Red Butte Garden Summer 2024 Magazine

Red Butte Garden

UTAH'S BOTANICAL GARDEN

TUE, JUN 4 BURNING SPEAR + XAVIER RUDD

THU, JUN 13

UMPHREY'S McGEE

DANIEL DONATO'S COSMIC COUNTRY

MON, JUN 17 KALEO VINCENT LIMA

WED, JUN 19 MAT KEARNEY DONAVON FRANKENREITER

WED, JUN 26 THE STRING CHEESE INCIDENT

SUN, JUL 7 BLUES TRAVELER + JJ GREY & MOFRO

WED, JUL 10 LYLE LOVETT AND HIS LARGE BAND

SUN, JUL 14 PORTUGAL. THE MAN SPOON BENDERS

MON, JUL 15 THE REVIVALISTS HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER

TUE, JUL 16 SLASH – S.E.R.P.E.N.T. FESTIVAL KEB' MO' / SAMANTHA FISH / JACKIE VENSON

TUE, JUL 23 LAKE STREET DIVE CELISSE

THU, JUL 25 TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE BIG BOI

MON, JUL 29 MELISSA ETHERIDGE + JEWEL

WED, JUL 31 PAT BENATAR & NEIL GIRALDO THE VINDYS

MON, AUG 5 STRAY CATS THE MIDNIGHT COWGIRLS

TUE, AUG 6 CHARLEY CROCKETT JOHN R. MILLER

SUN, AUG 11 GARY CLARK JR.

THU, AUG 15 YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND, RAILROAD EARTH, & LEFTOVER SALMON

FRI, AUG 16 O.A.R. FITZ & THE TANTRUMS

SUN, AUG 18 THE BEACH BOYS

MON, AUG 19 SHAKEY GRAVES

TUE, AUG 20 GIPSY KINGS FEATURING NICOLAS REYES

TUE, AUG 27 PINK MARTINI FEATURING CHINA FORBES

THU, SEP 5 THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT TYLER RAMSEY

SUN, SEP 8 KEANE EVERYTHING EVERYTHING

MON, SEP 9 BUENA VISTA SOCIAL ORCHESTRA

THU, SEP 12 VANCE JOY TINY HABITS

TUE, SEP 17 INDIGO GIRLS + AMOS LEE

WED, SEP 18 CROWDED HOUSE

TUE, SEP 24 RODRIGO Y GABRIELA

REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG/CONCERTS PRESENTED BY

FRONT COVER

Summer campers, 2023

BACK COVER:

Calochortus nuttallii (Sego lily) by Neal

Dombrowski

EDITORS

Kate Randall

Mindy Wilson

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Heidi Anderson

Jason Baker

Michael Bernard

Sam Crump

Glenn Eurick

Kristan Jacobsen

Kate Randall

Dave Titensor

Mindy Wilson

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Leslie Hanna

PRINTED BY IC Group

On a recent walk in the Garden, I ran into a group of children who were finishing a school field class with our educators. One little boy jumped up and down, and with a big smile on his face shouted, “I just learned the secrets of life!”

Reactions like that put smiles on our faces too, because we want everyone to appreciate plants as much as we do. As you’ll see throughout this issue, we work hard to create fun and meaningful experiences throughout the Garden’s living landscapes. That includes everything from summer camps and school outreach to personal wellness classes and plant-care workshops.

2024 ADVISORY BOARD

David Classen, Chair

Kym Buttschardt, Vice Chair

Curt Crowther, Secretary

Lisa Andrues

Troy Aramburu

Steve Barth

Brandi Bosworth

Carolyn Buma

Maura Carabello

Gary Christensen

Chelsey Curtis

Shaleane Gee

Greg Graham

Jeff Herring

Lindee Nance

Jamie Rubin

Laura Snow

JoLynda Stillman

Vicki Varela

Beverly Vargo

Kamrin Wilson

Emeritus Board Members

Sandi Behnken

Garden experiences that generate revenue, including private event rentals and concerts, support our mission and allow us to deliver our education, conservation, and community outreach goals. The next time you attend a wedding in the Fragrance Garden or a night of live music in the Amphitheatre, notice how the spaces are purposely designed to deepen human connections with plant life. And smile, knowing that you’re supporting the important work of expanding our guests’ plant knowledge, inspiring their curiosity, and allowing them to directly experience how nature can improve human lives.

