRINTED BY
IC Group
2025 ADVISORY BOARD
David Classen, Chair
Kym Buttschardt, Vice Chair
Curt Crowther, Secretary
Lisa Andrues
Steve Barth
Nichol Bourdeaux
Carolyn Buma
Maura Carabello
Come be part of our celebration this year, as we share stories and exciting plans. Get your tickets now to our Botanical Alchemy 40th Anniversary Garden Party on Saturday, June 21, which promises to be a very fun evening exploring the garden’s many delights. I hope to see you there! VOLUME 17 ISSUE 1
Gary Christensen
Chelsey Curtis
Shaleane Gee
Greg Graham
Jeff Herring
Siamak Khadjenoury
Scott Mietchen
Lindee Nance
Laura Snow
JoLynda Stillman
Vicki Varela
Beverly Vargo
Kamrin Wilson
Emeritus Board Members
Sandi Behnken
Red Butte Garden and Arboretum turns 40 this year, and we’re excited to celebrate all year long! Starting with this issue of our member magazine, we are introducing a new Garden visual identity. The new logo, oak leaf icon, and Garden-inspired color palette honor the Garden’s origins and communicate our dynamic, welcoming, and forward-looking ethos.
The stunning cover photograph features a magnificent, native gambel oak, one of the largest, most significant tree specimens among the more than 2,000 in our care. It has stood watch over wedding vows, summer camps, seasonal festivals, and concerts. It provides a home to wildlife, cleans our air, and shades guests in the summer heat. It represents everything we aim to be as a botanical garden, a state arboretum, and a community asset—beautiful, durable, resilient, and vital.
This spectacular tree reminds us of our roots in the pioneering oak research of botanist Walter Cottam. An early conservationist, he helped protect this part of the Foothills for the public’s education and enrichment. Visionary philanthropist Zeke Dumke Jr., inspired by his friend Cottam, worked alongside others to bring the Garden to life in 1985.
Together, hundreds of dedicated staff, volunteers, members, and supporters have helped grow and nurture this vision. We’ve cultivated the Garden’s spectacular setting into both themed gardens and natural areas allowing us to provide educational programs, community gatherings, and new spaces for conservation and research. We are so proud of both our humble beginnings and the community anchor that we are today. Thanks to our donors, volunteers, and members, the Garden is firmly rooted and flourishing.
Derrek Hanson, Executive Director
We acknowledge that this land, which is named for the Ute Tribe, is the traditional and ancestral homeland of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute Tribes. The University of Utah recognizes and respects the enduring relationship that exists between many Indigenous peoples and their traditional homelands. We respect the sovereign relationship between tribes, states, and the federal government, and we affirm the University of Utah’s commitment to a partnership with Native Nations and Urban Indian communities through research, education, and community outreach activities.
Dr. Walter Cottam with Virginia Smith and Mrs. Seymoure Wells, ca. 1950s.
“It’s magic. You put this little teeny seed in there, water it, and pretty soon it comes up . . . so, yeah, it’s good for my soul to reconnect with Mother Nature.”
Volunteer Fair Open House
Saturday, March 8
11am-1pm
If you enjoy teaching children, engaging with people, meeting new friends, and being in nature— this is the place for you. Drop in to learn more.
In the Beginning, There Was Janice
By Kara Hastings, greenhouse manager
Janice Tolhurst has been a loyal Red Butte volunteer for the past 38 years. She started volunteering before volunteer hours were recorded, before the Visitor Center was built, before the Garden looked anything like it does today.
Every Tuesday and Thursday since then Janice has shown up to the greenhouse to help sow, count, and organize our large collection of seeds. Almost every annual and vegetable that comes out of the greenhouse starts with her loving care and diligent work. She’s been known to sow a thousand seeds by hand in one morning.
“Every seed I plant here, when I get through, I look at them and I say,
“Grow—or you’re compost,” Janice says, laughing.
The last living member of the Garden’s initial class of six volunteers, she has weeded or helped plant every garden, led school tours, and more, contributing more than 7,000 hours during her time at the Garden. She’s the longest-serving member of a volunteer corps that’s now more than 350 strong.
Janice is always encouraging us, sharing what’s she learned, and ready to give hugs during our hectic production season. Her knowledge is invaluable, and greenhouse staff and volunteers rely on her steady hand and advice every season.
Congratulations, Eddy Dawson!
In January, the Garden celebrated and congratulated Eddy Dawson, our director of programs, as he retired. After a multifaceted 23-year run that spanned three Garden departments, Eddy is starting an exciting new chapter in life.
