Red Butte Garden Winter 2020
U T A H ' S
B O T A N I C A L
G A R D E N
Thank You BOOtanical, our October celebration of Halloween, was a magical experience thanks to our community and funding by:
and
We would also like to thank Pioneer Theatre Company and Utah Shakespeare Festival for loaning us many stage props.
We are especially grateful to the entire Red Butte Garden team of staff and volunteers, as well as the local musicians, dancers, story-tellers, puppeteers, and chalk artists who performed at our first ever BOOtanical. 2
Red Butte Garden
What a year this has been. Autumn is quickly shifting to winter, and what is traditionally the season for family gatherings, celebration, and thankfulness has been dimmed by COVID-19 and the inability for us to gather with our friends and families. Many people I’ve spoken with seem to be dreading the oncoming winter, but I remain hopeful and optimistic for spring. I’m not really a “glass half full or half empty” sort of person. I’m naturally “glass overflowing.” Recently someone asked me how I can be constantly optimistic. I had to think about it for a moment, but I believe it is due to growing up in a family that loved gardening, which led to my career in horticulture. A favorite quote of mine is from Hal Borland, “No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” Gardening isn’t only about flowers and food, but also about life, death, renewal, and learning to be patient while waiting for spring. With gardening, all things must be appreciated for their part in the cycle. My 100-yearold grandmother told me her secret to a long life was gardening—especially the part of waiting to see what would change tomorrow. This has been a very tough financial year for the Garden with the inability to host our annual concerts and rentals, or to enjoy regular visitation. Yet it has given us time to reflect on what we do well and what we can improve. Utah legislature funding for our successful BOOtanical event gave us the opportunity to trial a new visitation model that we will use again next year. We had 18,000 guests attend over the 30-day event, and more than 130 local artists participated. Our visitors, donors, volunteers, and community constantly surprise me with their deeply felt appreciation for the Garden as a place of refuge and peace during these times. As I’m still quite new to the organization, I have to say I am astounded by the resourcefulness and engagement of the Garden staff. They are the heroes who strive every day to keep the Garden alive in every way. I’m also thankful that this year marks the 35th birthday of Red Butte Garden. From humble beginnings to a much beloved space for Salt Lake City, the Garden has truly grown and spread its roots deep into the community. I’m excited and optimistic for what the future will hold for our wonderful organization. I hope that you will join us in our 35 Days of Giving campaign to support the Garden and secure our future. For each of the final 35 days of 2020, we will share stories that highlight the programs, plants, and people that make Red Butte Garden such a special place. Roots grow deepest in the cold days of winter in anticipation of spring. Thank you for being the strong roots that support Red Butte Garden, and I look forward to seeing you in the Garden come spring. Warm regards for a peaceful and healthy holiday season,
Jimmy Turner Executive Director
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IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 12 ISSUE 4 ON THE COVER
Picea abies 'Pusch' (Pusch Norway Spruce) Photo by Jason Baker EDITORS
Jayne Anderson Kate Randall CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
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RED BUTTE GARDEN VOLUNTEERS By Franny Johnson
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THANKS AND GIVING FOR 35 YEARS
Theresa Dvorak Franny Johnson Dr. Lisbeth Louderback Scott Mower Dr. Bruce Pavlik Kate Randall Angela Wilcox
By Angela Wilcox
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PRODUCING A MORE RESILIENT FOUR CORNERS POTATO By Drs. Bruce Pavlik and Lisbeth Louderback
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CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jason Baker Leslie Hanna Pierce McConnell BJ Nicholls Dr. Bruce Pavlik Kate Randall Dave Titesnor GRAPHIC DESIGNER
CULINARY MEDICINE COOKING IN A NUTSHELL by Theresa Dvorak
Leslie Hanna PRINTED BY
IC Group
10 WREATHS FOR ALL SEASONS
by Scott Mower
12 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
by Kate Randall
14 CALENDAR Red Butte Garden has received gifts honoring the following individuals: Lance Collett Kelly Glover
Jim Lowrie Roger L. Pedersen Jean C. Raybould
Priscilla Schowalter Lynda B. Wilson
For more information, contact Luz Corrales, Development Specialist, at 801.581.3341 or luz.corrales@redbutte.utah.edu.
