Red Butte Garden Newsletter - Winter 2015

Winter 2015 Volume 7 Issue 4

Holiday Open House Winter Solstice Celebration Day Camps for Kids

Summer Camps aimed at helping children become more environmentally minded. Our students learned about recycling, water conservation, and more! As part of the camp activities, our students learned to recycle their left-over materials. When a group of campers came across a material that could not be easily recycled, they went home and researched how to solve the problem. The students returned to camp the next day, eager to share what they had learned.

As I watch our young friends—our children, grandchildren, students, and neighbors­—create these inspiring first connections in nature, I am often reminded of personal experiences in the Garden.

Editors

Bryn Ramjoué Kate Randall

Contributing Writers

Gregory Lee Marita Tewes Tyrolt Scott Mower Kevin Jensen Bruce Pavlik Patrick Newman Contributing Photographers

Pierce McConnell Jason Baker Kate Randall Jonathan Barth Graphic Designers

Pierce McConnell Malinda Tackman Printed by

Litho Flexo Grafics, Inc. Red Butte Botanical Garden, located at 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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Do you remember seeing your first hummingbird pollinating the flowers in your garden? What about the first time you enjoyed eating a crisp apple? Maybe it was one you picked off of a local tree. Do you remember your first walk in the yellow woods after reading Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken,” or the first time you went outside because it was raining?

At Red Butte Garden, we are inspired by the belief that children live happier and more fulfilled lives when they create connections to their natural surroundings, and we love that we can provide the environment for these first critical experiences.

Through our award-winning educational programs, children awaken to a beautiful relationship with nature. With this newfound awareness, they more fully develop the curiosity, sense of adventure, and critical thinking skills that are foundational to their lives.

Our Red Butte Garden Summer Camps spark children’s curiosity. The strong desire to know more about the natural world drives our students to discover that fruits, vegetables, herbs, and even many medicines actually come from plants, not the grocery store! Children also realize how creative and unique the world of botany is, that plants such as the chocolate-scented balsamroot and curlycup gumweed are real.

Do you remember the first chilly evening walk you took through the paved trails of the Garden after a winter’s snow blanketed the landscape? Was it so still and quiet that you were able to stop and appreciate winter for the first time that day?

Do you remember the first thaw of spring? You may have been hiking in the Garden’s Natural Area in late March and your shoes were muddy for the first time in a long while.

Do you remember the last time you visited the Herb Garden on a Friday afternoon and discovered an unfamiliar herb? Did you go home and build a new recipe around this ingredient?

When you come to the Garden, you, too, can establish a beautiful relationship with nature. The Garden is a wonderful environment for making these connections and memories.

- Gregory Lee, Executive Director

P.S. Please use the enclosed envelope to make a donation to the Garden today.

School field trips at the Garden inspire children to explore. Whether it is through hiking in the Oak Tunnel, hunting and gathering in the Children’s Garden, unearthing and replanting bulbs, or experimenting while making slime in the Sprout House, our youngest visitors enjoy venturing in uncharted territories. The Garden’s Education Staff knows they helped to create a daring enterprise when the students announce to their classmates, “I’m glad that I fell in the mud because it’s not an adventure until you get messy!”

At the Garden, children learn how to problem solve. Last summer, we introduced a series of “Go Green”

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Red Butte Garden

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These are just some of the events and workshops we offer. For more information please check our website: www.redbuttegarden.org

Enjoy Half-Price Admission January through February Art Exhibit: Andy White Owls of Utah, Portraits in Colored Pencil

Greenhouse Tour

Utah Rare Plant Meeting

Botany for Gardeners

Tomato Propogation Workshop

Art Exhibit: Andy White

Residential Landscaping

Garden Adventures for Kids

RBG Volunteer Training Art Exhibit: TBD

Succulent Terrarium Workshop

Spring Bonsai Show

Day Camps for Kids Plant Highlight: Paperbark Maple, Lacebark Pine

Plant Highlight: Lenten Rose, Witch Hazel, Winter Jasmine

Plant Highlight: Magnolia Snowdrop, Crocus, Squill, 150,000 Mini-Bulbs

ZAP Free Day - Arbor Day

Annual Spring Plant Sale & Fundraiser

Garden Maintenance

Bulbs & Blooms Festival Irrigation Basics Spring Orchid Show Art Exhibit: Bradley Hales Clark

Outdoor Concert Series Complimentary Tram Tours Art Exhibit: Lucy Peterson Watkins