Eddy, who has a BS in horticulture and an MS in botanical informatics from Texas A&M University, began his career at Red Butte Garden in 2000 in the plant records department, before moving into a leadership role in information technology in 2006. In 2019 he was named director of programs, overseeing teams devoted to educational outreach, including school programs; youth, family, and adult programming; and interpretation and exhibitions.
In August 2024, thanks to Eddy’s initiative and coordination, the Garden hosted its first-ever American Public Gardens Association National Education Symposium with educators from across North America in attendance. Driven by the belief that “everyone loves plants—not everyone knows it,” Eddy expects to continue learning and sharing his passion for plants. Thank you for your years of dedication to the Garden, Eddy!
Get On Board
Join us in welcoming our new Advisory Board Members
Nichol Bourdeaux, with 20 years of experience in public administration, is the planning and engagement officer at Utah Transit Authority, where she has led improvements in community engagement, customer service, and mobility solutions. She previously served as deputy chief of staff for Mayor Ralph Becker and has a background in communications, including coordinating entertainment for the 2002 Winter Olympics. In 2022, she was honored with the “Women of the Year Award” for her work in transit.
M. Scott Mietchen, CFRE, is president and managing partner at FRCI, with over 35 years of experience in institutional advancement, including fundraising, campaign management, and consulting. He previously served as vice president for university advancement at Utah State University, leading its $300 million campaign, and held key roles in fundraising at the University of Utah. A certified fundraising executive, Scott has also been an active volunteer leader, serving on several nonprofit boards and as an adjunct faculty member at the U.
Siamak Khadjenoury is CEO of Altium Health, where he has expanded access to mental health care through innovative treatment and telehealth services. With extensive experience in behavioral health and addiction medicine, he has led successful healthcare startups and contributed to the turnaround of a psychiatric hospital. Siamak is committed to mental health advocacy, serving on various advisory boards, and has been active in public service, including a run for the Utah House of Representatives.
Children's Garden
Meet the Team:
Terrace and Children’s Gardens
The Herb, Medicinal, and Fragrance Gardens—known together as the Terrace Gardens—opened in 1996, the nearby Children’s Garden in 1999. Although not our oldest themed gardens, they’re some of our most iconic. Horticulturists Lynsey Nielson and Andy Joy Chase lead their planning, cultivation, and care, with a team of six seasonal gardeners—including the invaluable Karolyn Engh, who returns for her twelfth season this year—and many dedicated volunteers. Here’s what goes into making sure these gardens are ready for all the memory-making they inspire.
You describe the Terrace Gardens as the “heart” of Red Butte’s themed garden areas. Why?
Location, for starters. Because these gardens are an easy walk from the Visitor Center, most guests spend a lot of time here. These gardens feature plants for both beauty and usability, including herbs for cooking and medicine, as well as fragrant plants and flowers. Lots of lovely moments happen here too— weddings, Garden celebrations, and other memorable events. Many times I’ve come around the corner in one of these
gardens to discover, oh wow, somebody’s getting proposed to!
Talk about what goes into making these gardens so special—your design, plant palette, interpretive approach.
We’re always trying to find the right balance between aesthetics and functionality, and we’re looking more and more for varieties that can thrive with less water. We’re always looking for fun plants we hadn’t heard of before— uniqueness is part of what we’re chasing. We want to show people things they
won’t have access to in their own yards or help them see the possibilities of plants that aren’t always available in the nursery trade . . . and maybe even influence nursery trades to get some of these things in.
We start planning in July of the year before. Because we grow so many unique plants, we have to get our wish list to the greenhouse manager early, because greenhouse production ramps up just as the garden season starts to wind down.
Most of the Garden focuses on perennials, but we add more annuals in the Terrace Gardens to insure color and interest throughout the season and for all those weddings. Last year we planted 6,200 annuals in our areas, more than almost anywhere else in the Garden.
The Children’s Garden features themed areas that invite kids to interact, fun features like a topiary covered with 350 succulents, and ethnobotanical plants.
Themed interpretive signage helps focus people’s attention and connect them to the plants they’re seeing. Lynsey brought the idea of themes to the Medicinal Garden in 2018, first highlighting forest medicine. Other themes include plant contributions to emotional and mental wellness, and cancer-fighting flora. The fun, informative “Polleneighbors” mini-exhibit Lynsey created for the Children’s Garden in 2019 was eventually featured gardenwide. Other themes she has created for the Children’s Garden include Dragon Adventures and Water Conservation & Climate Change.
What are some hidden gems that guests should look for?
