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UC Garden Clippings

University of California Botanical Garden

April  2011 - Vol 3, Issue 10
In This Issue
April in the Garden
Spring Plant Sale
Just for Members
Green Stuff Summer Camp
The Garden Shop
Green Gala
Faunal Guide
Programs & Events

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April in the Garden: California
Many of California's native plants lie dormant during the dry season, but awaken with winter's rains to provide a colorful burst of flowers each spring. Celebrate California Native Plant Week, April 16 - 24, with a visit to the UC Botanical Garden's Californian Area. Stroll meandering paths among different plant communities including alpine fell-field, coastal dune, pygmy forest, redwood forest, and a vernal pool.

The Californian collection covers more than 1/3 of the Garden's 34 acres and holds the world's largest species collection of California natives including many rare and endangered plants. A red dot on the label identifies these plants.  

 

yellow larkspur (Delphinium luteum)Among the rarest is the yellow larkspur (Delphinium luteum),

a perennial wildflower found near the coast in Sonoma County only on private land. Much of its habitat was ravaged by quarrying, sheep grazing, and development, but Garden staff are working to preserve the yellow larkspur and eventually to introduce new populations into habitat. We are growing it in our nursery for seed production for this purpose. It is both state and federally listed as endangered.

 

Yellow larkspur is one of the Garden's several species projects in the Center for Plant Conservation's (CPC) National Collection.We would appreciate your financial support of our work with this lovely species. Donate through our online giving program and state under "Giving Instructions" (the last field on the form) that you want your gift directed towards the yellow larkspur fund. Your gift of any amount is welcome and will help Garden Curator, Holly Forbes continue this vital work. Thank you! 

 


Take a virtual walk with our slide show of the Californian Area.

Horticultural Walk: California with Horticulturist Ken Bates
Thursday, April 14, 1 - 2:30 pm
Members Only. Free. Registration required.

Walk California with a Docent
Sunday, April 23, 1:30 pm
Free to the Public. No registration.

Banner photo: yellow larkspur (Delphinium luteum)

Spring Plant Sale
Please save Friday April 29 and Saturday April 30 and celebrate the season with a trip to our 36th annual Spring Plant Sale. Since 1975 we have been known for offering a choice selection of intriguing plants to Bay Area gardeners. We propagate plants chosen from the Garden's own global collection and provide discerning gardeners rare and uncommon plants that will thrive in local gardens. This is a wonderful opportunity to add something special to your own garden while supporting the Garden's mission of promoting understanding and appreciation of plants and the natural environment and conserving plant diversity.

Members are invited to the Friday, April 29 preview and silent auction. Enjoy Barefoot Wine & Bubbly with appetizers from Bancroft Catering while plant shopping in the beautiful twilight setting of the Garden. Join or renew online or at the door.

Sspring Plant Sale Card 2011


 

Just for Members

by Suzanne Field, Membership and Program Manager

  

This Mother's Day  

Give your Mom a Gift  

She'll Thank You for  Every Single Day -

a Garden Membership!  

   

Enchant your mom - and all the moms on your list this Mother's Day by indulging their passion for wonderment, beauty & hBetter Homes Garden coverorticulture! Our collections unveil a changing look season by season and members enjoy unlimited free admission all year-round. Members also receive 10% off in the Garden Shop, discounts and free admission at over 200 participating Gardens around the nation, invitations to exclusive members-only events and more!

 

This spring the Garden offers two special magazine bonuses to further enhance your membership experience. When you purchase or renew a Garden membership at any level, included with your membership is a one-year subscription to BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS magazine (valued at $8.13). When you purchase or renew at the $65 level and above your membership includes the added benefit of 12 issues of MARTHA STEWART LIVING magazine (valued at $14.95). Already a subscriber? Your subscription to both magazines will be extended an additional 12 issues.

 


Reserve Now for Free Member Walk in the Californian Area: April 14, 1 pm



delphineum-luteumFive Ways to Join

Online
On-Site: Stop by the Garden Kiosk
Phone: 510-643-2755 x0
FAX: 510-642-3012
Mail: 200 Centennial Dr � Berkeley � CA 94720

Membership questions: Suzanne Field, 510.643.1924 or [email protected].