Monday Family Nights Outdoor Concert Series Complimentary Tram Tours

Summer Camp Registration

Plant Highlight: 450,000 Daffodils & Other Blooms

Plant Highlight: Wisteria, Crabapple, Peony, Lilac

Plant Highlight: Serviceberry, Iris, Viburnum, Rose Collection

ZAP Free Day - Pioneer Day

Monday Family Nights & Campouts

ZAP Free Day - Labor Day

Monday Family Nights & Campouts

Sundance Outdoor Film Series

Sundance Outdoor Film Series

Outdoor Concert Series

Fall Bulb & Native Plant Sale Fundraiser

Outdoor Concert Series

Complimentary Tram Tours

Complimentary Tram Tours

Art Exhibit: Carol Bold

Art Exhibit: TBD

Greek Theatre Festival Outdoor Concert Series Complimentary Tram Tours Art Exhibit: Stephanie Saint-Thomas

Plant Highlight: Rose, Hibiscus, Coneflower, Daylily Collection

Plant Highlight: Butterfly Bush, Lavender, Rudbeckia

Plant Highlight: Aster, Autumn Crocus, Fall Anemone

ZAP Free Day - Zeke Dumke Day

Holiday Floral Arranging Workshop

Fall Container Garden Workshop

Fall Orchid Show

ZAP Free Days - Holiday Open House & Art Fair

Fall Bonsai Show

Art Exhibit: Glass Art Guild of Utah

Fall Garden Maintenance

Closed Thanksgiving Day

Garden After Dark

Wreath-Making Workshops Winter Solstice Celebration Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count Closed December 24 - January 1

Plant Highlight: Toad Lily, Fall Foliage, 4 Ornamental Red Butte Garden Grasses Collection

SILVER MAPLE MYSTERY

Plant Highlight: Oak Collection, Fall Foliage

Plant Highlight: Conifer Collection

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Red Butte Garden Horticulture staff have received a number of calls concerning the decline of Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) trees in our area. Some are from people who have noticed the poor state of Silver Maples in residential neighborhoods or local parks, and others are from people inquiring about their own tree(s). Some have been told that their trees are ‘diseased’ and were offered a spray program for treatment from local tree services. But what would such a spray treat?

Technically, a ‘disease’ is a malfunctioning of cells or tissues, and while some diseases may be caused by a pathogen, other diseases can have an environmental cause. The decline of Silver Maples in our area can generally be attributed to an inability of the tree to feed itself when planted in high alkaline soils.

In order for plants to make their own life sustaining food through photosynthesis, they need to take up water and a variety of nutrients from the soil. Soil pH, a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a soil, affects the availability of nutrients in the soil. In general, each plant species is adapted to function well in the pH ranges found in their native soils.

If the soil pH is either too high or too low for a species, the necessary nutrients may be present in the soil, but the plant roots cannot absorb them. When soils are within a 5.5 to 7.0 pH range, the majority of micronutrients are available for more plants. Soil types can vary greatly in Utah, but in general our soils are alkaline (above 7 pH). The pH of some soils can even be as high as the upper 7’s or 8, which can be very limiting for some plant species.

One symptom of nutrient deficiency is chlorosis, or foliage that has turned a sickly yellowish color. This is caused by inadequate chlorophyll synthesis because the leaf is not receiving the nutrients it needs to produce chlorophyll. Iron

By Marita Tewes Tyrolt, Director of Horticulture

chlorosis is typically shown as an interveinal chlorosis, where the leaf veins retain some green, but the leaf tissue surface between the veins is yellowish. In severe cases, irregular brown spots or margins may be present on the leaves. Iron chlorosis is most evident on newer leaves, rather than older foliage.

While iron is often the nutrient most lacking, sometimes it can be another nutrient, such as manganese (particularly in maples) or zinc. Manganese chlorosis looks much the same as iron chlorosis, but is more evident on older foliage. When zinc is lacking, it will further aggravate or compound the iron or manganese chlorosis.

As a tree matures, its need for nutrients increases. Beyond chlorosis, persistent nutrient deficiency can result in individual leaves being smaller in size than normal and individual branches dying. If left unmanaged, the condition may continue to progress, resulting in larger limbs dying back, and even the death of the entire tree.

Fertilizers are available with a blend of micronutrients that can help in some situations, particularly in combination with chelated iron (or manganese). A typical fertilizer application may not be effective, as the applied nutrients may quickly become bound in the soil. Remember that the problem may not be that the nutrients aren’t present, but that they are unavailable to the plant because of a high soil pH. Chelated materials, however, are less bound by soil pH. Foliar sprays are another option, but they are expensive, and since their effect is temporary they need to be applied more frequently.

This could be cost prohibitive depending on the size of the tree and your budget.

Solution? There is no simple or inexpensive solution for saving every declining tree. But you can make more informed selections for the future. Before selecting and planting a tree or other plants in your landscape, learn what you can www.redbuttegarden.org

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about your soil. The Utah State University Extension Service offers a simple soil test kit at their County offices, which has instructions on collecting and mailing your own sample for analysis. Understanding your soil will enable you to properly amend your soil before planting, and guide your choice of the right tree species for your soil conditions.

