On the Deck - May 2009
UC Garden Clippings
University of California Botanical Garden
June 2009 - Vol 1, Issue 3
In This Issue
Propagator's Choice
Thursday Propagator Sales
June Flowers
Green Gala
Green Stuff Day Camp
Redwood Grove Closure
Garden Conservation
June Programs
Volunteers
Garden Shop Special
Plant A Succulent Garden
The Garden will be closed to the public all day Sunday, June 28 for Green Gala. Drop-in Garden Party ticket sales start at 1 pm and the doors open at 2 pm for ticket holders.


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Propagator's Choice
Salvia africana-lutea

Salvia africana-lutea is an excellent addition to the waterwise garden. This South African Salvia is hardy and drought-resistant. It has lovely bluish foliage and  yellow flowers that fade to a rusty-orange. This aromatic shrub grows to 3' x 3' and its beautiful flowers attract butterflies.

The Garden sells Salvia africana-lutea in 4" pots for $6.00.

Thursday
Propagator Sales
Propagation Areas
Open for Sales


California Natives
Cactus and Succulents
Trees and Shrubs

Thursdays
10:30 am to 1:30 pm

Thanks to everyone for the positive response to our weekly Thursday sales.  In gratitude, we would like to make a gift of a 2-inch potted plant for each purchase of a larger plant worth 4 dollars or more (California Natives only).  This gift program will continue for as long as we have a supply to offer.

Becoming a member of the UC Botanical Garden entitles you to 10% off most plant purchases.



Quick Links
June Flowers: Asian Exotics
by Dr. Paul Licht, Director

Cornus-kousa-chinensisThe common eastern dogwood, Cornus florida, and the even more exotic Mexican subspecies are harbingers of spring but the display ends all too soon. The blooms of several large Asian species such as the deciduous Cornus kousa (pictured) and evergreen Cornus capitata appear later and over a much longer period. Both occur as large trees in the Asian Area and create bright spots for June. Other exotic plants like the cobra lilies (Arisaema) and the giant (10 ft.) lily (Cardiocrinum giganteum) can also be seen in the understory of the Asian Area this month.

Green Gala: Sustainable, Organic & Biodynamic
    
Green Gala
Sunday, June 28, 2 - 5 pm

Seasonal organic food from Devoted Catering by Amiee Alan
Biodynamic wines provided by Quivira Vineyards
Sustainable fashion show presented by local designers
Silent auction & live music


Green Gala fashionFeatured Designer - Ocelot: As an artist driven to express her passion for color through the dye process, Angelina DeAntonis, owner of Ocelot, found herself drawn to the itajime dye process. Its bold, luminous character became the focus of the designs. Ocelot's customers love the fit, the excellent crafting of the clothes, their versatility and comfort, the unusual colors and timeless styles. Each piece of Ocelot is dyed by hand and constructed in the Ocelot workshop in San Francisco.

Auction: New items are arriving daily � 12 months of Peet's Coffee � Semifreddi's bread for a year � Handmade maple bowl by John Doyen � Claremont Hotel and Spa overnight stay and spa package

Get the scoop on Green Gala designers & auction items online.

Buy Tickets Today! Call 510-643-7265

 Green Stuff Day Camp: A Few Spaces Available!

The Garden's summer camp has been a beloved tradition for generations.  Children explore plants frocampers at poolm around the world through walks and creek exploration, hands-on science studies, arts and crafts, edible gardening and more.  Children love this fun week in the Garden!

Ages 5 to 7:
June 15 - 19
June 22 - 26
July 6 - 10
July 27 - 31

Ages 8 to 10:
July 13 - 17
July 20 - 24

Download the flyer for complete information.
Redwood Grove Closure: Winter Creek Restoration Project

The Mather Redwood Grove will be closed to public entry Monday through Friday from June 29th through September 18th, 2009. The Grove will be open on weekends except during special events.  This closure is due to construction work taking place in Winter Creek, the small natural creek running through the Grove.  Over the past several years the creek bed was heavily eroded due to changes in drainage patterns above the Garden.  The campus is restoring the bed this summer, following proper protocols for working in environmentally sensitive ecosystems.  Concerns for public safety due to the use of heavy equipment will require the closure of the Grove. We look forward to the Grove reopening in late summer. Over time we will develop this area with plants associated with creek systems in redwood habitats.

Thank you for your patience during this project.

Garden Conservation

by Holly Forbes, Curator

The large-flowered fiddleneck (Amsinckia grandiflora) (pictured), an annual with bright orange flowers, is nearly extinct in its native habitats of Alameda County. This seems to be due to its inability to compete with invasive, non-native grasses. While research continues on vegetation management techniques to improve its success (performed largely by ecologists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where the species is known), Garden staff are growingAmsinckia grandiflora plants to produce seeds for future introduction projects. We recently harvested the seeds of 18 large plants in our nursery. These plants were up to three feet tall and supported with tomato cages, which turned out to be convenient perches for Lesser Goldfinches. The goldfinches were observed feeding on the fiddleneck seeds late in the day, typically after staff had left. We covered the plants with organza drawstring bags to catch the seeds before they fell, and to remove them from the goldfinch menu. There are many less endangered alternatives for their meals.

