GaRdenVariety SUMMER 2013
e Newsletter of Rancho Santa ana B otanic G aRden
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California’s Native Garden
| Welcome
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Susanna Bixby Bryant was a woman of foresight. In 1927, long before there was serious consideration of conservation or the preservation of California’s flora, she boldly decided to set aside 200 acres of her family land to establish a native garden. In an era when few women found themselves in leadership positions, Susanna supervised the day-to-day operations of her garden and insured its future by establishing a thoughtful endowment. In the years since, many capable and enterprising directors have continued Susanna’s tradition; today it gives me great pleasure to announce that the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Board of Trustees has appointed another woman of substance and scientific inquisitiveness to its leadership—Dr. Lucinda McDade has been named as executive director. An accomplished scientist and professor, and
Lucinda McDade in the California Cultivar Garden, June 2013. an exceptional manager, Lucinda has served the
Garden for many years, most recently as interim executive director. She is the Judith B. Friend Director of Research at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden and chair of the Claremont Graduate University Department of Botany; positions she has held since 2006. e members of the Board of Trustees and Board of Overseers are eager to work with Lucinda to map a future for Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden that will ensure its success for years to come. To read more about Lucinda and her many accomplishments, I invite you to visit the Garden website at www.rsabg.org. I hope you will join us in congratulating Lucinda in this exciting new endeavor and in supporting all of the Garden’s good works as we move forward with new leadership and renewed commitment to our mission.
Elin R. Dowd Chairperson, Board of Trustees
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e Newsletter of R ancho Santa a na Botanic GaRden
SUMMER 2013 VOLUME 28, NUMBER 2 editoR/deSiGneR Pauline Amell Nash contRiButoRS Debbie Carini, Karina Chappell, Eric Garton, Scott LaFleur, Lucinda McDade, Linda Worlow editoRial office Send letters and submissions to: Office of Development Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden 1500 North College Avenue Claremont, CA 91711 Email: development@rsabg.org GardenVariety is published by the Office of Development. Copyright 2013 by Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. Postage paid at Claremont, 91711. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden displays, documents and conserves the native flora of California. Members enjoy many benefits and help renowned horticulture, science and education programs flourish. to become a member visit www.rsabg.org/join or call (909) 625-8767.
Cultivating our Future Path
Contents |
t is a great honor to serve as the 8th executive director of this remarkable botanic garden. Since the first time I visited this Garden back in the late 1980s, I have felt a special connection to it, a connection that continues to deepen! ese are exciting times at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. We are a Garden with established excellence in research, education and collections (including living collection, seed bank, herbarium, library). Our mission challenges us to maintain these strengths while adding excellence in the public sphere: engaging the public fully with our message that California native plants amply merit appreciation, conservation and inclusion in home and commercial landscapes. e stakes are not low: long-term sustainability will depend upon living with limited resources just as California native plants have evolved to do. Our master plan provides the vision of infrastructure and Garden design features that will support full achievement of our mission. I look forward to sharing the plan with you and encourage you to watch for changes at the Garden that will reflect steps to implement the plan. Great things are happening here across our 86 acres—including in our buildings—and we are keen to share them with you! ank you for being a special friend of RSABG and I look forward to seeing you at Garden events and on Garden paths soon.
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Lucinda McDade Executive Director
SUMMER 2013
De par t m e n ts 3 Garden Scene Where They Grow Wild Extended, Garden Vista, Squirrel Research 5 the Garden fund A Gift as Tribute to Mom 6 class act Jessica Orozco Wins Prestigious Award 12 volunteer today Nature Interpreters Make a Difference 13 Garden Guide Events, Classes and Programs
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GaRdenVariety e Newsletter of Rancho Santa ana B otanic G aRden
Feat ures 7 Gateways to the Communities Fusing horticulture, conservation, art and science in California’s native garden.