Trees that perform poorly in high pH soils include Silver, Red (Acer rubrum) and Amur (A. ginnala) Maples as well as Pin (Quercus palustris) and Shingle (Q. imbricaria) Oaks. Instead, choose trees that perform better in high pH soils, such as Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus dioicus, ‘Espresso’ is a nice male form), Catalpa (Catalpa sp.), Burr Oak (Q. macrocarpa), Linden (Tilia sp.), as well as many conifers.

Planting a tree is a long-term investment in the future, and one that benefits from doing some homework before the trip to the local nursery. In addition to the ultimate size, shape, and ornamental features, soil and other cultural needs should not be overlooked; they are critical to the long-term performance on your investment. Winter is a great time to plan and do that research so that you are prepared for spring planting!

For more information, check out these resources: Red Butte Garden offers gardening classes year-round, check out our schedule at: www.redbuttegarden.org/adult-education Utah State University Extension Soil Testing information: www.extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/htm/soils/soil-testing USU has also developed an online tree browser that is a great resource. You can select criteria in the browser that filters the tree options by type or size of tree, and even the conditions they tolerate, including high pH: www.treebrowser.org Colorado State University also has some great information on chlorosis at: www.ext.colostate.edu/mg/gardennotes/223.html

NEW RED BUTTE GARDEN MEMBERSHIP RATES ON JANUARY 1, 2016 Renew or purchase gift memberships now before the new rates begin. Sustainable. Green. No packaging. Fits all!

View the new rates at: redbuttegarden.org/new-membership-rates

WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION

DEN R A G E T T RED BU

Member

DECEMBER 19, SATURDAY 10:00AM - 2:00PM

Did you know that Winter Solstice has been celebrated all over the world since ancient times? It marks the gradual return of daylight after the darkest days of the year. Celebrate this kid-friendly event and create head wreaths, winter candles, and other crafts in the Children’s Garden.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $3 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $3 + GENERAL ADMISSION 6

Red Butte Garden

Purchase or renew Garden Memberships at the Visitor Center

801.585.7172 | REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG/MEMBERSHIPS www.redbuttegarden.org

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OWLS OF UTAH, PORTRAITS IN COLORED PENCIL JANUARY 7 - 28, THURSDAYS, 6:00 - 9:00PM With their huge eyes and abundant feathers, owls have some of the most unforgettable faces in the avian world.

They demand our attention in so many ways. In this class, we will explore and create owl portraits of 13 species that reside in Utah as well as learn much about them that escapes the grasp of common knowledge. A full materials list is provided on our website.

Instructor: Elaine Hultgren, Artist GARDEN MEMBERS: $130 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $160

Winter 2015 - 2016 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 HOLIDAY WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP DECEMBER 5 & 6, SECTION 1: SATURDAY 9:00AM - NOON - Sold Out81.8454 01.5 all 8Out SECTION 2: SATURDAY 1:00 - 4:00PM list.

Please- cSold a waiting SECTION 4: SUNDAY 9:00AM - NOON t onOut to be p-uSold SECTION 5: SUNDAY 1:00 - 4:00PM - Sold Out Start the holiday season by creating a fresh wreath for your front door at our annual wreath-making workshop.

A variety of fresh greens will be used to fill a 16” wreath frame. Workshop materials include fresh greens, cones, fruits, assorted decorations, and ribbon for bows. Attendees are encouraged to bring unusual greens or your favorite ornaments to include. Bring gloves, scissors, hand pruners, and a basket.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $52 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $65

HOLIDAY WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP – SQUARED DECEMBER 5, SECTION 3: SATURDAY 5:00 - 8:00PM - Sold Out Whether you’ve taken our wreath-making workshops before and are looking for a new challenge, or if a more contemporary wreath suits your style, than this is the workshop for you! A variety of fresh greens will be used to fill a 14” square wreath frame. Workshop materials include fresh greens, cones, fruits, assorted decorations, and ribbon for bows. Attendees are encouraged to bring unusual greens or your favorite ornaments to include. Bring gloves, scissors, hand pruners, and a basket.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $52 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $65 CHRISTMAS KEEPSAKE MANDALA WORKSHOP DECEMBER 10 & 11, THURSDAY & FRIDAY, 6:00 - 9:00PM DECEMBER 12, SATURDAY, 9:00AM - 4:00PM Join this three-day class and create a beautiful and memorable mandala of Christmas flowers, Poinsettias, winter roses, Holly, Ivy, Mistletoe and ornaments. You will select from provided line drawings or from original drawings to arrange around a blank circle that will carry your seasonal message. A professional calligrapher will be in this class and will ink your message with an elegant flair. A full materials list is provided on our website.