That’s the difference you make by supporting the work we do. Thank you. I hope that you come enjoy our beautiful Garden this summer!

Derrek Hanson, Executive Director

We acknowledge that this land, which is named for the Ute Tribe, is the traditional and ancestral homeland of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute Tribes. The University of Utah recognizes and respects the enduring relationship that exists between many Indigenous peoples and their traditional homelands. We respect the sovereign relationship between tribes, states, and the federal government, and we affirm the University of Utah’s commitment to a partnership with Native Nations and Urban Indian communities through research, education, and community outreach activities.

Garden Study Shows Immersion in Nature Benefits the Brain

Dr. Amy McDonnell and Dr. David Strayer of the University of Utah Department of Psychology have been using Red Butte Garden and Arboretum for the last few years to study changes in brain activity associated with walking in nature. The results are promising for those of us who love to stroll outdoors.

Scientists believe that our modern urban environments place high demand on our attentional resources, which can become depleted over time and cause mental fatigue. Natural environments, on the other hand, are thought to provide relief from this demand and allow our attentional resources to be replenished. Results from McDonnell and Strayer’s study suggest that nature walks are not only more restorative than walks in urban environments but that they also enhance attention at a neural level. Urban environments place high demand on attention, causing the prefrontal cortex to be fatigued by overstimulation. By contrast, nature places fewer demands on our attention, allowing the prefrontal cortex to rest and recover.

McDonnell and Strayer are conducting further research to understand who benefits the most from immersion in nature and how these brain-based benefits relate to changes in mood and perceived restoration. They’ve begun a new study at Red Butte Garden exploring the role that digital technology plays in our relationship to nature.

Propagating Hope at Primary Children’s Hospital

by Mindy Wilson

Young patients at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, Salt Lake Campus, will experience the beauty of plants and the joy of the outdoors thanks to one of Red Butte Garden and Arboretum’s talented and passionate educators.

Garden experience coordinator Becca Speechley recently filmed a short presentation on horticulture for “Songs and Stories,” a monthly educational broadcast that patients watch in their rooms. Speechley demonstrates gardening tools like shovels, pruners, a soil knife, and a watering can, and shares live plants from our greenhouse—an oak seedling to show how an acorn sprouts into a tree and geraniums to demonstrate root systems and propagation. She wraps up by reading aloud Peter Brown’s The Curious Garden, a children’s bestseller that encourages a love of gardening and the environment.

“I tried to convey why I love being in community with plants and nature,” Speechley said. “I shared how spending time caring for plants and being in nature helps me feel more creative and hopeful for the future.”

Hospital music therapist Sara Langenberger said Speechley made an immediate impact on a young patient and her father who watched live during the taping.

“Together they sat right next to the glass of the studio wall, eagerly following along with Becca’s every move. Together they planted seeds, practiced taking cuttings from an existing plant, and learned all about plant propagation,” Langenberger said. “Becca’s incredible teaching skills were only enhanced by her total passion for plant life and nature. That patient and her father left with the biggest smiles on their faces, all thanks to Becca.”

Speechley’s inspiring message will go out to nearly 300 patients every spring throughout the month of March, educating children, and offering encouragement from the Garden, for years to come.

Mindy Wilson is the Garden’s marketing & PR director.

“Becca’s incredible teaching skills were only enhanced by her total passion for plant life and nature. That patient and her father left with the biggest smiles on their faces, all thanks to Becca.”

The Natural Area: Urban Meets Wild

By Neal Dombrowski

The backdrop of the Wasatch Mountains makes Red Butte Garden and Arboretum a unique and truly magical space. The Garden’s 100 acres are located on an urban-wildland interface, an area where development meets undeveloped land. Nearly 80 of these acres are Natural Area, including the Six Bridges Trail and the Meadow, and are maintained by two full-time horticulturists, a team of gardeners, and groups of weekly volunteers. The area features a trail system, more than 250 plant species, and the most scenic panoramic views.