9 A Boost for Veterans and Native Plants Grow Native Nursery in the Veterans Garden is growing. o n the coveR : Garden arches have added color and interpretation to the Garden as part of the “Gateways to the Communities” exhibition. o n thiS paGe : The Jaime Romero Blue Fan Palm Grove. Photos: Jeanne hill
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Photos: Gary Zorko.
| Garden Scene
Where They Grow Wild Extended e art exhibitions “Where ey Grow Wild” and “Wild in Print,” both on view at RSABG, and e huntington’s “When ey Were Wild” have been extended until July 8, 2013. RSABG members and two guests can visit e huntington for free for the duration of the exhibition.
Jeanne Russell Janish, Torrey Pine (top), Cone Flower.
Randall and Janell Lewis Sponsor “Where They Grow Wild” Exhibition e opportunity to view an exclusive display of original artworks from RSABG’s archives has been made possible by a generous gift from Randall and Janell Lewis. e exhibition provides visitors with a glimpse into RSABG’s extensive collection of botanical illustrations by worldrenowned artists such as Clara Mason Fox and Milford Zornes. “e Lewis family’s significant support of this important aspect of the ‘When ey Were Wild’ Bart O’Brien and Cynthia Beckwith talk in the gallery at Garden Vista, exhibition allows Rancho May 5, 2013. Photo: Gary Zorko. Santa Ana Botanic Garden to highlight the diversity of our collections and reach new members of the public,” said Lucinda McDade, executive director. “We appreciate their commitment to our mission, through this gift and through Janell’s work on the Board of Overseers.”
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Garden Vista Along with the usual music, libations and fellowship popular at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden events, Garden Vista offered something less familiar than the traditional spring fundraising event: a party on the move. More than 170 attendees joined the Garden-wide party, which spanned from the patio in front of the gift shop to the California Plant Communities. Senior staff led personal tours of art installations, plant science labs and horticultural exhibits. Each stop at the party brought party goers and RSABG leadership together to discuss the organization’s master plan. Lucinda McDade, Eric Garton and Scott LaFleur among others took the opportunity to convey their excitement and optimism for the future at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. Addressing the crowd gathered in the Lantz Outdoor Classroom, Lucinda McDade invited the group to “share the excitement for the future of the Garden. Tonight provided a glimpse of our organization going forward—a future that is redesigned and reimagined, but does not stray from our core mission.”
Garden Scene |
seeing red
he geographic range of the eastern fox squirrel has expanded greatly both through natural dispersal and intentional introductions by humans. It has been introduced to the western United States including areas of California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. In California, fox squirrels were introduced to at least San Francisco, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego, Berkeley, Bakersfield and Santa Barbara. e interloping rodent, with its ruddy fur, is sometimes mistaken for the American red squirrel. Veterans of the Civil and Spanish American wars brought the eastern fox squirrel to Los Angeles. Animals escaped or were released from captivity around 1904 and have now spread across much of Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties. About 10 years ago, California State University Los Angeles researchers led by Professor Alan Muchlinski began a research project to track the activities of the local fox squirrel population and determine whether it was destined to displace the California gray squirrel. e fox squirrel reached Claremont by about 2000 and it has established a resident population in the Garden alongside the western gray by 2009. e fox squirrel has replaced the native western gray squirrel in certain habitats while the two species coexist in others. ree years ago, Muchlinski’s project came to the
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Garden to conduct a monthly census count for each species, study behavior and reproduction in the two species in addition to other aspects. Small cameras mounted on posts peek into dreys (squirrel nests). e footage helps the scientists determine litter size and health in order to document reproductive success. Preliminary observations suggest that certain behaviors of the native gray squirrel change when it coexists with the fox squirrel. e amount of time that the gray squirrels spend on the ground and the amount of time that the animals spend foraging for food increases when the fox squirrel occupies the same habitat. e researchers are currently examining aspects of reproductive success of gray squirrels in habitats where the two coexist. Data collected during the monthly censuses show that the density of the gray squirrel has decreased by approximately 50 percent since the appearance of the fox squirrel. e densities of the two species within the Garden are approximately equal at this time even though the gray squirrel has been displaced from most other habitats in Claremont. Other results are more promising. e project’s habitat suitability models indicate that the western gray squirrel can maintain a viable population in the Garden for many decades to come.
To read more and participate in Professor Alan Muchlinski’s project, visit instructional1.calstatela.edu/amuchli/squirrelform2.htm
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Enduring Memories by Debbie Carini
Suzanne Hall and Ken Corhan have lived in Claremont for 23 years and for almost as long, they’ve found inspiration, respite and enlightenment at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, for themselves and family members. is year, the couple made a generous gift to e Garden Fund to honor a special occasion and a beloved family member. At a 2012 local community fundraiser for the League of Women Voters, Ken and Suzanne purchased a guided tram ride in the Garden. Last Spring, Eric Garton, director of visitor services, led a Garden tour for the group which included Ken, Suzanne, Ken’s mother Ginette Shultes and two other guests. “Eric was so knowledgeable and cordial,” said Ken. “e way he presented the material was so engaging and respectful of the guests. You can tell he loves what he does!” When Ken’s mother passed away last summer, the family wanted to make a contribution in honor of a “truly lovely day and a lovely memory that we have of her,” said Suzanne.
Children’s programming initially drew the hall-Corhan family to the Garden. Suzanne recalls visiting on a field trip with her daughter Laura’s third grade class. Today, Laura is pursuing a masters of science at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering. “My daughter had a sprained ankle and we fell behind the group and we got a little lost,” said Suzanne with a smile. “We were trying to find the [Tongva Village Site] for a presentation where the docents demonstrated Native American weaving and dying techniques.” Over the years, the family (which also includes son, Chad, a pre-film major at California State University Long Beach), took advantage of the many different activities for guests of all ages.
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photo: Gary Zorko
| e Garden Fund
“...we all enjoyed it, especially the people working at the pavilion and how knowledgeable they were.” –Suzanne Hall “Ken did the Bump in the Night with the kids,” said Suzanne, and then Ken chimed in, “I also took them up to the Garden on Sunday mornings to get them out of the house if they woke up early!” Since then, the family has attended many events at the Garden. Suzanne cited the Butterfly Pavilion as a visit last year that was great for family members of all ages, “We brought my daughter, who is 24, and Ken’s aunt Madeleine who is 93 and we all enjoyed it, especially the people working at the pavilion and how knowledgeable they were.” After exploring Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, they’ve been inspired to visit neighboring gardens such as Descanso and the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden with their RSABG membership’s reciprocal benefit through the American horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Admissions Program.
The Hall-Corhan family’s donation and all unrestricted gifts to e Garden Fund help to nurture a connection with nature that has far-reaching impact on the entire Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden community and the Garden’s future. “Gifts to e Garden Fund help to advance our mission of education and preservation,” said Lucinda McDade, executive director. “e philanthropic spirit of Ken and Suzanne, and others like them, allows us to sustain this beautiful garden for members and the community at large. We are very grateful for their support.” For more information about e Garden Fund, visit www.rsabg.org/give or call the Office of Development at (909) 625-8767 ext. 221.
RSaBG’s first ford fellow Seeks to unify conservation efforts
Class Act |
JeSSica oRozco was awarded a highly selective Ford Foundation Fellowship in April 2013. She is one of 60 graduate students nationwide to receive the fellowship, which provides $20,000 annually for three years as she works toward her doctoral degree in botany. She is also the first student in the history of the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden/ Claremont Graduate University botany program to be awarded a Ford Fellowship. A first-year botany student, Orozco is interested in understanding the evolutionary history and diversity of culturally significant plants. “I want to call attention to the relationships of native peoples and native flora in order to bring scientists and native communities together to work toward the common ground of conservation,” said Orozco. “is is an exciting achievement for Jessica and, through her, for the graduate botany program. We are proud of her and look forward to working with her as she matures as a scientist,” said Lucinda McDade, RSABG executive director and chair of the Department of Botany, Claremont Graduate University. her interest in plants and indigenous culture began years ago when she was inspired to uncover her Native American heritage. Orozco currently works with the Costanoan Rumsen Ohlone tribe and has served as a botany consultant to the tribe. “After learning about the relationships that indigenous cultures have with native flora—both culturally and spiritually—and how important plants are in Native American societies, I wanted to learn more about the plants in my environment (California) and their specific relationships with Native cultures,” said Orozco. She earned her bachelor’s degree in botany at San Francisco State University. Orozco completed two National Science Foundation Research Experiences for
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photo: Pauline Amell Nash
Undergraduates projects, one at Cornell University in plant genomics and a second at the University of Virginia’s Blandy Experimental Farm. En route to her doctoral degree, she has undertaken a project, a floristic study or plant inventory of the Tule River South Fork watershed, which is primarily located on the Tule River Indian Reservation in Tulare County, Calif. In addition to her plant science studies, Orozco has been involved in Southern California Botanists and is a teaching assistant for Professor Erich Steinman’s class “Indigenous People of the Americas: Colonization, Identity and Resistance,” at Pitzer College. In addition she has been instrumental to numerous programs at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden including the 2013 Wildflower Festival and the development of interpretative publications for horticultural exhibitions. e Ford Foundation Fellowship Program is administered by the National Research Council of the National Academies of Science. e fellowships support individuals who demonstrate superior academic achievement with a commitment to research and education. e programs seek to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. ~ Pauline Amell Nash
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Gateways to the Communities by Scott LaFleur
Joshua Kreutzer, dago lopez and Richard Rojo, Rancho Santa ana Botanic Garden horticulturists, are revitalizing an underutilized and underappreciated part of the Garden. along the way, they are revealing a hidden treasure trove. he california plant communities is a lively place. Coyotes rest safe in dens as visitors walk by a stand of mature red shanks (Adenostema sparsifolia). Wood rats huddle in nests built from a rich collection of plant material. Children dash through a maze of white sage (Salvia apiana). e interaction of people, plants and animals creates a vibrant learning experience along the new Garden exhibition “Gateways to the Communities.” Its organizing feature is a new pathway that showcases the life cycle of plants that live in California’s plant communities. With the organization’s master plan as a guide, Kreutzer, Lopez and Rojo created the Communities Trail, a 1-mile immersion experience with
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clearing out dead plant material in educational information hubs. the Communities, he didn’t know all Sitting and gathering areas have his hard work would eventually help been strategically installed for groups, families and solo adventurers staff focus on what would become to enjoy highlighted plants, new vis- the Gateways exhibition. “It has been a learning process tas and the Garden. Large rocks, logs and rustic benches offer respite and a and I have gained a better understanding of the California plant place to observe birds, small mamcommunities,” said Rojo. mals and botanical beauties. e horticulturists utilized trees “It’s hard to ignore the potential of the Garden. e master plan helps and shrubs from the living collection us think ahead to what it can be— from establishing new trails, features and replanting plant communities,” said Lopez. e exhibition is an ongoing process to create not only trails, but also ideas and relationships. When Richard Rojo began removing invasive and unaccessioned Above and facing page: Artwork representing art shrubs and trees, weeding and
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installations along the Communities Trail. Art by Joshua Kreutzer; block prints created in collaboration with his dad Geoff Kreutzer.