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Red Butte Garden
Red Butte Garden is the largest botanical garden in the Intermountain West and, together with the University of Utah, a state arboretum. The Garden is renowned for its plant collections, themed gardens, over 500,000 springtime blooming bulbs, a world-class outdoor summer concert series, and awardwinning horticulture-based educational programs. 300 Wakara Way Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108 · 801.585.0556 Copyright © 2020 Red Butte Garden. All rights reserved.
THANKS AND GIVING FOR 35 YEARS From a small patch of hybrid oaks to a sprawling oasis of themed gardens, natural hiking trails, and world-class event venues, Red Butte Garden has spent its first 35 years cultivating itself as one of the premier cultural settings along the Wasatch Front. Crossing many milestones over the years, the Garden has grown from infancy to young adulthood and is eager to begin writing the next chapter of its story. We give thanks to the visionaries who made mere dreams a reality with their dogged determination to capture a piece of untamed beauty and begin the thoughtful and steadied work to build a sanctuary for the local community. We thank those same visionaries and a bushel of other believers who gave significant resources to invest in that dream and form the foundation of the future. We give thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who have rolled up their sleeves and dug their hands into the hard work of planting, feeding, and tending the seeds of those dreams. Our gratitude runs deep for the tens of thousands of community members—donors, families, educators, students, and children—who bring life to the Garden with every visit, every class, every camp, and every event they enjoy within our beautiful borders.
Top L: The Water Pavilion Top R: Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series Bottom: BOOtanical Fall Festival
Now that our roots are firmly planted, we are looking ahead to the next 35 years of growth and opportunity. With new leadership and a renewed sense of purpose, we seek to expand upon our model of success by focusing more intently on you, the members and the people whom we strive to serve every day. redbuttegarden.org
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In the coming months, we hope to enlarge our educational programming and expand our reach to underserved communities with online content and school programs materials. We want to welcome spring with more programs, activities, and on-site events to increase the value of Garden memberships. And we will inaugurate the Six Bridges Trail, providing guests of all abilities an additional area to explore within the Garden and along Red Butte Creek. As we close out the year, we’ll spend the final 35 days of 2020 highlighting the programs, plants, and people that make Red Butte Garden such a special place. We’ll share stories, videos, and images on social media, in the Garden, and online, and we hope you’ll appreciate how much your support has done to further our mission to connect people with plants and the beauty of living landscapes. While we are poised for what comes next, we cannot do it without your support. This year, more than ever, we need your continued commitment to help us plant the next crop of dreams. Thank you for 35 years of growing with us!
Spring-blooming bulbs in the Fragrance Garden
Angela Wilcox manages the Garden’s Concert Donor Club and major gifts programs. A graduate of the University of Utah (BA communications), she held development positions at KUED Public Television and the President’s Office prior to joining the Garden in 2016.
RED BUTTE GARDEN VOLUNTEERS OUR HEROES AND NOMINEES FOR UTAH PHILANTHROPY DAY HEROES AWARD From the moment Red Butte Garden closed to the public as a result of pandemic protocols, many concerned volunteers asked what they could do to help. With the health and safety of staff and guests to balance with the desire to reopen, we identified an immediate need for masks. Within two weeks, volunteers had sewn over 500 masks. Since reopening in June, volunteers have helped Garden staff adjust with grace and patience to the necessary—yet ambiguous—changes required by state and university guidelines. They are a familiar and welcoming presence for guests and continue to donate their unwavering support during these challenging times. In recognition of their dedication and commitment, the entire team of Red Butte Garden volunteers was awarded the Utah Philanthropy Day’s 2020 Heroes Award. Utah Philanthropy Day is Utah’s flagship celebration of philanthropy and volunteerism. Please join us in thanking our volunteers for all they continue to do for the Garden. Franny Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator, has been with the Garden since 2015. She is a graduate of the University of Utah (BA) and is pursuing a master’s degree in public administration from Southern Utah University. 6
Red Butte Garden
Over 500 hybridizations were performed in the RBG greenhouse.
