Red Butte Garden Newsletter - Spring 2015

Bulbs & Blooms Annual Spring Plant Sale Fundraiser Summer Camp Concert Update

Katherine (Kay) W. Dumke 1929 – 2014

Editors

Bryn Ramjoué, Kate Randall

Gregory Lee, Fritz Kollmann, Marita Tewes Tyrolt, Jason Baker, Laralee Smith, Deidre Jaeger

Contributing Writers

Contributing Photographers

Pierce McConnell, Jim Bach, Kate Randall Graphic Designers

Pierce McConnell, Avisha Sabaghian

Printed by

Litho Flexo Grafics, Inc. Red Butte Botanical Garden, located on the University of Utah, is the largest botanical garden in the Intermountain West, renowned for plant collections, display gardens, 450,000 springtime blooming bulbs, a world-class outdoor summer concert series, and award-winning horticulture-based educational programs.

300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108 · 801.585.0556 Copyright © 2015 Red Butte Garden. All rights reserved.

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In the early 1980’s, Kay Dumke, along with her beloved husband Zeke, strolled along Red Butte Creek. There they encountered a shaded streamside oasis and conceived an idea that would lead to the creation of Red Butte Garden and Arboretum. They envisioned a vibrant botanical garden on the stream banks and adjacent hillsides that would serve as the backdrop to some of life’s most memorable events and become a place for all to enjoy. Through their efforts—and those of a growing community of volunteers, supporters, and staff—gardens, landscaped areas, paths, ponds, and waterfalls were soon developed along Red Butte Creek.

Kay had an undeniable passion for and connection to the natural world, and for over three decades, she and Zeke supported the Garden’s growth and development.

Driven by her unselfish approach to life, and fueled by her love of plants and the beauty of living landscapes, her Red Butte Garden legacy can be experienced in the fragrant walks, majestic trees, vibrant blooms, and community programs and events at the Garden. Her overall legacy, however, is much larger.

Kay had broad interests in the arts and human services. She was chair of the Utah Museum of Fine Arts advisory board, a member of the National Endowment of the Arts Sculpture Committee, a Kimball Art Center board member, a docent at the Salt Lake Art Center, a member of the Children’s Dance Theatre Advisory Board, a member of the National Wildflower Research Advisory Council under Lady Bird Johnson, a Red Cross volunteer, President of the Neighborhood House Board of Directors, a member of the University of Utah’s Nursing Development Board, University of Utah Alumni Association Board of Directors, and much more.

She was also a benefactress to dozens upon dozens of University departments and community causes.

But to many of us, Kay’s greatest gift was her friendship and presence in our lives. She was well-rounded, well-read, sharp-witted and bright-minded. She carried herself with absolute grace and elegance, and was always kind and ever thoughtful. Those of us at the Garden who were fortunate enough to share time with her always felt welcomed, valued, listened to, and appreciated. She exemplified gratitude, kindness, and unselfish service. And although the Garden has lost an ardent supporter and dear friend in Kay’s passing, her legacy is forever tied to what we have grown to love about Red Butte Garden; a flower in bloom, a child discovering nature, an amphitheatre filled with music, a shaded alcove, a peaceful meadow, and more, much more.

Blessed by her grace for 30 years, may the Garden be blessed by Kay Dumke’s legacy evermore.

- Gregory Lee, Executive Director

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Red Butte Garden

2015 HORTICULTURE LECTURE SERIES All lectures from 6:30 - 7:30PM at Red Butte Garden. Lectures are free but please register at: www.extension.usu.edu/saltlake or call: 385.468.4824

APRIL 20 NEW EXOTIC FRUIT PESTS OF UTAH MAY 18 BASIC SOLAR GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTION JUNE 22 VERMICOMPOSTING: TURNING SCRAPS TO GARDEN GOLD JULY 20 BASIC SOIL SCIENCE FOR GARDENERS AUGUST 17 ESTABLISHING WILDFLOWER MEADOWS SEPTEMBER 21 BIOCHAR: A NEW IDEA FOR SUSTAINABLE SOIL FERTILITY www.redbuttegarden.org

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Garden Favorites

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With so many wonderful vegetable varieties on the market it can be difficult to narrow down your garden choices. We encourage you to experiment and grow a few new crops each year, as well as to plant different varieties of your favorite vegetables.

Following is a list of Red Butte Garden staff favorites and growing tips for you to consider while planning your vegetable garden. Look for these plants at the Red Butte Garden Annual Spring Plant Sale on Friday and Saturday, May 8 and 9.

Peppers (Capsicum sp.)

Growing tip: Adding too much nitrogen rich fertilizer reduces fruit yield, so keep your pepper beds nitrogen-lean.

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‘Golden Baby Bell’: A prolific producer of 2-3” long gold to orange sweet peppers that are perfect for snacking.

‘Lipstick’: Fruits are 4” long, deep red, and super sweet.

‘Aji Amarillo’: 4-6” long, yellow to orange, medium heat, popular in Peruvian cuisine.

‘Poblano’ (a.k.a. Ancho): 4-6” long, more mild than Jalepeño, dried and ground, added to Mexican dishes to provide a complex smoky flavor. Delicious when roasted and used in tamales.