Scenes from “Gateways to the Communities.” Below bottom left: Joshua Kreutzer trims a branch on one of the art installations. Below right: Dago Lopez (foreground), Joshua Kreutzer and Scott LaFleur work on “California Caterpillar Cavern.” Photos: Jeanne Hill.
that had died to create ecological art—arches and natural art features along the trail. Welcoming visitors to the “Gateways to the Communities” is the artistic expression that served as the inspiration for the exhibition. Kreutzer and Lopez describe the “Communi-trees” as resurrected trees, and each work brings the California floristic province to life. e anthropomorphic creations seem to yearn to tell you about their home. “Our ecological artworks celebrate the coexistence and beauty of life and death,” said Kreutzer. is coexistence is revealed through art installations such as “Communi-tree,” “Cedar point” and “Caterpillar Cavern” but also by embracing and planning for the future of the Garden. e “Gateways to the Communities” exhibit is the beginning of a long-term undertaking and a critical
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aspect of the master plan for Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, which includes reorganization of the California Plant Communities section of the Garden. e communities’ overhaul will help better connect people to their natural surroundings in the Garden. It will rearrange communities and gardens, while protecting accessioned plants that cannot be
moved. e reorganization is also an important step in addressing the effects of climate change and water use in the Garden. Gateways is an organization-wide project. Director of Visitor Services
Eric Garton; Jessica Orozco, RSABG/CGU graduate student; Antonio Sánchez plant production manager and others worked on interpretation signs, an audio tour and publications for the exhibition. Life, death and rebirth are threads in the web of life woven together to create beauty around us. It was a fitting tribute that the opening of the exhibit marked the 60th anniversary of the public opening of the Garden in Claremont. Founded in Santa Ana Canyon in 1927, the Garden was reborn when it moved to Claremont in 1951 to be affiliated with e Claremont Colleges. Sixty years later, the opening of the “Gateways to the Communities” exhibit initiates the latest regeneration of Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. “I believe the essence of this exhibit will be reinforced with fresh ideas, new plantings and bold action to move us forward,” said Lopez.
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Thanks to a $100,000 grant from The Ahmanson Foundation, Grow Native Nursery in the Veterans Garden now has much needed plant production and veterans work training facilities.
Grant Provides Boost to
e May 18 housewarming at Grow Native Nursery in the Veterans Garden celebrated new structures that mark phase one of the site plan and construction of a new entry. e 10,000 sq. ft. shaded growing area and a 1,000 sq. ft. potting shed were completed in March and April. e new facilities have enabled the nursery staff to increase California native plant production and work training opportunities for veterans who are participating in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Compensated Work erapy (CWT) program. e CWT program reintroduces veterans into the civilian workforce. rough the program, veterans have work opportunities with a variety of employers where they relearn the basics of employment, such as balancing the demands of life and work, and are trained in specialized industry skills. Grow Native Nursery in the Veterans Garden, which is located on the campus of the VA Greater Los Angeles healthcare System in West Los Angeles, presents Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden with a unique opportunity to reach out to veterans about the benefits of landscaping with native plants and help train them with the technical skills of the nursery industry. e completion of the new production facilities boosts the number of veterans participating in the CWT program at the nursery to up to eight individuals. Colleen Wheeler, nursery manager, Ryan Guillou, assistant nursery manager and plant propagator, and Antonio Sánchez, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden plant production manager, help manage the six-month veteran employment program as well as plant production. “having the ability to provide employment and learning opportunities for individuals who have completed
military service is a powerful and meaningful endeavor,” says Scott LaFleur, RSABG director of horticulture. e nursery location has also given Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden the awesome responsibility of revitalizing the Veterans Garden into a beautiful and engaging space where veterans and the public can visit and find a place of respite and contemplation. e Veterans Garden historically provided a place of serenity. And a generous bequest from the estate of U.S. Veteran Edward Grafton, who loved the 15-acre garden long before Grow Native Nursery moved in, has enabled much work on the grounds. e May housewarming was also the public unveiling of the landscape design plan created by Wynne Wilson of Terra Design. Wilson’s love for native plants and sustainable landscapes shines through in the plan, which will provide grounding to the nursery staff as they continue to develop the garden and nursery. e design features a contemplation garden dedicated to veterans, more handicap-accessible trails and a beautified entrance. A new entrance with tree allée and a series of water features is to be dedicated to honor Grafton and his gift, which has given new life to the Veterans Garden. Recently, the nursery staff proudly watched as the first CWT participant completed his training and accepted a landscaping job with e Los Angeles Country Club. Spring 2013 brought growth in many forms to Grow Native Nursery in the Veterans Garden. Building on the success of the organization’s past, Grow Native Nursery is a clear illustration of how Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden remains steadfast in its dedication to promoting the appreciation, understanding and conservation of California native plants.
