Red Butte Garden Fall Newsletter 2016

Autumn 2016 Volume 8 Issue 3

Garden After Dark Fall Bulb & Native Plant Sale The Terrace Gardens Turn 20

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n an average year, Red Butte Garden receives 225,000 visitors. It is surprising how few of these many people realize that the Garden is part of the University of Utah. Fewer still understand the nature of that relationship.

Red Butte Garden is an operating auxiliary of the University. In short, that means we are not an academic unit of the campus.

It also means that the Garden receives very little funding from the University—around 3% of our annual operating budget.

We essentially operate as a self-funding non-profit. And that extends to capital improvements. Everything built at the Garden has been funded by donations from the public, except for a few minor projects funded by revenue that the Garden itself generated from concert, wedding, membership, and admissions revenue.

The Garden benefits from its University relationship in a number of important ways including, but not limited to legal support, insurance coverage, human resources support, payroll processing, and campus police services. In return, the Garden is a major public outreach tool for the University, bringing many people from the community to the campus. In addition, the Garden and its plant collections, concerts, educational programs, and other events help to make the University a more diverse and engaging place for students, faculty, and the general community.

Red Butte Garden also supports the University by employing a large number of University of Utah students, providing them with the on-campus income that has been associated with improved graduation rates. In fiscal year 2015-16 alone, the Garden provided $396,000 in wages and benefits to University of Utah students – 25% more than the total funding the Garden received from the University!

Since the University of Utah does not have a horticulture department, the Garden has not had a natural connection with the University’s academic side. Recently, however, under the leadership of President David Pershing, the University has made a major commitment to sustainability and the development of strong academic research and teaching programs in the general area of urban ecology. With the important roles that plants play in urban air quality and water quality, and the impact that landscaping and water use for landscaping has on sustainability and livability in urban environments, the Garden is finding new ways to connect with students and faculty.

Within just the last year, the Garden financed undergraduate student research on the geology of Red Butte Garden, a study of bee diversity within the Garden, and graduate student research on where urban trees obtain their water, i.e., whether from rainfall, irrigation, or groundwater.

In addition, Garden staff members are consulting on the development of the very first campus landscape master plan, a research-focused low-water-use landscape plan for a large area in Research Park adjacent to Red Butte Creek and the Williams Building, and a half-acre water-wise garden to be installed adjacent to the soon-to-be-rebuilt Orson Spencer Hall.

The Garden is also collaborating with University faculty on the installation of research and teaching instrumentation in our three-acre Water Conservation Garden scheduled to open in Spring 2017.

As the Garden and the University of Utah mature, our paths are bringing us ever closer together, to the benefit of the University’s three-fold mission of research, teaching, and community outreach—to create a better life for the people of Utah.

Gregory J. Lee, Executive Director

Red Butte Botanical Garden, located at the University of Utah, is one of the largest botanical gardens 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.

EDITORS

Bryn Ramjoué Kate Randall

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

PRINTED BY

Gregory Lee Guy Banner Michelle Cook Susie Kohler

Pierce McConnell Jason Baker Kate Randall Sara Sandoval

Pierce McConnell

IC Group

Haunted Ho d l r o W lidays Around The THURSDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20-22 & 27-29 FROM 6-9PM Visit the Garden to travel the globe! In the United States we celebrate ghosts and spirits at Halloween, but similar traditions exist in other cultures throughout the year. Discover nature’s ties to spooky holidays and celebrations such as Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos and the Hungry Ghost Festival of China and visit the Garden’s pond aglow with lanterns in celebration of Japan’s Obon Festival!

With crafts, activities, light displays, and more, this is a fun-filled evening you won’t want to miss! Join us for Garden After Dark, an indoor/outdoor, costume, and kid-friendly experience in the Garden to celebrate Halloween.

TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 GARDEN MEMBERS: $6 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $12 www.redbuttegarden.org

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Did you know that Red Butte Garden showcases nature-themed art in the Visitor Center?

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CAROL BOLD AUGUST 19 - SEPTEMBER 11

Enjoy a wide range of media from photography, oil on canvas, encaustic, pastels, textile landscapes, watercolor, to glass and found objects.

STEPHANIE SAINT-THOMAS SEPTEMBER 16 - OCTOBER 9

GLASS ART SHOW NOVEMBER 4 - DECEMBER 8

Artist Reception: November 12 from 2 - 6PM

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE DECEMBER 3 & 4 Free admission thanks to ZAP

BONSAI SHOW OCTOBER 8, SATURDAY, 9AM - 5PM OCTOBER 9, SUNDAY, 9AM - 3:30PM

ORCHID SHOW NOVEMBER 5, SATURDAY, 9AM - 5PM NOVEMBER 6, SUNDAY, 9AM - 4PM

Do you want to grow your own Bonsai? Sign up for the BONSAI BASICS class! Saturday, October 1 from 10AM-Noon

The largest Orchid Show in Utah!

