Red Butte Garden Fall 2012 Newsletter

vol. 4, issue 3

Fall 2012 Issue sept • oct • nov Coming Soon: Water Conservation Garden Have it both ways: Waterwise AND Beautiful

Penstemon pinifolius ‘Mersea Yellow’

Editor

Bryn Ramjoué

Copy Editor

Laurie Engel

Gregory Lee, Rita Dodge, Meghan Eames, Neal Dombrowski, Michelle Cook

Contributing Writers

Contributing Photographers

Jason Baker, Amy Pugsley, Anna Petersen Millikan, Pierce McConnell Cover Photo Jason

Baker

Graphic Designers

Pierce McConnell, Amy Pugsley

IC Group in Salt Lake City

Printed by

Red Butte Garden, a part of the University of Utah, is a nonprofit organization located in Salt Lake City, Utah. With over 100 acres, including display gardens, walking paths, and natural areas with hiking trails, Red Butte Garden is the largest botanical garden in the Intermountain West that tests, displays, and interprets regional horticulture.

300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108 · 801.585.0556 Copyright © 2012 Red Butte Garden. All rights reserved.

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In May 2012, Red Butte Garden received a generous and visionary $3,000,000 challenge grant from the Alternative Visions Fund (a fund of The Chicago Community Foundation) to design and build a three-acre Water Conservation Garden on the hillside north of our Children’s Garden. The challenge grant is, well, challenging. It requires Red Butte Garden to raise an additional $3,000,000 in matching funds by February 1, 2013 to receive the grant. Recognizing the importance of this project and the unique opportunity it presents, the Dumke family pledged $2,000,000 toward the match, leaving the Garden to raise $1,000,000 in gifts or pledges in the next five months. This will be the fundraising equivalent of an all-out sprint.

Centrally situated within Red Butte’s property, the Water Conservation Garden fills a geographic opening and programmatic need, and forms a transition between our developed gardens and the natural hillside vegetation. The concept of the garden developed as a series of terraced “rooms” connected by a sinuous path of water permeable pavement winding up the slope at an accessible grade, creating within its folds retained areas and terraces, each with a different conservation focus, theme, and message.

The series of spaces unfold one at a time as visitors ascend and the whole garden structure may be viewed only when they reach the upper levels. Conservation messages unfold in the same way, offering layer upon layer of understanding as visitors move upward. Near the top an event space is planned with an earth-sheltered restroom building, seating plaza, and canopied wood deck cantilevered over the hillside, offering breath-taking views both up and down the canyon.

The Water Conservation Garden will feature water-wise native plants as well as droughtresistant species from around the world. The garden beds and related programming will educate the community that water-wise landscapes can be colorful and beautiful without requiring excessive applications of water or chemicals. It will differ from other water conservation gardens that try to convince you that should landscape this way; our approach will be to make it so attractive that it will “seduce” you into wanting to garden in a water-conserving way. Signage, interpretation, and programs in the Water Conservation Garden will then teach you how to do it.

From a community perspective, there may never be a more important project at Red Butte Garden. Whether or not this summer’s drought is a precursor to what we may expect from climate change, it is clear that in the West, water is a precious and limited resource. In the future, people and businesses will be locating where they can access adequate water. Sixty percent of Salt Lake residential water is now used outside the walls of the home. With the right techniques and plant selections, that can be cut in half.

Conserving water and having beautiful landscapes is not just a “cool” current notion, but also an investment in the economic future of our children and grandchildren.

For the Water Conservation Garden to happen, however, Red Butte Garden must raise that additional $1,000,000 by February 1, 2013. Please help us reach our goal so this important and valuable community resource can be built. If you have questions or interest in contributing to the cause, please contact the Garden’s Development Director, Kathryn Atwood (801) 585-5658; kathryn.atwood@redbutte.utah.edu) or me (801) 5813878; gregory.lee@redbuttegarden.utah.edu).

We have five months to reach the finish line. The race is on!

- Gregory J. Lee, Executive Director

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Red Butte Garden

table of contents features

calendar

2 Executive Director's Message

5 Art Exhibits

8 Tributes & Memorials

7 Activities - Free With Admission

8

Garden Fresh Recipe

10

Fall Workshops & Classes

14

Volunteer Spotlight

11

Greek Theatre

15

Conservation Plant Highlight

13

Horticulture Lecture Series

16

Bulb & Native Plant Sale

17

Garden Adventures Schedule

18

Fall Calendar

20

Garden After Dark

Agave parryi

articles 4

Best in Show & Waterwise

9 Refresh & Renew your Pots for Autumn 12

Gala Wrap Up

Oenothera caespitosa

13 New Faces at the Garden

Notice the beautiful waterwise plant images throughout the newsletter Erigeron flagellaris

WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

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&

Best in Show Waterwise!

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By Neal Dombrowski, Natural Area Crew Leader

My colleagues and I considered the question ‘what plant do you think of when it comes to a showy, waterwise flower?’ Waterwise plants are often thought of as ‘gray and spindly’ in appearance, but many don’t deserve the stereotype. Some have green foliage and others have showy flowers. Focusing on mass displays, we narrowed our favorites to Blue Flax (Linum perenne), Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnifera), Lindheimer’s Bee Blossom (Gaura lindheimeri), and Hummingbird Trumpet (Zauschneria latifolia). These plants can be found in the entrance drive and parking lot, Sprout House roof, Hobb’s wayside, and the Natural Area at Red Butte Garden.

For a showy waterwise flower, we prefer the Wasatch Penstemon (Penstemon cyananthus). It is native to the foothills along the Wasatch Front and in the spring provides a stunning show of densely-packed blue flowers with deep green leaves. After the first bloom has finished, cut off the flowering stalks and you may get another bloom that year. This plant can be found near the Garden’s Great Wall and on the north slopes in the Natural Area. It is one of the longer-lived Penstemon species.

Another showy, waterwise, pollinator, native to the Rocky mountains is the Rocky Mountain Beeplant (Cleome serrulata). I first stumbled upon it in the west desert of Utah along a ditch bank. One source labels it as “the fourth sister:” the companion to the three

sisters of corn, squash, and bean. It attracts pollinators to its purple, clustered flower stalks. This large annual reseeds with ease in our clay soils of Utah and reaches heights over six feet! The plant can be found growing in the Garden’s parking lot, Hobb’s wayside and along the canyon trail in the Natural Area.

At Red Butte Garden, Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), with its bold, reflexed, purple petals and brown center cone, flowers in mid summer. It survives on limited water in the entrance drive and the parking lot. It is also found throughout our formal gardens.

The flowers are elegant when cut and placed in a centerpiece. One plant produces up to a dozen cut flowers.

Another waterwise beauty is Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii), a crepuscular plant, that displays its platesized fragrant flowers at dusk when it is pollinated by hawk moths. During the day, the trumpet flowers close, displaying a purple tinge on the outside of otherwise white flowers. It is found in the canyonlands of southern Utah, often in a nook against red sandstone, which provides a stunning contrast to its dark green broad leaves. The flowers give way to golf ball-sized, spiny fruits with a host of seeds. The plant name comes from its use by indigenous tribes of the southwest during ceremonies. Careful, though: the seeds are extremely poisonous and can be fatal if ingested.

Picture perfect events in all four seasons, naturally.

Call 801.585.9563 to schedule your event.

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Red Butte Garden

Amanda Abel Photography

AUGUST 17 - SEPTEMBER 9 Last year the garden planted Prairie Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Echinacea, and Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida). This year the Prairie Coneflower grew to nearly five feet in height. They can be viewed in the Garden’s entrance drive. They do best when planted in groups where their stems can support each other. Availability at local landscape nurseries may be limited, but be sure to keep an eye out and be the first on your block to show your neighbors and passerbys that you’re waterwise savvy!

When choosing your plants, remember, waterwise landscaping does not mean the plant does not require any water, rather it implies responsible plant selection, landscape design and maintenance; and planting together plants with similar water requirements, or hydrozoning.

This article discussed a small list of beautiful waterwise plants that can be integrated into your home landscape following the principles of waterwise landscaping. There are plenty of additional choices for waterwise landscapes.

WWW.HADLEYRAMPTON.COM

Art Exhibits

Hummingbird Trumpet

HADLEY RAMPTON ART EXHIBIT

COLLEEN REYNOLDS ART EXHIBIT SEPTEMBER 14 - OCTOBER 7 WWW.COLLEENREYNOLDS.COM

2012 HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE & ART FAIR | DECEMBER 1 & 2 FREE Garden admission both days.

Enjoy local artisans and the beauty of winter in the Garden.

ARTIST CALL FOR ENTRIES Interested in being a featured artist at the Open House & Art Fair?

For more information, Contact Dianne Crosby at dianne.crosby@redbutte.utah.edu Application deadline: Oct. 15, 2012

GLASS ART SHOW NOVEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 16 WWW.GLASSARTGUILD.COM www.redbuttegarden.org

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TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 2

TO OUR PRESENTING STAGE SPONSOR, WELLS FARGO, OUR STAGE SPONSOR, FIDELITY INVESTMENTS, AND ZOO, ARTS, & PARKS.

FOR ANOTHER GREAT SEASON OF CONCERTS.

The Gift Shop at

RED BUTTE GARDEN Garden Inspired Gifts Visit the Red Butte Garden Gift Shop to find the right gift for the Gardener in your life. Located in the Red Butte Garden Visitor Center.

Gift Memberships The perfect gift Available in the gift shop, or by calling 801.585.7172.

Spharalcea coccinea

MAXIMIZE Your Membership Benefits This

Fall!

These activities are FREE for Garden members and are included with the price of admission for the general public.

To become a Garden member call 801.585.7172 or visit www.redbuttegarden.org EVENING EXPLORATION: GARDEN TOUR

EVENING EXPLORATION: NATURAL AREA HIKE

Join us for an exploration of what’s blooming throughout the Garden. Walk with one of our Garden Guides and take an intimate look at the Garden. See how it changes throughout the season. Wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes. Meet in Visitor Center Courtyard. Limited to 20 participants.