“to provide employment and learning opportunities for individuals who have completed military service is a powerful and meaningful endeavor.” –Scott LaFleur
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Grow Native Nursery in the Veterans Garden VA Greater Los Angeles health Care System 100 Davis Ave., Los Angeles 90049 (424) 234-0481 gnnwestla@rsabg.org
Grow Native Nursery Claremont Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden 1500 N College Ave., Claremont 91711 (909) 625-8767 ext. 404 gnnclaremont@rsabg.org
photos: Karina Chappell
Veterans and Native Plants
Grow Native Nursery staff share plant propagation techniques with class participants on May 18. Above left: (l to r) Antonio Sรกnchez RSABG plant production manager; Tim Brayton, RSABG trustee; Colleen Wheeler, Grow Native Nursery in the Veterans Garden manager; Lucinda McDade, RSABG executive director; Ryan Guillou Grow Native Nursery in the Veterans Garden assistant manager; Scott LaFleur, RSABG director of horticulture. Above right: Ryan Guillou offers tips for good pruning to promote new growth. The nursery frequently offers classes and workshops in native plant and sustainable gardening.
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| In Memoriam Ernest A. Bryant III Long-time chairman of the Board of Trustees and grandson of Susanna Bixby Bryant, Ernest Bryant was a caring steward of his grandmother’s legacy and the organization. he served for 46 years on the Board from 1960-2006. “Ernie was deeply interested in Garden programs and people. he supported us in many ways, both tangible and intangible,” said Lucinda McDade executive director. During his 57-year ranching career, Bryant managed the family ranch Rancho Santa Ana in Yorba Linda from 1946 until 1978. A fourth generation rancher, he acquired several ranches both in California and out of state. Bryant died on March 30 at age 81.
Jaime Arturo Romero Jaime Romero, whose talents as a mentor and personable colleague were well known within the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden community, worked as a horticulturist, chiefly within the California Plant Communities, for 35 years. he helped the development of the living collection by participating in collecting trips to Baja California. Romero’s knowledge and skills were often relied upon to help with repairs to the irrigation system. he lived in California for 43 years, most recently in La Verne, and enjoyed gardening, nature and traveling. e Blue Fan Palm Grove in the California Plant Communities was dedicated in his honor on April 5. Romero died on February 2 at age 66.
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Jean Ferguson Platt Jean Platt devoted more than 20 years of steadfast and thoughtful guidance as a member of the Boards of Trustees and Overseers. An oak in the Cultivar Garden was dedicated to Mrs. Platt by her family. She was very involved in the Claremont community. her husband Joseph Platt was a professor of physics and the founding president at harvey Mudd College (1956 – 1976). he later served as president of Claremont Graduate University from 1976 until 1981. Trained as a mathematician, she was a founding member of the Foothill Philharmonic; involved with the Red Cross, Girl Scouts and ARCS Foundation among others. Platt died February 18 at age 91.
Roy L. Taylor World-renowned botanist, Roy L. Taylor served as executive director from 1995 until 2000, and simultaneously as professor and chair of the Claremont Graduate University Botany Department. he was admired for his calm and supportive leadership during his tenure. his professional accomplishments included serving as the director of the Chicago Botanic Garden, president of the Chicago horticulture Society and founding director of Botanic Gardens Conservation International, an organization dedicated to the conservation of threatened plants. After his retirement in 2000, Taylor continued to share his appreciation of plants and native flora including a beautiful garden at his home on Vancouver Island, BC. Taylor died May 2 at age 81.