Support the Garden's conservation efforts by becoming a UC Botanical Garden member.

June Programs and Events

Members Only- Sunset Stroll: Wednesday, June 3, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Come enjoy the early evening hours at the Garden on this self-guided walk through the collection. An exclusive opportunity to wander the Garden paths at sunset. Also a great time to take beautiful photographs in the evening light.
Members Only: Free. Reservations required.

Sick Plant Clinic: Saturday, June 6,  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 closed containers or bags.

Garden Grooves:
Thursday, June 11, 5:30 - 7 pm
Experience an enchanting evening of Jazz in the Garden's Redwood Grove Amphitheater with the acclaimed BabShad Jazz Trio, featuring Barbara Hadenfield on vocals, Bob Calo on guitar, and Dean Muench on bass. Listen to Babshad Jazz.
$15, $12 members    Reservations required.

For Families- Water Ecology: Ponds and Creeks: Saturday, June 13, 1 - 2:30 pm
Visit the Garden's creeks and ponds and be amazed by the plants, insects and microorganisms you'll discover! Investigate the cruical role of photosynthesis and decomposers as you compare and contrast the Garden's pond and creek ecosystems.
$10, $8 members; price includes one adult and one child. $5 each additional child or adult per family. Reservations required.

Green Gala: Sunday, June 28, 2 - 5 pm
Cultivate your couture - join this year's Garden Party Fundraiser, Green Gala, for a one of a kind event. A fashion show of sustainable and local designs will be held in our stunning Redwood Grove Amphitheater followed by festivities in the Garden. Taste delicious creations by Aimee Alan's seasonal and organic catering. Enjoy live music and wine from local wineries. Bid on items in the silent auction. give to green!
$95 in advance, $115 at the door. Reservations required.

Always check the Garden Calendar for event details and updates. Call 510-643-2755 x03 for event registration.

Cultivate Enthusiasm for the UC Botanical Garden - Volunteer in the Garden Shop!

Volunteers sell gifts, plants, books, greet visitors and provide information about the Garden and plants.The Garden Shop generates much-needed revenue for UCBG.

The Garden Shop is open daily 10:30 am - 4:30 pm; volunteer shifts are available 10:30 am - 1:30 pm or 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Sundays. Full training and staff support is provided.

More than 200 volunteers support the Garden through educational and fund raising activities, generating an average of 2,000 hours of service each month. Volunteering in our Garden Shop is of great value to the Garden in accomplishing its mission. For more information contact the Volunteer Coordinator Perry Hall, 510-643-1924 or [email protected].

Position requirements: Work a minimum of two, three-hour shifts per month and commit to one year of volunteering. Willingness to provide excellent and friendly customer service. Transact sales using the cash register and charge machine. Training and supervision provided.

Garden Shop Specials
Chocolate Book
Sale price: $22
"Essence of Chocolate: Recipes for Baking and Cooking with Fine Chocolate"  by  Robert Steinberg and John Scharffenberger

John Scharffenberger came to the UC Botanical Garden to share his enthusiasm for the chocolate he makes, and to promote the book he wrote with Robert Steinberg. Filled with chocolate lore, and tried and true recipes from culinary experts such as Jacques Pepin, Alice Medrich and Thomas Keller, the recipes are organized on the principles of lots of chocolate, medium amounts of chocolate, or just a hint of chocolate. Recommended as a good cookbook for chocoholics.


t shirt
Sale price: $9.95
Garden Logo T-shirts
6.1 oz., 100% preshrunk cotton. Seamless collar.
Available in assorted colors.
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
While supplies last!



Sorry, member discounts are not available on sale merchandise.
So You Want To Plant A Succulent Garden
agave polianthiflora
by Fred Dortort, UCBG Volunteer

There are many smaller plants that will do well in an outdoor garden of succulent plants.  The choice is quite large, even though the plants are small, for miniaturization is a survival strategy adapted by many succulent plants, both in order to minimize water loss and to keep out of the eyes of predatory animals.  Many of the most interesting succulent plants really are miniatures, an inch or two tall and wide, or even smaller, but in terms of placing in an outdoor setting, most of these miniatures will simply be too small to have much visual impact.  The "just right" size, not too small or too big, however, still leaves us with a wide variety of options including almost all the succulent plant families.  Few members of the Agavaceae and its related families remain small, but Agave parviflora and the very similar A. polianthiflora (pictured left) are two that do.  Rarely larger than six inches in diameter, they perhaps need a bit more shelter than larger agaves but are good candidates for outdoor growing.  There are many miniature agave cultivars and hybrids derived from southern Mexican species such as A. potatorum, but most of these are surprisingly tender and are best kept in containers.

This is an excerpt from a much larger article by Fred Dortort. Read more.
 
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Editor: Vanessa Crews, [email protected], 510-643-2937