Explore what’s blooming in our “back forty”. Walk with a trained volunteer to take a closer look at our Natural Area and see how it changes throughout the season. Wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes. Meet in Visitor Center courtyard. Limited to 20 participants.

SEPTEMBER 6, THURSDAY 6PM - 7PM

REGULAR GARDEN ADMISSION/MEMBERS FREE REGISTRATION REQUIRED 801.581.8454 OR ONLINE AT WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

SEPTEMBER 18, TUESDAY 6PM – 7PM

REGULAR GARDEN ADMISSION/MEMBERS FREE REGISTRATION REQUIRED 801.581.8454 OR ONLINE AT WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

ORCHID SHOW

NOV. 3 - 4, SATURDAY & SUNDAY 10AM - 5PM

Fascinating and unique orchids will be displayed in the Red Butte Garden Orangerie by the Utah Orchid Society.

Members of the Society will be on hand to answer questions and offer advice about growing and caring for orchids. There will also be a large selection of orchids available for purchase.

Orchid

REGULAR GARDEN ADMISSION/MEMBERS FREE NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Have you taken advantage of ALL your member benefits?

Everyone knows about getting 12 months of free garden admission and discounts on concert tickets, did you know that you get other great benefits too!

Present your current membership card to receive these amazing discounts: • 25 Local Retail Partners – Enjoy discounts at garden specialty stores, unique boutiques, jewelers, florists, and some of the best cafés in town! For a full list visit www.redbuttegarden.org/local_retail_partners.

• American Horticulture Society Reciprocal Admissions Program – Over 270 gardens, arboreta and conservatories in 45 states throughout the U.S. offer free or discounted admission, tours and events.

Visit ahs.org to see a full list of participating organizations.

• 10% off at the Red Butte Garden Gift Shop – The Gift Shop offers a great selection of local products and a wide variety of gifts to delight any garden enthusiast and shoppers of all kinds. Open yearround during regular Garden business hours.

• Receive a FREE one-year subscription to Better Homes & Gardens Magazine upon purchasing your new membership or renewing your current membership.

A full list of member benefits can be found at www.redbuttegarden.org/purchase_memberships Questions? Email the membership department: membership@redbutte.utah.edu or call 801.585.7172. www.redbuttegarden.org

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CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Tributes & Memorials May - July 2012 Gifts donated in tribute of: Patricia Eager Gifts donated in memory of: Ruth Rich Ramona Rochford Elizabeth Schmidt Marjorie Smith Ranger Julie Weir For tribute & memorial information call Wendy Loyning at 801.585.3813

Red Butte Garden is proud to present these new membership opportunities to businesses of any size!

You and your staff can enjoy these great benefits and so much more!

Free admission for all staff for one year Discount on personal memberships Complimentary Garden After Dark tickets Volunteer opportunities Company subscription to e-newsletter Acknowledgement in annual report and Corporate Partners web page Discount on facility rental fee for corporate event or meeting* *Facility rental dates based on availability and only valid during membership year

Corporate Membership Packages Fewer than 25 Employees 25-100 Employees More than 100 Employees

SIGN UP TODAY!

Dianthus deltoides

Garden Fresh

$500 $1,000 $2,500

Call the Membership Department 801.585.7172 For more information www.redbuttegarden.org/corporate_memberships

Recipe

Savory Pumpkin Turnovers Submitted by Jill Frei, Horticulturist

Ingredients:

2 T. butter 1/4 c. finely chopped onion or shallots 15-ounce can pumpkin puree (2 cups) 1 egg 1 t. dried thyme 1/2 t. salt 1/4 t. white pepper 1/2 c. grated romano cheese 1/8 t. grated nutmeg 1 package (17-ounce) store-bought frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed & rolled out

Directions:

Pumpkins

Heat butter and sauté the onion or shallots for three minutes on low heat. Combine the pumpkin puree, sautéed onion, egg, thyme, salt, pepper, cheese, and nutmeg. Place puff pastry on work surface, cut into 2x2-inch squares. Place a tablespoon of filling in center of each pastry square. Fold over into a triangle: crimp edges with a fork. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 425˚ for 10-12 minutes until puffed and golden. (Can be made ahead, baked, frozen, then re-heated on a baking sheet in a 400˚ oven for 5-8 minutes before serving.) Makes about 24 appetizers.

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Ranunculus

Refresh & Renew Your Pots for Autumn

By Michelle Cook, Greenhouse Coordinator

Your potted plants are HUNGRY! Annuals, perennials, trees, and grasses in pots have grown a lot over the summer, and taken a lot of nutrition from the soil in the process. In addition, many of the nutrients they need are easily bonded with water and the minerals in our hard water and thereby made unavailable to them.

Furthermore, with all of the watering required over the summer, many of the nutrients have been washed out of the soil. Flowering and the subsequent production of seeds requires a lot of energy and nutrients. To keep them blooming you need to feed them.