Volunteer Today | Gloria Slosberg, RSABG volunteer, contributed the following article about being a nature interpreter to the volunteer newsletter “Oak Notes” last fall.
nature and nurture Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden offers its nature interpreters an infinite variety of constant and ever-changing surprising experiences: like seeing and hearing the loud call of a belted kingfisher perched on a tree at Benjamin Pond, or catching sight of a stunning rust-color blossom on a spice bush, or observing a monarch butterfly emerge from its chrysalis. Miracles similar to these are an everyday occurrence in the Garden. ey inspire further study as well as sharing with other volunteers and visitors. Continuing education is a significant part of the nature interpreter’s experience: classes, field trips, event orientations, enrichments, self-study, refreshers, ad infinitum. Joy of learning and friendships that evolve from sharing common interests are enhanced by the energetic, inquisitive children who e two letters above were among the many attend Garden tours. thank you notes students sent in after their At a recent refresher walk, our group stopped to obschool field trips to the Garden this spring. serve a sugar bush. Dick Angus recalled my practice tour during the 2012-13 school year, Rancho Santa nine years ago. You may be able to empathize with first tour anxiety. I identified the sugar bush as a western redana Botanic Garden School tours and probud. No one said a word; we went on. e next tree was a grams served approximately 4,300 students. real western redbud with heart shaped leaves and rosy pink blossoms. We all laughed! In that moment, Irv Goldhamer, my mentor, gave me an unforgettable learning tool: patience towards self and others. What keeps me coming back to Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden? It is all of the above, plus the uniqueness of each child and adult. On a tour with first graders not long ago, we were standing under a California sycamore tree examining its leaves. en I said, “Let’s look at the trunk.” A little boy, without skipping a beat, asked, “Where is the elephant?” ank you, Susanna Bixby Bryant for making all this possible! ~ Gloria Slosberg
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Sun., aug. 18, 5 – 8 p.m. Medicinal plants of california Join experienced herbalist William Broen for a Garden walk and presentation featuring medicinal and edible plants native to California. Fee: members $20, public $25
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Sat., aug. 24, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. teacher open house Educators are invited to learn about Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden school tours and programs. Free admission for teachers and administrators and their immediate families.
July urs., July 4 Garden Closed urs., July 11 - aug 8., 7 p.m. Garden Groove Tickets available online or at the gate. Sponsored by Golden State Water Co. Members: $6 adults, public: $10 adults, $3 seniors, students and children 3-12
$5 seniors, students and children 3-12
July 11 – e Rushingwind Project July 18 – e Blue Breeze Band July 25 – Iliana Rose Band August 1 – Remember en August 8 – David Correa and Cascada Sun., July 21, 10 a.m. Guided tram tour of the california plant communities Tickets: $5 per person July 27 and 28, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. free Butterfly pavilion admission Sponsored by Northern Trust Free Butterfly Pavilion admission for all visitors during the final weekend of this popular seasonal event. Garden admission or membership required. Sun., July 28, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Butterfly Release party Join us as visitors escort butterflies out of the pavilion into the Garden and more fun.
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Sun., July 28, 5 – 8 p.m. Medicinal plants of california Join experienced herbalist William Broen for a Garden walk and presentation featuring medicinal and edible plants native to California. Fee: members $20, public $25
August aug. 2 – Sept. 13 Wednesdays and fridays Beat the heat extended evening hours e Garden will remain open until 8 p.m. Admission rates apply. Wednesdays; August 7, 14, 21, 28; September 4 and 11 Fridays; August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; September 6 and 13 aug. 3 – Sept. 14 Wednesdays and Saturdays early Bird Gets the Worm early admission for Members e Garden opens for members at 7 a.m. on Wednesday and Saturday. Reciprocal admission benefits from other institutions do not apply. Wednesdays; August 7, 14, 21, 28; September 4 and 11 Saturdays; August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; September 7 and 14 Sun., aug. 18, 10 a.m. Guided tram tour of the california plant communities Tickets: $5 per person
September Mon., Sept. 9, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. california admission day free admission sponsored by Golden State Water Co. Come celebrate the anniversary of statehood for the 31st state! Sun., Sept. 1, 8 a.m. Beginning Bird Walk Bring binoculars and join Pomona Valley Audubon Society on guided bird watching walks. Free event and free Garden admission for participants. Sat., Sept. 14, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. propagating california native plants how to sow seed, take cuttings and prepare divisions of some of California’s most popular native plants Member price: $36; Public price: $45 Sun., Sept 15, 10 a.m. Guided tram tour of the california plant communities Tickets: $5/person. Sat., Sept. 21, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Medicinal plants of california Join experienced herbalist William Broen for a Garden walk and presentation featuring medicinal and edible plants native to California. Fee: members $20, public $25 Sat., Sept. 28, 7 – 9 p.m. Garden fund event ank you reception for 2012-13 Garden Fund Garden Fund donors.
