Red Butte Garden 2014 Winter Newsletter

Winter 2014 Issue dec • jan • feb Holiday Open House Winter Solstice Celebration Science Day Camp for Girls WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

Table of Contents 2

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE 30 YEARS AND GROWING

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13TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE ART EXHIBITS

Editors

Bryn Ramjoué, Kate Randall

Gregory Lee, Bryn Ramjoué, Rita Reisor, Meghan Eames, Fritz Kollmann Contributing Writers

Contributing Photographers

Pierce McConnell, Meghan Eames, Jim Bach, Kate Randall Graphic Designer Pierce McConnell, Anne Yeargin Printed by

IC Group

Red Butte Garden, a part of the University of Utah, is a nonprofit organization located in Salt Lake City, Utah. With 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 © 2014 Red Butte Garden. All rights reserved.

30 Years and Growing

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Red Butte Garden first opened to the public 30 years ago, in 1985. It has come a long way in its short history. Thirty years ago the land now occupied by the Garden was still a dumpsite for the University of Utah and a shooting range for the Army at Fort Douglas. The Garden’s amphitheater has undergone perhaps the most remarkable transition during this time. Over 50 semi-trailer truck-sized loads of debris had to be removed from the amphitheatre area before it could be used for anything gardenlike.

Any number of measures can be used to document the Garden’s progress these last 30 years. Our attendance now exceeds 200,000 people per year; our membership has grown to almost 10,000; we have planted over 400,000 bulbs in the last decade; this year that former dump, now the amphitheater, hosted 29 concerts and six summer film screenings, including five Sundance Institute films; and we served close to 20,000 children in our on and off-site educational programs. A recently received external accolade came when we were placed #2 in a ranking of the “50 Most Stunning University Gardens and Arboreta” in the world: www.bestmastersprograms.org/ most-stunning-university-arboretums-and-gardens.

It is a great and exciting time for Red Butte Garden. We had a thriving childhood during which we developed 17 of the 25 acres on our property scheduled for gardens and facilities, and now we are in our adolescence with a great deal of growing yet to do. And, like all adolescents, we will be making decisions that will determine what kind of an adult we will become. Fortunately for us, this growth will come on top of the solid foundation laid down over the last 30 years.

Red Butte Garden’s plan for growth over the next several years is laid out in the Garden’s recently updated Strategic Plan: www.redbuttegarden.org/publications.

The intent of the strategic plan is to grow the Garden along the lines first conceived by our founders 30 years ago: a mix of developed gardens and natural areas, with contemplative nooks and crannies counterbalanced by wide-open vistas, and a parklike amphitheater. It will remain a setting for educational and recreational experiences in nature, a place of joy and discovery, and a community sanctuary where children, adults, and families alike can play, explore, learn, imagine, see, touch, smell, and experience plants and the outdoors. For Salt Lake City the Garden is an oasis in the desert, a community-gathering place, a source of civic pride, and a place to create memories. Not bad for an old dump and Army shooting range.

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RED BUTTE GARDEN

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CONSERVATION PLANT HIGHLIGHT: PARIETTE CACTUS

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WINTER READING

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2015 ANNUAL EVENTS CALENDAR

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WINTER WORKSHOPS & CLASSES

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MAXIMIZE YOUR MEMBERSHIP: ACTIVITIES FREE WITH GARDEN MEMBERSHIP/ADMISSION

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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS

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SCIENCE DAY CAMP FOR GIRLS

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MEMORIALS CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

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GARDEN ADVENTURES WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION

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2014-2015 WINTER EVENTS CALENDAR

- Gregory J. Lee, Executive Director WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

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13 ANNUAL HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE TH

DECEMBER 6 & 7, 10:00AM - 5:00PM Find unique hand-made holiday gifts crafted by local artisans. In addition, save 10% on all purchases in the Red Butte Garden Gift Shop.

Garden Members receive an additional 10% off!

Free Garden Admission Thanks to

Glass Art Show NOV 6 - DEC 19

CONSERVATION PLANT HIGHLIGHT: Plant Profile: Pariette cactus (Sclerocactus brevispinus) Status: Threatened

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By Rita Reisor, Red Butte Garden Conservation Director

Did you know that Red Butte Garden partners with the Center for Plant Conservation (CPC), the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?

Our Conservation Department collects rare, threatened, and endangered plants and seeds, and brings them back to the Garden’s conservation greenhouse for plant recovery projects, reseeding, and research. Currently Red Butte Garden serves as a custodian for 40 plant species for the CPC. One of the plants we are custodian of is Sclerocactus brevispinus, commonly known as the Pariette cactus.

