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UC Garden Clippings
University of California Botanical Garden
April 2009 - Vol 1, Issue 1
In This Issue
Propagator's Choice
Thursday Propagator Sales
Signed Copies: Our Life in Gardens
April Flowers
Membership
Spring Plant Sale
Green Stuff Day Camp
green gala
April Programs
Secret Path
Join Our Mailing List!
Propagator's Choice
flower image

The California flannelbush, Fremontodendron californicum is a fast growing evergreen tree to 20' x 20' that displays an abundance of large golden yellow flowers in early summer. It needs good drainage and full sun and is drought tolerant once established. It makes a nice centerpiece in a drought-resistant planting. We have several cultivars for sale including Ken Taylor, San Gabriel, and California Glory.

View Fremontodendron in bed 110 of the Entrance Plaza.

For sale on the Plant Deck and Thursday Propagator Sales

1 gallon size starts at $10 (price depends on cultivar)

Thursday
Propagator Sales
Propagation Areas
Open for Sales


California Natives
Cactus and Succulents
Trees and Shrubs

Thursdays
10:30 am to 1:30 pm

Becoming a member of the UC Botanical Garden entitles you to 10% off most plant purchases.
Signed Copies:
Our Life in Gardens
Joe Eck and Wayne Winterrowd signed a few copies of their book while at the Garden, and these are available for purchase in the Garden Shop.  A signed copy of Our Life in Gardens would warm the heart of any gardening enthusiast on your gift list.
Quick Links
New: UC Garden Clippings
Welcome to the first issue of UC Garden Clippings, the Garden's new electronic newsletter. The UC Botanical Garden is introducing electronic distribution for environmental and economic reasons, as well as a desire to provide readers with timely news. This newsletter has the added benefit of allowing you - the subscriber- to manage your subscription. See the instructions in the last article of the newsletter. We hope the new format meets your needs and welcome your comments for improvement. The Garden will continue to publish current print publications, and will notify subscribers of any plans for change.

A Pacific Coast Iris hybrid is pictured in the banner.
April Flowers: The Garden Explodes with Color
by Paul Licht, Director

Paeonia suffruticosaThis is a time of year when the Garden begins to 'explode' with new growth and color. Two must-sees are the tree peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa, pictured right) with their white dinner plate size blossoms offset by purple centers and the ground orchids, (Pleione formosana), both  in our cool moist Asia area.

At the opposite environmental extreme is the collection, with too many exciting blooms to mention, in the arid Karoo of South Africa. In fact, the Karoo is best viewed as a complete landscape of vibrant colors with exciting individual blooms. The hillside collection (pictured below) contains thousands of bulbs and a color display of ice plant relatives in bright yellows and oranges among the display of South African annuals.
Africa Hill
Just in Time for the Spring Plant Sale
Kemi Amin, the Garden's Membership Coordinator suggests April is a propitious month to join the Garden. The Members' Sale & Silent Auction at the Spring Plant Sale will be April 24 from 5 to 7:30 pm, providing Garden members the opportunity to shop for choice plants before the sale is opened to the public the next day.  Sip  wine and savor delectable hors d'oeuvres at the members-only reception catered by the Bancroft Hotel before shopping for plants or enjoying a twilight evening in the Garden.

Join during April and you will receive two passes to the Berkeley Art Museum! Individual memberships are $45, family memberships are $65, and the Garden offers several other levels for benefactors.

The Garden hopes to have online membership available any day. Check here for details. Meanwhile, you can read about membership levels, join by calling 510-643-2755 or download a form and mail it to:
U.C. Botanical Garden
200 Centennial Drive #5045
Berkeley Ca 94720-5045
Uncommon Plants Delight Shoppers at the Spring Plant Sale
logo
Members' Sale & Silent Auction
Friday, April 24, 2009, 5 - 7:30 pm

Public Sale
Saturday, April 25, 2009, 9 am - 2 pm

Admission to the plant sale is free. The sale will feature waterwise plants. Choose from California natives, rare trees and shrubs, ferns, cacti, bulbs, vines and many perennials from the Garden's global collection. Horticulturalists and propagators will be available for assistance.

2009 Spring Plant Sale: Survival Guide � Plant Sale Information � Available Plant List � Silent Auction Plant List � Map
Green Stuff Day Camp
Every year, from mid-June to mid-August the Garden's Education Program offers a summer learning option for children: week-long day camp programs. Little ones explore the world of botany and discover horticulture among the Garden's living collection. Campers experiment with growing plants, dip for aquatic life in Strawberry Creek and play on the Oak Knoll. Download the flyer for complete information.
Save the Date for the 2009 Garden Party 
          Green Gala logo for web
Sunday, June 28, 2 - 5 pm
Invitations arriving in mailboxes soon

Seasonal organic food from Devoted Catering by Amiee Alan
Biodynamic wines provided by Quivira Vineyards
Sustainable fashion show presented by local designers
Silent auction & music
April Programs and Events
Sick Plant Clinic: Saturday, April 4,  9 am - noon
Join Dr. Raabe for his monthly Sick Plant Clinic and find out which diseases ail your plants. Entomologists are also available to identify the pests that are living in your plants. Please bring plants and disease samples in containers or bags.

Fiber & Dye Exhibit closes April 5
Plants are the origin of most of the fibers we use in our daily lives, and of the dyes that provide us with colors.  Feel fabrics, see and smell dyes and marvel at the many uses of plant fibers & dyes from around the world. This exhibit is in collabaration with the Permacouture Institute and the California College of the Arts.

Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs: Sunday, April 5, 1 - 2 pm
This hands-on workshop will introduce children to the joy of natural dyes while they make their own patterns on eggs with brilliant plant-based colors.
$20, $15 members. Price includes one adult and one child and 6 eggs per child, $10 each additional child or adult per family. Reservations required.

Contemplative Drawing:
Saturday, April 11, 9 - 11 am
Sylvia La, Bay Area artist, will lead you through the Garden observing plants through the eyes of an artisit. Learn how to translate these observations onto paper using basic principles of line, shape, color value and texture. Notebook and pencil required. $30, $25 members, Reservations required.

Spring Plant Sale Members' Preview: Friday April 24, 5 - 7:30 pm

Spring Plant Sale: Saturday, April 25, 9 am - 2 pm       Plant Sale Survival Guide!

Arbor Day Celebration: Sunday, April 26, 1 - 3 pm
Discover how trees are different from other plants, how they adapt to their environments, how they make food from sunlight and how they grow and reproduce, on this fascinating tour with Garden Docents. Free with Garden Admission.

Always check the Garden Calendar for event details and updates. Call 510-643-2755 x03 for event registration.
Secret Path
Mossy PathDo you know where this mossy path lies in dappled sunshine in the Garden? The spongy moss covering the path is emerald green from the winter rains, but will soon fade to summer brown. The first correct answer submitted to the editor wins a gift certificate for plants worth $10 and two Garden admission passes. The correct answer will identify the geographic region of the path's location in the Garden. Here's a hint: Magnolia dealbata shades the path.
 
Manage Your Subscription
The UC Garden Clippings is a publication of the University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley. You can manage your subscriptions to Garden electronic publications by choosing Update Profile/Email Address at the bottom of the newsletter. Choose Safe Unsubscribe to remove your email address from all UCBG electronic publications. The Garden offers three email publications:
  • UC Garden Clippings: This is a monthly newsletter featuring garden events and stories.
  • Updates: Occasional brief emails are sent to highlight special garden events.
  • Plant Deck: This is a monthly email describing plants available for purchase in the Garden.
Editor: Vanessa Crews, [email protected], 510-643-2937