October 2010 banner
UC Garden Clippings
University of California Botanical Garden
October  2010 - Vol 3, Issue 4
In This Issue
Foods of the Americas
Harvest Dinner
Membership Matters
October Programs
Ramona Davis: Docent
Heirloom Beans:
New Book in The Garden Shop:
Manage Your Subscription
Thank you to our 1625 Facebook fans!

twitter

Facebook
Join Our Mailing List!
Quick Links

Plant Lists
Purchase your plants from the Garden. Visit these lists for availability. Natives and Succulents Nurseries are open to the public most Thursdays from 10:30 AM until 1:30 PM. Come by and check our plants. There are volunteers who can give you help if you would like, or just stop by and browse.

California Native Plants Nursery

Landscape Cacti and Succulents Nursery

Bulbs Nursery

Tropical and Indoor Plants Nursery

Vines Nursery
October Garden Day
Discover the three sisters in the Crops of the World Garden.

Visit out Eastern North America area.  Here you will find brilliant masses of late summer-early fall
flowers from "back East": asters, rudbeckias, and the towering joe-pye weed.

Linger on a bench while basking in the autumn light.

Ponder the bees hard at work among the dahlias in the Garden of Old Roses.

Admire the glorious reds of 'Roger's Red' a grapevine named in honor of former Garden horticulturist Roger
Raiche. It is a hybrid between V. californica and a wine grape V. vinifera.

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 autumn stroll.

Foods of the America


Columbus stumbled upon the New World while seeking the riches of the orient, yet native peoples of the Amesquashricas already held riches beyond his knowing. From maize to potatoes to native beans, a variety of crops unfamiliar to Europeans were cultivated by indigenous peoples of the Americas, with other foods like chilies and chocolate on hand to make diets all the more interesting. The University of Arizona Press
 
Learn more about New World agricultural treasures with a visit to Foods of the Americas, the Garden's Central American marketplace featuring colorful booths of major food crops developed by the native peoples of North, Central and South America. Attractive posters inform visitors about each crop, including origin, cultivation, wild ancestors and nutritional value. Activity stations invite visitors to compare some of the foods, including green versus red bell peppers and vanilla versus vanillin. Visitors also have opportunities to experience "lost" crops such as amaranth and quinoa that have regained culinary interest.
 
Festival programming integrates the exhibition with plants from the Garden's collection growing in the Tropical House and the Crops of the World Garden. Hundreds of local school children are introduced to ethnobotany, biology and nutrition during class visits with docents who lead the children on an exploration of the marketplace and Crops of the World Garden. All visitors are sure to leave with an appreciation for the rich diversity of the New World foods we enjoy.



Foods of the Americas Marketplace
October 12 - October 22, 9 am - 4 pm

Foods of the Americas Family Day on October 17:
10 am & 1 pm:
Spanish and English docent tours of the exhibit

11 am & 2 pm:
Native food tastings, crafts, and cooking demo

Free with Garden admission. docent shares popcorn

 
Harvest Dinner
grape leafYou're Invited to a
Harvest Dinner
at the Garden


Saturday, October 16,  5:30 - 9 pm

Benefit
our beloved Foods of the Americas exhibit

Savor
an all native feast, catered by slow food chef Nicole LoBue.

Feast
outside on long tables heaped with pumpkins galore

Enjoy
biodynamic wines  from Quivira Vineyard & Winery


Taste
 artisanal heirloom popcorn by 479 Popcorn and San Francisco-made chocolate from TCHO


The evening will also include an exclusive opportunity to enjoy the exhibit with its lead curator Christine Manoux. We'll have a live auction of wines, a dream stay surrounded by plants at Quarryhill Botanic Garden and Heath Ceramics. Molly Stone's beautiful handblown pumpkins will decorate our table and will be for sale, a portion from each sale will directly benefit the Garden.

After dinner, be prepared for a night of foot stompin' blues and dancing!  Back by popular demand (none of us in the audience at their Redwood Grove concert in July could stay in our seats) the Quinn DeVeaux trio will be playing great music!