It gets its common name from its only population location, the Pariette Draw along the Duchesne-Uintah County boundary in the Uinta Basin. This short barrel cactus displays several eye catching pink bell-shaped flowers in early spring. Its fruit is short, barrel shaped and colored red to reddish grey, typical of many cactus species.

Prior to 2009, Sclerocactus brevispinus was considered to be part of Sclerocactus glaucus, but in 2009 it was realized that S. glaucus was actually three distinct species that were renamed: S. brevispinus, S. glaucus, and S. wetlandicus. Pariette cactus is the smallest of these three close relatives, all of which are listed as ‘threatened species.’

The Pariette cactus is listed as a threatened species and has been protected under the Endangered Species Act since 1979. It is threatened by impacts from mineral and energy development, genetic swamping from hybridization, a borer beetle, grazing, OHV use, and illegal collection. The estimated total population is only 12,000 individuals spread across a few square miles.

The Pariette cactus is adapted to survive in the extreme, harsh, and dry living conditions found in the Uinta Basin. It is endemic to highly saline and alkaline soils and restricted to badlands within a single geologic formation, specifically the Uinta formation, in Utah.

It occurs on exposed clay hills and in saltbush and sagebrush flats, 1400-1500 meters in elevation. As you may imagine, seedling establishment in these harsh conditions is quite challenging!

There is little known about the life history of the Pariette cactus, but it is thought to be a long-lived perennial that usually flowers after three or four years. A wide variety of native bees and other insects, including ants and beetles, help with the pollination and seed dispersal of the cactus.

The Red Butte Garden Conservation Department is aiding in the research on this cactus in order to fill those knowledge gaps. This type of scientific data is necessary for the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop science-based land management and species recovery plans. Red Butte Garden is also the custodian for eight adult Pariette cacti that were salvaged from an energy development site several years ago, and are now used for research.

Lucy Peterson Watkins Fiber Art Jan 23 - Mar 22

Several Pariette cacti are displayed in the Garden during late spring through the summer months. You can see these rare beauties in the xerophytic rooftop garden on top of the Sprout House in the Children’s Garden, accessed from the path behind the Sprout House.

Sections of this article were printed in the summer 2011 issue.

WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

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Winter Reading

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By Fritz Kollmann, Crewleader, Terrace and Water Pavilion Gardens

Winter is a great time to take a break from the physical demands of the garden with an engaging, inspirational book. I’ve selected three books to share with you that are long-standing favorites of the Red Butte Garden staff. These books are regularly referenced as we seek to continually improve the quality of the Garden.

Plant Driven Design: Creating Gardens that Honor Plants, Place, and Spirit Authors: Scott Ogden and Lauren Springer Ogden | ISBN-13: 98-0-88192-877-8 | Publisher: Timber Press 2008

This incredibly inspirational book should be on every gardener’s bookshelf. Loaded with beautiful photographs of the authors’ gardens and landscapes from around the world, one can spend hours pouring over its pages. This book is extremely useful for designers or folks looking for guidance on improving or re-doing their landscape. With ample lists of plants to suit every niche and landscape, it leaves most other garden design books in the dust. Both authors provide an easy to follow, wonderfully written process for designing and creating landscapes that are both influenced by and respectful of the surrounding landscape, greater ecosystems, and plant communities. The special attention paid to the Intermountain Region is especially beneficial to Utah gardeners.

Weeds of the West

Numerous Authors | ISBN: 0-941570-13-4 | Publisher: Western Society of Weed Science, 2001

Weeds of the West is an informative guide to weedy plants featuring detailed descriptions, habitat information, and photographs of the various life stages of about 300 common weeds. Despite its title, Weeds of the West also features many native plants and is indispensable for home garden/ranch weed information, as well as for roadside plant identification. Chock-full of often amusing common names of plants, interesting historical information, and notes on toxicity to livestock; this book is enjoyable to pick up and read anytime. I have used this book throughout the years and it has deepened my knowledge of and connection to the landscapes in and around the Salt Lake Valley.

High and Dry: Gardening With Cold Hardy Dryland Plants Author: Robert Nold | ISBN-13: 978-0-88192-872-3 | Publisher: Timber Press, 2008

This is an authoritative book with very detailed and often humorous entries for over 1,000 plants that are suited to the harsh climate of the Intermountain West. High and Dry is a must-have for any gardener looking to expand their planting palette of drought and cold-tolerant plants. It includes chapters on bulbs, grasses, annuals, perennials, cacti, yuccas, rock garden plants, trees, and shrubs.