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Red Butte Garden

Memorials May - July 2016

In Honor Of Brittany Phelps In Memory Of Cheryl Ann Engh Card Madeleine Devlin

Help Red Butte Garden Flourish 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, provide beautiful gardens, 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

Judy Keister Francis B. Mackenzie Ann Dalton Murray Janet Ollinger For tribute & memorial information call 801.587.9658

Red Butte Garden now accepts recurring gifts!

Make one now at www.redbuttegarden.org Online Only

Thank YEW for your membership!

TREE-t a family member or friend to a Garden Membership this fall for

• 50% off Garden After Dark Tickets

• 12 months of Garden admission

• Discounts on workshops and classes

• Discounts at over 20 local boutiques, restaurants, and nurseries

• Reciprocal admission and/or benefits at nearly 300 botanical

gardens in North America Learn more at www.redbuttegarden.org/memberships, email membership@redbutte.utah.edu or call 801.585.7172 www.redbuttegarden.org

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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

HORTICULTURE

BOTANICAL ART (continued)

NATIVE SEED COLLECTING SEPTEMBER 17, SATURDAY, 9:00AM – NOON GARDEN MEMBERS: $18 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $22

NATURE SKETCHING SEPTEMBER 22 & 23, THURSDAY & FRIDAY, 6 - 9PM SEPTEMBER 24, SATURDAY, 9AM - 4PM GARDEN MEMBERS: $150 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $180

BULB FORCING WORKSHOP (LLHG 473) OCTOBER 4, TUESDAY, 6:30 – 8:30PM GARDEN MEMBERS: $52 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $55

BOTANICAL DRAWING 2 NOVEMBER 8 - 29, TUESDAYS, 6 - 9PM DECEMBER 1, THURSDAY, 6 - 9PM GARDEN MEMBERS: $180 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $216

FALL GARDEN MAINTENANCE (LLHG 551) OCTOBER 8 - 22, SATURDAYS, 10AM – NOON GARDEN MEMBERS: $65 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $72

WELLNESS & YOGA

GARDEN DESIGN LIVING WREATH WORKSHOP WITH SUCCULENTS SEPTEMBER 10, SATURDAY, 10AM - NOON OR SEPTEMBER 17, SATURDAY, 10AM - NOON GARDEN MEMBERS: $72 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $75

(LLHG 588)

RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE DESIGN (LLHG 512) SEPTEMBER 13 - OCTOBER 11, TUESDAYS, 6 - 9PM OCTOBER 1, SATURDAY, 10AM - 1PM OR SEPTEMBER 14 - OCTOBER 12, WEDNESDAYS, 6 - 9PM OCTOBER 1, SATURDAY, 10AM - 1PM GARDEN MEMBERS: $179 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $197 LIVING PICTURE MOSAIC WITH SUCCULENTS SEPTEMBER 24, SATURDAY, 10AM - NOON GARDEN MEMBERS: $45 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $55 BONSAI BASICS OCTOBER 1, SATURDAY, 10AM - NOON REGULAR GARDEN ADMISSION / GARDEN MEMBERS FREE CONTAINERS FOR FALL GARDENS (LLHG 550) OCTOBER 6, THURSDAY, 6:30 - 8:30PM OR OCTOBER 8, SATURDAY, 10AM - NOON GARDEN MEMBERS: $57 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $60 GIFTS OF BOTANICAL BEAUTY NOVEMBER 12 & 19, SATURDAYS, 10AM - 12:30PM GARDEN MEMBERS: $86 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $93 HOLIDAY FLORAL ARRANGING WORKSHOP NOVEMBER 19, SATURDAY, 10AM - NOON GARDEN MEMBERS: $55 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $65 Save the date! - Wreath Making Registration Opens Monday, October 3

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HOLIDAY WREATH-MAKING WORKSHOPS DECEMBER 3 & 4, SATURDAY & SUNDAY

NEW

FAMILY HOLIDAY WREATH-MAKING WORKSHOP DECEMBER 5, MONDAY

YOGA IN THE GARDEN with Kristin Vance of Fluid Heart Yoga AUG. 30 - SEPT. 22, TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS, 7:30 – 8:30AM GARDEN MEMBERS: $90 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $108 DROP IN — MEMBERS: $12 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $16 LECTURES 2016 HORTICULTURE SPOTLIGHT FREE LECTURE SEPTEMBER 19, MONDAY, 6:30 - 8:30PM Cynthia Bee (Jordan Valley Conservation Garden Park) “Localscapes - Landscape Design Made Simple” REGISTRATION REQUIRED: WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG/HORTICULTURE-LECTURE-SERIES BEES OF RED BUTTE GARDEN SEPTEMBER 29, THURSDAY, 7 - 8PM Guest Lecturer: Joe Wilson REGULAR GARDEN ADMISSION / GARDEN MEMBERS FREE REGISTRATION REQUIRED WASATCH ROCK GARDEN SOCIETY OCTOBER 12, WEDNESDAY, 7 - 9PM Guest Lecturer: Liberto Darios “Alpine Flora of Greece” Followed by a reception and light refreshments REGULAR GARDEN ADMISSION / GARDEN MEMBERS FREE REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Liberto Darios