Melons (Cucumis sp.)

Growing tip: Melons and their relatives require rich, fertile soil, watered deeply at regular intervals.

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‘Passport’: Expect good yields of 5-7 lb. super sweet, green-fleshed melons within about 75 days from transplant.

‘Crème de la Crème’: This variety lives up to its name, producing a good number of 6 lb. white-fleshed, very sweet melons.

Red Butte Garden

By Fritz Kollmann, Horticulture Crew Leader

Beans

Growing tip: Easy and rewarding, pick often and early to keep plants producing over a longer period of time • •

‘Provider’ Bush Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris): This classic variety matures in 50 days with crisp, firm beans that are great fresh and excellent for canning and cooking.

Fava Beans (Vicia faba): Fava bean plants grow up to 4 feet tall and fare best in cooler weather. These topheavy plants benefit from staking. When the bean is very mature, it is peeled twice, first the pod and then the tough seed coat before eating. If the bean is young, the seed coat can be eaten.

Tomatoes (Solanum sp.)

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Growing tip: Use mulch around your tomato plants to conserve water and keep soil from splashing up on the leaves, which can cause fungal disease.

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‘Sungold’ Cherry (Hybrid): Loved by many, this is a heavy-yielding, disease-resistant, sweet, orange tomato.

‘Matt’s Wild’ Cherry (Heirloom): This variety was originally collected in the wild in eastern Mexico.

Disease-resistant, vigorous plants produce copious amounts of intensely delicious small red tomatoes.

‘Celebrity’ (Hybrid): This is an extremely reliable and disease resistant tomato, maturing 70-80 days from transplant. Mid-sized, globe-shaped fruit ripens evenly, mid-season. It is an excellent choice for containers.

‘Black and Brown Boar’: For the gourmet, this is an attractive, richly-flavored, mid-sized tomato that is produced in abundance. Very adaptable, it yields well in years when other varieties do poorly.

‘Hamsom DX 52-12’ (Hybrid): Developed at Utah State University, this variety performs very well along the Wasatch Front. Its early-maturing, large, tasty fruits are great for anything, from eating fresh to canning.

‘Hillbilly’ (a.k.a. ‘Flame,’ Heirloom): This fantastic, dense, beefsteak type is one of the most beautiful tomatoes you will ever slice. It’s yellow and orange meaty flesh, shot through with pink and red streaks, will have you salivating before you even take a bite.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

Growing tip: Sow lettuce seeds directly in the garden as soon as the soil can be worked and every two weeks thereafter until early June for a constant supply. Resume planting at intervals in late August until mid-late October for crops that last into late fall.

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Miner’s Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata): A diminutive, native Utah plant which grows under Scrub Oak (Quercus gambelli) and does very well in gardens. It is one of the most succulent gourmet greens, adorable, easy to grow, and self-sowing in the right conditions.

‘Morris Heading’ Collard Greens (Brassica oleracea, var. acephala): An almost architectural vegetable, which provides highly-nutritious leaves throughout the summer when most other greens have given up. Pick these leaves often and before they get so large as to be unpalatable.

‘Nero di Toscana’ Kale (Brassica oleracea, var. acephala): This heirloom goes by many names: ‘Lacinato Kale’, ‘Dinosaur Kale’, ‘Black Palm Cabbage’: and is indispensable in the home garden. Beautifully bluish/ dark green, crumply-looking, rich-tasting leaves are produced throughout the season and can be used in a variety of dishes from salads to savory soups.

‘Hyper Red Rumpled Waved’: With a name that long, you know it has to be good! Looseleaf, burgundycolored plants are high in beneficial anthocyanins, have a pleasant, mild flavor, and are slow to bolt.

‘Amish Deer Tongue’: Thick, pointed, very crunchy, medium-green leaves on compact plants. Grows back quickly after harvest.

Miscellaneous •

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Greens

Growing tip: Get up early to check your plants for slugs and snails and remove them. They can do tremendous damage to leafy crops in a short amount of time.

Mustard Greens (Brassica juncea): There are many varieties of mustard greens. Sow as per lettuce and eat when young. Mustard greens make an attractive, spicy addition to salads. Heat dissipates after cooking leaving a hearty, savory flavor. Favorite varieties include ‘Ho Mi Zi’, ‘Golden Frills’, ‘Green Wave’, and ‘Ruby Streak’.

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Flat-Leaved Parsley (Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanum): Often overlooked as a leafy vegetable, Parsley is easy to grow and very nutritious. Try it in the Middle Eastern dish, tabouleh.

Mexican Sour Gherkin (Melothria scabra): Related to cucumbers, and tasting like a pickle, these plants provide a bounty of super-cute fruit, which resemble a miniature watermelon. Give them something to climb on and pick when young. The excess and over-mature fruit are relished by chickens.

‘Ole’ Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum): This variety will solve all of your cilantro problems! Truly the slowest to bolt, this plant yields leaves well into mid-summer, about 4-6 weeks longer than the average cilantro plant.

Re-plant in late August for a fall crop.

Remember to look for these, along with many other fantastic plants at the Red Butte Garden Annual Spring Plant Sale, May 8 and 9.