Instructor: Elaine Hultgren, Artist GARDEN MEMBERS: $120 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $150 WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION DECEMBER 19, SATURDAY, 10:00AM - 2:00PM Winter Solstice has long been celebrated all over the world because it heralds the gradual return of the light after the shortest and darkest day of the year. Bring kids to the Children’s Garden and create solstice head wreaths, winter candles and more. Sip hot chocolate and make a New Year wish at the Yule log.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $3 GENERAL PUBLIC: $3 + GENERAL ADMISSION

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Red Butte Garden

SUCCULENT TERRARIUM WORKSHOP JANUARY 16, SATURDAY, 10:00AM - NOON It’s no wonder succulents are regaining popularity, their hugely varied colors and texture, combined with low maintenance, make them the ultimate plant to feature in shabby-chic terrariums! We will discuss the components of terrariums (textures, colors, growth habits, and placement) as well as succulent care, then help you create a charming mason jar succulent terrarium! Let the gorgeous colors and textures of your very own succulent terrarium adorn your kitchen table or windowsill for a bold and unique decoration.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $25 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $31

BOTANY FOR GARDENERS (LLHG 408) FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 10, THURSDAYS, 6:30 - 8:30PM Don’t go dormant this winter! Join us and learn basic plant morphology and terminology that will help you better understand plant growth and take the guesswork out of gardening. In this hands-on class, you’ll learn why some shrubs are pruned immediately after flowering while others are pruned in late winter/early spring; how to tell a pine from a spruce and why it matters; the reasons behind the differing watering practices for turf and trees, and other common gardening techniques.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $67 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $74

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

Registration required. Call 801.581.8454 or online at redbuttegarden.org.

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DECEMBER 19, SATURDAY, 9:00AM - NOON Be a part of the 116th Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count – the longest running citizen-science survey in the world providing critical data on population trends. Tens of thousands of volunteers all over America take part in an adventure that has become a tradition among generations, and Red Butte Garden is once again privileged to be hosting again this year. Adults only please. Because space is so limited, please register early and be sure to bring your camera and binoculars.

GREENHOUSE TOURS FEBRUARY 4, THURSDAY, 10:00 - 11:30AM OR 1:00 - 2:30PM Step out of the cold and into the warmth of Red Butte Garden’s greenhouses. Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour of our state-of-the-art greenhouses where we grow 100% of the Gardens annuals, basket and container plants, and Orangerie plants. Get a sneak peak at what is to come in spring.

14TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

DECEMBER 5 & 6, 10:00AM - 5:00PM Find unique hand-made holiday gifts crafted by local artisans. In addition, save 10% on all purchases in the Red Butte Garden Gift Shop.

Garden Members receive an additional 10% off!

Free Garden Admission Thanks to

www.redbuttegarden.org

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GARDEN ADVENTURES Garden Adventures are classes for children ages 4-12. Each class focuses on a different topic and seeks to help kids connect

with plants while encouraging them to explore the wonders of the natural world. Classes are designed for caregivers to attend and participate with their child. Limit one caregiver per student. No infants please. Registration required. Please register online at www.redbuttegarden.org. GARDEN MEMBERS: $5 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $7

NEW GARDEN STAFF

FOLLOW THAT GNOME FEBRUARY 6, SATURDAY, 10:00 - 11:30AM The plants and animals of the Garden might be hibernating, but Chauncey, our resident garden gnome, is going on a winter adventure! Come join the fun as we search for Chauncey in the snowy Garden. Along the way, we’ll discover secrets about winter in the natural world and maybe even find a hidden treasure.

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Lauren Miller joined the Red Butte Garden team in January of 2014 as an AmeriCorps Youth Programs Assistant. She quickly discovered a love for working with our Garden volunteers, so much so that she took on the additional responsibility of overseeing the Red Butte Garden Summer Camp volunteers in 2015. She officially assumed the role of Volunteer Coordinator in August, and is excited by the opportunity to continue to get to know the wonderful people who give so much of their time and energy to the Garden. Lauren hails from the Peach State, where she got her Master’s degree in Museum Studies, and honed her Southern cooking skills. She is passionate about people, sharing Southern culture, and gardening as therapy. She looks forward to getting to know “all y’all” and working together to further the Garden’s mission.

COOL CONIFERS FEBRUARY 20, SATURDAY, 10:00 - 11:30AM Did you know the Garden has over 1,000 conifer trees and shrubs? Explore our amazing conifer collection and uncover what unique qualities set these trees and shrubs apart from other plants. Through experiments, crafts, and Garden explorations, we’ll discover what makes conifers so cool.

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DAY CAMPS Day Camps are half-day classes for boys and girls in 1st through 4th grade. Each day camp focuses on a different topic and

encourages kids to connect with nature through fun and unique science experiments, art projects, and Garden explorations.