GUIDED GARDEN TOURS EVENING EXPLORATION — GARDEN TOUR SEPTEMBER 22, THURSDAY, 5:30 - 7PM REGULAR GARDEN ADMISSION / GARDEN MEMBERS FREE COMPLIMENTARY TRAM TOURS* THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30 MONDAY, 10AM – 3PM & 5 - 8PM TUESDAY, 10AM – 1PM WEDNESDAY, 10AM – 3PM THURSDAY, 10AM – 3PM FRIDAY, 10AM – 1PM SATURDAY, 10AM – 3PM SUNDAY, 10AM – 3PM & 5 - 8PM REGULAR GARDEN ADMISSION / GARDEN MEMBERS FREE *Groups of Five or less / No Registration Necessary / First Come, First Served

BOTANICAL ART COLOR THEORY SEPTEMBER 1 & 2, THURSDAY & FRIDAY, 6 - 9PM SEPTEMBER 3, SATURDAY, 9AM - 4PM GARDEN MEMBERS: $150 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $180 PHOTOGRAPHING FLOWERS OUTDOORS (LLART 250) SEPTEMBER 17, SATURDAY, NOON - 5PM GARDEN MEMBERS: $62 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $69

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SCHEDULE A PRIVATE TOUR WALKING TOURS — UP TO 15 GUESTS PER DOCENT TRAM TOURS — UP TO 7 GUESTS PER DOCENT $30 PER DOCENT CALL 801.585.5688 OR ONLINE: WWW.REDBUTTEGARDEN.ORG

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The Terrace Gardens Turn

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omprised of the Herb, Medicinal, and Fragrance Gardens, the Terrace Gardens are connected by a series of sandstone walls and Wisteria arbors made of sandstone pillars and Treslewood; terraced fountains at each entrance; and other repeated elements such as swinging benches and hand basins. The Trestlewood used was reclaimed from a causeway across the Great Salt Lake built in 1904.

This early addition to Red Butte Garden was ‘roughed out’ in 1993 when construction on the Visitor Center, Four Seasons Garden, and Floral Walk Gardens began, and was completed in 1996.

The Ruth P. Eccles Herb Garden The 19,000 square-foot Herb Garden includes graceful swirls of the boxwood parterre serving as the backbone to a wide variety of culinary herbs. Garden beds highlight plants with edible flowers, plants used to make dye, native herbs, other edible plants, and beverages. Plantings include: oregano, sage, rosemary (an annual rather than a perennial at the Garden), rhubarb, basil, chives, ornamental grape, hops, elderberry, and more.

The Dr. Ezekiel and Edna Dumke Medicinal Garden The 17,000 square-foot Medicinal Garden is dominated by a towering Sycamore Plane Tree (Platanus x acerifolia ‘Bloodgood’). It is said that Hippocrates (460-370 BC) sat under a sycamore when teaching medicine to the Greeks. He is noted for three familiar quotes: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

“Make a habit of two things: to help; or at least to do no harm.”

“Walking is man’s best medicine.”

The shade of the sycamore allows us to grow shade-loving medicinal plants such as goldenseal, American ginseng, maidenhair fern, Solomon’s seal, and twinleaf. A bed to the west of the fountain was recently replanted with native medicinal plants such as cactus, Ephedra, licorice, skullcap, and pussytoes. This garden also features other medicinal plants including pine, alder, Gingko, willow, and foxglove.

The Burton Foundation Fragrance Garden All the plants in this 21,000 square-foot garden are fragrant in some way. The central element in the Fragrance Garden is a meadow with meandering sandstone walkways, featuring herbaceous plants with a variety of bloom times, colors, and textures. Plants in the Fragrance meadow include Agastache, Phlox, coneflower, Chrysanthemum, oregano, lavender, Aster, and flowering tobacco.

The beds enclosing the Fragrance Garden and meadow are planted with shrubs and trees, such as Daphne, roses, peony, lilacs, yellowwood, black locust, linden, bristlecone pine, and mockorange. To complete the Wisteria arbor motif, this Garden has a large dome-shaped pergola dripping with Wisteria in late spring, accented with hanging baskets that provide a breathtaking setting for private ceremonies and events. www.redbuttegarden.org

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Flowering Shrub Hillside

By Guy Banner, Horticulturalist

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ed Butte Garden’s new Water Conservation Garden (WCG) will provide many examples of ways to garden in our western desert and intermountain landscape using less water, fertilizer, pesticides, and labor resources, without sacrificing varied, interesting, and beautiful garden spaces.

The Flowering Shrub Hillside in the WCG will showcase colorful masses of water-wise shrubs covering the sloped hillside at the very top of the WCG. This hillside planting will be the interface between the WCG and the Garden’s Natural Area. It will incorporate a variety of native and non-native shrubs into the design to repeat some of the patterns seen in the foothills to blend the WCG with the Natural Area and draw attention to the ‘borrowed landscape’ of our greater surroundings.

Prunus besseyi “Pawnee Buttes”

Water-wise flowering shrubs can be an excellent way to bring color, shape, and interest to a dry hillside as well as other drier planting areas.

Their multi-trunked nature and shorter stature fill a visual space nicely and makes them especially useful for large sloped spaces or as a backdrop for other plantings. Shrubs can also be very lovely in a smaller setting, providing foundational structure and color.

Shrubs offer many aesthetic and functional services in the landscape. One benefit of many shrubs, which is particularly true of deep-rooted species, is their ability to stabilize the soil and slow erosion. Deep-rooted plants also build soil by increasing organic matter in the soil as their roots grow and die back. This increase in organic matter improves both the drainage of the soil and seemingly paradoxically, the soil’s ability to hold on to moisture. (continued...)

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Red Butte Garden

Following are a few examples of shrubs you will soon see in the Flowering Shrub Hillside: Pawnee Buttes Sand Cherry (Prunus besseyi “Pawnee Buttes”) is a low growing shrub cherry with shiny, green, lance-shaped leaves that turn mahogany-red in the fall. It is covered in fragrant white flowers from spring through early summer.

They thrive in full sun, low-water conditions, and provide an attractive low layer of foliage in the garden.

New Mexico Locust (Robinia neomexicana) is a multi-stemmed, thicket-forming shrub in the pea family. It tolerates alkaline soils and is native to dry hills in the southwest. At the base of the leaves there are pairs of sharp thorns so watch your fingers! New Mexico Locust flowers abundantly with fragrant, rose-pink blossoms from April through August.

Members of the pea family form nodules on their roots which shelter symbiotic bacteria that fix nitrogen gas from the air to create a form of fertilizer. This process helps these plants grow well in poorer soils.

Cornus sericea

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea), brings a lot of interest to the planting with bright fall foliage and colorful stems in the winter. The ‘Cardinal’ variety bears brilliant red stems and ‘Faviramea’ sports showy lemon-lime yellow stems during the winter. The winter stem color of these dogwoods is brightest on the one to three-year-old stems. These shrubs are native to stream banks in our region and will require some supplemental water.

sweet-tart, black berries. The flowers attract hummingbirds in the spring and the fruits are a welcome meal for songbirds in the garden. Golden Currant’s shiny, dark-green, lobed leaves and the shrub’s general resistance to drought make it a great option for the Intermountain region.

Ribes aureum

A variety of fragrant Butterfly Bush (Buddlleja spp.) will be included in the Flowering Shrub Hillside as well. ‘Peach Cobbler’ features lovely peachy pink flowers, while ‘Blueberry Cobbler’ offers light lavender colored flowers with orange centers. Be sure to look for the dark blue lavender colored flowers on the short statured (two-three foot) ‘Blue Heaven’, and the deep purple flowers of the mid-sized (five foot) ‘Mongo’ cultivar as well.

There will be interesting herbaceous perennials planted in the hillside as well, including Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum).

This plant gets its name from the cups formed by the leaves surrounding the stems that catch and hold rain water in little puddles providing miniature leafy watering holes for birds, bees, and other creatures. Cup Plant is a relative of sunflowers, and is native to the eastern half of the U.S. It can grow up to six-feet tall and blooms with many two-inch-wide yellow flowers from midsummer through fall. The late season blooms provide an important source of food for pollinators and much needed color in the late summer garden.

These are but a few of the horticultural delights that will be experienced in the Flowering Shrub Hillside and Water Conservation Garden at Red Butte Garden. We look forward to sharing more of its beauty and learning opportunities in the coming year.

‘Gwen’s Buffalo’ Golden Currant (Ribes aureum), is an improved variety of our native Golden Currant selected for profuse, golden, clove-scented flowers and abundant, edible, www.redbuttegarden.org

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Private events in the Red Butte Garden Organgerie can be magical with beautiful botanical dĂŠcor and panoramic views of the Salt Lake Valley and mountains. Your guests can stroll the Garden during open hours and walk through a breezeway to view our art exhibits. About 150 people can be seated in the Orangerie, or a few more can fit comfortably for an open-house-style event. A great parting-gift for your guests could be a Garden membership or gift certificate.

The Garden still has private event dates available in November and December 2016.

The staff for Red Butte Garden Private Rentals are experienced, patient and helpful.

Give them a call at 801.585.9563.

Check available dates and rates at www.redbuttegarden.org/event-rental Please note that private event rental rates will change in January, 2017.