PRODUCING A MORE RESILIENT FOUR CORNERS POTATO In an effort to bring the Four Corners potato (Solanum jamesii) to market, conservation researchers at Red Butte Garden and the Natural History Museum of Utah are assisting Diné (Navajo) and Puebloan farmers who are growing it on reservation lands in southern Utah and northern Arizona. The farmers have had their first harvest this year despite the challenges of COVID-19 and a dry, hot, and windy summer. The “seed potatoes” they used to plant their crops trace back to culturally significant plant populations in Escalante, Bears Ears, and Mesa Verde associated with ancestral habitations. These populations may be remnants of ancient gardens (a topic of a National Science Foundation grant) persisting on the landscape because of the incredible durability and resilience of the tubers. It is important to remember the lessons learned from the Great Famine in Ireland in the nineteenth century that was caused by a failure of the genetically uniform white potato (S. tuberosum) and its susceptibility to blight (Phytophthora infestans). Without a rich assemblage of genes in potato tubers, a host of viral, fungal, and insect vectors can ruin a crop. Mixing genes from distinct populations often leads to hybrid vigor and new forms of the plant species. redbuttegarden.org
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Consequently, the research team has completed a first set of breeding experiments by crossing populations of Four Corners potato that originate from across a wide geographic range. Tubers collected from archaeological sites in Utah and southwest Colorado, and tubers from central Arizona and New Mexico were grown over the summer at Red Butte Garden. As they flowered in midJuly, Americorp research assistant Meg Baker used a middle C tuning fork to simulate the vibrations of a bumblebee, causing pollen to release from the anthers of the flowers. The pollen was carefully transferred to flowers from a distant population—for example, from an Escalante potato flower anther to a New Mexico potato flower stigma and vice versa. More than 500 of these hybridizations were performed. All plants were then covered in mesh bags (to ensure that no other pollen could contaminate the cross) until fruit were collected a month or so later. The fruits contained seeds of a first generation cross (F1) that will contain a mixture of genes from both parents and, hopefully, the genetic resilience that future crops of the Four Corners potato will require to thrive. Dr. Bruce Pavlik is the Conservation Director at Red Butte Garden.
Top: Hybrid seeds inside a Solanum jamesii fruit will be germinated and grown. Bottom: Meg dissecting seeds from hybrid fruits
RED BUTTE GARDEN GIFT SHOP Find a unique selection of gardeninspired gifts, including vintage puzzles, fine jewelry, wind chimes, home & holiday dĂŠcor, books, bags, greeting cards, fairy garden supplies, and more!
Members receive 10% off purchases.
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Red Butte Garden
Dr. Lisbeth Louderback is a curator of archaeology at the Natural History Museum of Utah.