The Herb Garden is our little version of a parterre garden, like what Versailles has on a much larger scale—it’s one of our only themed gardens that’s very
traditional in design. We really want guests to enjoy not only beautiful and unusual, but also useful, herbs. We harvest our herbs, sharing them with volunteers, staff, or even just guests walking by. Come visit at lavender harvest time, and we may just hand you a fresh bundle!
Don’t overlook the lovely Medicinal Garden either. While it’s one of our smallest themed gardens, it’s full of information about the traditional and modern uses of plants. We’re not chasing flowers there so much as elevating function, form, and stories. It’s a very calm part of the Garden.
The Fragrance Garden is a true showpiece, embodying more modern ideas of cultivated spaces and celebrating seasonality. Any part of the season is its most beautiful time, from spring with its bulbs and flowers, to summer so full and lush, and then fall with its beautiful grasses. The Fragrance Garden is a very dramatic emotional landscape—it moves you, and it moves with the people walking by. Watching a bride come down those steps and into the arms of the meadow is really lovely. Plus it’s an absolute pollinator magnet, a habitat haven, in part because of all the fragrances and also in the way it’s managed. Tons of wildlife, insects, and other critters—they’re all getting married in the Fragrance Garden!
What’s new this year?
This year when I presented our wish list to the greenhouse manager, I asked, “Are we brave?” We’re eager to try new, perhaps more challenging, plants for our climate.
This season we hope to grow a lot of food in the Children’s Garden, featuring the “three sister” crops (corn, beans, and squash) of indigenous farmers, demonstrating ways to grow mini-crops
. . . and a fairy garden is in the works too! We’re planting fairy watermelon & mini-munch cucumbers, clementine tomatoes. In the Herb Garden we’re introducing a handful of edible flowers, including the only edible cosmos—we’re excited to grow those again.
And we’re planning to grow some white Japanese bitter melons in the Medicinal Garden because they are so versatile, have copious medicinal value in many cultures, and are pretty unique around here. We’re trialing some basil that is grown specifically to not flower, preferable for culinary use, and then one that is grown specifically for flowers, which are actually also edible. We’re always trying to strike a balance between beauty and harvestability.
Pro Tip
Form and function don’t have to be at odds. You can incorporate beauty into a useful garden, and usability into a garden with high aesthetic value.
We believe gardening is best done together (family, neighbors, friends). It’s dynamic and wild and changing. Some things fail and some things thrive—you just keep doing it and learning and, well, that’s life.
Gardens teach us all the good stuff if we slow down and pay attention.
Lynsey Nielson has been a horticulturist at Red Butte Garden for fourteen years. She is an ISA-certified arborist and has a BA in environmental studies and social anthropology from Massey University, New Zealand. Andy Joy Chase joined the horticulture staff in 2022 with extensive farming experience. A visual artist, she has a BFA in printmaking from Weber State University.
Lynsey Nielson Andy Joy Chase
Ruth Pierpont Eccles Herb Garden
Why I Give
by Mark Jones, member and planned giving donor
Born and raised in Millcreek, Utah, I was bitten by the nature bug at a very young age. Millcreek was not a city in the 1950s but mostly residential homes scattered among existing farms. I lived on Millcreek Way not far from the actual Millcreek stream. As a youngster, my friends and I would always explore and play in the many undeveloped “natural areas” of Millcreek. My mother would often take me up Millcreek Canyon where I would ride on the tailgate of our 1955 station wagon and catch butterflies.
In 1960, when I was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, the Great Salt Lake Council had a large campout in the University of Utah’s Research Park area before going to the National Jamboree in Colorado Springs. This area was totally undeveloped, with no roads and no buildings. As I have watched these natural areas disappear all over the valley and into the Wasatch Mountains, I wonder, where will it stop? In 1965 I entered the U as a biology
Growing Success— Congratulations,
Lynsey Nielson
Lynsey Nielson, longtime Red Butte Garden and Arboretum horticulturist, recently won the 2025 Utah Nursery & Landscape Association's Women in the Green Industry Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the fields of horticulture and arboriculture. She is a skilled practitioner who demonstrates a deep commitment to educating and inspiring others. She chairs the Public Awareness
Committee for the International Society of Arboriculture Utah Chapter, where she promotes understanding and appreciation of arboriculture, and she is a member of the Women in Arboriculture Committee, promoting diversity and inclusivity within the field. Lynsey’s accomplishments serve as an inspiration to all women of the green industry .
major, among other things, and graduated from Westminster College with a BS degree.