FALL BULB & NATIVE

PLANT SALE SEPTEMBER 23 & 24 Friday, 3:00 - 7:30PM Saturday, 9:00AM - 7:30PM In the Red Butte Garden Courtyard

Find a wide selection of flowering bulbs, organic garlic bulbs, ornamental grasses, flowering perennials, native and water-wise plants.

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Red Butte Garden

Garden Adventures All Classes 10 - 11:30AM

Garden Adventures are Saturday morning classes for children ages 4 - 12. Each class focuses on a different topic and seeks to help children 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.

GARDEN MEMBERS: $5 / GENERAL PUBLIC: $7 *Except October 1 Spooky Planters

Registration required. Limit one caregiver per student. No infants please.

For more information and to register, visit: www.redbuttegarden.org/garden-adventures

SEPTEMBER 10 BIRD BONANZA

Did you know a large variety of birds call the Garden home? Join us as we learn more about our feathered friends, go birding, and search for nests, birdhouses, and more hidden throughout Garden. We’ll finish out our avian investigations by returning to the Sprout House to create a “bird-iful” craft.

SEPTEMBER 24 AWESOME APPLES

Celebrate the Autumnal Equinox (Sept 22) and the official first day of fall with a class devoted to an awesome fall fruit—apples! We’ll learn more about this amazing fruit and discover a few of the varieties grown here in the Garden. Later, we’ll create apple-inspired art and conduct a tasty experiment.

OCTOBER 1 SPECIAL HOLIDAY GARDEN ADVENTURE: SPOOKY PLANTERS

Kickoff your Halloween celebrations by planting a spooky planter in this special Garden Adventure! After learning what a planter is and how to care for it, participants will work together to plant and decorate Halloween-themed planters. Containers, plants, spooky decorations, and more will be provided. Don’t miss out on this frightfully fun class!

SECTION 1: 10 - 11:30AM | SECTION 2: 1 - 2:30PM *GARDEN MEMBERS: $12 | GENERAL PUBLIC: $15

NOVEMBER 5 GOURD-TASTIC

Halloween may be over, but there are still plenty of pumpkins and other gourds to be found! After learning what a gourd is and discovering the fun and unique varieties that exist in the world, we’ll create a “gourd-geous” work of art using squash, pumpkins, and decorations from the Garden.

NOVEMBER 12 LEAF LANTERNS

Have you ever wondered why green leaves change to red, yellow, orange, and brown in the fall? Join us as we investigate this yearly phenomenon and learn why the leaves not only change colors, but also why they fall off the trees. After we’ll create beautiful leaf lanterns to bring a piece of nature indoors and enjoy throughout the season.

IN THE GARDEN!

30 POKÉ STOPS | 3 GYMS

Organic Matter Matters in the Garden

By Michelle Cook, Red Butte Garden Greenhouse Coordinator & Susie Kohler, Horticulture Administrative Assistant

“Gardening is the art that uses flowers and plants as the paint and the soil and sky as canvas.�

- Elizabeth Murray 12

Red Butte Garden

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ommon questions at the Garden are, “Why do your plants look so healthy?” and, “Why do you mulch so much?”

The second question answers the first. By mulching, we are adding organic matter and building soil in the garden beds.

Soil is not just the foundation that provides roots something to anchor into, it is a plant’s source of nutrition as well.

The Red Butte Garden soil ‘canvas’ was originally full of rocks which made working with it difficult. Modifying the Garden’s soil canvas has been paramount in creating our beautiful gardens.

SILT Silt falls somewhere in the middle in particle size and characteristics.

Many favorite garden plants grow well in a proportional mixture of sand, clay and silt. This mixture provides a balance of permeability and water holding capacity. So, how do you remediate either too much clay or too much sand?

One answer – add organic matter.

If you have a soil that is high in clay, one of the best ways to loosen it up is to add organic matter. The chunky nature of organic matter breaks up the tight packing of the clay particles creating more air space. This porosity allows water and nutrients to move through the soil.

If you have sandy soils that are hard to keep moist, organic matter is again a good solution. Those little chunks of old leaves, grass clippings, and other plant debris hold onto water and nutrients very well. This gives plant roots time to absorb the water and nutrients before they drain away.

Whatever your soil problem, either too much clay or too much sand, a common solution is to apply organic matter.

Let’s discuss some of the science behind good soil by looking at texture, organic matter, and soil life.

Soil texture refers to the size of individual particles. They are separated into three sizes—sand, silt, and clay. Each particle size contributes different properties to the creation of the ideal soil canvas for each plant.

SAND Sand is the largest size particle and the spaces between the grains enable air to enter the root environment. The air spaces adjacent to the grains are permeable, enabling water to drain through quickly. Additionally, the chemical structure of sand limits its ability to hold onto nutrients or water molecules.

CLAY Clay is the smallest particle size and functions in a manner opposite to sand. It is not very permeable, having small, tight pore spaces. The tight pore spaces limit how much oxygen is available to roots. The chemical structure of clay particles promotes adsorption of water and nutrients. This is through abundant negative charges drawing positively charged molecules to it. They create and break bonds, facilitating adsorption and release of water and minerals to a plant.