Garden staff and volunteers will be available to answer your gardening questions and guide you in your plant selections.

We wish the best of luck with your garden this season.

Happy Planting!

www.redbuttegarden.org

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Museum of Living Plants

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By Marita Tewes Tyrolt, Director of Horticulture and Jason Baker, Curator of Plant Records

Red Butte Garden is a botanical garden, i.e., a museum of living plants. Just like other museums we curate our (plant) collections, recording not only plant names, but from whom they were purchased, when we received them, when and where they are planted, bloom time, and other information. We also collect GPS data and link each plant to its specific location on our garden base map.

The Garden has several collection types including: • Arboretum: refers specifically to a collection of trees. This Collection includes not only the trees at RBG, but also trees on the University of Utah campus that are cared for by the University’s Landscape Maintenance Department • Ecological: represents the native plant communities within our Natural Area • Ethnobotanic: plants that have a history of use by humans, predominantly found in the Herb and Medicinal Gardens • Research/Conservation: refers to the threatened, rare, and endangered species that the RBG Conservation Department works with, including seed storage • Taxonomic: represents species, varieties, and cultivars of specific taxa In recent years, we have focused heavily on expanding our Rose, Conifer, and Ornamental Grass collections.

The majority of the Rose Collection is located in the Rose Garden, but visitors will find roses in almost all the gardens.

This collection seeks to display a wide variety of roses that thrive in our region and are versatile in the landscape, with an emphasis on shrub roses. Our current objectives are to represent all rose classes that are winter hardy, disease resistant, and to show a variety of flower colors and forms, plant habits, and other ornamental characteristics, such as attractive foliage, fruit, and fall color. The collection currently includes 177 different cultivars as well as 10 species of roses.

The Conifer Collection is found throughout Red Butte Garden. The purpose of this collection is to display a wide variety of conifers and conifer relatives emphasizing the diversity of sizes, forms, colors and textures. Our current objectives are to diversify the collection with a focus on Utah native species, drought tolerant species, unusual or rare forms, and miniature and dwarf varieties. Currently the Conifer Collection includes 69 species and 188 different cultivars or varieties.

The Ornamental Grass Collection is showcased in almost every garden. The focus of this collection is to display a wide variety of ornamental grasses that highlight a diversity of sizes, forms, textures, and colors. Our current objectives are to focus on Utah natives and their cultivars, drought tolerant varieties, and a wide variety of grasses that are ornamental, winter hardy, and non-invasive. The Ornamental Grass Collection currently includes 71 grass species and 154 different cultivars.

With the completion of the Water Conservation Garden, we will be able to increase our holdings in these three collections as well as increase the development of some of our other collections, such as the Native Plant collection and the Penstemon and Lilac collections. The Garden also plans one day to add Geographical collections to our holdings; these would be plants, with potential for landscape use, from other states or countries with similar environments to our own. The Water Conservation Garden will be a place where we can display some of these plants as we develop that collection.

We also have an extensive display of daffodils (Narcissus), and refer them as a “display” rather than a “collection” because we don’t map them or record all the information that we would for a curated collection. Daffodils can be seen in several of the gardens, particularly in the Four Seasons and Floral Walk gardens. This display focuses on daffodils that blend or play 6

Red Butte Garden

well with their associated plantings, and includes a variety of bloom times, bloom colors, flower shapes and sizes, and even fragrance. This display has become very popular and can be enjoyed from March through mid-May. The display currently includes 148 cultivars as well as five species, including representatives from all 14 classes of Narcissus.

When labeling plants in the Garden, we try to strike a balance with providing enough labels for the plants to be identified, while not labeling every duplicate planting that may be in a particular area. We constantly monitor the Garden for label needs and install additional labels every year.

After several years working on our comprehensive database and continuously recording spatial data of plants in the garden, an interactive plant map of Red Butte Garden was made available on our website in 2014. If you haven’t yet had a chance to check it out, navigate to www.redbuttegarden.org/plant-map in your browser window.

Following are some user tips to help get you started: • At the bottom of the small map, follow the instructions to open a larger map • To the left of the large map is a legend with icons and colors that represent the types of plants on the map • On the top left corner of the map are plus (+) and minus (–) icons that zoom in and out of the map

• Double-click the mouse to zoom in

• Zooming in displays the plant icons on the map • Click on an icon or colored polygon to open a window that displays information about each plant including the botanical name, common name, and a description • To move to a different section of the map simply click and drag the cursor to the desired location • To zoom back to the original extent of the map, click the “home” icon located between the + and – icons From the Garden’s beginning, our founders envisioned a garden that was aesthetically beautiful and displayed a diverse variety of plants and plant collections that thrive in Utah. Red Butte Garden provides a beautiful place for respite from our daily stresses, while also allowing for the study and comparison of plants for those that desire more information.

2015 OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES MEMBER ON-SALE DATE MONDAY, APRIL 27, 7:00PM ONLINE-ONLY SALES

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 9:00AM PHONE, IN-PERSON, & ONLINE SALES

PUBLIC ON-SALE DATE MONDAY, MAY 4, 9:00AM PHONE, IN-PERSON, & ONLINE SALES

Concert Sponsorships still available.

