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UC Garden Clippings
University of California Botanical Garden
November 2009 - Vol 2, Issue 5
In This Issue
November in the Garden: A Symphony of Color
Propagator's Choice
Garden Closure
Redwood Grove Reopens
November Programs
Garden Shop Specials
Autumn Membership Promotion


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Thursdays (starting Oct. 15)
10:30 am to 1:30 pm

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Visit the Garden's Plant Deck for a great selection of choice plants. All proceeds from your purchase benefit the Garden.
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November in the Garden: A Symphony of Color
 
autumn colorA symphony of autumn color is playing in the Asian Area of the UC Botanical Garden. The conductor is Elaine Sedlack, a horticulturist who has been nurturing this part of the UC Botanical Garden for 25 years. Standing near the Japanese Pool on a warm, drizzly October morning, Sedlack explained, "I love color and I'm always searching for plants to provide color in the fall."
Sedlack's autumn composition includes 35 species of Asian maples- nearly all of the Japanese species, and still more from Korea, China and into the Himalayas. She points out the buttery yellow of Acer davidii and the brilliant bronze of the Acer truncatum, explaining,  "Their colors are genetically programmed but are influenced tremendously by local soil and weather conditions. Species color can vary greatly around the Bay Area's microclimates." Other trees favored by Sedlack for autumn color include the orange Mountain Ash (Sorbus commixta) and Phyllanthus flexuosus, a member of the euphorbia family.

Shrubs and vines add sparkle and emphasis to the autumn composition in Asia. Scarlet Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) and crimson azaleas hug the main road complementing a hillside melody of bronze and purple Japanese grapevines.

Join Sedlack in November for a two part maple workshop: Gone East: Exploring the Beauty of the Perfect Tree, November 1 and 8. And while you're in the Garden wander through Eastern North America for more autumn color.


Propagator's Choice
Acer palmatum, the Japanese maple is one of the defining plants in the Asian garden. Its look is synonymous with a Japanese vista but it is at home in the western garden. A small tree to 25 feet, its scale is appropriate for smaller yards. You will also be rewarded with a rich display of fall color-yellow and deep red-- as shown in the image at the top of page. Hardy, it likes moist but well drained, rich soil. The addition of gravel or grit is appropriate. While there are many cultivars available, we are offering the species in a variety of sizes.

One gallon size starts at $12.00. We also have a variety of other species available.
 
The Garden Will be Closed

Due to budget cuts and furlough days the Garden will be closed to visitors December 23 through January 7 and again the first week of February. The state budget crisis resulted in a funding loss this year equivalent to about 14% of the Garden's total budget. This is a serious loss for the Garden; we must now raise about three-quarters of our budget.

Your individual gifts are critical to preserving the Garden's priceless and irreplaceable living collection for today and future generations. Please consider making a donation today. Thank you for your support.

Donate Now!
Redwood Grove Reopens

winter creekWinter Creek is a steep headwaters creek running through the Garden's Stephen T. Mather Redwood Grove before it joins Strawberry Creek below. Over the past decade Winter Creek suffered significant erosion due to increased runoff. The University responded with a major rehabilitation project which required closure of the Grove for most of the summer, except for weekend weddings.

The excitement was palpable on the morning of October 13, the final day of the project because it coincided with the wettest October storm since 1962: 4.4 inches of rain fell in the Garden between about 4 am and 4 pm.  The inspection crew was met with an unexpected display of whitewater in the new creek bed. What better way to test whether the project was a success--which it was.

The newly "remodeled" creek has opened new vistas and opportunities to expand our native California collection.  But the best news is that the Grove is now open again for visitors.
Programs and Events

3rd Annual Spooky Tales in the Redwood Grove:

Saturday October 31, 1 - 2:30 pm

Wear your favorite Halloween costume to this spell binding enchantment in the Garden.
$10, $8 for members, price includes one adult and one child, $3 for each additional family member.  Registration Required

Gone East: Exploring the Beauty of the Perfect Tree

Sundays, November 1 & 8, 10 am - noon

Part One: Identification & Plant Selection
Get an overview of the Asian maple species in the Garden's collection, learn to distinguish the different species and explore Japanese maple cultivars recommended for our Bay Area climate in this presentation.