CULINARY MEDICINE COOKING IN A NUTSHELL
Top L: Mediterranean herbs Top R: Mom's salad matrix Bottom: Shortbread
Red Butte Garden and the University of Utah Center for Community Nutrition developed the Culinary Medicine Cooking series to empower community members with cooking skills and nutrition information to support healthful food and lifestyle choices. Participants will learn what to shop for and how to prepare Mediterranean-style diet recipes that cultivate health while being unapologetically delicious. The Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) style diets are the cornerstone of these classes. Both diet styles have been proven to enhance cardiovascular and mental health, while decreasing cholesterol levels, blood pressure, arthritis symptoms, and reliance on diabetic medications. In a world where the average person makes hundreds of food-related decisions daily, the dietitians and physicians—who are also the chefs teaching these classes—pride themselves in giving participants the knowledge to make better food decisions that support not only their personal wellness but also benefit the people they cook for. These diverse online classes are hands-on at home via ZOOM and are interactive to enhance the participant’s confidence in healthful and delicious cooking. Find more information about our new Culinary Medicine Cooking classes and register at redbuttegarden.org/culinary-medicine-cooking. Theresa Dvorak MS, RD, ATC, CSSD University of Utah Center for Community Nutrition
Student Feedback “(The instructor has a) very clear teaching style, full of useful pointers that are relevant and helpful.” “I enjoyed learning new skills and recipes. The instructor was very knowledgeable.” “Pre-course offerings included a complete shopping list that made it easy to be ready to work alongside the chef.”
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WREATHS FOR ALL SEASONS What better way to close out 2020 than to bring some natural splendor indoors and get creative with holiday decorating. Flowers, indoor plants, and wreaths beautifully add life, color, texture, and fragrance into our homes. For the winter months, an evergreen wreath is a favorite feature and easy to make at home with many of the materials easily available from your garden. Why wreaths? A wreath on your front door celebrates the season, welcomes guests to your home, and says a bit about your personality. Evergreens, the most frequently used plant in winter wreaths, symbolize growth and everlasting life. Its fresh green foliage intertwined with the color and texture of additional decorations is a comforting sight during the short and sometimes grey days of winter. For a winter wreath that will last well into the new year, consider using evergreen conifer branches such as princess pine (Lycopodium obscurum), incense cedar (Calocedrus spp.), fir (Abies spp.), and juniper (Juniperus spp.). All offer great variety of color, texture, and the pleasant scent of pine and cedar. Junipers have berries, which are actually tiny cones, that hold their blue-grey color for months. Accents such as Magnolia leaves, red twig dogwood, yellow twig dogwood (Cornus sericea), dried flowers, or pine cones to complement the evergreen base. If you don’t have these items in your garden, a 10
Red Butte Garden
Top L: Wreath construction Top R: Floral and greenery wreath Bottom: Succulent wreath
local florist or craft store will have many decoration options. For the holidays, include ornaments, holly (Ilex spp.), or bows. Wreaths aren’t limited to wintertime—you can make a simple spring wreath of pussy willow (Salix spp.), or a fall wreath made of dried broomcorn (Sorghum bicolor) with a touch of evergreen such as conifers or magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) leaves accented with firethorn berries (Pyracantha spp.). For summer or indoors, you can create a living wreath centerpiece or wall hanging made of succulents—mixing hens and chicks (Sempervivum spp.) with the lovely rosettes of echeveria (Echeveria spp.), jade (Crassula spp.), aloe (Aloe spp.), and many other small succulents. These plants are available in a variety of sizes and colors, and collectively offer a variety of shapes. English ivy (Hedera helix) can also be trained to grow in wreath-forms for year-round greenery. No matter the season, wreaths are a great decoration and a fun way to express yourself. Scott Mower, assistant horticulturist and designer, has more than 25 years of experience in the floral and landscaping industry. He has been with the Garden for 17 years and is responsible for the design and care of the interior displays in the Visitor Center and Orangerie, as well as the outdoor container displays.
Interested in taking a class? Red Butte Garden offers online garden design classes including holiday wreath making, as well as horticulture and wellness classes. Register today at redbuttegarden.org/ adult-classes.
