Red Butte Garden Newsletter - Spring 2016 by Red Butte Garden and Arboretum

Spring 2016 Volume 8 Issue 1

Bulbs & Blooms Annual Spring Plant Sale Concert On-Sale Dates

Pond Dredge

Editors

Bryn Ramjoué Kate Randall

Contributing Writers

Gregory Lee Fritz Kollmann Bruce Pavlik Lauren Miller

Contributing Photographers

Pierce McConnell Jason Baker Kate Randall Jonathan Barth Graphic Designers

Pierce McConnell Malinda Tackman Printed by

IC Group 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 © 2016 Red Butte Garden. All rights reserved.

Water Conservation Garden Groundbreaking

New Botany Bin

In 2015, Red Butte Garden celebrated its 30th anniversary. While many of us enjoyed looking back at all that has been accomplished at the Garden during that time, our primary focus last year was on improving the Garden and planning for its future. In that regard, 2015 was a year devoted not to reminiscing and recollection, but to improvement and growth. We started construction on a three-acre Water Conservation Garden, which will be the largest garden at Red Butte Garden. It will also be our most mission-centric garden, with its devotion to resource-wise gardening, sustainability, and education on the role of plants in providing healthy living spaces in urban, water-limited environments. Looking forward, the Water Conservation Garden will not be the last garden built at Red Butte Garden. The Garden’s Master Plan identifies five additional gardens yet to be developed: (1) Shade-Woodland Garden, (2) Children’s Adventure Garden for older children, (3) Sculpted Garden, (4) Native Plant Garden, and (5) Rock Garden. However, in order to support these future gardens and related operations, the Garden realizes it must improve and upgrade its horticultural facilities. With that in mind, in 2015 we began the architectural design process for a new horticulture facility, in part to replace the “temporary” trailer from which over 30 staff work during the growing season and, in part, to provide maintenance facilities that the Garden has never had. We hope to begin construction on this facility in 2016, funding permitting. In 2015, we also upgraded lighting in the Garden, installed security cameras in the parking lot, dredged the upper pond, upgraded the Orangerie’s mechanical HVAC system, replaced an outdated water control structure (it protects our waterfalls during high-water flow in Red Butte Creek), repaired paths and paving in the Garden, began replacing the obsolete polycarbonate walls and ceiling in our 14,000 square foot greenhouse, designed a new arbor and trellis structure and a new fountain for the Rose Garden, installed a new concession booth for the Amphitheatre, began the process of redesigning our website to make it more compatible with mobile devices, introduced a new Botany Bin teaching module for use in schools, and raised the funds for design and fabrication of a major piece of sculpture. The Garden also began to develop closer ties to academic programs at the University of Utah. We engaged faculty and students in the Department of Geology to research the geology of Red Butte Garden and will be using that information to develop signage interpreting the Garden’s geology. We commissioned a study to identify the native bees that call the Garden home as we work to develop diverse and healthy pollinator populations. We are also supporting research to better understand from where tree species growing in Salt Lake County get their water: rainfall, irrigation, or groundwater. In 2016, Red Butte Garden will continue to look for ways to grow and improve on the contributions we make toward a healthy, vibrant community that understands, values, protects, and is enriched by the world of plants.

- Gregory Lee, Executive Director

Red Butte Garden

GARDEN MEMBER TICKETS ON-SALE

MONDAY, APRIL 25 AT 7:00PM Online Sales Only

TUESDAY, APRIL 26 AT 9:00AM Phone, In-Person & Online Sales

GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ON-SALE

MONDAY, MAY 2 AT 9:00AM Phone, In-Person & Online Sales

We’re posting updates on Facebook and through email. Make sure we’ve got your email address! Prepare for ticket purchase now by setting up your TicketFly account. Members—your ticket promo code is your Red Butte Garden membership email. Call the Membership Department if you have questions or updates. 801.585.7172 www.redbuttegarden.org

FLORAL EXHIBITS

ORCHID SHOW APRIL 2 & 3

BONSAI SHOW APRIL 9 & 10

LINDA McCAUSLAND

ART EXHIBITS

FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 27

DUKE JOHNSON APRIL 1 - 24

BRADLEY HALES CLARK APRIL 29 - MAY 22

LUCY PETERSON WATKINS MAY 27 - JUNE 19

Huge selection of roses, trees, shrubs, conifers, ornamental grasses, groundcover, native and water-wise plants Over 80 varieties of heirlooms: tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash & more Huge variety of vegetables and herbs Colorful annuals and hardy perennials Expert staff and handy carts Proceeds go toward Garden maintenance & education programs

Spring 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

TOMATO PROPAGATION WORKSHOP MARCH 5, SATURDAY, 9:00AM – NOON Would you like to harvest your first tomato before August? Are there heirloom varieties you can’t find in local garden centers? Join instructor Golden Reeves, aka, the “Tomato King,” to uncover the secrets of seed propagation, tips for successful tomato gardening, and techniques to extend the growing season. Participants will plant a flat of tomato and pepper seeds to germinate at home, as well as three Wall O’Waters, so tomato sprouts can be planted in the garden before the last frost. Limited to 16 participants. GARDEN MEMBERS: $40 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $50 PRUNING 101 WORSKSHOP (LLHG 505) MARCH 8 & 12, TUESDAY, 6:30 - 8:30PM & SATURDAY, 10:00AM - NOON This pruning basics class is intended for those with limited pruning experience and will address basic pruning concepts associated with flowering trees and shrubs, vines, and groundcovers, as well as the shaping of hedges. Classroom session lecture will cover pruning tools, when and why to prune, and the differences between thinning and heading back. Saturday’s class will be hands-on, in-the-field, so please wear appropriate clothing, bring gloves and hand pruners. GARDEN MEMBERS: $53 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $59 VEGETABLE PROPAGATION (LLHG 609) MARCH 9 & 12, WEDNESDAY, 6:30 – 8:30PM & SATURDAY, 10:00AM – NOON Starting your own vegetable garden from seed is less expensive and offers more varieties. Explore the world of seed propagation as we learn which vegetables to start indoors, when to start them, how to build a light frame, and when to sow seeds in the garden. During the Saturday class, each student will plant and take home a tray of vegetable seeds to get a jump on the growing season. GARDEN MEMBERS: $68 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $74