So, what is organic matter? It is composted vegetation, grass clippings, fallen leaves, chopped up branches, melon rinds, old greens, apple cores, bark, etc. Any yard waste that you can compost can become little packets of black gold! The composted materials provide many of the nutritional needs of the plant.

LIFE IN THE SOIL Various beneficial bacteria and fungi decompose organic matter. They break it down and mix it into the soil, so little human input is needed. Another busy group of small fauna called microinvertebrates perform similar functions. And we can’t forget the composting contribution worms and insects make just by living in the soil. This vast array of little critters help create a soil rich with nutrients and moisture.

(Continued...) www.redbuttegarden.org

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Encouraging nature’s cycle of decomposition can be your secret garden trick. Think of the last time you were hiking the Wasatch and came across dark, rich, spongy soil under pine or aspen trees. This is nature at its finest—plant debris falling to the ground; worms, insects, microinvertebrates, and microbes breaking it down. In the meantime, the leaf litter is discouraging weeds and keeping water from evaporating. These decomposers and other soil life “eat” your yard waste and in the process of doing so, change it to a form of nutrients that plants can directly use!

At Red Butte Garden, we define mulch by putting a 2-3-inch layer of compost on top of our planting beds. We define “top dressing” as a light ½ to 1-inch layer of a very fine compost tossed onto the surface of the garden bed. We do not use plastic, fabric or large bark products in our garden beds. Large woody material can temporarily deplete soil nitrogen as it decomposes. Plastic and fabric products can negatively affect the microbal and invertebrate life in the soil.

FOUR RED BUTTE GARDEN TIPS TO HELP YOUR GARDEN THIS FALL:

1. Use your onsite resources. Mow your fall leaves as you cut the lawn and leave a thin layer.

Excess chopped leaves can also be composted.

2. Spread mulch under each plant and let the critters get to work.

3. If you have already mulched earlier in the year, just apply a top dressing.

4. Aerate your lawn then top dress with a fine compost and rake it into the soil.

Top dressing and mulching are not just attractive—they are simple and economical ways to improve the structure of your soil. Any amount of organic matter is beneficial, from a thin scattering to a thick blanket. Take care to keep the compost away from plant crowns and small trunks. Whether you make your own from kitchen waste or purchase commercial products, the merits are similar. Did you know that you have already been making organic matter and replenishing nitrogen every time you leave your freshly mown grass clippings on the lawn?

Back to the question of why do the plants at Red Butte Garden look so healthy? It is because, in addition to weeding, removing spent flowers, and pruning, we are continually improving our soil. By mulching we are creating a soil canvas that is alive, full of moisture, and nutritionally complete—a canvas in which plants can thrive.

Michelle Cook, Red Butte Garden Greenhouse Coordinator

Michelle grows many of the plants for the Garden’s indoor and outdoor displays and plant sales. She grows everything from tropical plants to vegetables. A Utah State University graduate and Horticulturist, Michelle is extremely knowledgeable and engaging. She teaches and lectures on a variety of gardening subjects at Red Butte Garden, Lifelong Learning, and through community and professional organizations.

Three adorable children call her Mom. Backpacking is her ultimate get away.

Susie Kohler, Red Butte Garden Horticulture Administrative Assistant

Susie joined the Garden in the spring of 2010, first as a member of the Entrance Gardens and Natural Area team and now as Administrative Assistant in the Horticulture Department. Susie fields incoming horticulture-related questions, serves on several committees, keeps the accounts for the Horticulture department, and supports the entire team by helping with hiring part-time gardeners and evaluating nursery product suppliers.

WEDNESDAY • SEPTEMBER 7

BLONDIE

THURSDAY • SEPTEMBER 8

WEDNESDAY • SEPTEMBER 14 with

GOO GOO DOLLS

COLLECTIVE SOUL & TRIBE SOCIETY

KACEY MUSGRAVES SUNDAY • SEPTEMBER 11 DIG IN DEEP TOUR

BONNIE RAITT TUESDAY • SEPTEMBER 13 TOUR DE COMPADRES

NEEDTOBREATHE

THURSDAY • SEPTEMBER 15

JASON ISBELL

TUESDAY • SEPTEMBER 20

TEARS FOR FEARS

THURSDAY, SEPT 22

IN THE RED BUTTE GARDEN AMPHITHEATRE GATES: 6PM | SHOW: 8PM www.redbuttegarden.org

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A Lesson in Weeds with Urban Habitat

By Lauren Miller, Red Butte Garden Volunteer Coordinator

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oxious weeds are non-native, invasive plants. At first glance they may appear pretty, but invasive plants pose a threat to Utah’s native plants and ecosystems.