A highly informative introductory chapter on the basics of dryland gardening and garden planning provides the reader with the tools required to create and maintain sustainable gardens in our arid climate. The author’s deep knowledge and experience is demonstrated by his wry descriptions of his personal experiences growing plants, and in his awareness of plant availability in the nursery trade. An excellent book to read while snow covers the landscape and the mind wanders toward the upcoming gardening season. (No longer in print. Can be found on Amazon.com.)

Reading about gardening is a great way to bridge the gap between winter and spring until you can, once again, get your hands in the soil. The Red Butte Garden Gift Shop carries a large selection of books about landscaping, floral design, themed gardens, rock gardens, organic gardening, reference books, field guides, and more.

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RED BUTTE GARDEN

2015 ANNUAL EVENTS CALENDAR Plant Highlight: Paperbark Maple, Lacebark Pine Herbal Remedies for Colds & Flu Class Enjoy Half-Price Admission Jan. through Feb.

Plant Highlight: Lenten Rose, Witch Hazel, Winter Jasmine Greenhouse Tour Botany for Gardeners Workshop Art Exhibit: Lucy Peterson Watkins

Plant Highlight: Magnolia, Snowdrop, Crocus, Squill, 150,000 Mini-Bulbs Utah Rare Plant Meeting Tomato Propagation Workshop Art of Pruning Workshop

Residential Landscaping Workshop RBG Volunteer Training Workshops Art Exhibit: Lucy Peterson Watkins

Plant Highlight: 250,000 Daffodils & Other Blooms, Crabapple Blossoms Bulbs & Blooms Festival Water-wise Landscapes Workshop Irrigation Basics Workshop

Spring Orchid Show Art Exhibit: Jude Scott

Plant Highlight: Wisteria, Crabapple, Peony, Lilac, Lily Collection Annual Spring Plant Sale & Fundraiser Spring Bonsai Show Outdoor Concert Series

Complimentary Tram Tours Art Exhibit: Gary Halowell

Plant Highlight: Ser viceberr y, Iris, Viburnum, Rose Collection Sundance Outdoor Film Series Outdoor Concert Series Complimentary Tram Tours

Rose Show Garden Maintenance Workshop Monday Family Nights

Plant Highlight: Rose, Hibiscus, Coneflower, Daylily Collection ZAP Free Day - Pioneer Day Monday Family Nights & Campouts Sundance Outdoor Film Series

Outdoor Concert Series Complimentary Tram Tours Art Exhibit: Chase McCleary

Plant Highlight: Butterfly Bush, Lavender, Rudbeckia Monday Family Nights & Campouts Sundance Outdoor Film Series Outdoor Concert Series

Complimentary Tram Tours Art Exhibit: Utah Watercolor Society Signature Show

Plant Highlight: Aster, Autumn Crocus, Fall Anemone ZAP Free Day - Labor Day Fall Bonsai Show Fall Bulb & Native Plant Sale Fundraiser

Greek Theatre Festival Outdoor Concert Series Complimentary Tram Tours

Plant Highlight: Toad Lily, Fall Foliage, Ornamental Grasses Collection ZAP Free Day – Zeke Dumke Day Fall Container Garden Workshop

Fall Garden Maintenance Workshop Garden After Dark

Plant Highlight: Oak Collection, Fall Foliage Holiday Floral Arranging Workshop Fall Orchid Show

Art Exhibit: Glass Art Guild of Utah Closed Thanksgiving Day

Plant Highlight: Conifer Collection ZAP Free Days - Holiday Open House Wreath-Making Workshops Winter Solstice Celebration

Christmas Bird Count Closed December 24 – January 1

WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

WINTER WORKSHOPS & CLASSES

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

To register for Red Butte Garden courses, call 801.581.8454 or visit www.redbuttegarden.org To register for University of Utah Lifelong Learning courses ( ), call 801.587.LIFE (5433) or visit www.lifelong.utah.edu

Herbal Remedies for Colds and Flu (LLHL 166)

JANUARY 17, Saturday 10:00AM - NOON

Learn new ways to enhance your immune system with herbal preparations during cold and flu season. This class will focus on strengthening and supporting the lymphatic system by using teas, decoctions, and tonics. We will discuss various herbs and foods that stimulate functions, increase vitality, and help to build a strong, healthy immune system. In addition to reviewing the process for making Elderberry Syrup, Fire Cider, and an Inversion Tea, students will also take home samples of each. Kate Galarza, Herbalist Garden Members: $32 / General Public: $35

DECEMBER 6 & 7, SATURDAY & SUNDAY SECTION 1, SATURDAY, 9:00AM - NOON *Sold Out SECTION 2, SATURDAY, 1:00 - 4:00PM *Sold Out SECTION 3, SUNDAY, 9:00AM - NOON SECTION 4, SUNDAY, 1:00 - 4:00PM Start the holiday season by creating a fresh wreath for your front door at our annual wreath-making workshop.