Our Day Camp partners include Utah’s Hogle Zoo and Tanner Dance. Registration required. Please register online at redbuttegarden.org. GARDEN MEMBERS: $28 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $35 NATURE’S SONG JANUARY 9, SATURDAY, 9:00AM - NOON From birdsongs to babbling brooks, music can be found all around us. Join Tanner Dance and Red Butte Garden to explore the sounds, rhythms, and melodies created by the natural world. Through crafts, dancing, musical performances, and more, we’ll discover the song hidden in nature. Don’t miss this high note of winter!

ARCTIC ADVENTURES JANUARY 23, SATURDAY, 9:00AM - NOON It’s cold outside, but that doesn’t mean our outdoor adventures stop! Put on your cold-weather gear and join Utah’s Hogle Zoo and Red Butte Garden as we explore the secrets of winter in the natural world. Through science experiments, games, treks in the snow, and wintry crafts, we’ll discover the cool tricks plants and animals use to survive this chilly season.

Lauren Miller Volunteer Coordinator

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GLASS ART SHOW

ART EXHIBITS

NOVEMBER 6 - DECEMBER 20

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE DECEMBER 5 & 6

ANDY WHITE ART IN NATURE

JANUARY 15 - FEBRUARY 21

Kevin Jensen

Kevin Jensen joined the Red Butte Garden staff last spring as Landscape Architect & Project Coordinator. Kevin has been assigned responsibility for overseeing construction of the Water Conservation Garden, coordination of design for a new Horticulture office and maintenance facility, and many other new Garden projects. Kevin is a Utah licensed landscape architect with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Landscape Architecture from Utah State and Penn State Universities. His professional background includes public planning experience in Philadelphia, PA, and landscape design-build practice in Logan. He has a passion for creative design, dry-climate plants, and sustainable landscapes. He also loves observing the Garden on a daily basis, and working with the Garden’s great staff and volunteers toward making Red Butte Garden a world-class destination.

Landscape Architect/ Project Coordinator

www.redbuttegarden.org

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settings, gypsum is known to improve water infiltration, root penetration, beneficial bacterial invasion, and nutrient availability when added to soils. Perhaps it is doing the same in these reconstituted, reconstructed mining sites— facilitating the establishment of a nearly native ecosystem with habitat and aesthetic values that are higher than what is normally achieved.

CONSERVATION RESEARCH

Photo: Jonathan Barth

Red Butte Garden is applying our existing expertise in seed collection (see Fall 2015 Newsletter), plant population biology (Spring 2014), and rare plant restoration (Winter 2012) to common native species that can grow faster, root deeper, and reproduce better than other species on disturbed

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Each year extractive industries in Utah produce billions of dollars worth of energy and mineral commodities on hundreds of thousands of acres of federal land. New techniques and plant materials for rehabilitation are keys to working with these industries to improve natural resource management on public lands.

Photo: Jonathan Barth

One of our research projects tested whether the endangered Gierisch’s Globemallow (Sphaeralcea gierischii) could become established on sites that had been reclaimed after gypsum mining (Fall 2013 Newsletter). The mine, Blackrock Gypsum, operates on federal lands that straddle the Utah-Arizona border south of St. George. During the mid-1990’s the mining company removed several shallow deposits from three small sites totaling about 36 acres, then filled, landformed, and seeded with a mixture of native Mojave Desert species to reestablish the local ecosystem. Our three-year experiment added to Blackrock’s effort, using Gierisch’s Globemallow seeds collected nearby and sown into permanent plots on those reclaimed sites.

Although establishment and survival of globemallow plants Red Butte Garden

Photo: Jonathan Barth

By Bruce M. Pavlik, Director of Conservation

Red Butte Garden has long been known for its conservation research, focusing on the rare, unusual, and often imperiled plants of Utah. Sometimes we collect and store seeds as a hedge against extinction, other times we study rare plant biology to better understand the constraints that limit population growth and distribution. We rely on both of these activities when attempting to create or enhance populations for purposes of restoring a plant species under threat.

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or extreme soils. Perhaps these “supernatives” can be given a boost by new recipes for creating or amending soils, such as the one being tested at the Blackrock Gypsum mine.

was less than 15% of the total seeds sown, we did find that a significant fraction grew well and finally flowered and set seed last spring. The ability to produce a new generation is an important indicator of a plant population’s success on any given site, especially when exposed to the vagaries of drought, herbivory, and the availability of pollinating insects.

These same stressors, however, could still limit the long-term persistence of the plants.