To control invasive plants in the Garden and surrounding areas, volunteers from across the Salt Lake Valley have joined Urban Habitat, a partnership including Red Butte Garden, Natural History Museum of Utah, and Salt Lake County Weed Management staff. Urban Habitat’s combination of habitat-minded local business groups and individual volunteers have created a unique sense of community with an incedible focus on controlling invasive plants in our foothills.

Colloquially deemed “Invasive Plant Plucks,” last spring the six Urban Habitat events drew in an average of 24 volunteers per event, with a high of 45 people at the REI sponsored event. With such large groups of passionate people, volunteers were able to collect over 50,000 pounds of weeds last spring! Invasive plants collected included Vipergrass (Scorzonera laciniata), Myrtle Spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites), Dyer’s Woad (Isatis tinctoria), Dalmation Toadflax (Linaria dalmatica), Scotch Thistle (Onopordum acanthium), and Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale). Invasive Plant Plucks were a significant contribution to controlling the weeds in our urban-adjacent habitat.

Urban Habitat began coordinating Invasive Plant Plucks in 2012, when, unbeknownst to each other, NHMU and RBG sent out staff to control the same population of Dyer’s Woad at the exact same time. After that we decided to join forces and coordinate our efforts.

This year, local sponsors KUED, REI, Save Our Canyons, and KRCL 90.9FM helped market the events and provided prize giveaways to ensure these community events which are beneficial to the environment, are also fun for volunteers. After participating, you may not be able to walk, run, hike, or bike past invasive plants without stopping to pluck a few, and the results can be enormously effective!

If you are interested in an opportunity to learn about native and invasive plants—and participating in a meaningful service to our community—bring your friends and join Urban Habitat’s Invasive Plant Plucks next spring. You do not need to be a current Red Butte Garden or NHMU volunteer to participate.

Neal Dombrowski graduated from Weber State University in 2006 with a degree in Botany and Geosciences. Now in his seventh year at Red Butte Garden, he is the Senior Horticulturist of the Visitor Center Entrance, Natural Area, Wildflower Meadow, and Cottam’s Grove. If that wasn’t enough, he is one of the founders of Urban Habitat and coordinates every Invasive Plant Pluck.

More information about Urban Habitat can be found online on the Urban Habitat Facebook page, at: facebook.com/UtahNoxiousPlants or contact Neal Dombrowski at neal.dombrowski@redbutte.utah.edu 16

Red Butte Garden

ADOPT-A-NATIVE-ELDER SPECIAL EVENT:

The Weavers’ Stories MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 FROM 6 - 8PM FREE ADMISSION

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE & ART FAIR DECEMBER 3 & 4 – FREE ADMISSION ARTIST CALL FOR ENTRIES Registration Deadline - October 14

If you are interested in vending your original, locally made, handcrafted art at the Holiday Open House please fill out the online application at www.redbuttegarden.org/holiday-open-house

Unique Garden Inspired Gifts

Books, Jewelry, Wind Chimes, Lotions, Fairy Gardening Supplies, Home & Holiday Décor, Kid’s Stuff & More!

Red Butte Garden Gift Shop Holiday Sale – Dec 3 & 4

Save 10%

on all Gift Shop Items!

Garden Members receive an additional 10% off

www.redbuttegarden.org

17

Bonnie Raitt Concert

26

19

12

05

Tuesday

Free Horticulture Spotlight Lecture 6:30 - 8:30PM

Garden After Dark Tickets On Sale!

The Weavers’ Stories Adopt-A-Native-Elder 6 - 8PM

LABOR DAY ZAP FREE DAY

Wednesday

BONSAI SHOW 10/8 from 9AM - 5PM 10/9 from 9AM - 3:30PM 02

Residential Landscape Design - Sect 02 (1/6) 6 - 9PM

Blondie Concert

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21

Jason Isbell Concert

Color Theory (2/3) 6 - 9PM

30

9AM - 7:30PM

Residential Landscape Design - Sect 01 (5/6) 6 - 9PM

04

Residential Landscape Design - Sect 02 (5/6)

05

Plan your Holiday Party at Red Butte Garden 801.585.9563

GARDEN HOURS: 9AM - 5PM

06 Containers for Fall Gardens

07

Friday

08

Fall Garden Maintenance (1/3) 10AM - Noon

Residential Landscape Design - Sect 01 & 02 (4/6) 10AM - 1PM

Bonsai Basics 10AM - Noon

Saturday 01

ART EXHIBITS 8/19 - 9/11 Carol Bold 9/16 - 10/9 Stephanie Saint-Thomas

CLASSICAL GREEK THEATRE FESTIVAL 9/24 & 25 Euripides’ HERAKLES Pre-Show Lecture 8:30AM Performance at 9AM