WISTERIA & VINE PRUNING WORKSHOP (LLHG 607) MARCH 19, SATURDAY, 9:00AM – NOON Wisteria offers breathtaking beauty and fragrance to the spring garden. However, the fact that they benefit from careful pruning and training to be at their best has compelled some to suggest that “wisteria is Latin for work.” Dispel the myth by joining us for this hands-on workshop as we demonstrate how RBG gardeners create and maintain a spectacular Wisteria arbors. Wear appropriate clothing, bring gloves and hand pruners. Limited to 12 participants. GARDEN MEMBERS: $40 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $45 6

Red Butte Garden

RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE DESIGN (LLHG 512) SECTION 001 & 002: MARCH 22 – APRIL 19 & 23, TUESDAYS, 6:00 – 9:00PM & SATURDAY, 9:00AM – NOON SECTION 003 & 004: MARCH 23 – APRIL 20 & 23, WEDNESDAYS, 6:00 – 9:00PM & SATURDAY, 9:00AM – NOON Save time and money by making informed landscaping choices before you plant. Start with a base map, site and irrigation analysis, and then apply landscape design principals to plant selection and placement of trees, shrubs, and beds, as well as patios and walkways. By the final class, you will have had the opportunity to draw your own plan with the help of a landscape architect. GARDEN MEMBERS: $179 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $197 ROSE PRUNING WORKSHOP (LLHG 606) MARCH 26, SATURDAY, 9:00AM – NOON Roses are among the most loved and versatile of garden plants, yet many gardeners are intimidated by the enormous range of species and hybrids with their varying pruning requirements. Demystify rose pruning in this handson workshop designed to help you get the very best out of your roses. Wear appropriate clothing, bring gloves and hand pruners. Limited to 12 participants. GARDEN MEMBERS: $40 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $45 BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION SAMPLER MARCH 31 – APRIL 2, THURSDAY & FRIDAY, 6:00 – 9:00PM, SATURDAY, 9:00AM – 5:00PM This is a class designed to give artists with an interest in the field of botanical art a chance to dabble with three mediums—drawing, watercolor and pen and ink techniques—used in traditional botanical illustration. Open the door to the beautiful world of botanical art and illustration by rendering a plant in three mediums. (You may also want to consider attending the free Botanical Illustration Lecture with artist Elaine Hultgren on March 15, see page 8.) GARDEN MEMBERS: $120 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $150 101 PLANTS TO KNOW (LLHG 586) APRIL 14, MAY 12, JUNE 9, JULY 7, AUGUST 11, SEPTEMBER 8, OCTOBER 13, THURSDAYS, 6:30 – 8:30PM Overwhelmed by all of the plant choices at the local garden center? Would you like to know what certain trees or plants could look like in ten years before spending hundreds of dollars to purchase? In this three-season course discover 101 truly remarkable plants suited for Wasatch Front gardens starting with spring bulbs and concluding with trees and shrubs. Each class will focus on identification, cultivation requirements, and how to best use plants in the garden. Walk the Garden to view and study the plants as they are discussed. Perfect for novice gardeners and plant enthusiasts alike, this course will widen your plant knowledge and introduce you to some truly amazing plants! Seven classes. GARDEN MEMBERS: $152 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $169

GIFTS OF BOTANICAL BEAUTY (LLHL 175) APRIL 16 & 23, SATURDAYS, 10:00AM – 12:30PM Handcrafted botanical beauty products make fantastic gifts for family and friends. Lip balms, body scrubs, lotion bars and eye balms will be ‘on the menu’ of the amazing items you’ll create from natural, easy-to-find ingredients. Students will leave with up to 12 items, packaged and ready to give, plus the recipes and resources to continue production at home. GARDEN MEMBERS: $86 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $93 IRRIGATION BASICS (LLHG 563) APRIL 21 & 28, THURSDAYS, 6:30 – 8:30PM Whether your landscaping involves water-wise plantings, plants that require regular watering, or a combination of both, using the right irrigation for your landscape can substantially reduce water use while helping your garden flourish. Explore smart irrigation practices that give plants the water they need to thrive, and deliver that water in the most efficient way possible. We’ll cover maintenance of existing irrigation systems, converting to drip and spray heads where appropriate, and other key topics to enhance your home irrigation system. GARDEN MEMBERS: $48 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $52 FOLLOW THE WILDFLOWERS (LLHG 489) APRIL 20, MAY 18, JUNE 15, JULY 13, JULY 29 WEDNESDAYS, 6:00 – 9:00PM Follow the cascade of wildflower blooms across Northern Utah in this five-session class. Begin at Red Butte Garden with classroom time, then move into the foothills for a look at spring’s first blooms. We’ll continue to follow the wildflower bloom each class culminating the experience in the subalpine zone of Albion Basin at the end of July. Spend the first half hour of each class learning about the plant communities located in the area we’ll be visiting. Please bring a notebook to record your findings. GARDEN MEMBERS: $128 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $141 NEW APPROACHES TO WATER-WISE LANDSCAPES APRIL 25 & MAY 2, MONDAYS, 6:00 – 8:00PM Did you know that Utah is the second driest state in the nation? According to the Utah Division of Water Resources, Utah uses the most water per capita in the U.S., but we receive the second lowest annual rainfall. Incorporating water-wise plants can help reduce your footprint and your water bill, all while adding unique beauty to your yard. Cut down on water waste and learn how to make the most of your watering all season long in this two-week course. We’ll cover water-wise plants, their uses, the soil they grow best in, and how to design and install them in your own garden. GARDEN MEMBERS: $20 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $25 INTRO TO ART MATERIALS MAY 4, WEDNESDAY, 6:00 – 9:00PM This class introduces would-be artists to working handson with a variety of art products such as graphite and colored pencils, watercolors, different types and weights of watercolor paper, drawing paper, etc., and includes a binder with samples and a list of where to buy certain art supplies for botanical art and illustration classes. GARDEN MEMBERS: $60 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $75

GARDENING IN THE WASATCH (LLHG 608) MAY 10 – 24, TUESDAYS 6:00 – 8:00PM Every region has unique growing conditions, such as climate and soils, that impact locally relevant gardening choices, and Utah is no exception. Whether you’re a longtime resident or relatively new to the area, understanding the unique conditions along the Wasatch Front will better prepare you to make the right gardening choices. Topics discussed include climatic zones, soil amendments, watering strategies, and plant selection. GARDEN MEMBERS: $62 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $69 GARDENING IN CONTAINERS (LLHG 553) MAY 11 & 18, WEDNESDAYS, 6:30 – 8:30PM Transform your balcony, deck, or patio into more than just barbeque space. Learn how to create a soothing outdoor retreat by adding containers filled with flowering plants. We’ll look at container design and selection, how to combine plants for aesthetic arrangements, plant selection, and maintenance. GARDEN MEMBERS: $53 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $57 COOKING IN THE GARDEN MAY 12, THURSDAY, 6:30 – 8:30PM Join instructor Purnima Gandhi in the Herb Garden as she prepares a menu of delicious Indian Cuisine while providing step-by-step procedures for each dish. This relaxed, interactive format encourages informative discussions to help you prepare the dishes with confidence at home. The menu will include: appetizer, meat dish, vegetarian dish, rice, sweet dish and Indian condiments. Participants will also receive a personal recipe packet to take home, as well as a tasting of each of the dishes prepared. GARDEN MEMBERS: $45 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $55

SUCCULENT CENTERPIECE WORKSHOP (LLHG 595) MAY 21, SATURDAY, 10:00AM - NOON Looking for a centerpiece that can be used both indoors or on your outdoor patio or deck. Look no further than the world of succulents! Learn general identification, care, and propagation techniques of the most popular succulents grown today as well as basic principles of design, followed by a workshop where you will create your own succulent centerpiece. Tools, container, and succulents will be provided. GARDEN MEMBERS: $71 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $58 VEGETABLE CONTAINER GARDENING (LLHG 546) MAY 26, THURSDAY, 6:00 – 9:00PM Do you lack sufficient sun or garden space for a vegetable or herb garden? Many herbs and vegetables thrive in containers, which can be positioned to take advantage of sunny spots. Learn which vegetables and herbs do well in containers, as well as tricks to keep them producing throughout summer and into fall. You will also have the opportunity to plant the vegetables of your choice into a 15-inch container to take home. GARDEN MEMBERS: $45 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $49 www.redbuttegarden.org

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 www.redbuttegarden.org. RED BUTTE GARDEN VOLUNTEER FAIR MARCH 5, SATURDAY, 11:00AM – 1:00PM Curious About Volunteering in Utah’s Botanical Garden? Take a tour of the Garden, meet our staff, and learn about the many opportunities that may be right for you! FREE LECTURE: AN INTRODUCTION TO BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION MARCH 15, TUESDAY, 6:00 – 8:00PM This lecture will give you a detailed overview not only of the history of botanical art but a glimpse into the future of this important and valuable art form. A short introduction to the Red Butte Garden Botanical Art and Illustration Program will also be given. Presented by Elaine Hultgren, a certified Botanical Art and Illustration instructor, with images provided by the ASBA, the American Society of Botanical Artists. REGISTRATION REQUIRED 801.581.8454 OR ONLINE AT REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG ORCHID SHOW APRIL 2, SATURDAY, 9:00AM – 7:30PM APRIL 3, SUNDAY, 9:00AM – 4:30PM Join the Utah Orchid Society for a dazzling display of both common and exotic orchid varieties. Society members will share methods for keeping plants healthy and happy and provide troubleshooting advice for budding orchid enthusiasts. A large selection of both plants and pottery will be on sale for those interested in starting their own collection.

BONSAI SHOW APRIL 9, SATURDAY, 9:00AM – 7:30PM APRIL 10, SUNDAY, 9:00AM – 5:00PM Discover bonsai, the Japanese art of growing miniature trees in containers. Members of The Bonsai Club of Utah will be on hand to exhibit different bonsai styles and arrangements and offer demonstrations of training and shaping techniques. Trees and tools will also be available for purchase directly from the experts. SPRING GARDEN WALK APRIL 16, SATURDAY, 10AM – NOON Join us for a guided tour of the Garden as once dormant plants are waking up for another season of growth. We will see Lenten Roses, Daffodils, Crocus, Anemones, Witchazel, Pussy Willow, Magnolia, and other spring beauties. REGISTRATION REQUIRED 801.581.8454 OR ONLINE AT REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG GARDEN POETRY READING

DATE AND TIME WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN MID-MARCH. WATCH OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION!

Take a walk through the Garden with the winners of our spring poetry contest! Throughout the month of April the Garden is hosting 11 poetry boxes showcasing works from current poets in honor of National Poetry Month. Visit a handful of these poems to hear live readings and gain details about the meaning behind the words, direct from the poets themselves. REGISTRATION REQUIRED 801.581.8454 OR ONLINE AT REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

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 SPROUTIN’ SEEDS MARCH 12, SATURDAY, 10:00 - 11:30AM Spring is almost here, and it’s the perfect time to start thinking about your garden! Join us as we learn about seeds and how to start plants indoors. Then, get a head start on your own garden by creating a seed-starter kit to take home. MINIATURE GARDENS MARCH 26, SATURDAY, 10:00 - 11:30AM Enter the magical world of miniature gardening! Learn the basics and discover how you can use small-scale plants and accessories to create a tiny home—perfect for a garden gnome, elf, or fairy. End the class by taking home both a plant and a handcrafted accessory to start building your own miniature garden. BULB BONANZA APRIL 9, SATURDAY, 10:00 - 11:30AM With hyacinths, fritillaria, daffodils, and more, this year’s bulb display will knock your socks off! Discover the different bulb varieties found in the Garden and find out what makes these plants special and unique. Then we’ll use our new knowledge in a fun-filled game of bulb bingo with special prizes for all participants! TERRIFIC TREES APRIL 30, SATURDAY, 10:00 - 11:30AM Arbor Day may be over but that doesn’t mean our celebration of trees has to end! Explore the world of trees and learn about the different varieties found in the Garden. At the end of class, receive a tree seedling to take home and plant in your own yard. BUSY BEES MAY 14, SATURDAY, 10:00 - 11:30AM Did you know that the honeybee is the official state insect of Utah? Through explorations in the Garden, a bee-utiful craft, and more, we’ll learn about this industrious insect and the important role it plays in helping the Garden “bee” amazing! 8

Red Butte Garden

By Fritz Kollmann, Water Conservation Garden Crew Leader

It takes a certain degree of tenacity to survive in a climate like ours. Life is not easy in the Intermountain West with blazing sun for most of the summer, and cold, snowy winters with temperatures that dip into the single digits. As 21st century humans, we can just retreat to our climate-controlled buildings, drink a glass of water when we need one, and seek shade when it gets uncomfortably hotâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but plants remain in one place and only use the resources that are available. As plants evolved and colonized the surface of Earth they were forced to develop diverse survival strategies. The plants that developed adaptations to survive in arid environments have produced interesting, beautiful, and strange forms of life in the process. Fleshy-leaved succulents, small desert wildflowers, and shrubs and trees with waxy, leathery, or even tiny leaves all thrive in hot, dry environments with little rainfall. These plants use a variety of strategies to conserve water, reduce transpiration, and get the most out of the scant and often seasonal precipitation. Germination Timing Most dry regions receive the bulk of their moisture during one or two seasons. Some species of annuals have adapted to this by living only during these short, relatively moist seasons. Small, desert annual flowers, such as the Desert Five-Spot (Eremalche rotundifolia) have adapted to germinate, grow, flower, and produce seed in a relatively short period of time. The seeds of many plant species can remain dormant in the soil for several years waiting for the right conditions to germinate. Following wet seasons, desert-adapted annuals will germinate in large numbers, producing incredible carpets of flowers, while in drier years significantly fewer plants will germinate. This strategy ensures the best chance of successfully germinating, growing, and reproducing seed for the next generation.

Photo: Jason Baker

Water Storage Succulent plants use several strategies to make the most efficient use of the limited water they receive. Agaves, cacti, ice plants, and other fleshy-leaved plants store water in their leaves or stems. The water they store is so precious that some succulents have developed spines and glochids (small, easily detached, barbed spines), or toxins within their tissues to protect themselves from thirsty and hungry animals.

Ice Plant (Delosperma sp.)

To further aid in the conservation of valuable stored water, many succulents use two additional adaptations, the first being a waxy layer on the surface of the leaves that inhibits water loss. The other adaptation involves a different type of photosynthesis than what is commonly employed by most plants called CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism). These plants typically only open their pores for gas exchange (letting carbon dioxide in while water evaporates out) at night, resulting in significantly less water loss when compared to plants that conduct gas exchange during the day.

Leaf Adaptations Woody plants in the vast shrublands of the Great Basin demonstrate interesting adaptations to the low availability of water as well. When the winter snows have melted off, spring rain showers are a distant memory, and the soil begins to bake under the punishing rays of the sun, some plants such as the Creosote Bush (Larrea tridenta) employ a resinous coating on their leaves to reduce water loss, while other species drop their leaves entirely such as the Bud Sage (Artemesia spinescens). www.redbuttegarden.org

Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius), and other woody plants in the Wasatch foothills demonstrate their ability to withstand scarce water through the small size of their leaves. Smaller leaves reduce the surface area through which a plant loses water. Some species like the Shrubby Cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa) have developed wooly, hairy leaves in order to reflect some of the light from hitting their leaves, reducing leaf temperatures and water loss.

Photo: Jason Baker

Roots Most plants take up a significant portion of their water through their roots. Tall trees with large leaves, such as Utahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s native Freemont Cottonwood (Populus fremontii) need a significant amount of water in order to survive Freemont Cottonwood tree (Populus fremontii) and reproduce. Cottonwoods tend to grow near water and send their roots deep into the ground to reach the water table, ensuring a consistent supply of water. Some perennial bunchgrasses such as Little Bluestem, (Schizachyrium scoparium) can send the roots down five feet or more to find groundwater. Large cacti, like Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea), have large networks of shallow roots that enable the plant to quickly absorb precipitation before it has a chance to evaporate from the soil. This works well for cacti because they are then able to store water in their fleshy stems for use long after the surface soil has dried out. They also employ CAM photosynthesis to reduce water loss.

Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea)

Though adaptive plants will be found throughout the new Water Conservation Garden, many of these distinctive species will be grouped in the Adaptive Beauty Terrace of the Garden, where interpretation will describe how their aboveground forms, colors, and textures are a result of developing in dry climates.

Free lectures at Red Butte Garden, mark your calendar!

Red Butte Garden

MAY 16, JUNE 20, JULY 18, AUGUST 15 & SEPTEMBER 19 6:30 - 7:30PM

Four Seasons, A Million Reasons! Admission to the Garden for 12 months. Catch 450,000 spring blooming bulbs, floral-filled summer, colorful, crisp autumn, and peaceful, white winter. Access to member-only occasions such as the Annual Spring Plant Sale and Outdoor Concert Series ticket presale, including a discount on concert tickets. Get 20% off summer camp registration for your kids and enjoy some “you time” while they explore the Garden. Special deals for Red Butte Garden Members from our generous retail partners. Enjoy discounts from local garden stores, restaurants, and even a jeweler. Free admission to nearly 300 reciprocal gardens across the country so you can experience other Botanical Gardens on your summer vacation road trip.

Don’t miss your chance to see your favorite bands under the stars! Purchase or renew your membership by April 23 to participate in the Member-only Outdoor Concert Series presale. Gift memberships and corporate memberships are also available.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG/MEMBERSHIPS

Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? Celebrate this important literary art with a stroll through the Garden. Throughout the month of April the Garden will host a special audio tour featuring recordings of our spring poetry contest winners performing readings of their poems – all accessible from your cell phone.

www.redbuttegarden.org

NEW GARDEN STAFF Wendy Loyning

Chrissy Upton

Development Director

Membership Manager

Wendy Loyning has recently been promoted to the Garden’s Development Director position. She has worked at Red Butte Garden for 16 years in many departments including Horticulture, Visitor Services, and in Development as Membership Manager, and then as Development Officer responsible for the Garden’s memorial gifts and concert sponsorship programs. Wendy is looking forward to the challenges her new position will bring and encourages any Garden supporter to contact her for a tour. She loves all of Utah’s seasons and enjoys showing off the Garden. Wendy is a graduate of the University of Utah with degrees in Psychology and Economics. She is currently a board member and President Elect of Utah Society of Fundraisers. Wendy’s co-workers are quite aware of her love for baking and recently awarded her the Red Butte Garden award for ‘Most Likely to Open a Successful Bakery’. She also enjoys reading, kayaking, and hiking in her spare time.

Chrissy Upton was hired to be Red Butte Garden’s Membership Manager in November, 2015. She is very grateful for the chance to meet so many of our wonderful members. She has a passion for museum work, coming to the Garden from the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art where she worked for six years in a variety of departments, most recently serving as the Development Manager. Chrissy graduated from the University of Utah and holds a BFA in Intermedia Sculpture and minors in Business and Art History. When she isn’t at the Garden, she spends the majority of her time with her adorable dog and cat, reading books, practicing yoga, and laughing with friends. Her favorite tree is the Eastern Redbud and her favorite houseplant is her pot of clovers—no four-leaf-ers found yet, but the search continues. Chrissy was selected to replace Morgan Byrne who was recently hired as the Development Officer at the University of Utah Bennion Center.

Wendy was selected to replace Kathryn Atwood who was recently named Executive Director of Development at the University of Utah College of Fine Arts.

Sara Sorensen Programs Director

Sara Sorensen was recently promoted to be the Garden’s new Programs Director. She joined Red Butte Garden in the spring of 2010 as an Education Specialist and was quickly promoted to School Programs Manager. Sara graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and is currently completing a Master’s degree in Public Administration. She has extensive teaching and leadership experience and is passionate about connecting the community with the natural world. Sara was selected to replace Patrick Newman who was recently named Executive Director at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas.

Red Butte Garden

Heirloom, Hybrid, and Open-Pollinated Varieties By Red Butte Garden Staff

We have all heard or read about the debate on whether heirlooms are better than hybrids, or vice versa. Why might one be better than the other? What does it mean for a plant to be open-pollinated? What do any of these terms actually mean? And most importantly, which should you choose for your garden? An open-pollinated plant is one that is pollinated by a natural mechanism such as insects, birds, wind, or humans. While they are genetically diverse due to outcrossing (this occurs from pollen being moved from one plant to another), their traits can be fairly stable and uniform. When an openpollinated plant is pollinated with a different variety, the plants grown from the seed may not always be ‘true to type.’ They will have some traits from both parents and may or may not look like the fruit from which they came. This is important to remember if you plan to collect seed for next year.

The definition of what an heirloom plant is has not been set in stone. Most agree that when a plant variety has been successfully propagated through open pollination, passed down from generation to generation for at least 50 years, and remains ‘true to type’ (with limited variation), it is an heirloom. In other words, heirloom seeds can be collected and planted the following year. This will produce a plant and fruit very similar to its parent plants. To be considered an heirloom, a plant must be open-pollinated, but not all open-pollinated varieties are heirlooms. Hybrids are created when two different varieties or two different species are intentionally cross-pollinated with the aim of producing plants that have desirable traits from each of the parents. An F1 hybrid is the first generation of offspring of two different parents. F1 stands for first filial, or first hybrid.