Tickets are $75 and can be purchased by calling 510-643-7265

Tickets are $75 �
Only 20 Tickets Remain

RSVP to 510-643-7265 or Deepa Natarajan



Membership Matters: Survey Results
"You like me, you really like me," gushed Sally Field in 1985 when she won an Oscar.
The Garden's members just delivered an overwhelming endorsement of support to the Garden with their approval ratings in the September member survey. And like Field, it is heartwarming to know we have the respect and affection of our Garden members. Nearly 300 members completed the survey and an amazing 95% plan to renew their membership. Many members expressed special interest in the benefits of free admission, reciprocal admission to 200 other gardens and the discount on plant purchases, and others paid tribute to the Garden's beauty and mission. For some members the Garden is intertwined in family history and those comments are especially endearing:
 
"My father loved the Garden so I've been visiting since I was a child. I 're-discovered' it several years ago, then decided to become a member. I visit every weekend, and want to make sure it is sustained for future generations to enjoy."
 
"I have been coming to the Garden since the mid 60's. I'm not sure it was even open then. The Garden is in my blood."
 
"I have been walking to the Garden since my children were very young (at least 25 years) to see the plants and even play on the lawn."
 
Thank you, thank you to Garden members for your generous support.

Just for Members in October:
UC Botanical Garden members receive free admission to BAM/PFA on Thursday, October 14, with guided tours of Flowers of the Four Seasons at 12:15 pm. Plus-  current UC Botanical Garden members can take 20% off a BAM/PFA membership at the $50 level and above through the duration of the exhibition.


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


Programs and Events

Foods of the AmericasHorticultural Walk: The Herb Gardens
Wednesday, October 6, 1 pm - 2:30 pm
Join Horticulturist Elaine Sedlack on a Tour through the Garden's Herb Gardens. 
$10, Free for members

Intoxicating Plants in the Garden
Friday, October 8, 3 - 5 pm
Join us for a stroll throughout the collection to learn about plants used for making intoxicating elixirs. A few plants we'll see and taste along the way are Opuntias, Rhododendrons, Wormwood, Sugar Cane, and more!
 $20, $15 members, UC Homecoming participants; Limited to 20

Foods of the Americas Exhibit
Tuesday, October 12 - Friday October, 22, 
9 am - 4 pm
Indulge in the harvest of colorful food crops that originated in the Americas such as the well-known corn and tomatoes, and the less familiar achira and oca.
Free with Garden Admission; Tours available

Garden Strollers
Wednesday, October 13, 2:30 - 3:15 pm
Join Molly Bolt, Botanical Garden docent and mom with her son Rowan, on this special tour of the Garden for parents with their children under 3 years old. This 45 minute tour will guide you around the Garden and end on the lawn for gentle play and snacks (bring your own). While geared towards the adults, understanding accommodations are made for diaper changes and enthusiastic kids. Children must be in a stroller or carrier for the tour portion.
Free with Garden Admission; Meets in front of the Garden Shop

Red Leaves and Frog Feet--the Literary Japanese Maple
Thursday, October 14, 1 - 2:30 pm
As a special program tied in with the Berkeley Art Museum's Exhibition Flowers of the Four Seasons: Ten Centuries of Art from the Clark Center for Japanese Art  and Culture the Garden welcomes Liza Dalby, celebrated author and anthropologist specializing in Japanese culture and Berkeley resident. She will be speaking on Japanese literature and art and the use of the natural world to evoke meaning and metaphor.
Free with Garden Admission (Free for UC Students, Staff and Faculty and BAM members)

UC Botanical Garden members receive free admission to BAM/PFA on Thursday, October 14, with guided tours of Flowers of the Four Seasons at 12:15 pm. Plus-  current UC Botanical Garden members can take 20% off a BAM/PFA membership at the $50 level and above through the duration of the exhibition.


Fall Harvest Dinner
Saturday, October 16, 5:30  - 9 pm
To celebrate our Foods of the Americas exhibit, and raise much-needed funds for its development, the Garden is hosting a native foods feast and harvest dance. This evening will include drinks, dinner and dancing, a special opportunity to view the exhibit, a chocolate tasting and a live auction. Come support the Garden and have a great time doing it!
$75; Limited to 50 guests; Call 510-643-7265 to reserve tickets.