FALL BULB & NATIVE PLANT SALE 9/23 from 3 - 7:30PM 9/24 from 9AM - 7:30PM

YOGA IN THE GARDEN 8/30-9/22 Tuesdays & Thursdays 7:30 - 8:30AM

GARDEN ADVENTURES 10 - 11:30AM 9/10 - Sensational Summer 9/24 - Awesome Apples

Thursday

Living Picture Mosiac 10AM - Noon

Nature Sketching (3/3) 9AM - 4PM

Classical Greek Theatre Euripides’ HERAKLES - 9AM

24Fall Bulb & Native Plant Sale

Photographing Flowers Noon - 5PM

Living Wreath Workshop 10AM - Noon

Native Seed Collecting 9AM - Noon

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Wednesday

Nature Sketching (2/3) 6 - 9PM

Fall Bulb & Native Plant Sale 3 - 7:30PM

23

Color Theory (3/3) 9AM- 4PM

Living Wreath Workshop 10AM - Noon

10

03

Saturday

Events at Red Butte Garden Friday

Full Moon

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09

02

Tuesday

Lecture: Bees of Red Butte Garden 7 - 8PM

29

Autumn Equinox

TGR Ski Film TIGHT LOOSE 7:30PM

Nature Sketching (1/3) 6 - 9PM

Evening Exploration Tour 5:30 - 7:30PM

22

15

Holiday Wreath Making Workshop Registration Opens

03

Color Theory (1/3) 6 - 9PM

Kacey Musgraves Concert

08

01

Thursday

Monday

Residential Landscape Design - Sect 02 (3/6) 6 - 9PM

Residential Landscape Design - Sect 02 (2/6) 6 - 9PM

Goo Goo Dolls Concert

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07

Sunday

Residential Landscape Design - Sect 01 (3/6) 6 - 9PM

27

Tears For Fears Concert

Residential Landscape Design - Sect 01 (2/6) 6 - 9PM

20

NEEDTOBREATHE Concert

Residential Landscape Design - Sect 01(1/6) 6 - 9PM

13

06

GARDEN ADVENTURES: 10/1 - Special Halloween Adventure: Spooky Planters SECT 01: 10 -11:30AM SECT 02: 1 - 2:30PM

Classical Greek Theatre Euripides’ HERAKLES 9AM

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18

11

04

Monday

GARDEN HOURS: 9AM - 7:30PM Except on concert dates, hours are 9AM - 5PM

Sunday

2016 Autumn

Red Butte Garden

BER

SEPTEMBER

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ART EXHIBIT 9/16 - 10/9 Stephanie Saint-Thomas

Monday

13

21

28

20

27

Full Moon

14

Botanical Drawing 2 (4/5) 6 - 9PM

29

Botanical Drawing 2 (3/5) 6 - 9PM

22

Botanical Drawing 2 (2/5) 6 - 9PM

15

ELECTION DAY GO VOTE!

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS

08 Botanical Drawing 2 (1/5) 6 - 9PM

07

01

Tuesday

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30

30

23

16

09

02

25

18

VETERAN’S DAY

Save the Dates!

25

18

11

Friday

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27

20

13

Garden After Dark 6 - 9PM

Garden After Dark 6 - 9PM

6:30 - 8:30PM

Orchid Show 9AM - 5PM

26

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

Holiday Floral Arranging Workshop 10AM - Noon

19

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

12

05

Saturday

Lecture: Wasatch Rock Garden Society “Alpine Flora of Greece” 7 - 9PM

Residential Landscape Design - Sect 02 (6/6) 6 - 9PM

12

6 - 9PM

15th Annual Holiday Open House Saturday & Sunday, Dec 3 & 4 - Free Admission

THANKSGIVING DAY GARDEN CLOSED

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17

10

04

Residential Landscape Design - Sect 01 (6/6) 6 - 9PM

11

Bulb Forcing Workshop 6:30 - 8:30PM

Thursday

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03

HALLOWEEN

Wednesday

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17

16

Full Moon

10

09

Orchid Show 9AM - 4PM

06

GARDEN HOURS: 9AM - 5PM

Sunday

GARDEN AFTER DARK HAUNTED HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD 10/20, 21 & 22 10/27, 28 & 29 Thurs - Sat from 6 - 9PM

ZEKE DUMKE DAY ZAP FREE DAY

Garden After Dark 6 - 9PM

Garden After Dark 6 - 9PM

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22

15

Botanical Drawing 2 (5/5) continues on Dec 1, 6 - 9PM

Visit the Red Butte Garden Gift Shop to find unique, botanically-inspired holiday gifts!

ORCHID SHOW 11/5 from 9AM - 5PM 11/6 from 9AM - 4PM

GLASS ART SHOW 11/4 - 12/18

GARDEN ADVENTURES 10 - 11:30AM 11/5 - Gourd-tastic 11/12 - Leaf Lanterns

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21

Holiday Open House Vendor Application Deadline

14

Garden After Dark 6 - 9PM

Garden After Dark 6 - 9PM

Fall Garden Maintenance (3/3) 10AM - Noon

Fall Garden Maintenance (2/3) 10AM - Noon

Containers for Fall Gardens 10AM - Noon

NOVEMBER

OCT

www.redbuttegarden.org

19

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 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