A variety of fresh greens will be used to fill a 16” wreath frame. Workshop materials include fresh greens, cones, fruits, lots of assorted decorations, and ribbon. Attendees are encouraged to bring unusual greens or their favorite ornaments. Bring gloves, scissors, hand pruners, and a basket. There are four sections limited to 20 participants each.

(LLHG 488) February 26 - March 12, Thursdays 6:30 - 8:30PM Don’t go dormant this winter! Learn basic plant morphology and terminology to help you better understand plant growth and take the guesswork out of gardening. In this hands-on class, you’ll learn why some shrubs are pruned immediately after flowering while others are pruned in late winter or early spring; how to tell a pine from a spruce and why it matters; the reasons behind the differing watering practices for turf and trees, and other common gardening techniques.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $67 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $74

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RED BUTTE GARDEN

Christmas Bird Count

Red Butte Garden Greenhouse Tour

FEBRUARY 5, THURSDAY NOON - 1:30PM Step out of the cold and into the tropical warmth of Red Butte Garden’s greenhouses. Our staff will provide a behind-the-scenes tour of our state-of-the-art greenhouses where all of the Garden’s annuals, basket and container plants, and Orangerie plants are grown. Get a sneak peak at what is to come this spring. Location: Red Butte Garden Greenhouses.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED. CALL 801.581.8454 OR ONLINE AT WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

Winter Solstice Celebration Botany For Gardeners

GARDEN MEMBERS: $52 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $65

These activities are FREE for Garden Members and are included with the price of admission for the General Public.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED. CALL 801.581.8454 OR ONLINE AT WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

GARDEN MEMBERS: $52 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $65

DECEMBER 6, Saturday 5:00 - 8:00PM *Sold Out Whether you’ve taken our annual wreath-making workshop in the past and are looking for a new challenge, or if a more contemporary wreath suits your style, this is the workshop for you! A variety of fresh greens will be used to fill a 14” square wreath frame. Workshop materials include fresh greens, cones, fruits, assorted decorations, and ribbon. Bring unusual greens or your favorite ornaments as well. Please bring gloves, scissors, hand pruners, and a basket. Limited to 20 participants.

Winter!

DECEMBER 20, SATURDAY 9:00AM - Noon Be a part of the 115th Annual Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count – the longest running citizen-science survey in the world, providing critical data on bird population trends. Tens of thousands of volunteers all over America take part in an adventure that has become a family tradition among generations, and Red Butte Garden is once again privileged to host this year. Adults only please, no children. Space is very limited, so register early and be sure to bring your camera and binoculars.

WREATH WORKSHOPS

WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP: SQUARED

MAXIMIZE Your Membership Benefits This

Science Day Camp For Girls: Arctic Adventures

February 7, saturday 9:00AM - Noon It’s cold outside, but that doesn’t mean our outdoor adventures have to stop! Put on your winter gear, and get ready to join Red Butte Garden and Hogle Zoo as we explore the Garden and learn the wintertime secrets of the natural world. Through games, science experiments, treks in the snow, and wintry crafts, we’ll discover the cool tricks plants and animals use to survive this chilly season.

Girls in 1st and 2nd grade.

DECEMBER 20, SATURDAY 10:00AM - 1:00PM Winter Solstice has long been celebrated all over the world because it heralds the gradual return of the light and life after the shortest and darkest day of the year. Bring your kids to the Children’s Garden and create head wreaths, winter candles and more. Sip hot chocolate and make a new-year wish at the Yule Log. Registration not required.

Help Red Butte Garden Flourish!

Are you a loyal, longtime member of Red Butte Garden? Do you wish you could ensure that it will be here forever? A gift of life insurance can create a wonderful future legacy with little expense today.

• A policy that is paid in full, for which the original purpose no longer applies, can be redirected to Red Butte Garden as primary beneficiary.

• Or you can purchase a new policy, naming the Garden as the beneficiary and assigning us ownership of the policy.

• Please contact Kathryn Atwood, at 801.585.5658 with any questions.