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Red Butte Garden's retail partners offer gift cards, goods, and services. The Bar Method Salt Lake Beehive Cheese Holiday Gift Basket Butterfield Gardens Ground Cover Cactus & Tropicals Clubhouse Grill at Thanksgiving Point Evergreene Landscape Garage On Beck Glover Nursery Gold ’n Diamonds Millcreek Gardens My529 Northern Electric Company Peak Performance Automotive Plant Addicts Rimini Coffee Beehive Cheese Red Butte Gift Package
FIND THE PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT Visit local museum gift shops for unique, curated gifts. Natural History Museum of Utah Pioneer Theatre Company Holiday Scene Shoppe through Second Act Red Butte Garden
Scentsations Lotions & Oils SLC Tree Pros Sugar House Coffee The Tutoring Toy Twigs Flower Company Two Maids and a Mop Utah Water Gardens
This Is The Place Heritage Park Tracy Aviary Utah Museum of Fine Arts Utah’s Hogle Zoo Happy holidays to our Red Butte Garden retail partners and local museums! More info at redbuttegarden.org/local-retail-partners.
Vintage puzzle sets, NHMU museum store
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Red Butte Garden
Red Butte Garden gift shop
Moose Family
Acer griseum bark
GIVE TO WHAT YOU LOVE Consider Red Butte Garden in your will A bequest is a creative way to help the Garden in the long term while still retaining full control of your assets during your lifetime. Many donors and volunteers find that a bequest is an effective and simple way to make a lasting impact on the Garden. You can structure your bequest to leave a specific item or amount of money, make the gift contingent on certain events, or leave a percentage of your estate to Red Butte Garden. Just a few simple sentences in your will or trust are all that is needed. Let your legacy be our future. Please consider including a gift to Red Butte Garden in your will or living trust. For more information, contact Angela Wilcox, Major Gifts Officer, at 801.581.3813 or angela.wilcox@redbutte.utah.edu.
Black Capped Chickadee
Show your love of Red Butte Garden with a Gift Membership. Purchase a gift membership, upgrade, or renew your Garden membership today. Thank you for your support. redbuttegarden.org/memberships redbuttegarden.org
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WINTER 2020 CALENDAR DEC 5 & 6 Red Butte Garden Gift Shop Holiday Sale Receive 10% off on gift shop purchases. Garden members take an additional 10% off. Dec 5 & 6 are free admission days thanks to ZAP.
PRIVATE WALKING TOURS
ART EXHIBIT ARTISTS
Glass Artists L: Diane Whittaker, R: Barbara Wesley As a result of governmental and University of Utah COVID-19 restrictions regarding public events, we have made the difficult decision to cancel some of our regular winter events. Please check our website and social media for updates. Online preregistration is required to visit Red Butte Garden.
ART EXHIBIT
More exhibits to be scheduled this spring. NOV 7–DEC 20 Glass Art At The Garden A stunning show of kiln work and blown glass created by members of the Glass Art Guild of Utah.
FAMILY FUN
Boredom Busters Fun, free, nature-inspired activities for kids and families to do at home. Find them at redbuttegarden.org/ boredom-busters.
Winter Solstice Celebration in a Box–NEW Celebrate the longest night of the year at home with our special Winter Solstice Kit filled with crafts, games, and activities. Kits may be picked up at Red Butte Garden.
Book a private day-time or after-hours garden tour with one of our knowledgeable volunteer docents. Tours are limited to five people plus your guide. Group rates listed on our website. Registration required at redbuttegarden.org/gardentours.
SPRING POETRY CONTEST
Calling all poets! Enter your original, spring-inspired poem between Jan 5–Feb 14. Eleven winning poems will be displayed throughout the Garden this April to celebrate National Poetry Month. Apply online at redbuttegarden.org/call-forpoetry.
VOLUNTEER FAIR
Sat, Feb 27 from 11am-1pm Meet Garden staff members and learn about our many volunteer opportunities.
Purchase your kit online at redbuttegarden.org/wintersolstice-in-a-box.
GARDENING TIPS
Red Butte Garden is maintained by a skilled and talented staff of horticulture experts. Find gardening advice and tips at redbuttegarden.org/ gardening-information.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING HOT SPOT
NOV 28–DEC 23 Natural History Museum Garden members receive 10% off purchases made next door at the NHMU Museum Store. NHMU members receive 10% off at the Red Butte Garden Gift Shop.