What do I use? Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate), slowrelease general fertilizer, or extra fine compost are good choices. I usually use all three! Epsom salts are a great source of gentle sulfuric acid, which slightly changes the alkalinity of the soil, thereby releasing some bound-up nutrients. It also is a source of magnesium, which is used in stimulating flower growth, particularly for geraniums. Slow, season-long, control-release fertilizers are coated to distribute a small amount of fertilizer over a longer period of time. This timing usually matches the needs of the plants. Fine compost is a great source of nutrition, but it also will hold onto some soil nutrients. This diminishes the leaching of elements/molecules through the soil. Compost helps (slightly) with soil texture, sometimes opening up the tight root-bound soil pores.

Your plants have grown A LOT! Plants produce flowers to attract pollinators and produce seed, not just for our viewing pleasure. Imagine that! Once a flower is finished blooming it is ready to grow fruit and the accompanying seed. This is a large undertaking. By removing the old flowers you stop seed growth and preserve energy for new flowers. This is commonly called “deadheading”.

With more leaves comes more transpiration. Transpiration is the water a plant releases from its leaves in order to cool itself or as a by-product of photosynthesis.

By selectively pruning leaves, you reduce the amount of water lost. Your containers will often look better with a little trim. First, cut out anything that is dead or close to it. Next, take out anything dangling to the ground, crossing over something else, or growing in an odd direction. Every branch likes its own sunlight.

Usually, branches expand from the growth tip into two or three new branches. Remove the extras, leaving what you like best.

New plants can refresh a pot. As we enter into the cooler temperatures of fall, it can be really fun to add to your containers new plants that like the cooler night temperatures. There are several beautiful, cool season annuals and many perennials that look great in pots.

First, remove summer annuals that are tired or very tender to cold temperatures. A soil knife can help cut through the root ball so you don’t disturb the other plants. Then, drop a handful of fresh potting soil in the bottom of the hole and install your new plant.

Finally, add some fresh potting soil on top and you’re set for the next few months.

Some beautiful cool season annuals and perennials that do well and look great in pots are: Persian Buttercup (Ranunculus), Johnny Jump Ups (Viola tricolor), Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana), African Daisies (Osteospermum), Cardoon (Cynara), Linaria (Linaria), Coral bells (Heuchera), Petunias (Petunia), English Daisy (Bellis), Aster (Callistephus), Alyssum (Lobularia), Dianthus (Dianthus), Stock (Matthiola), Lavatera (Lavatera), and Primula (Primula).

We have cool season containers throughout Red Butte Garden, so visit us for ideas and inspiration. www.redbuttegarden.org

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SIGN UP for FALL

Workshops & Classes GROWING GOURMET MUSHROOMS (LLHG 573)

Oenothera caespitosa

CERAMIC BIRDBATH WORKSHOP

NEW

SEPTEMBER 15 - 22, SATURDAYS 10AM - NOON

SEPTEMBER 8, SATURDAY 9AM - NOON

Have you ever been tempted by the thought of growing your own culinary mushrooms, but weren’t quite sure where or how to begin? Then join us as we explore the wonderful world of mushrooms and demystify the process of home mushroom cultivation. We’ll cover the basics of care and maintenance, as well as how to best harvest your mushrooms. Better yet, we will help you prepare and inoculate your very own mushroom log to take home. All materials provided. Co-sponsored with Lifelong Learning.

GARDEN MEMBERS $55 PUBLIC $60 REGISTRATION REQUIRED 801.587.LIFE (5433) OR ONLINE AT WWW.LIFELONG.UTAH.EDU

Birdbaths can be a welcome addition to any garden space.

Join us for a unique workshop experience as you use molds and hand-building techniques to create a ceramic bowl. We’ll also use leaves and stems taken from the Garden to make decorative surface impressions. After it is bisque-fired, select from an earthy palette of glazes to finish the piece during the second class. Your hand-made creation will live in your garden for you and your feathered friends to enjoy.

GARDEN MEMBER $40 PUBLIC $45 REGISTRATION REQUIRED 801.581.8454 OR ONLINE AT WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE DESIGN (LLHG 512)

SEPT. 19 - OCT. 17, WEDNESDAYS 6PM - 9PM AND OCT. 6, SATURDAY 10AM - 1PM

Mushrooms

MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION

SEPT. 10 - NOV. 5, MONDAYS 7PM - 9PM PLUS OCTOBER 20, SATURDAY 9AM - 4PM

Save time and money by making informed landscaping choices before you plant. We’ll show you how to draw a plan; analyze your site; and use landscape design principles for laying out paths, patios, and garden beds suitable for your location. We’ll look at plants appropriate for the Utah landscape and learn about plant characteristics to consider when choosing plants for you design. You’ll have the opportunity to work on your personal landscape plan throughout class with the help of a landscape designer. Cosponsored with Lifelong Learning.