While conducting our globemallow studies on the Blackrock sites, we observed something else that was very encouraging—the reclaimed sites had also developed a fairly mature cover of mostly native Mojave vegetation. Longterm studies of other reclamation and restoration projects, which are often required to mitigate the disturbances caused by mine, pipeline, well pad, and highway construction, typically find that getting native plants to grow and establish in desert environments is extremely difficult and usually complicated. Weeds are also a big problem, but not at the reclaimed Blackrock sites. So, at first glance it appears that Ken Thompson, the Blackrock Mine Manager, may have come up with a new “recipe” for successfully reclaiming, perhaps even restoring, these desert lands.

With additional funding from the Bureau of Land Management, we began to look closer at Blackrock’s soil recipe and whether it could be applied to other disturbed sites in the Mojave. First, we used standard vegetation sampling techniques to objectively measure species composition, density and plant growth, comparing reclaimed sites to adjacent, undisturbed control sites. Then soil samples were collected both on and off the reclaimed areas for conducting a battery of chemical and physical tests. We know that part of the Blackrock recipe involves mixing gypsum-laden waste rock with crushed red sandstone and limestone, all three of which are by-products of extraction. In agricultural

In Memory Of

Help Red Butte Garden

h s i r u lo F for Generations to Come!

Edwin Anderson Peggy Hansen Donald M. Bobbe Madeleine S. Devlin Paul Engh Dan Good Donald P. Hartmann Janet Ollinger

When you make or update your will, please consider including the Garden in your plans.

For tribute & memorial information call 801.587.9658

For more information, Contact Wendy Loyning at 801.585.3813 or wendy.loyning@redbutte.utah.edu

Join us in our efforts to educate children and preserve nature. Provide a beautiful, peaceful respite in a busy world by making a planned gift to Red Butte Garden.

www.redbuttegarden.org

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Day Camps are for boys and girls in 1st through 4th grade. Tanner Dance and Utah’s Hogle Zoo join us at Red Butte Garden for fun, science, dance, and art.

NATURE’S SONG

JANUARY 9, SATURDAY, 9:00AM - NOON Join Tanner Dance and Red Butte Garden to explore sounds, rhythms, and melodies created by the natural world.

ARCTIC ADVENTURES

JANUARY 23, SATURDAY, 9:00AM - NOON Put on your cold-weather gear and get ready to join Utah’s Hogle Zoo and Red Butte Garden as we explore the secrets of winter in the natural world.

116TH ANNUAL AUDUBON SOCIETY CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

Townsend’s Solitaire

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DAY CAMPS DECEMBER 19, SATURDAY 9:00AM - NOON This annual tradition is the longest-running citizen science survey in the world providing critical data on bird population trends.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $28 GENERAL PUBLIC: $35 Registration required 801.581.8454 | REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG/DAY-CAMP

SPACE IS LIMITED. ADULTS ONLY. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. CALL: 801.581.8454 ONLINE: REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG/BIRD-COUNT

Elevate Your Event!

Surround your conference, luncheon, fundraiser, meeting, or wedding with the beauty of Red Butte Garden.

Classroom

• Gorgeous panoramic views

Seats: 36 | Theatre-style: 60

• Just minutes from downtown SLC

Eccles Terrace Seats: 180

Orangerie

Fragrance Garden Capacity: 150

Culinary Crafts

Lecture: 200 | Dinner: 150

Rose House Seats: 80

300 WAY | 801.585.9563 | REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG/EVENT-RENTAL 14 WAKARA Red Butte Garden

Wreaths for All Seasons

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Now that it’s winter, many of us want to find a way to bring our passion for outdoor gardening indoors. Bouquets of flowers, indoor plants, and wreaths beautifully deliver life, color, and nature into our homes. An evergreen wreath is one of my favorite winter decorations, both at the Garden and in my own home.

Why wreaths? A wreath on your front door celebrates the season, welcomes guests to your home, and says a bit about your personality—which is in keeping with the tradition and history of wreaths.

Wreath translated means, “a thing bound around” or “something intertwined.” Wreaths were once used as head adornments, marking ones’ occupation or status. They also marked victories in early Olympic games, and were later hung on a wall as mementos. Today, they are still a way to uniquely identify and decorate your home.

Red Butte Garden has held wreath-making workshops for more than a decade. We offer both summer and winter wreath classes, including our holiday wreath-making workshops the first weekend in December, which always fill up quickly!

For a winter wreath, I recommend using evergreen conifers such as Princess Pine (Lycopodium obscurum), Incense Cedar (Calocedrus sp.), Fir (Abies sp.), and Juniper (Juniperus sp.); 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. You can also add accents such as Magnolia leaves, Red Twig

By Scott Mower, Greenhouse Assistant

Dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’), Yellow Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’), or other textured/colored branches. If you don’t have what you’re looking for in your own garden, your local florist or craft store will have lots of options. For the holidays, add ornaments, Holly (Ilex sp.), or bows. Afterward, remove ornaments and your wreath will last well into the New Year.