The team’s priorities are to manage the Natural Area for everyone to enjoy. Restoration is a big part of the management, which includes controlling weeds, collecting and distributing seed, and revegetating with native plants, like claret cup cactus, mountain mahogany, sagebrush, bitterbrush, buckwheat, and sumac. The team also maintains trail vegetation and surfaces, as well as the boundary fence line, which protects plant collections from herbivory and bikes. By controlling non-native plant species, we help maintain the diversity of local plants that provide habitat for all things wild, like pollinators, predators, and prey.

A guest hiking along the trail in the Natural Area

The Natural Area offers a good variety of plant habitats to explore, including oak-maple forest, upland meadow, shrubland, and a riparian area in and around Red Butte Creek and Canyon. The urban-wildland interface creates opportunities to view wildlife such as bobcat, coyote, the occasional mountain lion or badger, and many others. Guests will find native wildflowers like mountain bluebells, yellow bells, balsam root, and sego lilies. The most-asked question about the Natural Area is when the sego lilies will bloom, and we have quite the population beginning to bloom in late May-early June.

Next time you visit, wear your hiking shoes, bring your water bottle, and plan to spend some time here. The cultivated gardens are exceptional, and the Natural Area offers a unique experience seeking the state flower along our trails!

Horticulturist Neal Dombrowski has managed the Natural Area for fourteen years. He has a botany degree from Weber State University.

Use the QR code to see a map and plant checklist for the Natural Area.

Volunteers Carlie Shurtliff, Norma Kost, and Patrick Park are part of the team that help horticulturist Neal Dombrowski (center) care for the Garden’s extensive Natural Area.

Above: Horticulturist Keenan Mittl, who joined the Red Butte Garden staff earlier this year, enjoys his first spring helping to manage the Natural Area. Bottom left: Balsamorhiza sagittata (Arrowleaf Balsamroot)

Let’s Unite, Grow, and Bloom with Pride!

By Jason Alba

Immerse yourself in the vibrant colors of nature at Red Butte Garden and Arboretum on June 14 from noon to 8 p.m. for Blooming with Pride. This new family-friendly festival invites the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to unite and celebrate the rich beauty and diversity of the natural world. We invite everyone to join in this exciting new event!

Among the event’s highlights is a showcase of artistic floral and plant displays created by local artists and florists. The seven exhibits on display were selected from more than 45 proposals submitted by artists nationwide. Each exhibit represents the diverse experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community, showcasing that, like plants, love and diversity thrive in all shades and forms.

During the event, guests can also engage in family-friendly activities, including craft projects, on-the-go science experiments, a self-guided nature walk, and free health and wellness classes. The Garden’s Courtyard will also transform into a Unity Hub where guests can connect with local organizations that support and uplift the LGBTQIA+ community.

We invite you to experience this brand-new festival, where love, diversity, and the beauty of nature come together for Blooming with Pride, where plants are for everyone.

Friday, June 14

Free admission from noon to 8 p.m., but timed admission tickets are required.   Registration is open at redbuttegarden.org/events/blooming-with-pride or via the QR code below.

Jason Alba is the youth and family programs manager. He joined the Garden in 2013 and has a BS in landscape management from Brigham Young University.

What Will Be Your Legacy?

Help keep the Garden growing with a legacy gift through your will.

A legacy gift honors the donor’s life with a charitable gift to a chosen party, cause, or organization. Legacy giving is a lasting investment in Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, advancing our mission to connect people with plants and the beauty of living landscapes. When you include Red Butte Garden in your estate plan, you ensure the continued growth of the garden for future generations.

For more information, please contact Natalie Cope, director of philanthropy, at 801.585.5658 or natalie.cope@redbutte.utah.edu.

“The trees of Red Butte Garden and Arboretum are a diverse and playful bunch. Many if not all of them have a story to tell. Their beauty can be experienced in any season, weather, or time of day. ” —Charlie Perington, arborist

Rooted in Wonder

Help us celebrate the profound role nature plays in our lives.

At Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, every leaf, every bloom, every tree shares a story of resilience, growth, and interconnectedness. This community we’ve created together is a sanctuary where you can escape the commotion of daily life and reconnect with the natural world.

But we need your help to ensure that Red Butte Garden continues to thrive and to inspire generations to come. With your support we can:

• Nurture Nature: Your donations directly contribute to the care and cultivation of our plants, trees, gardens, and living landscapes, so they can keep flourishing and enchanting guests for years to come.

• Ignite Curiosity: Our educational programs and workshops foster a deeper appreciation for trees and the natural world, sparking curiosity, wonder, and a passion for conservation.

• Expand and Enhance: With your generosity, we can continue to introduce new species and expand cultivated spaces, creating more opportunities for guests to root themselves in nature’s beauty and tranquility.

By being “Rooted in Wonder” with us, you are a vital part of our mission to connect people with plants and the beauty of living landscapes, making life better for individuals and our community. Whether you make a small contribution or a larger investment, your donation makes a difference.

Give to Red Butte Garden, and Help Nourish Our Roots

Thank you for being a cherished supporter of Red Butte Garden. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on people like you to help us cultivate a world where wonder can flourish.

LOOK WHO'S JOINED OUR TEAM

Join us in welcoming these talented people to the Garden’s full-time staff.

New RBG Team Merger

Peter Cain

Social Media Coordinator

BS in marketing, University of Utah

Our first full-time social media coordinator, Peter joined the Garden in 2020 as a work-study student on the marketing team. He has grown the Garden’s Instagram following by 250% with engaging, behind-the-scenes video content.

Peter is also the lead vocalist and mandolin player for local bluegrass band Theoretical Blonde.

Ramsey Henderson

Irrigation Specialist

BS in landscape design, University of Colorado

During his college career, Ramsey worked in landscape design, outdoor education, irrigation analysis, and water mitigation. He is excited to share his knowledge and continue his real-world education on the horticulture team.

Keenan Mittl

Horticulturist II Natural Area

BS in applied plant and soil science, University of British Columbia

Keenan has worked in a variety of field positions around the Great Basin Desert since 2017 and is excited to share his knowledge with and to learn from the Red Butte Garden community.

Suean Wilson

RBG FAST Team

BS in travel and tourism

Suean is a Utah native who has enjoyed a fun and diverse career in the travel/tourism and guest services industries. She is excited to learn more about the Garden and become a vital part of this unique place in the world.

We are excited to announce that the Garden’s Facilities and Sanitation team (F.A.S.T.) has merged with our Project Management team to form a new Landscape Architecture and Facilities department. This brings all venue planning, construction, and ongoing maintenance projects under one department.

The Garden’s F.A.S.T. team works tirelessly to ensure that Garden facilities are safe and clean. Pictured: (back row, from left) Adam Rasmussen, Forrest Joyner, Anthony Giorgio, (front row, from left) Suean Wilson, Randy Alire

MEMORIALS AND TRIBUTES

The following donors have made gifts to Red Butte Garden and Arboretum to honor and remember friends or loved ones. Thank you for your generous tributes.

In Memory of Nicole Collins

Linda Burr

In Thanksgiving for the life of Joy Weeks

Ellen Cromley

In Loving Memory of Nicole Collins

Linda Burr

In Memory of Clark David Bullock

Shannon Post

In Memory of Doug and Margret Ingraham

Jane Ingraham

In Memory of Nicole Collins

Peggy M. Montrone

In Memory of Clark David Bullock

Michael Harty

In Loving Memory of Clark David Bullock

Shannon Post

In Memory of Gayle Cornaby Petersen

Barbara T. Gaddis

In Honor of Di & Chris Wurtzburg

Susan J. Wurtzburg

In Honor of the cast & crew of The Secret Garden at Kensington Theatre in South Jordan

Michaela Shelton

In Memory of Joyce Powers Ensign

Kelly B. Powers

In Memory of R. Endo

Joni D. Endo

In Tribute to Shahpar Ghodsi

Anonymous

In Memory of R. Endo

Joni D. Endo

In Loving Memory of Mitzi D Conover

Dr. Thomas Conover

In Memory of Joy Weeks

Ellen Cromley

Gifts listed above between January 5 and May 2, 2024

<

Friday, August 9 from 5-11pm Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre

Join us for yard games and interactive crafts. Mingle with our community partners and sample tasty treats from local food vendors. Live local music with Theoretical Blonde | Movie: Back to the Future at sunset

SUMMER 2024 CALENDAR

EXHIBIT ARTISTS

Top L: Nila Jane Autry

Top R: Susan Makov

Bottom L: Stephanie Saint-Thomas

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, and more. Admission not required to shop.