Which is better? Neither. Both have pros and cons. Increasingly popular, heirloom varieties have been grown and saved for generations due to their desirable traits, textures, yields, unique, and memorable flavors. Heirlooms have obviously got something going for them. For example, the Black Beauty Eggplant (Solanum melongena ‘Black Beauty’) has been around since 1902 and is still one of the most common and popular varieties today. It is an early producer and has an amazing yield, however, it doesn’t have the same pest resistance as some hybrid varieties.

Solanum lycopersicum ‘Brandy Boy’

It can take years to produce plants with specific traits and often requires hand pollination. This investment of time and resources is one reason why hybrid varieties may cost more. Growers test new hybrids in programs such as the “All American Selection” trials to determine if the hybridized traits are uniform and desirable. Not all new hybrids make it to market.

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Heirlooms are generally well adapted to the climates in which they have been grown for generations, and may be resistant to local pests, diseases, and local climatic extremes. Planting heirloom varieties contributes to conserving the genetic diversity of plants and can prevent the loss of unique varieties and traits. In addition, heirlooms seem to have an authentic and natural quality, giving us a sense of being connected to the past. However, an heirloom tomato that is successfully grown in Mexico, such as Matt’s Wild Cherry Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Matt’s Wild Cherry’) may not perform as well in Utah gardens. Hybrids have been bred for specific desirable traits, such as uniformity in size or shape, flavor, earlier fruiting, as well as disease, insect, and heat resistance. They are often more vigorous and adaptable to a wider range of climates and growing conditions. The hybrid Brandy Boy Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Brandy Boy’) has the same great flavor as its heirloom parent ‘Brandywine’. However, it is a more compact plant, and the fruit is prettier and more uniform. Hybrids can offer higher yields, better disease resistance, and stronger plants. This can result in the need for less fertilizer and pesticides. The main disadvantage of hybrids is their seeds; they may not be viable, and even when they are, the

Tributes & Memorials November 2015 - January 2016

In Tribute Of David Alderman Janet Minden Joanne Payne Vicki Overfelt In Memory Of Edwin Anderson Madeleine S. Devlin Paul Engh Robert E. Helbling Philip R. Hughes Madeline Lynch Ann Dalton Murray Janet Ollinger Nathan Syphus For tribute & memorial information call 801.587.9658 14

Red Butte Garden

plants they produce will be unpredictable and highly variable combinations of their two parent plants’ traits. Since the 1920’s, a limited number of growers have been grafting vegetables. Long accepted in the fruit tree industry, grafting means attaching the upper part of a plant (scion), typically chosen for fruit quality or taste, to rootstock that has been chosen for vigor and disease resistance (largely soilborn diseases). Attaching the fruit-producing scion to strong rootstock of a different variety leads to increased plant vigor, yields, as well as heat and disease resistance. Heirlooms and hybrids alike can be grafted onto sturdier rootstock to create even better plants. At the Red Butte Garden Annual Spring Plant Sale on May 6 and 7, we will offer both heirloom and hybrid vegetable varieties. All selections we offer have been tested in the Garden’s trial beds so we know they can be grown and produced successfully in our local climate. The choice between heirlooms and hybrids comes down to finding the varieties you like—taste and enjoyment are ‘in the eye of the beholder’—so explore your options to find the varieties you like best.

Help Red Butte Garden

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

Provide a beautiful respite in a busy world by making a planned gift to the Garden. Join us in our efforts to educate children and preserve nature. When you make or update your will, please consider including Red Butte Garden in your plans. For more information, contact Wendy Loyning at 801.585.5658 or wendy.loyning@redbutte.utah.edu

Nearly 300 smiling volunteer faces graced Red Butte Garden in 2015. From the beginning of March through the end of October, the Garden is abuzz with our volunteers’ energy, community, and talent. Whether they are tending to our gardens, imparting environmental education to children, or burning the midnight oil at special events, volunteers take part in everything here. For the last 27 years, Red Butte Garden volunteers have provided crucial assistance in maintaining our 100 acres and engaging directly with the many visitors who come to the Garden. More so, our volunteers are inspirations, wise advisors, and close friends to the Garden staff who have the pleasure of working with them. The Garden’s volunteers are a significant reason the Garden is as incredible as it is today. Consider becoming a Red Butte Garden volunteer! Join us not only in this wonderful community, but also in our mission to connect people with plants and the beauty of living landscapes. For more information regarding a wide variety of volunteer opportunities stop by the Volunteer Fair, visit our website, or contact Lauren Miller, Volunteer Coordinator at: volunteer@redbutte.utah.edu

VOLUNTEER FAIR OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, MARCH 5 11:00AM - 1:00PM IN THE RED BUTTE GARDEN ORANGERIE

Curious about volunteering in Utah’s Botanical Garden? Meet our staff and learn about the many opportunities that may be right for you. Bring your teenagers age 14 and up. For more information, visit: www.redbuttegarden.org/volunteer

VOLUNTEER TRAINING GARDEN GUIDE TRAINING THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 6:00 - 8:00PM SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 10:00AM - NOON SCHOOL PROGRAMS TRAINING WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, MARCH 23 & 24, 9:00AM - NOON SUMMER CAMP TRAINING WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 6:00 - 7:00PM Registration required: Call 801.585.5688 or email volunteer@redbutte.utah.edu www.redbuttegarden.org

EXPANDING THE RESEARCH MISSION OF THE RED BUTTE GARDEN CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT

By Bruce M. Pavlik, Director of Conservation

The Conservation Department at Red Butte Garden (RBG) has a 22+ year history of working to better understand and conserve the rich botanical legacy of the state of Utah. Primarily assisting federal agencies with their legal mandates for natural resource management, RBG Conservation staff completed an average of three to six externally funded projects per year. These projects bring research dollars to the Garden, and provide a valuable service to the people of Utah and the nation as a whole. Consequently, the RBG Conservation Department received awards and recognition from its partners, including the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who have also indicated that Red Butte Garden is as highly regarded in terms of work quality and scientific objectivity as any other institution in the state. Most of what we have done has centered upon the conservation and restoration of rare Utah plants—of which there about 300 taxa—and collection of native plant seeds for long-term storage. For example, in 2015 we completed three rare plant-monitoring projects, collected over 24,000 seeds of 12 rare species and well over 270,000 seeds of 14 common species now stored at the Bend Seed Extractory in Bend, Oregon. As Conservation Director, I believe we have an opportunity to capitalize on our history and excellent reputation by diversifying our research mission. This could be accomplished by developing more relationships with the private sector and the state of Utah, and by building bridges to other departments and institutions that strengthen our research “products” and increase our public outreach. 16

Red Butte Garden

What might that diversified mission look like?