To enjoy the member-only presale, join or renew your Garden membership before April 27. www.redbuttegarden.org/memberships www.redbuttegarden.org

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LUCY PETERSON WATKINS

ART EXHIBITS

JANUARY 23 - MARCH 22

JUDE SCOTT-ALVAREZ

APRIL 3 - 26

GARY HALOWELL

MAY 1 - 24

ART AT THE MAIN (MULTIPLE ARTISTS)

FLORAL EXHIBITS

MAY 29 - JUNE 21

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BONSAI SHOW

MARCH 28 & 29

Red Butte Garden

ORCHID SHOW APRIL 4 & 5

RED BUTTE GARDEN ACTIVITIES

Spring 2015 CLASSES & WORKSHOPS 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.

BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATIONS: INTRO TO COLORED TOMATO PROPAGATION WORKSHOP PENCILS MARCH 7, SATURDAY, 9:00AM - NOON MARCH 26 & 27, THURSDAY & FRIDAY, 6:00 - 9:00PM Would you like to harvest tomatoes all summer long?

MARCH 28, SATURDAY, 9:00AM - 4:00PM Join instructor Golden Reeves, aka “The Tomato King,” This class will provide you with valuable information and to uncover the secrets of basic seed propagation, tips for hands-on experience with different types of colored pencils. successful tomato gardening, and techniques to extend the Illustration exercises will be provided and participants growing season. Participants will plant and take home a will work from a variety of gourds, nuts, seeds and pods, flat of tomato and pepper seeds to germinate, and receive fruits, and veggies. Various papers and techniques such three Wall O’Waters, so tomato sprouts can be planted in as layering, burnishing, grisaille, and scrafitto will be the garden before the last frost. Limited to 16 participants. introduced. This class will help you fall in love with this Golden Reeves, “Tomato King” and Master Gardener. wonderful, portable, and popular medium.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $40 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $50 GARDEN MEMBERS: $165 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $198 RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE DESIGN (LLHG 512) ROSE PRUNING WORKSHOP SECTION 001 & 002 MARCH 28, SATURDAY, 10:00AM - NOON MARCH 17 - APRIL 14, TUESDAYS, 6:00 - 9:00PM & Roses are among the most loved and versatile of garden APRIL 18, SATURDAY, 9:00AM - NOON plants, yet many gardeners are intimidated by the SECTION 003 & 004 enormous rage of species and hybrids with their varying MARCH 18 - APRIL 15, WEDNESDAYS, 6:00 - 9:00PM pruning requirements. Demystify rose pruning in this hands& SATURDAY, 9:00AM - NOON on workshop designed to help you get the very best out Save time and money by making informed landscaping of your roses. Wear appropriate clothing. Bring gloves and choices before you plant. Start with a base map, site hand pruners. Limited to 10 participants. and irrigation analysis, and then apply landscape design GARDEN MEMBERS: $20 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $25 principals to plant selection and placement (trees, shrubs, and beds), as well as patios and walkways. By the final class, (LLHG 563) IRRIGATION BASICS you will have had the opportunity to draw your own plan APRIL 16 & 23, THURSDAYS, 6:00 - 8:00PM with the help of a landscape architect. Six classes.

Whether your landscaping involves water-wise plantings, GARDEN MEMBERS: $179 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $197 plants that require regular watering, or a combination FABULOUS FRUIT TREES (LLHG 554) MARCH 19 - 26, THURSDAYS, 6:30 - 8:30PM MARCH 21, SATURDAY, 10:00AM - 1:00PM Apples, cherries, apricots, pears, plums—how do you get the best production from your fruit tree each year? Learn to care for your existing trees and give new ones a healthy start as we cover planting, pruning, thinning, pollination needs, and recommended varieties. NOTE: Saturday, March 21, class will be held at an outdoor location; please bring loppers and pruners to this class.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $47 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $51

of both, using the right irrigation for your landscape can substantially reduce water use while helping your garden flourish. Explore smart irrigation practices that give plants the water they need to thrive, and deliver that water in the most efficient way possible. We’ll cover maintenance of existing irrigation systems, converting to drip and spray heads where appropriate, and other key topics to enhance your home irrigation system.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $48 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $52

(LLHG 586) 101 PLANTS TO KNOW APRIL 9, MAY 14, JUNE 11, JULY 9, AUGUST 13, SEPTEMBER 10 & OCTOBER 8, THURSDAYS, 6:00 - 8:00PM Overwhelmed by all of the plant choices at the local garden center? Would you like to know what certain trees or plants could look like in ten years before spending hundreds of dollars to purchase? In this three-season course discover 101 truly remarkable plants suited for Wasatch Front gardens starting with spring bulbs and concluding with trees and shrubs. Each class will focus on identification, cultivation requirements, and how to best use plants in the garden.

Walk the Garden to view and study the plants as they are discussed. Perfect for novice gardeners and plant enthusiasts alike, this course will widen your plant knowledge and introduce you to some truly amazing plants! Seven classes.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $152 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $169

FOLLOW THE WILDFLOWERS (LLHG 489) APRIL 29, MAY 27, JUNE 24, JULY 15, JULY 29, WEDNESDAYS, 6:00 - 9:00PM Follow the cascade of wildflower blooms across Northern Utah. Begin at Red Butte Garden with classroom time and then hike into the foothills for a look at spring’s first blooms.