Water Pavilion path
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Red Butte Garden
Details and registration at redbuttegarden.org/adult-education
JAN 16 Container Gardens for Winter Sat, 10am–Noon Garden member $30 General public $35
Four Seasons Garden
ONLINE CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
Find class descriptions and register online at www.redbuttegarden.org/adulteducation or call 801.581.5754. Class registration comes with one free admission pass to the Garden. HORTICULTURE DEC 7 Ethnobotany – Holiday Gifts for Cold & Flu Season Mon, 6–8pm Garden members $35 General public $39 DEC 17 Planning & Planting Your Garden w/Seeds Thu, 6–7:30pm Garden members $30 General public $35 JAN 27 & 30, FEB 3 Pruning Fruit Trees Wed, 6:30–8pm Sat, 10am–1pm Garden members $68 General public $85
JAN 11 Planting Your Yard for Wildlife Mon, 6–7:30pm Garden members $30 General public $35 FEB 4 & 11 Understanding Soils for Gardeners Thu, 6–7:30pm Garden members $43 General public $55 FEB 6 Bulb Forcing Sat, 10am–Noon Garden members $55 General public $43 MAR 4 Houseplant Basics: Cultivating Your Own Indoor Jungle Thu, 6–7:30pm Garden members $30 General public $35 GARDEN DESIGN DEC 17, JAN 28, FEB 25 Fresh Flower Arrangements Series Thu, 6:30–8pm Garden members $42 General public $50 Registration covers cost of flowers and container.
DEC 4, 5, 6 Holiday Wreath Workshop Fri, 6:30–8pm–SOLD OUT Sat, 10–11:30am, Noon–1:30pm Sun, 10–11:30am, Noon–1:30pm Garden members $43 General public $55 HEALTHY LIVING DEC 17, JAN 21, FEB 18 Indian Cooking with Purnima Gandhi Series Thu, 5:30–7:30pm Garden members $44 General public $55
DEC, JAN, FEB Virtual Yoga Thu, 6:30–7:30pm Sun, 10–11:00am Garden members $20 General public $25 Registration covers entire month of unlimited classes. DEC, JAN, FEB Virtual Mindfulness Meditation Mon & Wed, 6:30–7pm Garden members $20 General public $25 Registration covers entire month of unlimited classes. DEC, JAN, FEB Virtual Qigong Tue, 6:30–7:30pm Garden members $8 General public $10
JAN 12, FEB 9, MAR 9 Culinary Medicine Cooking Series Tue, 6–7:30pm Garden members $44 General public $55
BY THE NUMBERS BOOtanical in the Garden • 18,000 guests attended the month-long celebration • 3,000+ pumpkins were displayed throughout the Garden • 24 groups comprised of 131 local artists entertained guests with 64 performances 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
2020 ADVISORY BOARD OUR MISSION
Tory Magleby, Chair David Classen, Vice Chair Kevin Murphy, Secretary Troy Aramburu Erin Armstrong Brandi Bosworth Kym Buttschardt Curt Crowther Jeff Herring Chuck Horman Kristy Larsen Ron Motzkus Lindee Nance Steven Price David Reymann Kathleen Riebe Selma Sierra Laura Snow JoLynda Stillman Jimmy Turner
To connect people with plants and the beauty of living landscapes.
Hours
Please check our website for information regarding our hours of operation.
Contact Us
Visitor Center Private Event Rental Volunteer Membership Donations Class Registration
801.585.0556 801.585.9563 801.585.0899 801.585.7172 801.581.3341 801.581.8454
Website: www.redbuttegarden.org Comments: 801.581.5754 or email pr@redbutte.utah.edu
Emeritus Board Members Sandi Behnken David Gee, Esq.
Go Green!
Opt out of printed newsletters. Email membership@redbutte.utah.edu with "NEWSLETTER OPT OUT” in the subject line. We’ll take care of the rest.