Wreaths aren’t limited to wintertime—you can make a simple spring wreath of Pussy Willow (Salix sp.), or a fall wreath made of dried Broomcorn (Sorghum vulgare) with, perhaps, a touch of evergreen such as conifers or Magnolia leaves accented with Firethorn berries (Pyracantha sp).

For summer or indoors, you can create a living wreath made of succulents—mixing Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum sp.) with the lovely rosettes of Echeveria (Echeveria sp.), Jade (Crassula sp.), Aloe (Aloaceae), 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. Nothing enlivens a home during winter like an evergreen wreath, and nothing says summer like a succulent wreath or centerpiece. Red Butte Garden also offers winter workshops for adults on Holiday Floral Arranging, making Terrariums, and Botany for Gardeners. We enjoy teaching these workshops and would love to have you join us! www.redbuttegarden.org

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April 22, 2015

WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN PROGRESS REPORT – FALL 2015

By Kevin Jensen, Landscape Architect & Project Coordinator

O May 18, 2015

July 27, 2015

October 20, 2015

Over the past few months Red Butte Garden visitors have been able to observe construction of the Water Conservation Garden (WCG). This three-acre terraced garden will demonstrate native, drought tolerant, water-wise, and highly adapted dry climate plantings. The WCG will also showcase the most innovative techniques in efficient irrigation practices—drip irrigation, passive rainwater harvesting, and water conserving rotary spray nozzles.

While the initial construction schedule was delayed a bit by heavy rains last spring, things are now rolling along in anticipation of opening in late 2016 or early 2017.

One of the overriding goals of the new WCG is to showcase a wide variety of plantings appropriate for our semi-arid climate. Another goal is to empower Garden guests to employ similar plantings in their home landscapes. The plantings that will be used in the WCG have been carefully selected by Red Butte Garden staff and project designers to demonstrate an immersive palette of colors, forms, and textures, all of which can be achieved on a low-water-use plan.

The new garden will feature nearly 29,000 individual plants, and over 700 different varieties! As you can imagine, sourcing this many plants is an incredibly difficult feat that requires coordination among RBG staff, greenhouses, and wholesale suppliers. In accord with the Garden’s conservation theme, the bulk of the plant materials will be provided by greenhouses and suppliers located in Utah or the Intermountain region.

In addition, a large number of, particularly those that are currently

hard to find from commercial sources, will be propagated and grown in the Garden’s greenhouses, thus maximizing our in-house capabilities.

These efforts will reduce vehicle miles that the plants travel in shipment, helping to lower the project’s carbon footprint.

Considerable planning has gone into selecting and sourcing the most appropriate plant materials for the Water Conservation Garden; however, those plants will not thrive if they aren’t properly irrigated. Irrigation design for the WCG concentrates on providing the appropriate amount of water in the most efficient manner possible. Over 80% of irrigation in the new garden will be water-saving drip irrigation. Given the sloping topography of the WCG, extra thought has been given to dividing the terraced slopes into separate “top-ofhill” and “bottom-of-hill” drip zones.

Using this approach the drip zone at the bottom of the hill will benefit from gravity and use the subsurface water that is applied at the top of the hill. This will lead to shorter dripline run times at the bottom of the hill. In addition to traditional drip irrigation techniques, the garden will demonstrate easy ways for homeowners to retrofit their existing spray heads with drip irrigation.

The WCG will be contoured with sinuous bio-swales and small-scale rain gardens; both approaches are intended to recharge the water in the soil by capturing and percolating rainwater and irrigation runoff.

just north of the Children’s Garden. From this vantage point, guests can view construction activities and observe a series of beautiful new stone retaining walls. These newly installed retaining walls shape and define multiple terraces within the sloped garden, and serve as the most visible signs of construction progress. The retaining wall series is comprised of four distinct stone types, all of which work harmoniously to create a look that is unified and unique to the WCG, while simultaneously weaving the new garden into the existing context of Red Butte Garden.

True to this garden’s conservation theme, the sandstone veneer on all of the retaining walls was sourced and shipped from a local supplier in Heber, UT. In addition to looking beautiful, the retaining walls provide necessary support for an array of steel trellises. The trellis layout and color selection are exclusive to the WCG, yet they are very complementary to the existing signature trellis-work found throughout the rest of Red Butte Garden. The trellises will provide overhead structure, shade, and a calming sense of enclosure at important overlook points throughout the Water Conservation Garden.

Garden Inspired Gifts

Our gift shop has books, jewelry, wind chimes, local honey, lotions, fairy gardening supplies, home and holiday decor, a special section for kids, gift certificates and more!