Figure 1. Proposed Research Mission “triangle” for the Conservation Department.

Rare Plant Conservation Conserving rare plants is one leg of our research mission (see Figure 1). We are a go-to institution in Utah for providing high quality, objective information in sensitive conservation situations. The projects often involve research into germination, cultivation, population biology, reproductive biology, and restoration of rare species, capitalizing on existing expertise in horticulture as well. Developing Useful Plants Utah flora is rich, composed of many common species of great potential value. Some are wild relatives of food species, possessing genes for drought tolerance, disease resistance,

and improved nutrition that are of interest to crop breeders. Other species are able to colonize areas disturbed by energy exploration, road construction, and other forms of development, thus stabilizing soil and improving habitat quality for animals—including precious pollinators. We have only just begun to realize how many drought-tolerant native species are beautiful enough to cultivate in home gardens yet require very little water. Identifying and researching how these native plants can be used and made available to the green and restoration industries is the second leg of our research mission. Improving Land Management Practices The third leg of our mission will emerge from the other two. As we understand more about native plants and how they can be used to improve soils, natural vegetation, and animal habitats; we will simultaneously inform and improve land management practices. This can lead to more sustainable botanical resources for the public by avoiding ecosystem degradation, and by promoting increased productivity through restoration. We have developed and maintained excellent partnerships that support Red Butte Garden’s Conservation Program, and a diversified research mission will allow us to engage new partners on new projects in the future. Our seed-collecting expertise can provide locally-sourced native seed mixes to companies looking to reseed damaged areas after project completion, thus ensuring that the right seed is put in the right place to maximize success and minimize costs of native plant restoration. Furthermore, extractive industries, a large part of the Utah economy, are coming under increasing scrutiny in terms of land management, rehabilitation practices, and available plant materials. Our recent project at Blackrock Gypsum (RBG Winter 2015 Newsletter) is an example of how we can partner with these industries to ensure that biological resources on public lands are wisely replenished after use. Photo: Jonathan Barth

Finally, this expanded mission can build better ties to like-minded research institutions. Botanical gardens are not often seen as research centers, even though they have the expertise, materials, and land that can support and be supported by the activities of other departments and institutions (Hardwick et al. 2011). RBG has the unique opportunity to partner with new University of Utah faculty to be hired under the “Biodiversity Cluster” to achieve common conservation goals. Several projects are already underway between RBG Conservation, the UU’s Rio Mesa Center, and the Natural History Museum of Utah in pollination biology and ethnobotany, with potential for new exhibits and other forms of public and academic outreach. These sophisticated research partnerships are important to establish and nurture because they distinguish Red Butte Garden as an important piece of a larger network dedicated to conserving the rich and diverse botanical legacy of the West. For more information on current and recent projects, please visit www.redbuttegarden.org/conservation-research Literature Cited: Hardwick, K.A., Fiedler. P., Lee, L.C., Pavlik, B., Hobbs, R.J., Aronson, J., Bidartondo,M.,Black, B., Coates, D., Daws. M.I., Dixon, K., Elliott, S.,Ewing, K., Gann. G., Gibbons, D.,Gratzfeld, J., Hamilton, M., Hardman, D., Harris, J., Holmes,P.M, Jones, M., Mabberley, D., Mackenzie, A., Magdalena, C., Marrs, R., Milliken, W., Mills,A., Nic Lughadha, E., Ramsay, M., Smith, P., Taylor, N., Trivedi, C., Way, M., Whaley, O. and S.D. Hopper (2011). The Role of Botanic Gardens in the Science and Practice of Ecological Restoration. Conservation Biology 25, 265-275.

Noxious weed-pull dates in the foothills to be announced soon. For more information, contact neal.dombrowski@redbutte.utah.edu

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Easter

Spring Equinox

Red Butte Garden

Monday

Tuesday

GARDEN ADVENTURES 10:00 - 11:30AM 4/9 03

Thursday

Rose Pruning Workshop 9:00AM - Noon

10:00 - 11:30AM

26 Garden Adventures

Wisteria & Vine Pruning Workshop 9:00AM - Noon

Vegetable Propagation (2/2) 10:00AM - Noon

Pruning 101 (2/2) 10:00AM - Noon

10:00 - 11:30AM

Garden Adventures 12

Volunteer Fair 11:00AM - 1:00PM

Tomato Propagation Workshop 9:00AM - Noon

Saturday

Wednesday

Friday

Orchid Show

05 Residential

06 Residential

Garden Hours: 9:00AM - 7:30PM 07

Sampler (2/3) 6:00 - 9:00PM See the Marshmallow Tree in bloom today! April Fool’s Day

01 Botanical Illustration

Friday

Garden Adventures 10:00 - 11:30AM

Botanical Illustration Sampler (3/3) 9:00AM - 5:00PM

Orchid Show 9:00AM - 7:30PM

Saturday

UTAH RARE PLANT MEETING 8:00AM - 4:00PM 3/8 At the Natural History Museum of Utah

ART EXHIBIT LINDA MCCAUSLAND 2/26 - 3/27

VOLUNTEER FAIR OPEN HOUSE 11:00AM - 1:00PM 3/5 Learn about what you can do at Red Butte Garden. Bring your teenagers!

