UC Garden Clippings University of California Botanical Garden
August 2010 - Vol 3, Issue 2
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Thank you to our 1482 Facebook fans!
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Lazy August Garden Day
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Nap on your favorite bench.
Join your kids in a roll down our sloping grassy lawn.
Look for brides in the Redwood Grove.
Watch the hours go by on the sundial in our Herb Garden.
Walk with an expert: free docent walks (with Garden admission) are available Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 PM.
Take the Garden's self-guided summer stroll.
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Little Stinker Update, Twilight Hours and a Concert
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by Paul Licht, Director I was obviously wrong in my prediction that the newest titan flower would bloom this past weekend, so here we go again. I have tried many cues for predicting the time of opening. Perhaps the best will be the time from first recognit Little Stinker on 7/28 | ion of the bud. The days to open for the last seven blooms were 10,13,11,10,11,10,13. Today is DAY 12 for Little Stinker: you do the math. The one caveat I should note is that the weather has been unusually chilly for the past week. The Garden is open until 8 pm tonight - Wednesday, July 28 - for a twilight stroll, an excellent opportunity for you to check on Little Stinker's progress. Tomorrow evening - Thursday, July 29- the Garden is hosting a concert in our Redwood Grove. Bring a blanket and come enjoy the sweet sounds of Petracovich under our towering giants. If Little Stinker is open, we will also open the Tropical House for viewing. Check our website and Facebook for progress reports. I'm happy to report that our exhibition of comic tiles was written up in Bay Nature Magazine. Author Melanie Jones writes in the article, "Samanci is an artist who relishes the everyday, the universal simple
epiphanies and minor annoyances that make us individual, and she's not
afraid of the truths that these occurrences can offer us." The exhibit is still open and I encourage you to come view all of Ozge Samanci's tiles in the Garden. Ask for a map at the kiosk or print your own. |
A Crystal Palace in Berkeley
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The University of California Botanical Garden was formally established
in 1890 by Edward L. Greene, the first chairman of the Department of
Botany, to form a living collection of the native trees, shrubs, and
herbaceous plants of the State of California. Greene considered a botanical garden critical for the instruction of plant life to students and his small plot of native plantings soon included a magnificent conservatory modeled after London's Crystal Palace. The conservatory was demolished in the mid-twenties to create space for campus expansion and the Garden relocated to our present home in Strawberry Canyon. Celebrating 120 years as the University of California Botanical Garden, today the Garden protects and preserves one of the nation's most diverse global plant collection. We serve as a living museum of plants and an outdoor laboratory for faculty researchers and thousands of University students. We are leaders in environmental education for local school children. We welcome 40,000 visitors each year, offering a peaceful oasis while, educating the public about the important role plants play in advancing research and protecting our fragile environment. University staff and Garden members are invited to join us on August 25 at 5:30 PM as we celebrate the 120th birthday of the University of California Botanical Garden with cake and lemonade in the Garden entrance. August evenings in the Garden offer possibilities of golden sunsets or swirling fog, but regardless of the weather, we look forward with certainty to a bright future with your support. The Garden's 120th Birthday Bash! Wednesday, August 25, 5:30 - 8 pm Join us for a celebration of the garden's 120th year. We'll have cake, lemonade, live music from Lou Lou & the Gypsyjivers
and open hours to explore the garden's beautiful paths. Get lost,
wander, and enjoy the garden. All guests can enjoy a 20% discount from The Garden Shop (including plants!): our birthday gift to you. 6 PM Cake Cutting and Remarks by Paul Licht 6:30 PM Get to Know Your Garden with a Docent Tour Garden members and UC staff: FREE
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Tribute Plaza Construction will Begin in October
| Construction of the Garden's new Tribute Plaza will begin in October immediately following the Fall Plant Sale. We can accept brick orders through September 15th and still get your brick in the October installation. Don't delay as we plan to raise prices for the second installation in 2011. Many thanks to all the donors who helped us meet the 100 brick challenge!