Part Two: Autumn in Asia
A tour of the Garden's Asian maple species in autumn color.
The Garden now has over 35 species of maples representative of species from Korea, China, Taiwan, Japan and the Himalayas. Besides the commonly grown Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), there are species with atypical foliage; trifoliate and even entire, unlobed leaves on one evergreen species from Nepal!

Speaker: Elaine Sedlack, Horticulturist, Artist and Bay Area native has worked in the Garden for 25 years caring for the Asian Collection, Herb Garden and Chinese Medicinal Herb Garden.
$30, $25 members for both events.  Registration Required 

Sick Plant Clinic: Saturday, November 7,  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.

olive treeMaking Local, Traditional Brine Fermented Olives:
Sunday, November 15, 1 - 3 pm

Learn the art of curing olives with Jennifer House of Coco Ranch in Dixon and Kathleen Elliott of Sunol, whose Hillcrest Ranch is featured in the Fall/Winter 2009 edition of Edible East Bay. You'll learn everything from growing olives at home, sorting fresh olives, curing olives and recipes to use with your olives. We'll also learn a history and health of these wonderful fermented pro biotic foods. This event also includes a tasting of Early Harvest Fresh Olive Oil.

$35, $30 members.  Registration Required


Bats in the Garden: Wednesday, November 18, 6 - 7:30 pmbats
Join the "Bat Lady" Patricia Winters for an informative evening presentation in the Garden on bats. You'll learn the truth about bats and their benefits to the human population. A short lecture and presentation will be followed by a viewing of a variety of live bats that can be seen and enjoyed up close.
$15, $12 Members, $5 Accompanied Children Under 12.  Registration Required

Always check the Garden Calendar for event details and updates.
Reservations are accepted daily, including weekends, 9 am - 4:30 pm.
Call 510-643-2755 x03 for event registration or to purchase/renew a membership.

Garden Shop Special for November
Garden Apron
During the month of November, we will have our short Garden aprons on   sale - just in time to cook your Thanksgiving dinner! Aprons come in green and beige. Two large pockets will hold items close at hand like reading glasses, potholders and recipe cards. These aprons make great hostess gifts, too.

20% off - only $14.95

No other discounts apply. Limited to supply on hand. Sale prices good only in November 2009.

Visit the Garden Shop for books, toys, Garden logo items and much more. Proceeds from your shopping support the Garden.


 Just for Members � One Day Only � 40% Off Cohn-Stone Glass Art in the Garden Shop

Wednesday, November 18glass leaves & pumpkins
Members Only
40% Off Cohn-Stone Glass Art in the Garden Shop

At COHN-STONE STUDIOS nature, inspiration, technical mastery and science come together at the hands of accomplished artists Michael Cohn and Molly Stone who create transcendent works of glass that inspire collectors, museums and galleries around the world. The Garden  Shop has a very limited stock of Cohn-Stone pumpkins and leaves available for this special discount.

Get a head start on Thanksgiving with this great discount. Best of all, proceeds from your shopping support your treasured Garden!

No other discounts apply. Offer is only for members and limited to a small supply on hand.


Autumn Membership Promotion
sarracenia
Join the Garden or purchase a gift membership in November and you will receive all the benefits of Garden membership AND the Garden's exclusive print "Sarracenia" by artist Gary Bukovnik. This painting depicts an unusual bouquet of carnivorous plants.

This beautiful print is currently selling in the Garden Shop for $25, but for a limited time only, it is our gift to new members at a $65 or above level of membership.

Gift memberships to the Garden are a beautifully packaged thoughtful gift for anyone on your holiday list- especially when it includes the exclusive Bukovnik print.

Become a member or purchase a gift membership by calling 510-643-2755 x03.

Thank you for supporting the UC Botanical Garden.

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. The Update Profile/Email Address feature provides subscription options, allowing you to select those garden publications you wish to receive. Select Safe Unsubscribe to remove your email address from all UCBG electronic publications. The Garden offers five 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.
  • Garden Clubs: This is an occasional publication describing special events and opportunities for garden clubs and plant societies.
  • Tours: Be the first to know when the Garden has a new tour available for schools and other groups. Get details on arranging tours for your group.
Editor: Vanessa Crews, [email protected], 510-643-2937