Please consult your financial advisor regarding the deductible status of these gifts.

Red Butte Garden and Hogle Zoo Members: $25 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $30 WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

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It’s that time of year!

days of the Outdoor Concert Series. When Cal retired, he joined Chriss for her shifts in the Garden. “It was rewarding to have Cal come volunteer with me: for him to see where I was going and what I was doing. It was nice to share it with him.”

Please give what you can to Red Butte Garden’s Annual Appeal in the enclosed envelope or online.

Even before his time at Red Butte Garden, Cal enjoyed gardening and was interested in the environment. In his career as a county planner, he had spent much time studying and discussing landscapes, plants, and ecosystems. He and Chriss had decided that volunteering at Red Butte Garden would be a good activity for the two of them to do together, and he was happy for the opportunity to get his hands dirty. Like Chriss, he quickly discovered that he loved the company and the time spent in the Garden. “It’s a rewarding experience,” he says, “You get to work in a beautiful place with great, friendly people.” He enjoys being able to see the progress of their work from week to week and over time, and he always feels appreciated for the work he does, by both staff and garden guests.

Read more at: www.redbuttegarden.org/member-story

Botanical Gardens are ideal natural settings for sculpture! In order to bring this enhanced experience to Red Butte Garden, we have established the Art in the Garden Society. By joining this group, your gift will help to create a new legacy and more reasons for people to visit the Garden.

We are currently fundraising to procure a sculpture called “Damara’s Gift,” by Utah artist Colour Maisch.

Friends of Red Butte Garden: Jill, Jonas, Magnus, Matias, and Pippi Pecchia-Bekkum

As the Red Butte Garden Gnome, I see a lot of knees.

I mean bees, and flowers and the changing seasons.

I think fall and winter with all the fun holidays is my favorite time of year … except that the daffodils and spring blossoms are also magnificent. And, well, summer with the bright flowers and summer camp kids around is so colorful. Ok, … every season is my favorite.

Happy Holiday Season, Chauncey

Damara’s Gift Rendering

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT: WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG/ART-IN-THE-GARDEN-SOCIETY OR CONTACT KATHRYN ATWOOD AT 801.585.5658 OR KATHRYN.ATWOOD@REDBUTTE.UTAH.EDU

RED BUTTE GARDEN

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

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By Meghan Eames, Volunteer Coordinator

Chriss Schneller’s first Red Butte Garden experience was at Garden After Dark in 2004. She was intrigued by the beautiful garden, so she picked up a volunteer brochure.

Soon after, she called the volunteer coordinator and joined the Monday night horticulture crew, embracing the relief it brought after a stressful day at work. After Chriss retired from her job she had more time and began to spend a few days a week volunteering in the Garden, in the greenhouse, and assisting with special events.

Chriss found herself enjoying the people with whom she worked, and loved the time that volunteering allowed her to spend outdoors in the Garden. She even brought a friend and fellow retiree, Audrey Grobstein, to join her, and seven years later you can still find the two together working in the Garden. At first what Chriss really loved about volunteering was how much she learned about gardening. Her husband, Calvin (Cal), recalls, “She started telling me when we would garden at home, ‘You’re not supposed to do it that way…’”

Cal had heard many good things about Chriss’ experiences, and started to volunteer with her at concerts in the earlier

Though he loves to volunteer with his wife, he also appreciates that they don’t regularly work side by side. It’s not that he wouldn’t enjoy it, but he is grateful to be given tasks that match his skills, abilities, and desires. After several surgeries, Cal has trouble kneeling, and can’t attend to tasks like basic weeding, which Chriss finds satisfying. He is given alternate tasks that don’t require groundwork, and happen to suit his preferences. Cal likes that he is able to share the experience with his wife, but each do different tasks that they individually enjoy. “If you want to find something to do at the Garden, you can.”

When Chriss first came to the Garden that chilly October night so many years ago, she had no idea that Red Butte Garden would become such a large part of her life, let alone Cal’s. “I didn’t know when I was younger that this was the kind of thing I would ever want to do.” We’re glad she found out.

As with all of our volunteers, Chriss and Cal’s contributions do not go unnoticed. Fritz Kollmann, Horticulture Lead in the Terrace Gardens and Water Pavilion, and the Schnellers’ volunteer supervisor, feels very fortunate to have these two on his team. “They are both always in a good mood, always have good stories to tell, and are never afraid to ask questions about a task,” he says. “Chriss has been up here gardening with us for so long she just knows what to do and even makes suggestions on things that need to be done. Cal prefers to take on the heavier labor, digging holes or removing large shrubs. I think Robert (Fritz’s assistant, Robert Sumsion) and I would be somewhat lost without them.”