Continue to follow the wildflower bloom each class, culminating the experience in the subalpine zone of the Albion Basin at the end of July. Spend the first half hour of each class learning about the plant communities located in the area we’ll be visiting. Please bring a notebook to record your findings. Five classes.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $128 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $141

GARDENING IN CONTAINERS (LLHG 553) MAY 13 & 20, WEDNESDAYS, 6:30 - 8:30PM Transform your balcony, deck, or patio into more than just barbeque space. Learn how to create a soothing outdoor retreat by adding containers filled with flowering plants.

We’ll look at container design and selection, how to combine plants for aesthetic arrangements, plant selection, and maintenance.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $48 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $52 GROW YOUR OWN HERBS (LLHG 504) MAY 19 & 26, TUESDAYS, 6:30 - 8:30PM Get the most of the herbs you grow whether you are planning a new herb garden, improving an existing one, or growing in pots on your patio or windowsill. Learn about the best herbs to plant, when to plant, common pests, harvesting, and preservation. We will also discuss herbs for cooking and crafts.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $50 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $54 VEGETABLE CONTAINER WORKSHOP (LLHG 546) MAY 21, THURSDAY, 6:00 - 9:00PM Do you lack sufficient sun or garden space for a vegetable or herb garden? Many herbs and vegetables thrive in containers, which can be positioned to take advantage of sunny spots. Learn which vegetables and herbs do well in containers, as well as tricks to keep them producing throughout summer and into fall. You will also have the opportunity to plant the vegetables of your choice into a 15-inch container to take home.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $45 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $49 SUCCULENT CENTERPIECE WORKSHOP (LLHG 595) MAY 23, SATURDAY, 10:00AM - NOON Looking for a centerpiece that can be used both indoors and on your outdoor patio, or deck? Look no further than the world of succulents! Learn general identification, care, and propagation techniques of the most popular succulents grown today as well as basic principles of design; followed by a hands-on workshop where you will create your very own succulent centerpiece. Tools, container, and succulents will be provided.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $58 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $71

UNIQUE TREES FOR UTAH LANDSCAPES APRIL 30 & MAY 7, THURSDAYS, 6:30 - 8:30PM Are you looking for the right tree specimen to add beauty and diversity to your home landscape? Join us for this informative course covering a host of unique tree species that have proven themselves in Utah’s urban environment.

Spring is a good time to plant trees, so important planting and care instructions will also be covered to help ensure the health and longevity of your tree.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $20 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $25 SCIENCE DAY CAMP FOR GIRLS: NATURE DETECTIVES MAY 2, SATURDAY, 9:00AM - NOON GIRLS IN 1ST & 2ND GRADE Put on your detective hat, grab your magnifying glass, and get ready to join Red Butte Garden and Hogle Zoo to solve a pickle of a mystery! A few of Chauncey the Garden Gnome’s animal friends have come to visit from Hogle Zoo—but they’ve gone missing! Solve puzzles and riddles to discover the whereabouts of these lost critters as you conduct cool experiments and explore nature using your detective skills. Who knows what discoveries you’ll make as you explore the secrets of the natural world?

GARDEN & ZOO MEMBERS: $25 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $30

COOKING IN THE GARDEN MAY 28, THURSDAY, 6:30 - 8:30PM Join instructor Purnima Gandhi in the Herb Garden as she prepares a menu of delicious Indian Cuisine while providing step-by-step procedures for each dish. This relaxed, interactive format encourages informative discussions to help you prepare the dishes with confidence at home. The menu will include: appetizer, meat dish, vegetarian dish, rice, sweet dish and Indian condiments. Participants will also receive a personal recipe packet to take home, as well as a tasting of each of the dishes prepared.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $45 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $57

GARDEN ADVENTURES Garden Adventures are Saturday kids’ classes held semi-monthly. All classes start promptly at 10:00AM and end at 11:30AM in 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. Please register on our website www. redbuttegarden.org or call 801.581.8454. GARDEN MEMBERS: $5 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $7

SPROUTIN’ SEEDS MARCH 7 Join us as we learn about the plant life cycle, paying particular attention to seeds and the important role they play. Then, plant a trio of vegetable seeds to continue your explorations at home.

MINIATURE GARDENS MARCH 21 By using small-scale plants and accessories you can create a tiny home perfect for a garden gnome, elf, or fairy. Learn tips and tricks from horticulturist Heidi Anderson to create and take home a handcrafted accessory to build your own miniature garden.

BULB BONANZA APRIL 4 Come explore the different bulb varieties found in the Garden as we discover what makes these plants unique and special.

We’ll use our new knowledge in a fun-filled game of bulb bingo with special prizes for all participants!

TERRIFIC TREES APRIL 25 From towering cottonwoods to funky gingkos, learn about the different types of trees through Garden explorations, fun games, and an incredible shrinking craft. At the end of the class, receive a tree seedling to take home and plant in your yard.