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Garden hours Daily 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Closed Jan. 1, July 4, anksgiving and Dec. 25
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admission Free for RSABG members $8 Adults $6 Seniors (65+) and Students $4 Children (3-12)
Membership Individual $45 Family $75
October oct. 5 and 6, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. autumn Garden party Grow native nursery in the veterans Garden (West l.a.) Shop a wide selection of native plants, listen to expert horticultural speakers, enjoy live music and gardening demos. Sun., oct. 6, 8 a.m. Beginning Bird Walk Bring binoculars and join Pomona Valley Audubon Society on guided bird watching walks. Free event and free admission for participants. oct. 18 and 19, 5:30 – 9 p.m. ings that Go Bump in the night Friday, Oct. 18 is members-only night! Bring your family, friends and flashlights and learn about nocturnal plants and animals. Ticketed event.
Sun., oct. 20, 10 a.m. Guided tram tour of the california plant communities Tickets: $5 per person Sun., oct. 20, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Medicinal plants of california Join experienced herbalist William Broen for a Garden walk and presentation featuring medicinal and edible plants native to California. Fee: members $20, public $25
Ongoing Garden Walking club Sat., 8:30 a.m. Free with Garden admission. Walking Meditation Mon., 9 a.m. Four sessions a month. Members: $60, public $75/month Yoga for Beginners Wed., 9:30 a.m. Members: $10, public: $12/each class
tai chi urs., 9 a.m. Members: $48, public: $60/month Where ey Grow Wild and Wild in print extended until July 8 fri. – Sun., 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Selected original works not included in the exhibition at e huntington are on display at RSABG. Free with admission or membership. Butterfly pavilion rough July 28, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Tickets: $2 per person (under 3 free) Blue Star days rough Sept. 2 Free admission for active-duty military personnel, their family members (military ID holder and five immediate family members) and veterans (admission fees still apply for family members).
Sustainable Landscape Workshop Series Join this series of workshops designed to help you create a more sustainable garden.
Series price: members $100, public $130 Individual workshops: members $25, public $32 Register online at www.rsabg.org/community-education, email registrar@rsabg.org or call (909) 625-8767 ext. 224.
landscape design october 27, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Learn where to start, gain understanding of plant selection and materials to get your garden growing right.
Soils, Water and light September 29, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Understand the essentials for a successful landscape.
Getting dirty november 10, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. hands on planting, irrigation and mulching demos.
Where do you go from here? october 13, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Assessing what you have and how to make changes to irrigation, existing plants and features.
Maintenance november 24, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Garden longevity depends on proper maintenance, including pruning, adjusting irrigation, weed and pest manage-
www.rsabg.org
nov. 2
Summer 2013
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R ancho Santa ana Botanic GaRden 1500 North College Avenue Claremont, CA 91711 Address Service Requested
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Claremont, CA 91711 Permit No. 469
t s i e v a f l g n i t n a n l o v . p 2 l l fall planting festival a f Grow native nursery claremont Saturday, november 2, 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Saturday, RSABG member early admission 8 a.m. Friday, November 1, Gold Card members festival preview and barbecue