I welcomed the creation of Red Butte Garden and Arboretum in 1985, in part because it helps protect and celebrate the natural beauty and diversity of the Foothills area I love so much. My favorite area in the Garden is the nearly 80 acres of the Natural Area and all its many trails, the Oak Tunnel, and the Six Bridges Trail. As a longtime member, I try to visit several times a week during all four seasons, and I have watched the garden grow and expand over many years. Although much of the work is done by volunteers, the Garden still needs a full-time, professional staff, and many of the larger projects require subcontractors. Salaries, plants, fuel, electricity, inflation, etc., all add to the cost of running the Garden. The Garden provides many jobs and is a valuable resource for many U students.
To fulfill its long-term mission, the Garden needs more revenue than just that generated by membership fees, concerts, and private event rentals. This is why I hope my legacy gift to Red Butte Garden will help it grow into the future.
Legacy Giving
Red Butte Garden and Arboretum honors the following individuals who have made a meaningful Legacy Gift, giving a lasting investment and advancing our mission to connect people with plants and the beauty of living landscapes. When you include Red Butte Garden and Arboretum in your estate plan, you ensure the continued growth of the Garden for future generations.
Robert K. Avery
Melissa J. Bentley
Wendy Bradley
Thomas and Jacquelin Bryce
Sandra J. Cameron-Greene
Nicola G. Dahl
Stephen L. Dahl
Jeffrey S. Drenker
Lesley A. DuTemple
Dotti M. Gallagher
Larry R. Gerlach
C. F. Gillmor
Beverly C. Hanson
Andrew E. Hunt
Maria S. Hunt
Mark R. Jones
Katharine W. Lamb
Jana L. Marko
Mary Moody
Mary J. Murphy
Jane L. Parker
David C. Reymann
Memorials and Tributes
Katherine G. Reymann
Craig P. Rhodes
Barbara J. Rolbiecki
Trent Smith
JoLynda Stillman
Peggy Stone
Hala Toubbeh
Beverly Vargo
Daniel J. Vargo
Myron A. Willson
June Zhu
The following donors have made gifts to Red Butte Garden and Arboretum to honor and remember friends or loved ones. Thank you for your generous tributes.
In Memory of the creative spirit of
Owen Douglas Peterson
Sam Kievit
Kathryn A. Imboden
In Memory of R. Endo
Joni D. Endo
In Memory of Jeffrey William Hoecherl
JoLynda Stillman
In Memory of Christine Currey
Gail Currey
In Honor of Thomas Schenkenberg
Gail Currey
In Memory of Joanne Angelo Moeller
Moeller Family Foundation
In Honor of Kathryn Ann Moler
Nancy M. Martin
In Memory of Raquel Stillman
Christine S. Stang
In Honor of Barbara Richards
Christina G. Richards
In Memory of Paul Rokich
Mary Ann S. Rokich
In Memory of Tom Rokich
Mary Ann S. Rokich
In Memory of Gayle Cornaby Petersen
Barbara T. Gaddis and James R. Gaddis
In Honor of David C. Classen
The Peter and Diane Classen Family Fund
Gifts made between 10/9/24-1/17/25.
Red Butte Garden and Arboretum 2024 Donors
We sincerely thank our generous supporters.
$100,000 +
ESRR Endowment Fund for Red Butte Garden & Arboretum
Jane Louise Parker Estate
Jeffrey S. Drenker*
Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks
Sandi Behnken
State of Utah - Office of Education
Utah Toyota Dealers
$15,000-$99,999
American Nutrition, Inc.
Anonymous Bank of America
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Utah Properties
Christopher and Summer Gibson
Curt and Mary Crowther
Emma Eccles Jones Foundation
Gale Stott
George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation
Harmons Grocery
Intermountain Healthcare
Law Offices of Matthew J. Storey
Onboard
Ray Quinney & Nebeker
Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Utah
Richard K. and Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation
Robyn Carter
The Kahlert Foundation
Thomas and Karma Ramsey
Tomilee Tilley
Wheeler Foundation
Willard L. Eccles Charitable Foundation
Woodbury Corporation
$10,000-$14,999
Adams Davis, P.C.
Advanced Precision Manufacturing, Inc.