Join us in the Garden as we learn to cultivate mindfulness – moment-to-moment awareness. During this ninesession, highly participatory workshop, we will explore several mindfulness practices, including sitting and walking meditation and mindful movement and the ways in which these practices can assist us in coping more effectively with short and long-term stress; relating to our lives and those in our lives with greater awareness; gaining greater selfunderstanding, energy, and enthusiasm for life; waking up to our surroundings and the power of the present moment; and exploring the nature of thoughts, negative thought patterns and habits of the mind. An all-day session will be held on Saturday, October 20th. Note: No class Monday, October 29

GARDEN MEMBER $176 PUBLIC $194 REGISTRATION REQUIRED 801.587-LIFE (5433) OR ONLINE AT WWW.LIFELONG.UTAH.EDU

GARDEN MEMBERS $225 PUBLIC $235 REGISTRATION REQUIRED 801.581.8454 or ONLINE AT www.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

GARDEN MEMBER $25 PUBLIC $30 REGISTRATION REQUIRED 801.581.8454 OR ONLINE AT WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

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Red Butte Garden

UNIQUE TREES FOR UTAH LANDSCAPES SEPTEMBER 20 – 27, THURSDAYS 6PM – 8PM

Want to find the right specimen tree to add beauty and diversity to your home landscape? Join us for this informative course covering unique tree species that have proven themselves in Utah’s urban environments. Because fall is ideal for planting trees, we’ll also cover important planting and care instructions to help ensure the health and longevity of your tree selection.

SEED COLLECTING WORKSHOP

BULB FORCING WORKSHOP

SEPTEMBER 22, SATURDAY 10 AM – NOON

There is nothing like fresh flowers in the dead of winter.

Brighten the winter blues by planting spring bulbs for winter forcing. We will share the secrets to successful bulb forcing and participants will pot up 6” terra cotta pots to take home for forcing. Participants will be provided with (4) 6” terra cotta pots, soil, selected bulbs and instructions for forcing.

Workshop will be held at Red Butte Garden greenhouses.

(LLHG 564)

Join us for an excursion through the Garden as we examine a variety of Red Butte Garden’s favorite plants that can be propagated from seed. Collect seeds from a variety of outstanding perennials and annuals growing at Red Butte Garden that can then be grown in your own garden. Learn tips for when to collect, how to handle the seeds after collection, and where to plant for best results. We’ll provide a list of plants and envelopes for seed collection. Bring sharp hand pruners. Co-sponsored with Lifelong Learning.

GARDEN MEMBER $18 PUBLIC $23 REGISTRATION REQUIRED 801.587.LIFE (5433) OR ONLINE AT WWW.LIFELONG.UTAH.EDU

OCTOBER 13, SATURDAY 10 AM - NOON

GARDEN MEMBER $45 PUBLIC $55 REGISTRATION REQUIRED 801.581.8454 OR ONLINE AT WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

HOLIDAY FLORAL ARRANGING WORKSHOP

NOVEMBER 17, SATURDAY 10 AM – NOON

Join horticulturist Scott Mower for a fun workshop and create a seasonal floral design for your holiday table. After learning some basic floral design principles, you’ll put together your own unique holiday centerpiece to take home. Fee includes all materials. Workshop will be held at Red Butte Garden greenhouses.

Seedpod

GARDEN MEMBER $45 PUBLIC $55 REGISTRATION REQUIRED 801.581.8454 OR ONLINE AT WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

CONTAINERS FOR FALL GARDENS (LLHG 550)

OCTOBER 6, SATURDAY 10AM - NOON

Spend a morning at the Garden and create a striking fall planter to take home. After reviewing plants suitable for fall container gardening, including cool-season annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees, we will each create a masterpiece that will hold up through Thanksgiving—and potentially through winter. You’ll receive a 16-inch terra cotta container, soil, plants, and design suggestions. Please meet at the Garden greenhouse. Co-sponsored with Lifelong Learning.

GARDEN MEMBER $58 PUBLIC $61 REGISTRATION REQUIRED 801.587.LIFE (5433) OR ONLINE AT WWW.LIFELONG.UTAH.EDU

C L AS S I C A L G R E E K T H E AT R E F E S T I VA L

By Sophocles

Directed by L. L. West Translation by Marianne McDonald

FALL GARDEN MAINTENANCE (LLHG 551) OCTOBER 13 – 27, SATURDAYS 10AM – NOON

Get a jump on spring gardening this fall. Simple garden clean-up along with dividing, transplanting, pruning, and mulching will leave you ahead of the game come spring.

We’ll discuss which perennials to cut back and which to leave until spring, healthy fall transplanting, dividing irises, which trees and shrubs to prune in fall, and how to protect your garden through mulching. Join us in the Garden as we get hands-on experience cutting back perennials, dividing, transplanting, and pruning. Co-sponsored with Lifelong Learning.

GARDEN MEMBER $66 PUBLIC $72 REGISTRATION REQUIRED 801.587.LIFE (5433) OR ONLINE AT WWW.LIFELONG.UTAH.EDU

Experience Classical Greek Theatre in the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre.