JUN 21-JUL 22

Nila Jane AutryFlowerscapes

Artist Reception June 28, 5-8:30pm

JUL 26-AUG 26

Susan MakovTree Language Artist Reception July 27, 2-5pm

AUG 30-SEP 30

Stephanie Saint-ThomasMixed Media Paintings

GARDEN EVENTS

JUN 14

Blooming with Pride Fri, Noon-8pm

Join us for a new Garden experience where love, diversity, and the beauty of nature come together for an unforgettable familyfriendly celebration. Explore a showcase of floral art displays, and engage with craft projects, self-guided tours, and drop-in wellness classes.

Admission is free, but timed admission tickets are required. Co-presented by Equality Utah. redbuttegarden.org/events/ blooming-with-pride

JUN-SEP

Outdoor Concert Series

Red Butte Garden

Amphitheatre

Welcoming music lovers since 1987, the series has become one of the valley’s most anticipated live music events. Proceeds from concert tickets, concessions, and merchandise sales support our mission to connect people with plants and the beauty of living landscapes, improving the quality of life in our community.

Tickets on sale now! redbuttegarden.org/concerts

JUL 17 & 18

Sundance Film Festival: Local Lens

Wed & Thu, amphitheatre gates open at 7:30 pm, film at sunset. Save the dates! Film titles to be announced in June. Free admission.

redbuttegarden.org/events/ sundance-film

AUG 9

Garden Member Block Party Fri, amphitheatre gates open at 5 pm, film at sunset. Familyfriendly games, live music, and film: Back to the Future. Free for members, but registration is required. redbuttegarden.org/events/ block-party

SEP 10

Ballet West in the Garden

Save the date for a magical dance performance in the Amphitheatre. More info coming soon.

SEP 19

Cultivating Wisdom & Wonder Speaker Series Thu, 6-7:30pm

Ian Williams | Soil and Spirit: Seeds of Purpose, Nature's Insight, & the Deep Work of Transformational Change Tickets required. redbuttegarden.org/ speaker-series

Save the Date! SEP 21

Native American Hoop Dance Competition

Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre

Boredom Busters

Fun, free, nature-inspired activities for kids and families to do at home.

redbuttegarden.org/free-gardenevents/boredom-busters

GUIDED GARDEN TOURS

May 1-Sep 30 excluding free days and Mother’s Day.

COMPLIMENTARY TRAM TOURS

Mon-Sun, 10am-1pm based on docent availability. Groups of 5 or fewer. First come, first served. 20 minutes

PRIVATE TRAM & WALKING TOURS

Up to 7 guests per docent. Tour price, plus admission: Garden members $50 / docent General public $75 / docent Private walking tours – 1.5 hours Private tram tours – 1 hour

Advance registration required. redbuttegarden.org/planyour-garden-visit/garden-tours

Concertgoers enjoying the show

SUMMER 2024 CALENDAR

ADULT CLASSES & WORKSHOPS

Find class descriptions and register online at redbuttegarden.org/ adult-education or call 801.581.8454

HORTICULTURE

JUN 6

Growing Your Own Herbs in Utah Thu, 6:30-8:30pm

Garden members $39 General public $48

JUN 11

Your Landscape 101: Welcome to Utah Tues, 6:30-8:30pm

Garden members $32

General public $39

JUN 12

Accessibility Foothill Nature

Walk w/NHMU at RBG Wed, 11:30am-12:15pm Free, but limited to first 30 guests.