Anonymous
Bernhard
Camille J. Cornaby
Capitol Hill Construction
Charles Williams and Rebecca Diehl
CODA Technologies
Dave and Renee Wentz
Digital Financial Group
Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation
Ellen Hotung and Steve Boyd
Glover Nursery
Granite Veterinary Specialists
Gurr Investments
Hank and Diane Louis
Jackson Leroy
Julie Asch and Scott Zuckerman
Kathleen Siskin Living Trust
Kipp & Christian
Kurt Larsen and Angelina Tsu
Kyle and Alyse Christensen
Legacy Probate International
Margie and Theron Tempest
McCarthey Family Foundation
Moeller Family Foundation
Mountain Land Design
Packaging Corp. Of America
Peggy Bergmann
Randy and Carrie Drown
Red Rock Demolition
Rhonda and William Nicoloff
Robert and Lisa Caldwell
Robert B. Lence
Rodney A. Newman
Scott and Lynn Pelichoff
Serta Mattress of Salt Lake
Southern Glazers Wine & Spirit
Stuart B. Pett Jr.
Susie Martindale
The Jeffrey and Helen Cardon Foundation
Theall Family
Thomas and Heidi Brickey
Timothy and Susan Houden
Visit Salt Lake
William Pederson
$5,000-$9,999
Ace Disposal
Air-Rite Manufacturing, LLC.
Andrew Baker
Anonymous
Ballard Spahr LLP
Barrett Johnson and Lauren Piper
Barry Baker
Betsy DeMann
Beverly Vargo and Daniel Vargo
BILL
Brad Ferrer
Brent and Anne Maxfield
Brooke Ewing
Byron and Deborah Barkley
Cache Valley Electric
Carol Fineagan
Carol Harward
Chet S. Goodwin*
Christina and S. Whitfield Lee
Cori Jones
Dan Steele
David M. Bennett
Deann Munson and David Baldridge
Debbie Nisson
Donna and David Joss
Dr. Ariel E. Holley
Garth “Trip” and Melanie Bates
Gayle and Sam Youngblood
Graig Griffin
Gretchen and Mark McClain
Holly Alden
Jackie Wentz
James and Janice Boes
James C. MacInnes
Jennifer D. Bass
Joel J. Fairley
John Firmage, III and Carol Firmage
JoLynda Stillman
Kathryn Moler and Steven Rosston
Kern River Gas Transmission Company
Key Bank
Kirton McConkie
Lawrence T. and Janet T. Dee Foundation
Lindsay H. Cleverly
Lisa and Jeffrey Jones
Marcia and Michael Dowdall
Marilyn Corbett and Brad Krassner
Mark C. and Nicole Crowther
Mark Hildebrandt
Mary and Jason Ellis
Matt and Melissa Child
Maureen Giggey and Mark Boschert
Michael and Jennifer Webb
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Michael Hoffee
Michael Kaeske
Michelyn and John Farnsworth
Nancy and Gordon Rogers
Nicholas & Company Inc.
Nicole Mannek
Paul and Bonnie Weiss
Paul and Landy Nipper
Paul and Nichole Lambert
Paul T. Walton, Jr. Charitable Foundation
Paulsen Construction
Peggy and Robert Stone
R. Harold Burton Foundation
Rob Schocker
Robert and Karla Knox
Robert S. Carter Foundation, Inc.
Rocky Mountain Care
Sally and J. Martin Barraclough
Sam and Victoria Souvall
Stephen C. Yagi
Stephen Rodosky
Success in Education
Susan and Richard* Anderson
T27 Inc
The Pi Foundation, Inc.
The Stephens Family Trust
Thomas Conover, MD
Tina M. Faust
Titleist Realty
Tracy Robinson
Troy and Angie Aramburu
Troy Peterson
Urban Utah
Vicki A. McKinney
Wadsworth Construction
Wendy Bradley
Will Peteroy
William and Vicki Bennion
William Lentz and Pearl Wright
William M. Green
$1,000-$4,999
Adam Duncan
Amy and Alfred Andersen
Ann and John Malooly
Anonymous
Anonymous
Ashley Barkley
Barbara Sullivan
Benevity Community Impact Fund
Benjamin and Erica Dahl
Bipin and Purnima Gandhi
Brandi J. Bosworth
Brian and Lauren Bucher
Brian Kessler
Carleen Nutter
Chad Baker
Charlotte M. Stewart
Cherise Cerruti
Christopher and Kathleen Muck
Cindy Oliver
Codye Cunningham
Cole Sax
Courtney and Nicholas Gibbs
David and Katherine Reymann
David Baird
David Classen and Laurie Hofmann
David Neuenswander and Andrea Merriman Neuenswander
Dianna Cannon
Donald and Kathy Pedersen
Doug T. Hutchinson
Dylan Shaver
E. William and Martha Scott
Elaine and Steven Clyde
Elizabeth and Joseph Veltri
Erin Armstrong
Geoffrey Crockett
Integrated Employer Solutions
James and Barbara Gaddis