Foods of the Americas Family Day!
Sunday October 17
10 am & 1 pm Spanish and English Docent Led Tours of the Exhibit
11 am & 2 pm Native Food Tastings, Crafts, and Cooking Demo
Free with Garden Admission

Fall Bird Walk
Saturday, October 23, 9 - 10:30 am
Observe resident, migrant and vagrant birds in the Garden's many bird friendly micro habitats with birding expert Phila Rogers and Associate Director of Collections & Horticulture Chris Carmichael. $20, $17 members
spooky stories
Butterfly Walk
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


4th Annual Spooky Tales in the Redwood Grove
Sunday, October 31, 1 - 2:30 pm
Listen to the Witches Four tell you playfully scary stories. Join in a costume parade through the redwoods. Bring your favorite Halloween riddle to stump the witches. $10, $8 Members; $3 Add'l child/family



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.

Docent Ramona Davis: Teacher & Student of Natural Wonders
Ramona Davis is coming up on her 30th anniversary of volunteering as a Garden docent. After all those years, she's become both a teacher and a student of the Garden's natural wonders. "I never tire of the Garden. It's always changing; always revealing something new and I enjoy being able to share this with visitors."
 Ramona Davis
Growing up in a gardening family, Ramona says that she's always been interested in plants. As a UC Berkeley graduate student, she was intrigued by the campus's Botanical Garden but never had time to visit. It wasn't until she took a year off from teaching that she found the time to get involved with the Garden.
 
To others who might consider volunteering as a docent Ramona has this to say: Do it! "You'll get all the information you need in the docent training. Becoming a docent is not a question of how many plants you know, but one of getting visitors to notice what's around them."
 
The harder question might be choosing a favorite section of the garden. For Ramona, that would be the Asian section and Rose Garden. Whether you have a favorite section or general interest in the Garden, we encourage you to grow with our Garden and become a docent.


Register Now for Docent Training

The program includes 24 sessions and will run January 10 through April 18, 2011 on Mondays & Thursdays, 1-4 pm. Fee: $250 (includes one-year Individual UCBG membership), $225 members.

For more information about volunteering, and to apply for Docent Training, contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 510-643-1924. Your name will be added to the list and application packets will be mailed out in November.


Heirloom Beans: Great Recipes for Dips and Spreads, Soups and Stews, Salads and Salsas, and Much More from Rancho Gordo
Reviewed by Deepa Natarajan

by Steve Sando and Vanessa Barrington Available in the Garden Shop $22.95
rancho gordo
This book is a lovely addition to any home library and kitchen cookbook shelf.  I was simply amazed by the diversity of beans, the colorful photography and the tasty recipes.  Also included is the story of Rancho Gordo, a company started by Steve Sando to preserve heirloom varieties of beans. We're delighted to carry this book in the shop as Steve has generously donated beans for our Fall Harvest Dinner and our Heirloom Bean Soup Jars.

I found the directory of beans very informative as were the instructions for preparing simple pot of beans. Some favorite recipes include: Scarlet Runner Beans with Farro Risotto and Saffron, Caribbean Black Bean Soup with Roasted Garlic and Tomatoes, and Refried Bean Masa Empanadas with Roasted Salsa Verde. While I won't be rendering any lard, which the book tells you exactly how to do, I did find that nearly all recipes were vegetarian friendly or easily adaptable.

New Book in The Garden Shop: Landscape Plants for California Gardens
Available in The Garden Shop for $87.50
Landscapes Book cover
Reviewed by Carol Bassett, Garden Shop volunteer

New to the Garden Shop is an exciting book on plants for the California garden designer, student and landscape professional - Landscape Plants for the California Gardens: An Illustrated Reference of Plants for California Landscapes, by Bob Perry.  Mr. Perry is Professor Emeritus of Landscape Architecture at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and a licensed Landscape Architect.

Visually, the book is a designer's delight with 3,100 photos of the plants and information to clarify most any plant selection for the landscape.  The book is divided into four sections.  Section 1: Plant Climate Zones & Water Estimates has a Generalized Climate Zones Map and three other maps dividing California into Northern, Central and Southern.  Perry has used an adaptation of the twenty-four zones used in the Sunset Western Garden Book, and included temperature, average rainfall, reference evapotranspiration, plant growing season, and rainfall. 

Overall it is a fantastic book, which will be well used by students of horticulture and landscape design, serious gardeners, and design professionals.  The charts and lists alone make the book a worthwhile purchase.

Read the complete review on our website.
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 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