Visit www.redbuttegarden.org/volunteer to find your place at Red Butte Garden. Volunteer interviews begin in the spring.

WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

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The Great Outdoors

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By Bryn Ramjoué, Director of Communications

Few places offer something for everyone. Red Butte Garden is such a place. Specifically speaking of children, the Garden is a place where kids can be fascinated with the things they see, smell, touch, and hear – where they are free to be children.

When I see children enjoy the Garden I am reminded about the gift outdoor experiences provide. As you may know, in the last 20 years, most children’s activities have moved indoors and become more sedentary. More recently those activities involve structured game play and electronic screens. The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) website and their program, “Be Out There” (www.beoutthere.org), provides some facts on outdoor time and children: • • • • • •

Children spend half as much time outdoors as they did 20 years ago. 1 Today, kids 8-18 years old spend an average of seven hours and 38 minutes using entertainment media in a typical day (more than 53 hours a week). 2 In a typical week, only 6% of children ages 9-13 play outside on their own. 3 Children who play outside are more physically active, more creative in their play, less aggressive, and show better concentration. 4 Sixty minutes of daily unstructured free play is essential to children’s physical and mental health. 5 The most direct route to caring for the environment as an adult is participating in “wild nature activities” before the age of 11. 6

Additional information provided by the NWF states that, “childhood obesity rates have more than doubled in the last 20 years; the United States has become the largest consumer of ADHD medications in the world; and pediatric prescriptions for antidepressants have risen.”

Have you heard the phrase, “nature-deficit disorder”? Coined by Richard Louv, in his book Last Child in the Woods, it describes what happens when youth disconnect from the natural world. This book brought attention to what happens when we stop spending time outside and has been a catalyst for providing children with more experiences in nature.

We know kids love their video games and electronics. When kids are inside, parents know they are safe from the potential harms reported or portrayed on television. It is likely that some children are out of shape, tuned out, and stressed out because they’re missing out on something critical to their wellness, namely, a connection with the natural world. The mission statement of Red Butte Garden is, “To connect people with plants and the beauty of living landscapes.” An important part of that mission is to engage children in outdoor activities.

What I witness in the Garden, and I think many parents also notice, is that our children are happy when running, playing, and discovering… things they do best outside. Being outside engages all the senses and provides major health and wellness benefits. The NWF breaks these benefits into three categories: Body, Mind, and Spirit: Body

Mind

Spirit

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•

•

•

•

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Outdoor play increases fitness levels and builds active, healthy bodies, an important strategy in helping the one in three American kids who are obese to get fit.

Spending time outside raises levels of Vitamin D, helping protect children from future bone problems, heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues.

Being outside improves distance vision and lowers the chance of nearsightedness.

RED BUTTE GARDEN

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Exposure to natural settings may be widely effective in reducing ADHD symptoms.

Schools with environmental education programs score higher on standardized tests in math, reading, writing, and listening.

Exposure to environment-based education significantly increases student performance on tests of their critical thinking skills.

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Children’s stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces.

Play protects children’s emotional development whereas loss of free time and a hurried lifestyle can contribute to anxiety and depression.

Someone asked me if there is a difference in time spent in nature (such as in the canyons or deserts) versus time spent in the yard or at a city park. Most sources stress that “outside” is the key. The difference seems to be that time spent in wild places calls upon our instincts and builds common sense and problem-solving skills. Most research indicates that kids benefit from any time outside: in the yard, planting a home garden, or at a National Park or in an unstructured natural place.

So, where to go? Red Butte Garden is, of course, a good place to start. But also: • Neighborhood walks.

• Neighborhood parks (rotate outings with your neighbors).

• City and County parks and recreation locations.

• State and National parks (check out the Junior Ranger programs at some state parks).

Share “getting out” with friends and family: • Invest in memberships to places you love so you can go there often.

• Add picnic & hiking dates to the calendar.

• Unwind from your day with a 15-minute exploration around the block.

“In the end, we will protect only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.”

- Senegalese poet and naturalist Baba Dioum

Shift indoor activities outside: • Reading, phone calls, teatime, family meetings, and meals.

• Play outdoor activities with your family such as Hide & Seek, Frisbee, or birdwatching.

Get outside, even in winter: • Winter at the Garden is a special season with interesting plant forms, plenty of birds, and serene beauty.

• Winter in Utah offers a variety of ways to get outside and recreate.

We hope to see you at Red Butte Garden and other outside places this winter.

Footnotes 1. Juster et al 2004; Burdette & Whitaker 2005; Kuo & Sullivan 2001 2. Kaiser Family Foundation 3. Children & Nature Network, 2008 4. Burdette and Whitaker, 2005; Ginsburg et al., 2007 5. American Academy of Pediatrics, 2008 6. Wells and Lekies, 2006

Science Day Camp for Girls: Arctic Adventures February 7, Saturday 9:00AM - Noon at Red Butte Garden

Explore and learn the wintertime survival secrets of plants and animals through treks in the snowy garden, games, science experiments, and wintry crafts!

This is a partner camp with Hogle Zoo for 1st and 2nd grade girls.

More information on page 8.

Red Butte Garden and Hogle Zoo Members: $20 / General Public: $25 REGISTRATION REQUIRED: CALL 801.581.8454 OR ONLINE AT WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

In Memory Of Chase Pinkham Mrs. Anne Stearman Alta G. Sluder For tribute & memorial information call Wendy Loyning at 801.585.3813

Townsend’s Solitaire

115th Annual Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count December 20, Saturday 9:00AM - Noon The annual Christmas Bird Count provides critical data on bird population trends, and it is the longest running citizen-science survey in the world!

Space is limited, so register early.

Call: 801.581.8454 Online: www.redbuttegarden.org/bird-count

Melissa Kelsey Photography

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RED four BUTTE GARDEN seasons - a million reasons Share your love of Red Butte Garden by purchasing a gift membership!

Your gift helps maintain the Garden and will be enjoyed by your friends and loved ones throughout the entire year.

Herbal Remedies For Colds & Flu

January 17, Saturday, 10:00AM - Noon Learn how to make herbal tonics such as Elderberry Syrup, Fire Cider, and Inversion Tea. See full class description on page 8

Purchase Gift Memberships at the Visitor Center.

801.585.7172 | www.redbuttegarden.org/gift-memberships

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Chauncey th Patron #00 e Gnome 001 Circle of Fri end RED BUTTE GARDEN s

$35 Basic – one adult* $45 Individual – one adult $55 Duo – two adults $65 Family – two adults + six kids $75 Circle of Friends – one adult + three guests $125 Contributor – two adults + six guests * does not include concert benefits

WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

Red Butte Garden Gift Shop Garden Inspired Gifts

Just for Kids

Books, jewelry, wind chimes, local honey, lotions, fairy gardening supplies, home and holiday décor, a special section for kids, Gift Certificates and more!

Garden Adventures

December 6 & 7

save 10% on all Gift Shop items Garden members receive an additional 10% off

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JAN

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Scintillating Snowflakes

Snowflakes are a common sight in January, but what makes them so fascinating?

Discover more about these frozen wonders, including how they form and why each is unique. Later, we’ll create our own original snowflake decorations to take home.

Did you know that many birds spend the winter in Utah? Come learn the tricks our

Home Tweet feathered friends use to survive this cold season. Afterward, we’ll use recycled and natural materials to craft our own unique birdhouses to give the birds of Utah a hip Home new home for the winter.

Garden Information Call us!

David Gee, Chair Tom Ramsey, Vice Chair Cathy Foote Angstman Byron Barkley Sandi Behnken Thomas Brickey David Classen Fred Esplin Gayle Everest Gregory Lee Carter Livingston Vickie Long Nancy Martin Michele Mattsson Kevin Murphy Michael Perez Chris Satovick Susan Speer Julie Thomas Stephen Urquhart Tim Welsh Henry Wurts Emeritus members E.R. Dumke, Jr. Sandy McOmber

Hours:

October 1 - March 31* Daily 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM *Closed Thanksgiving Day and December 24 - January 1

Visitor Center 801.585.0556 Private Event Rental 801.585.9563 Volunteer 801.585.5688 Membership 801.585.7172 Donations 801.585.5658 Class Registration 801.581.8454 Groups of 12 or more receive $1 off regular admission price for each person.

Full group payment is due at time of Garden entry.

FEB

2014 Advisory Board:

21 few of Chauncey’s gnome friends have invaded the Children’s Garden! Join the fun Follow That A as we follow the clues and search for these gnome invaders hidden within the snowy Gnome! landscape all while learning about winter in the Garden.

Garden Adventures are Saturday kids’ classes held semi-monthly. All classes start promptly at 10:00 AM and end at 11:30 AM at Em’s Sprout House in the Children’s Garden. Registration is required. Ages 4-12 are welcome with a caregiver. Limit one caregiver per participant (registration not required for caregiver). No infants please.