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Dear Docent... | Our docents receive a host of delightful thank you letters from grateful students following class visits:
"Thank you for showing us around the Botanical Gardens! I loved doing the treasure hunt and going in the tropical garden. It was also fun macking the corn husk dolls but it was challenging to make them! Sencerily, Wes"
"It was very fun and exciting and Very cool. It was fun to taste the cocoa and everything. And it would be a good place to live. Sincerly Max"
"You were so much fun. I learned so much like bell peppers have so much vitaman A and C. It also has only 10 calories. sincerely, Evan"
"Today I leaned that coco dose not taste good, and that it grows in the tropit. I had a lot of fun with you. Love, Jordynn"
"Thank you soooooo much!!!!! I learned that beans have a lot of calcium in them. Love, Kelly"
"Thank You So Much for the tour. When I'm older I think I might be a dosent at the Botanicle Gardens. Sincerley Isabella"
A new docent class starts January 10, 2011. Details are available on our website. For more information about volunteering, and to apply for Docent Training, email the Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected] or call 510-643-1924. |
Propagator's Choice: Teucrium marum
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by Bryan Gim, Volunteer Propagation Program Coordinator & Horticulturist, Arid House
Cat thyme (Teucrium marum) is not a true thyme but like thyme is in the mint family (Lamiaceae). This small shrub, to about one foot tall, has small, gray, thyme-like leaves and diminutive-but-bright, fuchsia-pink flowers in the summer. It is perfectly suited to our Mediterranean climate, being very drought-resistant once established. The leaves are very aromatic when rubbed and, as its name suggests, popular with cats.
The plant deck features one gallon pots of this lovely plant for $8.
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Take a Piece of the Garden Home
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The UC Botanical Garden
is showcasing the works of local artist and retired UC Berkeley
professor of entomology John Doyen. Doyen crafts bowls and other
vessels from reclaimed wood he receives from the garden. Each piece is
unique and showcases the diversity of wood species that can be found in
the garden's vast collection. Doyen's work can be found for sale in The Garden Shop where members receive a 10% discount. The collection changes as Doyen receives new wood
to work with. Made of reclaimed wood from trees that have died or trimmed in the UC Botanical Garden, they are for sale in the Garden's gift shop. The process used to make the bowls is called wood turning. Doyen enjoys using wood from trees in the Garden because of the diversity of wood species. "Some of the species, like those from Australia and South Africa, can't be found elsewhere in the U.S. "There's always a new species coming along. Some wood that I've never heard of," says Doyen. Doyen has turned hundreds of different species of wood so far, including rhododendron wood. There are very few specimens of rhododendron large enough to be crafted. But the Garden has some rhododendrons that are 15 inches in diameter - making them an excellent resource for Doyen. What makes Doyen's bowls unique in appearance is what killed the tree in the first place. The marks and different colorations are often due to beetle borings and subsequent fungal invasion. Wood turning repurposes that into art. Doyen's favorite bowls are those with the most flaws. For more information and photos of Doyen's work see a slide show produced by Andrea Hicklin.
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What the Nose Knows
| lavender | Fragrance plays an integral role in nature providing olfactory cues that can lead to species survival or demise. The delicate scent of a rose draws bees leading to pollination. The titan arum inflorescence lures carrion eating insects with the powerful scent of rotting flesh. The pungent scents of rosemary and lavender repel browsing animals helping the plants to survive harsh climates. We invite you to explore our Garden this August with your nose with a special series of workshops and walks.
mint | What the Nose Knows is a series of unique, interactive scent-based experiences of the Garden held on select Sundays in August 2010 and hosted by the Olfactive Institute of Scent. Each event features a talk or walking tour with a scent expert in parts of the Garden such as the Chinese Herb Garden, Asian, Mediterranean and Californian sections. Meet at the Garden entrance just before 1pm. After the talk, guests are welcome to explore the rest of the Garden on their own. Attendance is free with Garden admission.