September 22-23 & 29-30 RED BUTTE GARDEN AMPHITHEATRE

Performance at 9am, pre-show discussion at 8:30am

SATURDAY & SUNDAY $7 for children ages 3-17 SEPTEMBER & 29-30 @ 9AM $10 for Red22-23 Butte Garden members

for the general public $7$15 FOR CHILDREN (3-17) Purchase$10 ticketsFOR at the Red ButteMEMBERS Garden Visitor Center, GARDEN online at www.redbuttegarden.org/greek_theater, $15 GENERAL PUBLIC orFOR by phone at 801.585.0556

THE LADY DOTH PROTEST TOO MUCH, METHINKS. WESTMINSTER COLLEGE

WEBER STATE

Richer Commons | September 7 | 5:00 PM

Wildcat Theater | September 19 | 7:30 PM

AVENUE THEATER

RED BUTTE GARDEN

Amphitheatre | September 22,23,29,30 | 9:00 AM 11 www.redbuttegarden.org UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER Denver | September 15 | 2:00 PM

Denver | September 15 | 8:00 PM

ZION CANYON ARTS &

From left: Philip and Sandra McCarthey, Mark Dressman and Sarah McCarthey, Maureen McCarthey, Thomas and Mary McCarthey

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Red Butte Garden Under the Stars, the 2012 Gala event for Red Butte Garden was a smashing success!

The McCarthey Family Foundation was the honoree at this year’s event and family members Maureen, Sarah, Philip and Thomas were all on hand with their extended family members and friends to receive the recognition for their ongoing generosity to Red Butte Garden.

There were many stars out that evening, from the wonderful jazz renderings of Peggie Perkins and her band to the gorgeous roses, which were in full flower in the McCarthey Family Rose Garden. A delicious dinner was provided by The Blended Table and followed by dancing and dessert on the Amphitheatre stage.

Thank you to all who made Red Butte Garden Under the Stars a night to remember!

Help this garden become a reality!

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Red Butte Garden

NEW FACES AT THE GARDEN! Meet the Red Butte Garden Development Department’s newest team members

MORGAN BYRNE MEMBERSHIP MANAGER Morgan Byrne joined the development team in December 2011 as Membership Manager. Morgan will answer your phone calls with a smile and ensure Garden members questions are answered. After earning her Bachelor of Science from Virginia Tech, Morgan worked with the University of California San Francisco, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and as a manager at REI, where she learned the value of memberbased organizations.

On weekends, Morgan likes to spend time in the outdoors with her dogs, Weasel and Rosie, followed by the occasional indulgence in her favorite Moose Tracks ice cream.

She has traveled both within the U.S. and abroad, and is looking forward to visiting Argentina this year with her husband. Morgan loves her job at Red Butte Garden and the opportunity to work with so many wonderful members. She says, “After living on both coasts, I am so glad to have finally found my home here in Salt Lake City!”

Morgan can be contacted by phone at 801.585.7172 or by email at morgan.byrne@redbutte.utah.edu

GAIL GARFIELD DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST This May, Gail Garfield joined the team at Red Butte Garden as our Development Specialist. She worked in the Purchasing Department at the University of Utah for four years and is a Ute fan through and through. With her degree in English and outstanding writing capabilities, she will take on grant writing as well as support of the Development team with memberships, concerts, and special events.

Gail hails from Salt Lake City and brings a love of skiing, travel, and reading to the team. In her spare time, she enjoys coaching the youth program for The Utah Nordic Alliance and collecting potted plants for her desk. She makes sure to find time to take walks and hikes to enjoy the beauty of Red Butte Garden.

Gail can be contacted by phone at 801.587.9658 or by email at gail.garfield@redbutte.utah.edu

Horticulture Spotlight Lecture Series Lectures are FREE, public welcome.

Creative Ways to Garden with Limited Water August 27, Monday

6:30 - 7:30 PM Red Butte Garden Classroom 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108

Clifton Smith, Garden Manager at Jordan Valley Water Conservation Garden Park Mr. Smith has a strong interest in making our Utah landscapes fit our water resource availability while maintaining a beautiful landscape. Highlights of this presentation include rain harvesting, proper plant selection, curb cuts and rain gardens to maximize capture, preservation and availability of precious water.

The Horticulture Spotlight Lecture Series is sponsored by the Salt Lake County Extension of Utah State University.

Registration is required. To register or for questions, call Jessica Buxton at 801.468.3187 jessica.buxton@usu.edu.

2012 Discover Ornamental Grasses September 24, Monday

Eddy Dawson, Red Butte Garden IT Director Mr. Dawson’s undergraduate work is in horticulture, with a Master’s in Bioinfomatics. He has a passion for ornamental grasses. The fine-textured foliage of drought-tolerant ornamental grasses blends well in most any planting. The multi-season interest and dramatic form of grasses add grace and elegance to any landscape.

SALT LAKE COUNTY EXTENSION

extension.usu.edu/saltlake Utah State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution

WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

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By Meghan Eames, Volunteer Coordinator

When Sandra Ishii, the volunteer coordinator at Questar Corporation, attended her Toastmasters Club luncheon earlier this year, she had no idea it would lead her to a grand garden adventure. After hearing a presentation about the Garden by Patrick Newman, Red Butte Garden’s Program’s Director, Ishii wanted to get involved -- and she didn’t want to be the only one. Ishii set up a group volunteer project for her Questar colleagues. Questar believes it is a responsibility and a privilege to invest in its local communities, and the employee volunteers were happy for the opportunity to help a unique community resource like Red Butte Garden.