WHAT’S THE BUZZ ON BEES? MAY 23 Did you know that the honeybee is the official state insect of Utah? Through Garden explorations and a bee-utiful craft, we’ll learn about this industrious bug and the important role it plays in helping the Garden “bee” amazing!

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

BONSAI SHOW MARCH 28, SATURDAY, 9:00AM - 5:00PM MARCH 29, SUNDAY, 9:00AM - 3:30PM Discover bonsai, the Japanese art of growing miniature trees in containers. Members of The Bonsai Club of Utah will be on hand to exhibit different bonsai styles and arrangements and offer demonstrations of training and shaping techniques. Trees and tools will also be available for purchase directly from the experts.

ORCHID SHOW APRIL 4, SATURDAY, 9:00AM - 7:30PM APRIL 5, SUNDAY, 9:00AM - 4:30PM Join the Utah Orchid Society for a dazzling display of both common and exotic orchid varieties. Society members will share methods for keeping plants healthy and happy and provide troubleshooting advice for budding orchid enthusiasts. A talk on basic orchid culture will be offered at 2 pm on the Saturday of the show, and a large selection of both plants and pottery will be on sale for those interested in starting their own collection.

SPRING GARDEN WALKS APRIL 9, THURSDAY, NOON - 1:30PM APRIL 18, SATURDAY, 10:00AM - NOON Walk through the once-dormant garden with us and experience the garden coming to life. We will see Lenten Roses, Daffodils, Crocus, Anemones, Witch hazel, Pussy Willow, Magnolia, and other spring beauties.

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

FIREWISE LANDSCAPES APRIL 22, WEDNESDAY, 6:30 - 8:30PM Because many people are moving into previously uninhabited rural, foothill or mountain areas, it is becoming increasingly important to holistically plan your landscape for the possibility of wildfire. This class will explore techniques and principles used in managing this urban/ wild-land interface including plant selection, appropriate landscape design, specific planting and pruning alternatives, and appropriate planting materials for potential wildfire environments.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED. CALL 801.581.8454 OR ONLINE AT WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG BIRDING SATURDAYS, APRIL 18 & 25, 9:00 - 11:00AM SATURDAYS, MAY 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 9:00AM - NOON WEDNESDAYS, MAY 6, 13, 20, 27, 9:00 - 11:00AM Bring your binoculars and join us for a morning walk when the garden is full of wildlife activity. Bullock’s Oriole, Western Tanager, Downy Woodpecker, and American Gold Finch are just a few of our feathered friends that you are likely to see.

Class is intended primarily for adults.

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

Local Retail Partners Don’t forget to take advantage of the discounts offered by over 20 specialty retail partners including restaurants, coffee shops, nurseries, and boutiques. www.redbuttegarden.org/local-retail-partners Reciprocal Admissions Program with the American Horticultural Society Garden Members receive free or discounted admission to over 280 gardens throughout the country. Check the state-by-state garden directory at: www.ahs.org/gardening-programs/rap/the-garden-guide

801.585.0556 | WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

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20,150 Hours of Dedication, Inspiration and Generosity

As the Garden reflects upon the successes of its first 30 years, it becomes abundantly clear that we couldn’t have done it without dedicated and devoted volunteers. Their passion and commitment to the Garden is inspirational, their laughter and energy is contagious, and their contributions are far too numerous to count. In many ways, they are the lifeblood of Red Butte Garden. So as we celebrate a significant milestone in the Garden’s history, it seems only fitting that we celebrate this incredible group of individuals.

They are an amazingly diverse group. Our youngest volunteer is four years old; she’s been coming to volunteer shifts at the Garden with her family since she was a baby in a sling. The oldest are well into their retirement years. They are teachers, lawyers, nurses, business owners, mothers, fathers, retirees, and students. Many are native Utahns, and others are transplants from different states and foreign countries.

They all share a love for the Garden, but beyond that, their interests, skills, and experience reach across the spectrum.

There is no “type” of volunteer at Red Butte Garden.

They are funny and are full of surprises. Even when things are challenging, or when the weather is working against us, the volunteers stay positive, and more often then not, turn a tough situation into a humorous one. Spending time with the volunteers generally includes more laughter and dancing than one might expect.

They are incredibly dedicated. Imagine what it is like to check in 60 staff and volunteers in the middle of a deluge on the opening day of the Spring Plant Sale, or more importantly, what it feels like when you realize that despite the rain and the fact that everyone knew they would be outside, every single volunteer has shown up, ready to work. They come rain or shine, week after week throughout the year. They fit the Garden into their busy schedules, and some fit their schedules around the Garden. Incredible volunteers—like

Special thanks to Beehive Cheese an d Have Party Will Tr avel, our 2014 Voluntee r Reception Sponso rs!

Cherry Evertsen, who gave more than 600 hours to Red Butte this year—spend hundreds of hours helping Red Butte Garden fulfill our mission. Volunteers like Lois Peterson and Dotty Karras, who both received their 20-year volunteer recognition in December 2014, make the Garden a part of their lives.

They are an amazingly kind and gracious group of people.