rosemary | Awaken Your SensesSunday, August 1, 1 - 3 pm To kick off the Nose Knows series, Gina Zupsich, Scent Institute founder, introduces a nose-guided tour of the herb garden. She will show some techniques to maximize your olfactory experience and highlight how some of these plants are used in cooking, health, beauty and magic. The Garden's herb horticulturist. Elaine Sedlack will be present to answer questions. Honoring Antiquity: The Art of Natural PerfumerySunday, August 8, 1 - 2 pm Natural perfumery is an ancient art form that consists of capturing the essence of flowers, leaves, and woods and mixing them to create something new and delightful. During this event, Laurie Stern, the artisanal botanical perfumer behind Velvet and Sweet Pea's Purrfumery, will share her expertise and sense of delight in the world of natural perfumery. You will have the rare opportunity to experience some of Laurie's aromatic treasures from all over the globe. Laurie will also share perfume stories from antiquity to the present that are inspiring, rich and sensual. Birds Do It, Bees Do ItSunday, August 15, 1 - 2 pm Matt Osowski, biologist at WRA, Inc., and wetlands and California native plants expert, leads a walking tour of the California Garden focusing on fragrant plants, flowers and pollination. Scent and the Art of TeaSunday, August 29, 1 - 2 pm Toshiko Ueda, educator at the Urasenke Foundation San Francisco gives a presentation on the role of scent in Japanese tea ceremony. Scents That HealSeptember 12, 1- 2 pm Have you wondered why such potent incense wafts out of your acupuncturist or holistic therapist's office? Kil-Young Yu, LAc, acupuncturist and herbalist at Oakland Community Acupuncture explains this and the medicinal properties of other odoriferous herbs in the Traditional Chinese Herb Garden. |
New to the Garden Shop: Flora Mirabilis
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reviewed by Carol Bassett, volunteer in The Garden Shop
New to the Garden Shop is an exciting book on the interrelationships between plants and humans - Flora Mirabilis: How Plants Have Shaped World Knowledge, Health, Wealth, and Beauty, by Catherine Herbert Howell. Ms. Howell holds a master's degree in anthropology from the University of Virginia and has collaborated with National Geographic Society several times. Flora Mirabilis was created through a partnering of the National Geographic Society and the world library collections of the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Visually, Flora Mirabilis is exquisite with over two hundred botanical prints to illustrate the history, legends, folk lore and information presented. The book is divided into six, more or less chronological chapters preceded by an orienting introduction by Douglas Holland, Library Director, Missouri Botanical Garden. Each chapter is preceded by a beautiful botanical drawing or illustration pertinent to the subject matter. Read the complete review....
Flora Mirabilis is available in the Garden Shop for $35. Members receive a 10% discount and proceeds from shop sales benefit the Garden.
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Programs and Events
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Saturday, August 7, 9
am - noon Meet Ama Torrance | Art Talk & ReceptionTuesday, August 10, 7 - 8:30 pm Join Ama in the Garden Conference Center for a presentation on her art and a glass of wine. Following the talk Ama will take you out in the Garden for a look at her sculptures. Free with Garden admission
Two! Summer Garden Evening HoursWednesday, August 11, 2010 Garden open until 8 pm Wednesday, August 18, 2010 Garden open until 8pm August 18th features a local wine tasting led by Iain Boltin of Eight Arms Cellars in Berkeley. Free with Garden admission
Paper Making with Papyrus for KidsSaturday, August 7, 11 am - noon Join us to experiment with making the oldest paper medium in the world. Learn about the history, materials and techniques used to produce ancient papyrus. Then work first hand with papyrus plants from the Garden to make your own paper! For children 5+ years old. Limited to 15 attendees. $10, $8 members Butterfly BasicsSunday, August 8, 10 am - noon Join our resident caterpillar lady and butterfly expert Sally Levinson and her partner in crime Andy Liu as they lead you through the life cycles of butterflies. They will be bringing with them beautiful displays of live specimens in all stages of life. Families welcome, $10, $5 members; Children under 5 Free, Children 5-12 $5 Painting with Earth and Plant PigmentsWednesdays, August 11, 18, 25, 6 - 9 pm Spend three lovely evenings at the Garden with artist Judi Pettite, who will show you how to mix and apply these pigments using a variety of natural binders and painting supports. Discussion of pigment choice, purchasing and/or growing your