JUN 12

Nature Walk w/basic plant ID for Wasatch trails Wed, 6:30-7:30pm

Garden members $12 General public $15

JUN 19 & 22

Rose Maintenance Wed, 6-7:30pm Sat, 9-11am or 12-2pm

Garden members $48

General public $60

JUL 10

Rose Pests & Disease Wed, 6-7:30pm Garden members $32 General public $39

JUL 11

Backyard Chickens (online) Thu, 6:30-8:30pm Garden members $39

General public $48

AUG 7

Winter Ready Gardens Wed, 6:30-8:30pm Garden members $32

General public $39

AUG 14

Planting Your Backyard for Wildlife Wed, 6-8pm

Garden members $39 General public $48

ART & DESIGN

JUN 1

Macro Photography Workshop Sat, 3:30-5:30pm Garden members $39 General public $39

JUN 4

Linocut Printmaking Tue, 6-8:30pm Garden members $52 General public $65

JUN 8

Fused Glass Panel w/ Flowers Sat, 9-11am & 1-3pm

Garden members $44 General public $55

The Dumke Floral Walk

JUN 10

Botanical Candle Making Mon, 6-8pm

Garden members $52

General public $65

JUN 15, JUL 20, AUG 10

Designing w/ Fresh Flowers Sat, 1-3pm

Garden members $80

General public $100

Materials fee $50

JUL 13

Botanical Painting for All Sat, 10am-12pm

Garden members $48

General public $60 Includes materials.

HEALTHY LIVING

JUN 1, AUG 17

The True Nature Workshop Sat, 10am-1pm

Garden members $48

General public $60

JUN 10

Cooking with Plants for a Healthier U Mon, 6-7:30pm

Garden members $44

General public $55

JUN 12, JUL 10, AUG 14

Indian Cooking w/ Purnima Gandhi (online) Wed, 6-8pm

Garden members $44

General public $55

JUN 15, JUL 6, AUG 3

Botanical Beauty: Crafting

Natural Skincare Sat, 10am-12pm

Garden members $52

General public $65 Includes Materials

JUL 20, AUG 24

Tending to You w/Kara Delfanti Sat, 9:30-11:30am

Garden members $45

General public $56

CONTACT US

JUL 27

Art & Inquiry Full-Day Retreat w/ Jaime Meyers & Laurie Eastwood Sat, 10am-4pm

Garden members $100

General public $125

JUN, JUL, AUG

Forest Bathing w/ Chris Newton

Check website for schedule

Garden members $25

General public $30

JUN, JUL, AUG

Mindfulness Meditation w/ Maurena Grossman Sun, 9-10am

Garden members $10

General public $12

JUN, JUL, AUG

Yoga & Sound Bath w/ Kristin Vance Sun, 10:30-11:30am

Garden members $12

General public $15

Visitor Center 801.585.0556

Website: www.redbuttegarden.org

Comments: 801.581.5754 or email pr@redbutte.utah.edu

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.

THANK YOU

Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) Program for your support.

JUN, JUL, AUG

Qigong & Tai Chi w/ Emily Yeates Mon, 9:30-10:30am

Garden members $10

General public $12

JUN, JUL, AUG

Yoga & Qigong w/ Sarah Elizabeth Garza-Leavitt Thu, 5:30-6:30pm

Garden members $10

General public $12

JUN, JUL, AUG

Awake in This Moment w/ Charlotte Bell Wed, 10:30-11:30am

Garden members $10

General public $12

JUN, JUL, AUG

Qigong & Tai Chi w/ Sufi Toni Lock Thu, 9:30-10:30am

Garden members $12

General public $15

Red Butte Garden is one of the largest botanical gardens in the Intermountain West and, together with the University of Utah, a state arboretum. The Garden is renowned for its plant collections, themed gardens, almost 590,000 springtime blooming bulbs, awardwinning horticulture-based educational programs, and a world-class outdoor summer concert series.

Copyright © 2024 Red Butte Garden. All rights reserved.

Monarch butterfly laying eggs on some milkweed plants

300 Wakara Way

Salt Lake City, UT 84108

OUR MISSION

To connect people with plants and the beauty of living landscapes.