Jana L. Marko
Janet Striefel and Craig Hinckley
Jennifer Reuben
Jill Johnson and Larry Kellis
Julie A. Potter
Kamrin Wilson
Karen and Scott Hoggan
Kasey and Bryan Webster
Katie Bradshaw
Kellie Risser
Kelly and Chris Manning
Kenneth & Joanne Mayne Foundation
Kevin Hobbs
Kristina L. Christensen
Kym Buttschardt
Larry McNeill
Laura Snow Prosper
Laurie Conklin
Linda and Peter Van Orden
Lindee Nance
Magleby Cataxinos
Michael Manship and Andrea Dumke-Manship
Michele and David Jenson
Nancy Goldberg
Nancy Martin
Nicole Cozzo-Banyai and Bradley Banyai
Norman and Carol* Foster
Paul and Lezlie Richardson
Perennial Favorites
R. Douglas and Susan Kolan
R. Layne and Rhonda Devereaux
Randy McDowell, Jr. and Carole McDowell
Rick Wiseman
Robert and Dixie Huefner
Robert R. Clark
Ron A. Motzkus
Scott Short
Shahpar Ghodsi
Shane McNeill
SME Steele
Stephen Godbe
Steven Price
Susan Edwards
Susan Godbe Rawson
Susan J. Wurtzburg
Susan Pett
Tammie L. Woolsey
The Sally and Sarah Patrick Charitable Fund
Third Cadence LLC
Tim Dee, III and Candace Dee
Tulsa Community Foundation
$250-$999
Aaron and Lara Portmann
Amber Courtright
Ann Taylor
Anne Cottam
Anonymous
Anytime Fitness
Arlene Hamburg
Ashley Patterson and Tom Diegel
Ballard Miller Foundation
Bee Lufkin
Beth Mannino
Betsy J. Minden
bioMerieux
Brian and Tina Hazlett
Bruce and Lynn Cohne
Chris A. Riggle
Christina Kohlburn
Christine Burandt
Christopher Swaner
Corey Luke
Dale and Janeel Burningham
Daniel and Deena Lofgren
Daniel and Tina Zvonek
Danielle Thomsen
Darren Stephens
David Gaskill and Kristy Larsen
Deborah S. Feder
Debra B. Davis
Dennis and Patricia Lombardi
E. Chuck Norlin and Marcia Feldkamp
Elise L. Erler
Elizabeth Howell and M. Bryan Thompson
Elliott and Roxanne Kulakowski
Eric and Shellie Eide
Eric D. Paprocki
Evelyn B. Lee
Francis Brennan
Fred and Gerry Esplin
George Muggee
Georgeanne Kitchen
Heather and Matt Brace
Isaac Riches
James M. Byrne
Jane Ingraham
Jason Alba
Jason Payan
Jeffrey and Marilyn Marshall
Jennie Hill and Paul Estabrooks
Jerry Rudisin
John and Kathryn Andrews
John Rose and Carolyn Pedone
Joseph Davidson
Julie and Robert Richards
Ken Coburn
Kerry R. Armstrong
Kim L. Sokolowski
L. Jackson Newell
Lacey Pyle
Lance May
Laura Cratin
Laura Marks
Linda and Wayne Tyler
Linda M. Burtch
Lindsay Wojciechowski
Lisa A. Carricaburu
Lisa Andrues
Lori Fenton
Lori McDonald
Lynda Sayge
Lynn L. Rohland
Lynn M. Wong
Lynne Wimmer
M. Short
M. Catherine Carter
Marci Harris
Margaret H. Groen
Margaret P. Viland
Marsha Leen-Mitchell
Mary Ann S. Rokich
Mary Ann Villarreal
Mary Hoover
Matt Poppe
Michael Harty
Michael Risley
Michael S. Scharp
Michelle Ley
PacifiCorp
Pauline Wiessner
Phil and Sandra McCarthey
Phyllis A. Reppucci
Preston Christensen
Richard and Chariya Ernst
Richard T. Jonas
Robert Jahries
Robert S. Fujinami
Sandra H. Cope
Scott and Loree Hagen
Scott S. Thornton
Shaleane Gee
Steph Harris
Stephen and Nicola Dahl
Stephen D. Lewis
Steven and Liz Burgess
Susan Frampton
Susan L. Loffler
Thomas and Laurie Eastwood
Travis and Jill Drown
Vance Harrison
Victoria Bicker
W. Shane Cohen
William and Barbara Gelegotis
William Olpin
Donations received January 1, 2024December 31, 2024
*Deceased
Hillside Connection Offers New Vistas, More Access
By Kevin Jensen, director of landscape architecture and facilities
Next time you’re searching for a great spot to view the sunset, consider strolling up the Garden’s new Hillside Connection. This recently constructed road traverses the eastern hillside, connecting the top of the Four Seasons Garden to the top of the Water Conservation Garden and giving
Left:
guests more ways to access the Natural Area. The new path provides valuable infrastructure to the Garden, creating better circulation, firefighting access, and stormwater management. Look for new native and waterwise plantings to begin filling in this spring.
