A SMALL TOWN CELEBRATES ITS NATIVE PLANT HERITAGE

The Utah town of Escalante has a unique and rather astounding history with a native species of potato, Solanum jamesii. This nutritious spud has been consumed by people in the valley for 10,900 years, including Native Americans during the first 10,750 years, followed by cavalry men, pioneers, pioneer descendants (especially during the Great Depression), and now by people enjoying the region’s fine dining establishments. In fact, Escalante Valley was first called Potato Valley in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries after this very same species, commonly called the Four Corners Potato.

The people of Escalante reclaimed their heritage by celebrating the first Wild Potato Days festival over Memorial Day Weekend this May. Red Butte Garden and the Natural History Museum of Utah obtained a grant from the Garfield County Travel Council to promote use and conservation

Top L: Four Corners Potato plants sold to local farmers and gardeners Top R: Recruiting citizen scientists for growing Four Corners Potato in Escalante Bottom L: Solanum jamesii, the fragrant flowers of Four Corners Potato of remnant populations of the Four Corners Potato. The festivities began on Friday evening at the Escalante Show House (a restored movie theatre) that included a potato bar dinner attended by nearly 100 people, half of whom were curious locals. A short video paid tribute to pioneer descendants DeLane and Leah Griffin, who cultivated Four Corners Potatoes in their garden decades ago. This was followed by an early release of an episode of the television program From Scratch, featuring a search for the Four Corners Potato by series host David Moscow (an actor known for his role in the movie Big). Saturday morning events included the sale of Four Corners Potato plants and tubers, potato-themed games for children, local vendors, a dedication of Heritage Park in honor of armed services veterans, and a potato bar lunch. Another 150 people (from as far away as Alaska and Florida) attended this half-day event, and 24 citizen scientists signed up to report on their experiences growing this species over the summer. Much of the technical work on conservation and propagation was done by supporting institutions (Red Butte Garden and the Natural History Museum of Utah), and there is strong local interest in developing the species as a crop.

This first-year event was a pilot, largely appealing to locals and specifically engaging those with gardening and farming skills. Overall, it returned a small profit and generated goodwill among residents, elected officials, and business owners. The town of Escalante will be assembling a planning committee to organize next year’s festival, seeking larger funding sources to expand into a full-fledged, widely advertised annual festival.

Dr. Bruce Pavlik is the Conservation Director at Red Butte Garden.

Dr. Lisbeth Louderback is a curator of archaeology at the Natural History Museum of Utah.

DON’T FORGET THE FALL PLANT SALE

Support Red Butte Garden while shopping our wide selection of spring-flowering bulbs, organic garlic bulbs, ornamental grasses, fall-blooming perennials, and the best selection of waterwise and native plants in one location. Fall is a great time to introduce new plants to your garden and give them time to get established. It’s also the perfect time to plant spring flowering bulbs and garlic. Join us at the sale and get planting this fall so you can have a colorful spring.

FALL BULB AND NATIVE PLANT SALE

When: Friday, September 24, 1:00–7:30PM Saturday, September 25, 9:00AM–7:30PM

Where: Visitor Center Courtyard

Cost: Garden members – Free General public – Free with admission

Find more information at redbuttegarden.org

What to look for at The Fall Bulb and Native Plant Sale:

Top L: Ornamental grasses

Top R: Agastache (Hyssop)

Middle: Anemone × hybrida 'Honorine Jobert' (Japanese Anemone)

Bottom: Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed)