Red Butte Garden Winter 2021
U T A H ' S
B O T A N I C A L
G A R D E N
Thank you
for another great concert season! And a big thank you to all our sponsors Presenting Sponsor
Supporting Sponsor
Stage Sponsor
Supporting Sponsor
Volunteer Sponsor ®
J. Paul and Susan Christensen Christopher and Summer Gibson
Willard L. Eccles Foundation
At the risk of celebrating a little early, I’m going to call this year a success for the Garden. We were able to overcome a number of challenges that came our way and nothing could stop us once we committed to “getting back to normal.” While we had to navigate many obstacles and are not completely back to a “preCOVID normal,” our staff and volunteers rose to the occasion to make this year a success under incredibly difficult and uncertain circumstances. All things considered, we have an impressive list of accomplishments to celebrate in 2021. Here are just a few of the highlights: •
Following a year of full and partial furloughs for our full-time staff, we were able to bring everyone back to full-time status early in the year.
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Seasonal and part-time staff returned to work in the spring and early summer.
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Volunteers returned to assist in the Garden, the greenhouse, and at special events.
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We were delighted to welcome children back to our popular summer camp program.
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Our school programs staff resumed hosting in-person field classes.
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We welcomed audiences back to the amphitheater and presented a full concert series in just two months.
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Our wellness and mindfulness programs were more popular than ever.
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Virtual classes and other online programmatic offerings attracted new students.
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Wedding ceremonies, receptions, and other private events have returned.
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We established Gardeners Corner, a gift from the Kathy Wallentine family, and a tribute to our devoted horticulture staff.
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Our Six Bridges Trail is now complete and open to the public, providing access to a new area of the Garden.
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The BOOtanical fall festival provided a second year of family-friendly entertainment.
We would not have been able to accomplish all of this without the generous support of our donors, the Zoo, Arts and Parks (ZAP) program, federal COVID relief assistance, and the Utah State Legislature—all of which established funding opportunities specifically for arts and cultural institutions. We are extremely grateful for this much-needed financial support. It is humbling to see how much Red Butte Garden means to so many people. Red Butte Garden has much to be proud of thanks to our dedicated staff and volunteers who overcame so many hurdles this year. I look forward to 2022 with high hopes of many more successes to celebrate as we continue down our path to normalcy.
Derrek Hanson, Interim Executive Director
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IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 13 ISSUE 4 ON THE COVER
Agave parryi var. neomexicana (New Mexico Century Plant) Photo by Glenn Eurick EDITORS
Jayne Anderson Kate Randall
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CELEBRATE THE SEASONS INDOORS WITH LIVING DECORATIONS By Jayne Anderson and Claire Goodsell
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TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE By Jayne Anderson
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THE POTATO GARDENS OF MONUMENT VALLEY By Dr. Bruce Pavlik
10 BACK TO SCHOOL IN THE GARDEN
By Sarah Sandoval
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jayne Anderson Claire Goodsell Dr. Bruce Pavlik Sarah Sandoval CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jayne Anderson Jason Baker Alastair Lee Bitsói MaryJo Dalton Leslie Hanna Janine Hutchinson Matt Pavlik Kate Randall Heidi Simper Dave Titesnor Cynthia Wilson GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Leslie Hanna
11 ‘TIS THE SEASON FOR LOCAL
PRINTED BY
13 CALENDAR
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 540,000 springtime blooming bulbs, a world-class outdoor summer concert series, and awardwinning horticulture-based educational programs.
HOLIDAY MARKETS
Red Butte Garden has received gifts honoring the following individuals: Edith Broadbent
Ron D. Johnson
300 Wakara Way Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108 · 801.585.0556
R. Endo
Bryce McCormack
Copyright © 2021 Red Butte Garden. All rights reserved.
Margaret A. Dreyfous
Michelle Sowards
Heather E. Jensen
Joann van Boerum
For more information, contact Luz Corrales, Development Specialist, at 801.581.3341 or luz.corrales@redbutte.utah.edu.
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IC Group
Red Butte Garden
Fall display in the Visitor Center created by Claire Goodsell
CELEBRATE THE SEASONS INDOORS WITH LIVING DECORATIONS Fall is a busy time at the Garden when guests come to enjoy the cooler temperatures and change of season as flowers and blooms wilt away and autumn leaves, berries, and evergreens take center stage. For Claire Goodsell, Assistant Horticulturist for the Garden’s containers and interior displays, this time of year is also an ideal time to hone interior decorating skills with do-it-yourself projects that incorporate live plants and seasonal clippings into holiday displays. To get started in your home, Claire recommends picking a spot that you want to accentuate, taking inventory of the plants and containers you already have, and considering items available in your yard, local nursery, or craft store. Then just jump into the project and don’t be afraid to experiment. There are a couple of obvious areas where you can easily—and affordably—turn your space into a holiday showcase. For example, seasonal color and decorations can be displayed along stairways and inside foyers to welcome guests and set the tone for holiday entertaining. Consider grouping plants by color in containers and then alternating your groupings along a few stairs to add color, texture, and seasonal flair. In creating the Garden’s interior fall design, Claire used varieties of rich-toned Coleus, grasses, crotons, Alocasia, and Guzmania bromeliads along the stairs in the Visitor Center. As the fall evolves and winter arrives, items can be swapped out for other plants that are cold-weather favorites, like poinsettias, velvety boughs, and pinecones—meaning that you can extend the life of your initial design for a number of months without too much effort.
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When designing a large seasonal container, Claire keeps plants in their original pots and places them in the larger container rather than repotting them. Once pots are in place, finishing touches over the top to hide the pots can include Spanish moss, dried berries, fruits, or other organic elements. Look for pieces of varying height and sizes with showy colors and textures, like long red dogwood branches, waxy crabapples, pinecones, and acorns, which are easy to find right now. Dining tables and fireplace mantles are popular areas for seasonal displays, and evergreen clippings and boughs are the most common base for most of these treatments. Claire prefers the softer, long-needled evergreens. These include cedars, firs, and pines—already available in neighborhood landscapes and other outdoor areas. Don’t forget Christmas tree lots. One of Claire's favorite trees is the grand fir because you can snap the young twigs and get a fresh-cut tree scent. Once the base is established, accentuate your display with candles, lights, ornaments, vases, small potted plants, and other decorations. Top L: Asst. Horticulturist, containers & interior displays, Claire Goodsell Top R: Fall display along the Visitor Center staircase Bottom R: Winter display along the main Visitor Center staircase
Making plants the base of your seasonal decor has other benefits besides bringing color and texture indoors. Living displays need water and misting during dry winter months can increase the humidity and filters the air indoors, especially where there are a lot of plants. So look around your home, get creative, and bring the seasons indoors. Jayne Anderson has been with the Garden for 3 years. She has a BS in organizational communication and an MBA from the University of Utah. Claire Goodsell, a native of Las Vegas, joined the horticulture staff this summer after graduating from Utah State University with a degree in plant sciences.
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Red Butte Garden
TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE The first Tuesday in October is the day we commemorate our founder, Ezekiel R. Dumke Jr., and this year was especially gratifying because on October 4, we also opened the new Six Bridges Trail. This unique walk along the Garden’s northern boundary and across Red Butte Creek was one of Zeke’s last visions for Red Butte Garden—one that had him and a few staff members blazing their way through dense vegetation while imagining a series of bridges crisscrossing the creek. The dream is now a reality. A walk along the path provides a unique glimpse into a secluded habitat rich with wildlife and native plants. Plan to spend some time walking the path, pausing to sit on the sandstone benches, and studying the creek for Bonneville cutthroat trout, mink, reptiles, and other creatures. Then look up to enjoy the sun shining through the tree canopy, while keeping watch for the Cooper’s hawks that frequent the area. This area of the Garden is sure to become a favorite of guests who appreciate the seasonal changes that make Salt Lake City so special. We’re excited to share it with our guests, and look forward to a celebration next spring with our donors and others who contributed to this special site along the creek. Jayne Anderson
Photos of the Six Bridges Trail are courtesy of Dave Titensor, University of Utah
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THE POTATO GARDENS OF MONUMENT VALLEY Eagle Mesa summit overlooks Elouise Wilson’s garden of green patches of corn, beans, squash, and the newly arrived Four Corners Potato (Solanum jamesii). Monument Valley, on the Utah-Arizona border, is not an easy place to grow food. The soil is mostly fine red sand, the winds strong and incessant, and the critters are hungry. Rainfall is sparse here—water comes from deep wells or is trucked in from natural springs. But Wilson knows this place and these crops and how to bless them, tend them, and give them the ingredients of life. For example, when first growing the potato in willow tuber towers (see Summer Newsletter 2020), she fortified them with pine needle duff from the woodlands of nearby Bears Ears National Monument to supplement the nutrient-poor soil. The potatoes thrived. Now, with the help of Red Butte Garden and University of Utah anthropology students, Wilson will be combining her traditional knowledge with expanded garden facilities that were built on her property in April 2021 in an effort to make this important, nutritious plant available to people across the Navajo Nation.
Top: Those who built the facilities (l to r): Brock James, Kaley Tucker, Stefania Wilks, Meg Baker, Sammy Paredes and Will Harrigan Middle: A hanging tuber tower – mostly filled with straw, the slats can be removed to empty into a wheelbarrow. Bottom: Alastair Lee Bitsói harvests his 2021 crop.
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Red Butte Garden
Collaborating with Utah Diné Bikéyah (UDB), Red Butte Garden received a grant from the Native American Agricultural Fund (NAAF) to build four gardens in Monument Valley that could specifically grow the Four Corners Potato. The farmers we have been working with for the last few years have gained more experience with this species and can now attempt larger crops in their newly rebuilt gardens. Three gardens now have
different planting facilities for this purpose, developed over several years at Red Butte Garden. First, we modified shallow troughs and sunk them into the ground to confine the stoloniferous tubers and to reduce soil volume for easier harvest. The troughs were also fitted with mesh covers to exclude rodents. Secondly, the tuber tower method was improved by hanging them from a modified “swing set.” The towers use very little soil, are inaccessible to rodents, and make harvest easier by emptying potatoes into a wheelbarrow below rather than by shoveling. Finally, we assembled small greenhouse kits that could protect potted plants and ground-based tuber towers. In addition, we supplied large water tanks and built irrigation systems unique to each garden. Given the harsh conditions, these different planting facilities could be tested over several years to determine best practices. Another NAAF grant brought UDB and the Natural History Museum of Utah together with Red Butte Garden to develop a youth program for agricultural students at Monument Valley High School. The school already had raised beds and a very enthusiastic teaching staff, so the museum assembled tool kits that feature the horticulture, botany, and Indigenous culture of the Four Corners Potato. As this newsletter goes to press, students are harvesting their first crop of this ancient food, a small but important step towards food sovereignty on reservation lands. But the cultural echo of potato gardens through time may be the largest step of all. Dr. Bruce Pavlik is the Conservation Director at Red Butte Garden. Top L: Putting final touches on the different facilities for growing Four Corners Potato in Monument Valley. Top R: Elouise Wilson with some of her 2020 crop of Four Corners Potatoes. Middle: A smaller facility was built for Frances Shepard that included rain barrels and a small greenhouse. Bottom: Theresa James, agriculture teacher at Monument Valley High checks the first Four Corners Potato crop grown at the school.
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Garden Experience Coordinator Christine Melvin teaching a field class with students in the Herb Garden.
BACK TO SCHOOL IN THE GARDEN After a year-and-a-half absence due to COVID-19, field class students returned to the Garden this September, and our School Programs team was eager to welcome them back. For some students, this is their first time experiencing a place like Red Butte Garden, for others it is a familiar friend, but all leave with new-found knowledge and skills. This year students were introduced to a redesigned field class program— one created to work with Utah’s new science standards, COVID-19 best practices, and staffing challenges. Previously, students and their chaperones were lead through the Garden by staff and volunteers while exploring botany-based science topics. The revised format provides students more agency to practice science skills and conduct their own investigations while exploring the Garden with their chaperones.
“I want to be a scientist. Actually, I just want to work here. How old do I have to be to work here?”-4th Grade, Orchard Springs “This place really helps me to unload my stresses.” -4th Grade, Orchard Springs “AMAZING! That was such a fun experience!” -4th Grade, Hayden Peak
To prepare for field classes, teachers choose from seven investigation focuses: habitats, sensory observations, flowers and fruits, matter movement, water conservation, phenology, and ethnobotany. Students start their investigations in the classroom with a 360o virtual Garden tour focused on their chosen topic. When they arrive at the Garden, they receive a scientific field journal to record observations and work on their scientific skills. Some of the most popular activities have been mimicking bees to discover how their features and textures aid in pollination, tasting different plant parts to determine why plants have attractive or repelling flavors, and the “be a gardener” game where students can design their own water conservation garden. Inspiring these future botanists and horticulturists is an amazing School Programs team led by School Programs Manager Sarah Sandoval. Along with Experience Coordinator Christine Melvin, Programs Assistant Katie Brainard, seasonal staff members Mary Hollyman and Rebecca Speechley, volunteers, and the Garden’s team of horticulturists, they create memorable experiences for students with educator-led activities that enhance the students’ investigations. Field classes will return in the Spring, with reservations opening on November 15. For more information about Red Butte Garden’s education outreach programs, please visit our website: redbuttegarden.org/teachers-and-students Sarah Sandoval, School Programs Manager, joined the Garden in 2010. She has a BS in botany and geospatial analysis from Weber State University. 10
Red Butte Garden
‘TIS THE SEASON FOR LOCAL HOLIDAY MARKETS RED BUTTE GARDEN HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE & ART FAIR December 4 & 5 from 9am-5pm The Richard K. Hemingway Orangerie will be filled with local artists who will bring an array of handmade gifts for sale including jewelry, glass art, pottery, wearable art, natural soaps and lotions, and more. Free admission thanks to Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP).