MEMBERS: $5 PUBLIC: $7 PLEASE REGISTER ON OUR WEBSITE WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG OR BY CALLING 801.581.8454.

Location: Visitor Center, Gift Shop, & Mailing Address: Product group from well-managed forests and other controlled sources 300 Wakara Way - Salt Lake City, UT 84108 Web site: www.redbuttegarden.org Comments: 801.581.4938 or e-mail bryn.ramjoue@redbutte.utah.edu

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

Look for us on KUTV

W INTE R S O L S TI C E C E L E B R ATI O N December 20, Saturday 10:00AM - 1:00PM

Winter Solstice has been celebrated all over the world since ancient times because it heralds the gradual return of the sunlight after the shortest and darkest day of the year. Bring your family to this kid-friendly event and create head wreaths, winter candles, and other crafts in the Children’s Garden.

Free with Garden admission

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RED BUTTE GARDEN

WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

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RED BUTTE GARDEN 28

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Holiday Open House 10AM - 5PM

Wreath Workshop 9AM - Noon, 1 - 4PM

07

Sunday

JANUARY 08

01

Sunday

WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

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15

23

Presidents’ Day

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09

Groundhog Day

02

Monday

ENJOY HALF-PRICE GARDEN ADMISSION DECEMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY!

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10

03

Flag Day

Full Moon

Full Moon

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11

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Wednesday

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Botany for Gardeners 6:30 - 8:30PM (1 of 3)

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Tuesday

Greenhouse Tour Noon - 1:30PM

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Glass Art Show Ends

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12

05

Friday

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Friday

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07

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08

New Year’s Day

01

28

GLASS ART SHOW 11/7 - 12/19

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE & ART FAIR 10AM - 5PM 12/6 & 7 Free Admission and Save 10% on all Gift Shop Purchases

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Garden Adventures “Home Tweet Home” 10 - 11:30AM

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Herbal Remedies 10AM - Noon

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Garden Adventures “Scintillating Snowflakes” 10 - 11:30AM

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03

Saturday

ENJOY HALF-PRICE GARDEN ADMISSION DECEMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY!

BRING YOUR SWEETIE TO THE GARDEN

Botany for Gardeners continues on 3/5 & 12

GIVE TO THE GARDEN: Ask your employer about corporate matching gifts and double your impact.

Friday

ENJOY HALF-PRICE GARDEN ADMISSION DECEMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY!

FEBRUARY Garden Adventures “Follow That Gnome” 10 - 11:30AM

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Valentine’s Day

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Girls & Science Day Camp 9AM - Noon

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Saturday

Wednesday

Thursday

Winter Solstice Celebration 10AM - 1PM

Christmas Bird Count 9AM - Noon

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Wreath Workshop 9AM - Noon, 1 - 4PM, 5 - 8PM Holiday Open House 10AM - 5PM Full Moon

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Saturday

Events at Red Butte Garden

RED BUTTE GARDEN IS CLOSED DECEMBER 24 - JANUARY 1

Christmas

Thursday

Martin Luther King Day

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18

05

12

25

25

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11

04

Thursday

Monday

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Tuesday

ART EXHIBIT: LUCY PETERSON WATKINS FIBER ART 1/23 - 3/22

Book your special event today!

801.585.9563

Sunday

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GIVE TO THE GARDEN: Become a member of the Art In The Garden Society 801.585.5658

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Wednesday

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2014-2015 4-201 Winter DECEMBER

Non Profit org.

US Postage PAID Salt Lake City Permit #1529

300 Wakara Way Salt Lake City, UT 84108

The Garden in Winter

by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Frosty-white and cold it lies Underneath the fretful skies; Snowflakes flutter where the red Banners of the poppies spread, And the drifts are wide and deep Where the lilies fell asleep.

Safe beneath the snowdrifts lie Rainbow buds of by-and-by; In the long, sweet days of spring Music of bluebells shall ring, And its faintly golden cup Many a primrose will hold up.

But the sunsets o’er it throw Flame-like splendor, lucent glow, And the moonshine makes it gleam Like a wonderland of dream, And the sharp winds all the day Pipe and whistle shrilly gay.

Though the winds are keen and chill Roses’ hearts are beating still, And the garden tranquilly Dreams of happy hours to be — In the summer days of blue All its dreamings will come true.

Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) is the beloved author of the Anne of Green Gables series.