The major curvilinear pathways throughout the WCG will be composed of colored and soda-blasted concrete with a system of secondary paths within terraces formed of pervious concrete, that allows water to return to the soil. The concrete and other hardscape features will largely be completed in the spring of 2016.

Next spring will also be when the majority of the topsoil is placed, irrigation will be installed, and planting will begin.

In order to avoid planting in the hottest summer months, the planting will be separated into spring and fall efforts.

Depending on the final planting schedule, the grand opening for the WCG could happen as soon as fall of 2016, or it could be pushed until the spring of 2017. Please continue to periodically check the Red Butte Garden website, Facebook page, or just visit the Garden for construction updates.

YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING

Hotspot!

December 5 & 6 Holiday Sale

save 10% on all Gift Shop items

Garden members receive an additional 10% off

Members receive

10% OFF at both Gift Shops until December 23!

The western boundary of the WCG construction site is located to the east of the lower Fragrance Garden and www.redbuttegarden.org

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Monday

JANUARY

New! DAY CAMPS

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www.redbuttegarden.org

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Full Moon

President’s Day

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Valentine’s Day

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09

Groundhog Day

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Botany for Gardeners 6:30 - 8:30PM (1/3)

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Greenhouse Tours 10:00 - 11:30AM, 1:00 - 2:30PM

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Thursday

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Full Moon

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Winter Solstice Celebration 10:00AM - 2:00PM

Christmas Bird Count 9:00AM - Noon

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Christmas Keepsake Mandala Workshop (3/3) 9:00AM - 4:00PM

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Holiday Open House 10:00AM - 5:00PM

9:00AM - Noon, 1:00 - 4:00PM, 5:00 - 8:00PM

05 Wreath Workshops

Saturday

Thursday

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Friday

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Garden Adventures 10:00 - 11:30AM

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Full Moon

Day Camp 9:00AM - Noon

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Succulent Terrarium Workshop 10:00AM - Noon

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Day Camp 9:00AM - Noon

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02

BRING YOUR SWEETIE TO THE GARDEN

BOTANY FOR GARDENERS CONTINUES ON 3/3 & 3/10

GARDEN ADVENTURES 10:00-11:30AM 2/6 Follow That Gnome 2/20 Cool Conifers

Garden Closed

New Year’s Day

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Saturday

Enjoy Half-Price Admission December through February

GLASS ART SHOW 11/6 - 12/20

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE & ART FAIR 10:00AM - 5:00PM 12/5 & 6 Free Admission Save 10% on All Gift Shop Purchases

Friday

FEBRUARY Garden Adventures 10:00 - 11:30AM

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Saturday

Owls of Utah Portraits in Colored Pencil (4/4) 6:00 - 9:00PM

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Owls of Utah Portraits in Colored Pencil (3/4) 6:00 - 9:00PM

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Owls of Utah Portraits in Colored Pencil (2/4) 6:00 - 9:00PM

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Owls of Utah Portraits in Colored Pencil (1/4) 6:00 - 9:00PM

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Enjoy Half-Price Admission December through February

Wednesday

Red Butte Garden is Closed December 24 - January 1

Enjoy Half-Price Admission December through February

Wednesday

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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Garden Hours: 9:00AM - 5:00PM

Tuesday

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Christmas Keepsake Mandala Workshop (2/3) 6:00 - 9:00PM

Christmas Keepsake Mandala Workshop (1/3) 6:00 - 9:00PM

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Friday

Events at Red Butte Garden

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Thursday

Monday

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03

30

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09

02

Wednesday

Sunday

Tuesday

ART EXHIBITS 1/15 - 2/21 Andy White

GIVE TO THE GARDEN: The Botany Bins Program needs your help.

801.585.5658

Monday

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Sunday

Garden Closed

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Tuesday

9:00AM - Noon 1/9 Nature’s Song 1/23 Arctic Adventures

Glass Art Show Ends

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Holiday Open House 10:00AM - 5:00PM

Wreath Workshops 9:00AM - Noon, 1:00 - 4:00PM

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Red Butte Garden

Garden Hours: 9:00AM - 5:00PM

Sunday

2015-2016 Winter

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DECEMBER

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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 Rich Lambert Gregory Lee Tory Magleby Nancy Martin Michele Mattsson Kevin Murphy Michael Perez Chris Satovick Susan Speer 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 September 1 - 30 Daily 9:00AM - 7:30PM October 1 - December 23* Daily 9:00AM - 5:00PM *Closed Thanksgiving Day and December 24 - January 1 **Days when outdoor concerts are scheduled, hours are 9:00AM - 5:00PM.

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

Visit Us! Visitor Center, Gift Shop, & Mailing Address: 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108 Website: www.redbuttegarden.org Comments: 801.581.4938 or e-mail bryn.ramjoue@redbutte.utah.edu

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

Full group payment is due at time of Garden entry.

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