On June 23, members of the Questar Volunteer Team put on their hats, sunscreen and gardening gloves, and headed up Wakara Way. Working in the Floral Walk and Four Seasons Garden, 40 Questar volunteers weeded and mulched the morning away.

For a few volunteers, Red Butte is familiar stomping ground, but for some the Garden came as a surprise.

“This was my first time at Red Butte Garden,” said Questar volunteer Jessica Ipson. “I think I’ve been missing out; it was beautiful.”

The Questar group got exactly what they were looking for and more. Questar’s philosophy is that volunteering not only serves the community, but the company itself, promoting teamwork, fellowship and unity among employees. Many of the volunteers commented that one of their favorite parts of the experience was the opportunity to bond with coworkers and get to know them outside a work setting.

Questar’s volunteers were also looking for some hard work and the chance to make a difference, and they definitely found it in the Garden. “It was physically taxing, but it was fulfilling to see the improvement of the Garden after we spread the new mulch around the plants,” said Merrilee McArthur.

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Red Butte Garden

Volunteer Christina Whitecar loved seeing how much improvement they achieved in just a few hours.

Garden supervisors Crystal Reece and Camilla Dahle were also pleased with the impact the group had in their areas. Red Butte hosts many diverse volunteer groups throughout the season; ranging from two to 75 people of all ages, these groups come from a variety of companies, schools, communities and religious organizations, and offer a unique service to the Garden. Says Reece, “Volunteer groups help us get large projects done in a short amount of time. They bring a lot of good energy and enthusiasm to whatever project we’re working on.” Questar volunteers certainly possessed that energy and enthusiasm, and are looking forward to returning to the Garden soon.

Red Butte Garden will be happy to have them back.

Thank you to Questar and all of the great companies and organizations that choose to donate their time to Red Butte Garden. To find out how to get your group involved, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Meghan Eames at 801-585-5688 or at volunteers@ redbuttegarden.org.

Conservation Plant Highlight: Unique Utah difficult to know how many different plants are actually present. These deep rhizomes also give the plants the ability to adjust to the constantly changing depths of sand.

Welsh’s Milkweed produces several tight balls of creamcolored flowers with a dark purple center. Flowering occurs between June – early August. The large bumpy seed pods of the plant produce many seeds with soft silky tufts of hair which help them to be dispersed by the wind. Despite seed being produced, most reproduction occurs vegetatively from the rhizome stock.

Conservation Plant Highlight: Welsh’s Milkweed (Asclepias welshii)

By Rita Reisor, Director of Conservation Occupying the wind swept slopes of the Coral Pink Sand Dunes is a plant that will catch your eye with its unexpected presence on these parabolic dunes. Welsh’s Milkweed (Asclepias welshii), prefers to make it’s home on the crests and leeward sides of the sand dunes, alongside a select few grass and vetch species also adapted to this landscape. This rare species of milkweed is known from only four locations in southern Utah and northern Arizona where shifting sand dunes exist. Due to the unique nature of its habitat it has been listed as a federally threatened plant species in the United States since 1987.

The thick mat of soft hairs covering the leaves protects the plant from the heat of the sun, water loss, harsh winds, and abrasive sand. Many stems will sprout from one extensive underground rhizome system, making it

All species within the Asclepiadaceae family produce a milky sap (latex) that acts as a deterrent to insect predators and gives the family its common name: Milkweed Family. While the milky sap of most milkweeds has a chemical which is not palatable to livestock, this particular species lacks that chemical and is eaten by grazing animals.

Habitat loss and off highway vehicle (OHV) activity are the largest threats to existing plant populations. It has been found that Welsh’s Milkweed prefers to live on parabolic sand dunes that have not become stabilized by other vegetation which will compete with it for water and nutrients. Plants also grow within areas of permitted OHV recreation areas; and balancing the use of land for both conservation and recreation is a challenge for public land mangers.

You can easily find and view these plants by visiting the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park or nearby recreation area. Please remember to respect the landscape and the law by not collecting flowers or seeds, or otherwise damaging the plants.

To find out more about our Conservation Program or to volunteer with our team, please contact Rita Reisor at rita.reisor.redbutte.utah.edu.

Join us for Art Meets Fashion Saturday, September 8th

This exciting event will raise funds for Red Butte Garden as their non-profit beneficiary for 2012. This year the theme is sustainability, which matches the mission of the Water Conservation Garden, a new project still in the fund-raising stages, at Red Butte Garden.

Attend this event to see Blake Palmer, David Marchall Habben and Zuzanna Audette premiere their artwork at the Garden on September 8th.

Find out more on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArtMeetsFashionAMF

BULB & NATIVE PLANT SALE SEPTEMBER 28TH FRIDAY 3PM TO 7:30PM SEPTEMBER 29TH SATURDAY 9AM TO 7:30PM Location: Courtyard behind the Visitor Center

Enhance your Garden by supporting Red Butte Garden’s Bulb and Native Plant Sale!

Fall is not only a great time to plant, it is THE time to plant garlic, shallots and spring flowering bulbs.