They donate their time and energy, work hard to provide invaluable service to the Garden, and yet when they are done, they say “Thank you.” As they head out from the Garden after leading a rowdy group of kids on a hike, they say “Thank you.” Once they finish their shift taking tickets in the summer heat at a concert, they say, “Thank you.” They are as generous with their gratitude as they are their time.

The daily gestures of kindness that they extend to guests, other volunteers, and staff are innumerable. The kindness and support they have shown over the past years has been, at times, overwhelming. It is wonderful to work with a team that is so giving and so gracious.

If the quality of our individual volunteers doesn’t say enough about the strength of this incredible program, then let the numbers speak for themselves. In 2014, 220 volunteers and 14 volunteer groups donated more than 20,150 hours to Red Butte Garden. This number signifies incredible growth for the volunteer program; by comparison, in 2009, our volunteers donated 13,398 hours. Each year, as the Garden grows and expands, the volunteer program grows with it.

This year as the Garden celebrates its 30th birthday, we look back with immense gratitude for all that the Red Butte Garden volunteers have given to the Garden, and look forward to all that still lies ahead.

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

www.redbuttegarden.org

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GARDEN ENGAGEMENT THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

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By LaraLee Smith, Family and Community Programs Manager

Beyond its plant collections and day-to-day programs, Red Butte Garden has many projects going on behind the scenes to help it fulfill its mission to connect people with plants and the beauty of living landscapes. One such project includes participation in a grant exploring ways to engage tweens in museum and science institutions. For the last year Red Butte Garden has been collaborating with Missouri Botanical Garden, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, San Diego Zoo, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to create interactive, location-based games through funding from the National Science Foundation.

Using GPS-enabled smart phones and MIT’s TaleBlazer software (more information at taleblazer.org), the Garden has created five free-choice games that allow players to embark on science adventures related to conservation, ethnobotany, and other topics while interacting with the Garden grounds. Rather than just tapping through information on a screen, these experiences require users to gather input from Garden surroundings and demonstrate their understanding to progress through the game. For example, in both Lady Nightshade and the Invaders and Garden Fresh! players are required to correctly identify plants in the Garden to advance the storyline, and in Captain Bonneville they must learn and apply basic navigation skills to find their way to virtual buried treasure.

Although these games are designed to be fun, their true intent extends beyond providing an enjoyable experience. The games encourage guests to interact with the Garden in a new and exciting way. Red Butte Garden’s suite of TaleBlazer games allows guests to dig deeper and learn from their surroundings. Rather than offering a standard tour, each game teaches information about actual Garden plants and landmarks through a unique storyline. The Garden’s TaleBlazer games also provide an opportunity for parents to interact with their children.

In Tribute Of

Jody and Amanda Jacobsen

In Memory Of Joan Amott Rosemary Barr Margaret H. Barton Bettina Black Marge Buchi Hazel M. Bullough Pat Button Jean Carlson Patricia Dougall Katherine Elizabeth White Dumke Gloria Forcht Judith M. Griffin Peggy Hansen Arda Hewlet

Mignon Holfert Margaret Horsley Faye B. Lindquist Madeline Lynch Margaret Macmain Zakia Mian Nancy Nissalke Barbara Patterson Chase Pinkham Sue Price Barbara Strong Evelyn Warren Dorothy Webster

For tribute & memorial information call Wendy Loyning at 801.585.3813

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Making a Planned Gift An Invitation to Join the Red Butte Garden Legacy Society The Red Butte Garden Legacy Society recognizes those who provide for the Garden with a gift in their wills, trusts or other estate plans. Please join with others whose legacy gifts add to our endowment fund, ensuring that the beauty of Red Butte Garden will be enjoyed by generations to come.

Please contact Kathryn Atwood, Development Director, at 801.585.5658 for more information.

Interested in playing? Red Butte Garden’s five TaleBlazer games are available free of charge and available for download on any GPS-enabled tablet or smart phone beginning in March of 2015. Search for “TaleBlazer” in either the Google Play Store (Android devices) or App Store (Apple devices) and download the free TaleBlazer app. Games are intended for children aged 10 to 13, but even younger children are able to play with the help of an adult. Games will be released throughout the spring on the following schedule: March 2015 Garden Tales – Interact with Chauncey, Red Butte Garden’s resident gnome, to learn Garden etiquette and practice TaleBlazer basics in this tutorial game.

Lady Nightshade and the Invaders – Assemble an army to defeat the evil Lady Nightshade and her invading warriors! Learn about native plants and invasive species issues while exploring the Garden’s Water Pavilion area in this fantasy adventure game.

April 2015 Water Games - Can you make water-efficient choices? Learn about water conservation while increasing the water supply to your home village of Trickleton as you explore the Children’s Garden.

May 2015 Garden Fresh! – Help your restaurant earn a 5-star rating by selecting the correct garden fresh ingredients.

Play the role of an assistant chef and help fill customers’ orders by correctly identifying plants in the Garden.

June 2015 Captain Bonneville – Can you find Captain Bonneville’s missing treasure? Test your navigation skills and geographic knowledge while exploring Red Butte Garden’s Natural Area.

For more information about the Garden’s TaleBlazer games, please visit: www.redbuttegarden.org/taleblazer

Poetry in the Garden Did you know April is National Poetry Month?