Annual Spring Plant Sale & Fundraiser
Sharing Our Garden with Yours! Welcome the planting season and support Red Butte Garden and Arboretum.
Member benefit day Friday, May 9, 1-8pm Timed-entry registration required
Open to the public Saturday, May 10, 9am-3pm Free entry through the Amphitheatre gates.
Located in the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre.
Top: View looking south of the new Hillside Connection.
The spectacular valley views from the top of the Garden are now more accessible thanks to the new Hillside Connection.
SPRING 2025 CALENDAR
EXHIBIT ARTISTS
Top: Wasatch Camera Club
Bottom: Carol Bold Fine Art
Please visit our website and social media for more Garden event information.
ART EXHIBITS
Nature-themed media by Utah artists. Admission not required to shop.
MAR 7-APR 8
Wasatch Camera Club
Artist reception: March 8, 2-5pm
APR 18-MAY 29
Carol Bold Fine Art
GARDEN EVENTS
MAR, APRIL, MAY
Bulbs & Blooms
Over 590,000 bulbs promise millions of blooms this spring. Peak daffodil bloom in April.
MAR 4 & 5
Summer Camp
Registration Opens
Tues, 10am Garden members Wed, 10am General public
MAR 8
Volunteer Fair Open House Sat, 11am-1pm
MAR 19
Wisdom & Wonder with Zebith Thalden Wed, 6-7:30pm
Garden members $16
General public $20
APR 1-30
Garden Poetry Walk
In honor of National Poetry Month, our poetry boxes will feature the winning poems of the Spring Poetry Contest.
APR 5 & 6
Spring Orchid Show
Sat, 10am-7:30pm Sun, 9am-3pm
The largest display of common and exotic orchids in Utah.
APR 10
Spring Poetry Reception Thu, 6-7:30pm
Live readings with our poetry contest winners.
Garden members Free General public $16
APR 12 & 13
Spring Bonsai Show Sat, 9am-7:30pm Sun, 9am-3pm
Discover the Japanese art of growing miniature trees.
APR 19
Deep Roots, Bold Horizons Sat, 6-9pm
Join us for a special VIP farmto-table dinner and more.
To reserve your space contact development@ redbutte.utah.edu
APR 25
Arbor Day Celebration
Friday, 9am-7:30pm
Enjoy scavenger hunts, tree giveaways, and more. Free admission thanks to Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP).
MAY 8
Wisdom & Wonder with Jeremy Scott Hoffman Thu, 6-7:30pm
Garden members $16
General public $20
MAY 9 & 10
Spring Plant Sale
Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre Fri, 1-8pm, member benefit day (registration required) Sat, 9am-3pm, open to the public
JUN 13
Blooming with Pride Fri, 12-7pm
Join us for a family-friendly celebration featuring vibrant floral art installations throughout the Garden.
JUN 21
Botanical Alchemy 40th
Anniversary Garden Party Sat, 6-10pm
Join us for an enchanting progressive dining experience.
Registration required. Garden members $150 General public $200
GUIDED GARDEN TOURS
MAY-SEP
Complimentary Tram Tours
Mon-Sun, 10am-1pm based on docent availability. Groups of 6 or less. First come, first served. 20 minutes.
Private Garden Tours
Up to 7 guests per docent. Advance registration required. Check our website for rates. 1-1.5 hours. redbuttegarden.org/plan-yourgarden-visit/garden-tours
Garden member registration opens March 4, 10am
Public registration opens March 5, 10am
redbuttegarden.org/kids-classes/summer-camp
SPRING 2025 CALENDAR
ADULT CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
Find class descriptions and register online at redbuttegarden.org/ adult-education or call 801.581.8454
HORTICULTURE
MAR 12 & 15
Rose Pruning Series Wed, 6-8pm Sat, 10am-12pm or 1:303:30pm
Garden members $43
General public $55
MAR 12, 26, APR 9, 23
Birding Walk w/HawkWatch International Wed, 5-6pm
Garden members $13
General public $16
MAR 24
Spring Into Action:
Your Landscape Prep Mon, 6:30-8:30pm
Garden members $32
General public $39
MAR 31
Milkweed for Monarchs Mon, 6-7:30pm
Garden members $10
General public $12
APR 7
Propagation & Grafting 101 Mon, 6:30-8:30pm
Garden members $32
General public $39
APR 16, MAY 14, JUN 18
Wildflower Therapy Wed, 5:30-7:30pm
Garden members $36
General public $45
APR 15, MAY 20, JUN 17, JUL 15, AUG 19, SEP 16, OCT 21
101 Plants to Know in Utah Series Tue, 6-8pm
Garden members $144
General public $180
MAY 5
Everything You Want to Know About Trees Mon, 6:30-8:30pm
Garden members $32
General public $39
ART & DESIGN
MAR 1, APR 5, MAY 3
Botanical Painting for All Sat, 10am-12pm
Garden members $48
General public $60 Includes materials
Cultivating Wisdom & Wonder SPEAKER SERIES
2025
Wed, March 19
Zebith Thalden, author
Studying Nature’s Details: The Insect Artist 6-7:30pm
Thu, July 17
Amy Stewart, author
The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession 6-7:30pm
MAR 15
Awakening Beauty: Seasonal Skincare with Spring Herbs Sat, 10am-12pm
Let’s Talk About the Birds and the Bees: The Phenological Impacts of Climate Change 6-7:30pm
Wed, September 10
Terry Goedel, author
The Circle of Light: A Native American Hoop Dance Story 6-7:30pm
APR 1, 3, 8, & 10
Art in the Garden for Ages 55+ Series
Tue & Thu 5-7:30pm
Garden members $80
General public $100
APR 12
Terrarium Workshop
Sat, 1-3pm
Garden members $64
General public $80
Includes materials
APR 19
Shower Steamers & Infused Oils
Sat, 10-11:30am
Garden members $50
General public $75
Includes materials
APR 28
Block Printing Mon, 5:30-7:30pm
Garden members $56
General public $70
HEALTHY LIVING
MAR 12, APR 23, MAY 21
Indian Cuisine Cooking w/Purnima Gandhi (online) Wed, 6-8pm
Garden members $44
General public $55
APR 22
Earth Day Qigong w/Toni Lock Tue, 6-7pm
Garden members $12
General public $15
MAR, APR, MAY
Forest Bathing w/Chris Newton
Garden members $25
General public $30
MAR, APR
Yoga & Sound Bath w/Kristin Vance Sun 10:30-11:30am
Garden members $18
General public $20
MAR, APR
Mindfulness Meditation w/Maurena Grossman Sun 12-1pm
Garden members $12
General public $15
CLASSES FOR KIDS
Find class descriptions and register online at redbuttegarden.org/ kids-classes or call 801.581.8454.
Framed moss art—now sprucing up the second-floor breezeway between the Visitor Center and Orangerie!
@redbuttegarden
GARDEN ADVENTURES
Where Curiosity Blooms
For children ages 5-12 with a parent or caregiver. Sat, 10-11:30am
MAR 15
Lucky Leprechaun Planters
Garden members $20
General public $25
APR 12
Miniature Garden Magic
Garden members $20
General public $25
MAY 10
Beautiful Butterflies
Garden members $12
General public $15
ECO EXPLORERS
Where Young Minds Roam Wild Kids ages 9-12 will embark on exclusive adventures crafted just for them. Sat, 10-11:30am
MAR 22
Plant Pizzeria
Garden members $16
General public $20
CONTACT US
Visitor Center 801.585.0556
Website: www.redbuttegarden.org
Comments: 801.581.5754 or email pr@redbutte.utah.edu
GO GREEN!
Opt out of printed newsletters. Email membership@redbutte.utah.edu with "NEWSLETTER OPT OUT” in the subject line. We’ll take care of the rest.
THANK YOU
Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) Program for your support.
APR 19
Nature at Night
Garden members $12
General public $16
MAY 17
Desert Dwellers
Garden members $16
General public $20
LIL’ BUDS
Where Nature’s Magic Unfolds
Classes for preschool children ages 3-4 with a parent or caregiver. Wed, 10-11:30am
Garden members $16
General public $20
MAY 7
Lil' Buds 5 Senses & Touch
MAY 14
Lil' Buds Hearing
MAY 21
Lil' Buds Sight
MAY 28
Lil' Buds Taste & Smell
Red Butte Garden is one of the largest botanical gardens in the Intermountain West and, together with the University of Utah, a state arboretum.The Garden is renowned for its plant collections, themed gardens, almost 590,000 springtime blooming bulbs, award-winning horticulture-based educational programs, and a world-class outdoor summer concert series.