The fall sale offers an exciting selection of bulbs for a variety of situations, including xeriscapes, dry shady nooks, borders, naturalized areas, rodent resistance and indoor forcing! Some of our favorite cultivars from Garden plantings will be available this year.

We will also have a great selection of native and waterwise perennials, trees and shrubs, as well as a variety of ornamental grasses and flowering perennials. Our September Plant Sale is a great time to view the ornamental grasses in the Garden and see what they will do for your yard.

Staff and volunteers will be available to answer questions and assist you with plant selection.

ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE HORTICULTURE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT THE GARDEN

Garden Information

2012 Advisory Board: Carter Livingston, Chair David Gee, Vice Chair Olivia Agraz Peter Ashdown Jane Barker Marilyn Clark Fred Esplin Gayle Everest Kelly Fisher Kathie Horman Gregory Lee Vickie Long Nancy Martin Michele Mattsson Rob McFarland Judy Moreton Michael Perez Tom Ramsey Robert Rose Chris Satovick Ann Scott Sonnie Swindle Joyce P. Valdez Henry Wurts Emeritus members E.R. Dumke, Jr Cleone Eccles Warren McOmber

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Admission: Hours: Sept 1 - 30 Daily 9 AM - 7:30 PM* *On days when outdoor concerts are scheduled, the Garden closes at 5PM. Oct 1 - Dec 23 Daily 9 AM - 5 PM Closed Thanksgiving Day & Dec 24-Jan 1

Location:

Adults (18-64) $8 Children (3-17) $6 Children under 3 Free Seniors (65+) & Military $6 University of Utah Faculty & Staff with ID $6 University of Utah Students with ID Free Groups of 12 or more receive $1 off regular admission price for each person.

Full group payment is due at time of Garden entry.

Visitor Center, Gift Shop, & Mailing Address: 300 Wakara Way - Salt Lake City, UT 84108 Phone: 801.585.0556 Fax: 801.587.5887 Web site: www.redbuttegarden.org Comments: 801.581.4938 or e-mail bryn.ramjoue@redbutte.utah.edu

Check out Red Butte Garden’s new WeatherBug camera on channel 2 KUTV newscasts!

Fall leaves

Just for Kids Garden Adventures NEW S! E THEM

1 Edible and Sweet Smelling Grasses

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Mushroom Prints

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Vampires and Their Thirsty Friends

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Barking Up the Right Trees!

Do you ever eat rice, bread or corn? All of these foods come from different kinds of grasses! We’ll explore the many grasses we eat as well as some unique grasses we have here at the Garden. Get ready to experience grasses that smell like lemon, cilantro, and even popcorn as we go on a sensory exploration of grasses in the Garden.

Have you ever seen your fingerprints left behind on a window? Just like we have fingerprints, mushrooms make their own prints, too! Learn how to identify mushrooms by the colors of their prints and make your own cool art project in the process!

It’s almost time for Garden After Dark, and we have a special activity to get you in the Halloween mood! We’ve all heard tales of vampires and their love of blood. Although vampires aren’t real, there are plenty of organisms in nature that really are out for blood! We’ll talk about mosquitos, leeches, vampire bats, and other bloodthirsty creatures found around the world.

Now that many of the leaves have fallen we can take a closer look at other parts of the trees, such as the bark! We’ll learn about the rough, slick, papery and peeling surfaces of different trees in the Garden, as we make bark rubbings and learn about trees.

Garden Adventures are Saturday kids’ classes held semi-monthly. Classes start promptly at 10AM in Em’s Sprout House and registration is required. Ages 4-12 are welcome with a caregiver. Limit one caregiver per participant (registration not required for caregiver). No infants please. Space is limited to 20 participants.

MEMBERS:

$5

PUBLIC:

$7

REGISTER AT WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG OR CALL 801.581.8454.

www.redbuttegarden.org

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Fall 2012 Events at Red Butte Garden Want more information?

Classes & Workshops, page 10 Activities that are Free for Garden Members, page 9 General Garden information (hours), page 16 Kids Activities, page 17

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concert: trombone shorty & orleans avenue

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Red Butte Garden

8ART MEETS

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PATRIOT DAY

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stress reduction (2/9) 7-9pm GREEK THEATRE

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PLANT SALE (3-7:30PM)

FASHION GROWING GOURMET MUSHROOMS

BIRDBATH WORKSHOP 1/2 GARDEN ADVENTURE SEED 22 COLLECTING WORKSHOP BIRDBATH WORKSHOP 2/2 GREEK THEATRE

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www.redbuttegarden.org

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Non Profit org.

US Postage PAID Salt Lake City Permit #1529

300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108

Oct. 18-20 & 25-27, 6-9PM October brings the beloved Garden After Dark, an indoor/outdoor, costume and kid-friendly romp through the Garden to celebrate Halloween.

The Garden’s 25 acres of Formal Gardens provide a spooktacular event with light displays, crafts, activities, performances and more!

NIGHTLY ADMISSION: MEMBERS $5, PUBLIC $10

Visit www.redbuttegarden.org or call 801.585.0556 for more details

Product group from well-managed forests and other controlled sources

www.fsc.org Cert no. SCS-COC-001216 1996 Forest Stewardship Council