UTAH MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOLIDAY MARKET December 4 & 5 from 9am-5pm The UMFA’s annual Holiday Market is back! Handmade creations by local artists, including glass, ceramics, paintings, jewelry, photography, artisan chocolates, and so much more. Free admission with reservation: umfa.utah.edu/visit
THIS IS THE PLACE HERITAGE PARK Christkindlmarkt December 1-4 from 11am-8pm Make holiday memories with family and friends. Our German Christmas market-inspired event celebrates its 10th Anniversary this year with local artisans, food vendors, and entertainment. Free admission. Candlelight Christmas December 7-23 (except Sundays) from 5-9pm. Take a step back in time—visit with Father Christmas, enjoy winter-time carolers, and holiday shop at our mercantile. Admission prices and more info at: thisistheplace.org. redbuttegarden.org
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Cupressus arizonica 'Chaparral' winter cones
Waterfall at the lower pond
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.
Joe's Leaf Boat sculpture
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 House finch
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Red Butte Garden
WINTER 2021 - 2022
EXHIBIT ARTISTS
Glass Art Show artists Left: Diane Whittaker Right: Dana Worley
Please visit our website and social media for more Garden event information.
ART EXHIBITS
Featuring a range of naturethemed media by Utah artists including photography, watercolor, oil, pastel, mixed media, fiber art, and more. Admission not required to shop. NOV 6–DEC 20 Glass Art Show Presented by the Glass Art Guild of Utah
HOLIDAY SHOPPING HOT SPOT
DEC 1-23 Natural History Museum of Utah Garden members receive 10% off purchases made next door at the NHMU Museum Store. DEC 4 & 5 Holiday Open House & Art Fair Find unique locally handmade gifts for the holidays including jewelry, wearable art, pottery, natural beauty products, and more.
Hamamelis 'Amethyst' (Amethyst Witch Hazel)
DEC 4 & 5 Annual Gift Shop Holiday Sale Garden members receive an additional 10% off Red Butte Garden Gift Shop purchases. Dec 4 & 5 are free admission days thanks to ZAP.
GARDEN EVENTS
DEC 21 Winter Solstice Celebration Kits 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. Purchase online at redbuttegarden.org/wintersolstice.
JAN 3-FEB 14 Spring Poetry Contest Calling all poets! Enter your original, spring-inspired poem by 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 MARCH 5 Volunteer Fair Saturday from 11am-1pm Meet Garden staff members and current volunteers to learn about our many opportunities. More info at redbuttegarden.org/volunteerat-red-butte-garden.
Water Conservation Garden
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WINTER 2021 - 2022 CALENDAR
Canadian geese in the upper pond
CLASSES & WORKSHOPS Find class descriptions and register online at redbuttegarden.org/adulteducation or call 801-581-8454. HORTICULTURE DEC 21 Winter Solstice Bird Walk w/ HawkWatch International Tue, 4-5pm Garden members $26 General public $30
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Red Butte Garden
JAN 29 Native & Alternative Lawns in an Urban Utah (online class) Sat, 10am-12pm Garden members $35 General public $39 ART & DESIGN DEC 11 & 12 Wreath Workshop (online class) Sat & Sun, 10-11am Garden members $43 General public $55
HEALTHY LIVING DEC 16, JAN 20, FEB 17 Indian Cooking with Purnima Gandhi (online class) Thu, 6-8pm Garden members $44 General public $55 JAN 12, FEB 9 Cooking with Plants for a Healthier U Wed, 6-7pm Garden members $44 General public $55
DEC, JAN, FEB Mindfulness Meditation (online class) Tue 9:30-10:10am Thu 11:30am-12:10pm Garden members $10 General public $12 DEC, JAN, FEB Forest Bathing Sat & Sun 11am-12:30pm Please check website for dates Garden members $25 General public $30
Details and registration at redbuttegarden.org
Four Seasons Garden
ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
DEC 11 Make Your Own Holiday Glass Tree (Ages 7-14) Sat, 10am-Noon & 1-3pm Garden members $13 General public $15 Garden Adventures at Home Craft projects that teach kids about the natural world. Take-home kits contain materials needed to create the course at home. Check our website for descriptions and prices at redbuttegarden.org/kids-classes/gardenadventures. Boredom Busters Fun, free, nature-inspired activities for families to do at home. redbuttegarden.org/boredom-busters
BY THE NUMBERS 2021 Outdoor Concert Series • 23 concerts in 62 days • 64,433 tickets sold • 2,756 average attendees per concert • 13 sold-out 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
2021 ADVISORY BOARD OUR MISSION
Tory Magleby, Chair David Classen, Vice Chair Kym Buttschardt, Secretary Troy Aramburu Erin Armstrong Brandi Bosworth Curt Crowther Jeff Herring Kristy Larsen Ron Motzkus Lindee Nance Steven Price David Reymann Kathleen Riebe Selma Sierra Laura Snow JoLynda Stillman
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!
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