pigments, tools, history, and contemporary applications will be woven through each meeting. A few of the pigments we sample are: madder, goldenrod, cosmos, indigo, and ochre. We will also cover lakes, pigments made from natural dyes. Pigments and tools are supplied; please bring a sketchbook and pencil, and additionally you may want to bring a favorite brush or paper sample. Anyone with an interest in exploring an ancient medium in a contemporary context is welcome to attend. $200, $180 members Horticultural Walk with Chris: Aromatic AfternoonThursday, August 12, 1 - 2 pm Horticultural walk with Associate Director for Collections and Horticulture, Chris Carmichael. A light stroll through the Garden following your nose and identifying plants with fragrance. $10, free for members Summer Bird WalkSaturday, August 14, 9 - 10:30 am Listen to the sounds of summer! Join Phila Rogers,expert birder, and Chris Carmichael, Associate Director of Collections and Horticulture, on a morning walk to discover the Garden's bird life. $20, $17 members Monthly Butterfly WalkTuesday, August 24, 3 - 4 pm Join Sally Levinson, Garden volunteer propagator, docent and caterpillar lady as she guides you through the collection in search of butterflies. Space is limited.Children welcome. Free with Garden admission Pictured left: Monarch butterfly with Scabiosa by J. Brahms The Garden's 120th Birthday Bash!
Wednesday, August 25, 5:30 - 8 pm. Garden members, UC staff and faculty/ FREE
Aristolochia californica | Creating Botanical Art with Native PlantsThursday & Friday, August 26 & 27, 10 am - 4 pm Explore California Natives in the Garden by learning how to paint them taught by botanical illustrator Lee McCaffree. Learn illustration skills to draw or paint plants in bloom. Begin by observation and a basic drawing that will be translated to a painting in watercolor, colored pencil or pencil. The class's elementary approach allows for individual attention at any level. $160, $150 members Click here for the complete Fall Botanical Art schedule. Succulent Design for TerrariumsSaturday, August 28,10 am - noon Join Artists Sarah Filley and Yvette Molina for a workshop in Succulent Design for Terrariums. They will guide you through the process of selecting plants, creating interesting designs and planting up a terrarium. Materials Included. $35, $30 members
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.
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Membership Matters |
Here are five reasons to join the Garden in August: - It's a great 120th birthday present to the Garden!
- Get a free subscription to Better Homes & Garden Magazine.
- 20% discount on shop purchases at our August 25 celebration.
- Free admission and shop discounts at over 200 participating Gardens around the nation.
- Admission to our Member's Only September Plant Sale.
Click here to learn about the different levels of Garden Membership including special discounts for Cal affiliates. You may join online by visiting the Garden's membership page. Select the appropriate membership level and follow the screen prompts. Five Ways to Join
On-Site: Stop by the Garden Kiosk Phone: 510-643-2755 x0 FAX: 510-642-3012 Mail: 200 Centennial Dr � Berkeley � CA 94720-5045
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Win a Family Membership with our August Clippings Scavenger Hunt
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Photograph each of the following in the Garden. Post your album of photos to the Garden's Facebook page. rosemary, bay and lavender | - Label for lavender (Lavandula)
- Label for spearmint (Mentha spicata)
- Sundial face
- Label for rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
- Docent leading a walk
- Label for bay laurel (Laurus nobilis)
- Ozge's lemonade tile
- Ama's plastic tree
- Doyen bowl from The Garden Shop
- Cat thyme (Teucrium marum) from The Plant Deck
The first person to post an album (note: photos must be in an album) on the Garden's Facebook page with the correct 10 photos will win a family membership to the Garden. Keep it, gift it or use it to extend your current membership! Five more contestants with the correct photos will receive coupons redeemable at The Garden Shop for a fine art print, Sarracenia, by Gary Bukovnik. Contest ends August 31. Thank you for not stepping in the beds when taking photos. |
Manage Your Subscription
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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 this Clippings. 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 publication 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.
- Garden Events & Programs: This is a quarterly preview of upcoming workshops, classes, tours and festivities.
Editor: Vanessa Crews, [email protected], 510-643-2937
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