GARDEN ADVENTURES 10:00 - 11:30AM 3/12 Sproutin’ Seeds 3/26 Miniature Gardens

Events at Red Butte Garden

April is National Poetry Month & Volunteer Appreciation Month!

Tuesday

Botanical Illustration Sampler (1/3) 6:00 - 9:00PM

St. Patrick’s Day

Thursday

Monday

Residential Landscape Design Section 3 & 4 (2/6)

Full Moon

Residential Landscape Design Section 3 & 4 (1/6)

Vegetable Propagation (1/2) 6:30 - 8:30PM

Wednesday

Sunday

Residential Landscape Design Section 1 & 2 (2/6)

Residential Landscape Design Section 1 & 2 (1/6)

Lecture: Intro to Botanical Illustration 6:00 - 8:00PM

Utah Rare Plant Meeting at NHMU 8:00AM - 4:00PM

Pruning 101 (1/2) 6:30 - 8:30PM

April 16 - May 7

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

Sunday

2016Spring

MARCH

APRI

www.redbuttegarden.org

Full Moon

Mother’s Day

Sunday

Memorial Day

Free Horticulture Spotlight Lecture 6:30 - 7:30PM

New Approaches to Water-Wise Landscapes (2/2) 6:00 - 8:00PM

Public Concert Tickets On-Sale

Monday

Gardening in the Wasatch (3/3) 6:00 - 8:00PM

Gardening in the Wasatch (2/3) 6:00 - 8:00PM

Gardening in the Wasatch (1/3) 6:00 - 8:00PM

The Lumineers Concert

Gardening in Containers (2/2) 6:30 - 8:30PM

Follow the Wildflowers (2/2) 6:00 - 9:00PM

Gardening in Containers (1/2) 6:30 - 8:30PM

Intro to Art Materials 6:00 - 9:00PM

Succulent Centerpiece Workshop 10:00AM - Noon

Garden Adventures 10:00 - 11:30AM

Annual Spring Plant Sale General Public Day 9:00AM - 3:00PM

Annual Spring Plant Sale Garden Member Day 1:00 - 8:00PM

Saturday

Irrigation Basics (2/2) 6:30 - 8:30PM

Full Moon

Irrigation Basics (1/2) 6:30 - 8:30PM

101 Plants to Know (1/7) 6:30 - 8:30PM

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

Vegetable Container Gardening 6:00 - 9:00PM

Cooking in the Garden 6:30 - 8:30PM

Know (2/2) 6:30 - 8:30PM

12 101 Plants to

Follow the Wildflowers (1/5) 6:00 - 9:00PM

Friday

Residential Landscape Design Section 1 & 2 (5/6)

Residential Landscape Design Section 3 & 4 (5/6)

Residential Landscape Design Section 3 & 4 (4/6)

Residential Landscape Design Section 1 & 2 (4/6)

Landscape Design Section 3 & 4 (3/6)

Landscape Design Section 1 & 2 (3/6)

Thursday

New Approaches to Water-Wise Landscapes (1/2) 6:00 - 8:00PM

Tickets On-Sale

25Member Concert

Wednesday

Bonsai Show 9:00AM - 5:00PM

9:00AM - 4:30PM

Tuesday

ART EXHIBIT DUKE JOHNSON 4/1 - 24

GARDEN POETRY WALK This month, the Garden will host a special audio tour featuring recordings of our spring poetry contest winners performing readings of their poems – all accessible from your cell phone.

Bulb Bonanza 4/30 Terrific Trees

GARDEN ADVENTURES 10:00 - 11:30AM 5/14 Busy Bees

Garden Adventures 10:00 - 11:30AM

Gifts of Botanical Beauty (2/2) 10:00AM - 12:30PM

Residential Landscape Design All Sections (6/6) 9:00AM - Noon

Gifts of Botanical Beauty (1/2) 10:00AM - 12:30PM

Spring Garden Walk 10:00AM - Noon

Bonsai Show 9:00AM - 7:30PM

ART EXHIBITS BRADLEY HALES CLARK 4/29 - 5/22 LUCY PETERSON WATKINS 5/27 - 6/19

101 PLANTS TO KNOW CONTINUES ON 6/9, 7/7, 8/11, 9/8 & 10/13

FOLLOW THE WILDFLOWERS CONTINUES ON 6/5, 7/13 & 7/29

Arbor Day ZAP Free Day

Lecture: Intro to Botanical Illustration 6:00 - 8:00PM

MAY

Non Profit org. US Postage PAID Salt Lake City Permit #1529

300 WAKARA WAY SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84108

2016 ADVISORY BOARD:

GARDEN INFORMATION

Tom Ramsey, Chair Tim Welsh, Vice Chair Cathy Foote Angstman Byron Barkley Sandi Behnken Thomas Brickey David Classen Fred Esplin Gayle Everest Chuck Horman Lucinda L. Kindred Rich Lambert Kristy Larsen Gregory Lee Tory Magleby Nancy Martin Michele Mattsson Kevin Murphy Michael Perez Chris Satovick Susan Speer Stephen Urquhart Angie Welling Henry Wurts Emeritus members E.R. Dumke, Jr. Sandy McOmber David Gee

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.

Groups of 12 or more receive $1 off regular admission price for each person. Full group payment is due at time of Garden entry.

Look for us on KUTV

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