Celebrate this important literary art with a stroll through the Garden. Throughout the month of April the Garden will host 11 poetry boxes showcasing works from local poets.

A number of locations will feature audio recordings of the authors performing readings of their poems.

www.redbuttegarden.org

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CONSERVATION PLANT HIGHLIGHT:

Restoring our Native Ecosystems with Seeds of Success

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By Deidre Jaeger, Conservation Botanist

You may have seen the extensive stretches of sagebrush around Moab, or the bold yellow bursts of sunflowers taking over a sandy patch near Hanksville, Utah.

Even though these native plants are plentiful and not currently in danger of extinction, the future of Utah’s ecosystems still depends on saving seeds from native plants.

Red Butte Garden is a collector for “Seeds of Success,” a national program to collect, conserve, and supply seeds of native plant species. Seeds of Success is an initiative led by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that aims to develop native plant materials for stabilizing, rehabilitating, and restoring lands in the United States.

The primary goal of this project is to maintain and support healthy, resilient ecosystems while avoiding the introduction of non-native plants that may alter the landscape in adverse ways.

During previous years, Red Butte Garden staff and volunteers have collected seeds from all over Utah, but our partnership with the Colorado Plateau Native Plant Program has focused recent efforts on plant species from the eastern and southern portions of the state. With increasing mineral extraction and resource development, there is a growing need for native seeds to be available to restore disturbed ecosystems. Our collections create a reservoir of native seeds that can be used in research and restoration projects such as germination trials and reseeding bare soil. A portion of each collection is also kept in cold storage as a seed bank, to ensure the future availability of living germplasm.

A typical Seeds of Success collection includes a minimum of 10,000 seeds, a pressed voucher specimen for identification of each species, and photos of the plants, seeds, and collection sites. We also record data describing the source location, habitat, soil, and 16

Red Butte Garden

associated species. Our collections are sent to the Bend Seed Extractory in Oregon, where they are cleaned and distributed to different seed-holding facilities to be preserved and made available for restoration and research.

The Red Butte Garden Conservation Department has completed a total of 703 collections from 283 different plant species since the program began in 2002. In 2014, our team made 41 collections from 16 different species native to Utah. Several of our collecting sites were farther than 30 miles from a paved highway, so one of our major accomplishments last year was visiting many rural and under-collected areas. Twelve of our collections were from counties where the species had never previously been collected for Seeds of Success, and the grand total of all our collections in 2014 came to nearly 5 million seeds! It was both adventurous and peaceful traveling and camping in these remote areas.

This May, we will hit the road again to scout for new native plant populations. We welcome volunteers to join us on some of our seed collecting trips. For further information, please contact the Red Butte Garden Conservation Department at 801.585.5853.

A Royal Welcome

Red Butte Garden welcomes Dr. Bruce Pavlik as Director of Conservation.

His most recent position was Head of Restoration Ecology at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London. While at Kew he developed interdisciplinary approaches to problems in post-mining land rehabilitation, helped establish the Ecological Restoration Alliance of Botanic Gardens (www.erabg.org), and collaborated on technology that allows real-time measurement of pollinator movements across fragmented landscapes. That work took him to Madagascar, Australia, Kenya, and Scotland, but he is happy to be back in the western U.S., his long-time academic and spiritual home.

He began his career as a physiological ecologist, working on beach and dune ecosystems along the California coast. He brought those techniques into the realm of plant conservation and restoration, and has since studied many unusual species and habitats. He is author or co-author of more than 50 scientific publications as well as several books for popular audiences, including Oaks of California (1991 Cachuma Press) and The California Deserts: An Ecological Rediscovery (2008 University of California Press).

Dr. Pavlik looks forward to continuing the good work of Rita Reisor, the Garden’s former conservation director, now with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and expanding the conservation reach of Red Butte Garden in Utah and throughout the world.

VOLUNTEER AT RED BUTTE GARDEN Sign up and spend your summer in Utah’s Botanical Garden.

GARDEN GUIDES TRAINING MARCH 12, THURSDAY, 6:00 - 8:00PM MARCH 14, SATURDAY, 11:00AM - 1:00PM Share the Garden! Become a docent, lead group tours, and serve as a program host for classes and workshops.

SCHOOL PROGRAMS TRAINING MARCH 25 & 26, WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, 9:00AM - NOON

Lead young people on exciting educational tours and teach them about the magic of simple botany and ecology.

Registration is required.

Call 801.585.5688 or email: volunteers@redbuttegarden.org www.redbuttegarden.org

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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

2015 ADVISORY BOARD:

GARDEN INFORMATION

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

Hours:

January 2 - March 31* Daily 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM April 1 - 30* Daily 9:00AM - 7:30PM May 1 - August 31* Daily 9:00AM - 9:00PM October 1 - December 23 Daily 9:00AM - 5:00PM *Days when outdoor concerts are scheduled, hours are 9:00AM - 5:00PM. *Closed Thanksgiving Day and December 24 - January 1

Groups of 12 or more receive $1 off regular admission price for each person.

Full group payment is due at time of Garden entry.

Look for us on KUTV

Call us!

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

Location: Visitor Center, Gift Shop, & Mailing Address: 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