Green Stuff Summer Camp

This summer science day-camp has been a Berkeley favorite for generations.  Children explore our amazing collection of plants from around the world through walks and creek discoveries, hands-on investigations, journaling, crafts, and edible gardening.

Monday - Friday; 9 am - 2 pm
$240 per week or $220 w/ Family Membership
Weeks grouped by age: 5-7 yr olds, 8-10 yr olds

 Visit our website  for enrollment information.

The Garden Shop and Plant Deck

dish garden

Get a Head Start for Mother's Day!


We have a variety of gifts for the moms in your life including books, succulent candles, cards, hand-crafted John Doyen bowls and more. What mom wouldn't love one of our made-with-love succulent dish gardens?

 

Proceeds from Garden Shop sales benefit the Garden.

 

Green Gala

green gala logo 2 

We are excited to announce that our summer fundraiser, Green Gala, will be held on Saturday, June 18 and will feature a unique show this year. A select group of local designers have been challenged to create original textile pieces for this event that are directly inspired from the Garden's extraordinary collection. Visit our Green Gala blog to see postings as their work develops and for more information as we approach this very special fundraiser event.  

 

Would you like to sponsor Green Gala? Our sponsors receive recognition in this newsletter and elsewhere. We are also seeking donations for our live and silent auctions. Please contact Christine Manoux if you would like to contribute to Green Gala with a donation or sponsorship.   

 

Download the business sponsor benefitssponsorship form or an auction donation form. 

 

Garden Publishes Faunal Guide
faunal guide

Illustrated Guide to the Animals of the East Bay Hills


Identify the birds at your backyard feeder, the bees and butterflies in your garden and that snake crawling across the driveway with this all-purpose guide just published by the Garden and available in The Garden Shop for only $8.95. The guide is a laminated foldout consisting of 18 plates, with original art work by Dana Gardner. See the original artwork on Friday, May 20 from 10 am to 3 pm in the Garden's Conference Center.

lesser goldfinch from faunal guideAll proceeds from sales of the guide benefit the Garden. We're looking for other retail outlets, please contact Vanessa Crews if your venue would like to stock the guide. Thank you!

 Look.... is that a Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) at the feeder?
Programs & Events

Sick Plant Clinic

Saturday, April 2, 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 too! Please cover plants and disease samples in containers or bags before entering the Garden.
Free

Extreme Plants: Desert Gardens for Kids

Saturday, April 9, 1 - 2:30 pm 

Children of all ages, together with accompanying parent/guardian, will explore those amazing plants known as succulents that thrive in extremely dry environments. The program features a mini-tour of the Arid House and Desert collections, refreshments made from edible succulents and a garden project kids can take home.  

$20, $17 members. Price includes one adult and one child with one potted garden; $12 each additional child, adult and garden per family. Registration required.

 

rose fascinator

Rose Crafternoon

Sunday, April 10, 11am - 2 pm

In need of an accessory for the Green Gala or wedding season? Let the Garden help you spruce up your wardrobe for any spring garden party with a one-of-a kind Garden-inspired accessory. GoGo Craft will teach you how to make a beautiful Felt Rose Hair Adornment inspired by the Garden of Old Roses. And if hair clips aren't your thing - turn your rose into a pin! This project is perfect for crafters of all skill levels and materials & refreshments are provided.  

$25, $20 members, UCB students, staff and faculty. Price includes two accessories. Registration required

 

NEW CLASS! Botanical Latin: It's a dead language but it's still aliiiive!

Tuesday, April 12, 1 - 4:30 pm

You're invited to join us for a brief introduction to botanical Latin. We'll look at some common Latin and Greek roots for plant names and botanical terms, and use some simple rules of thumb to pronounce plant names with confidence. Al Luongo originally developed this course for the New York Botanical Garden and now he's bringing it to Berkeley! The workshop includes a copy of the full course notes including a list of useful books and web sites with refreshments.  

$30, $25 members. Registration required.


Garden Strollers

Wednesday, April 13, 11 - 11:45 am
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).
Free with Garden admission. Reservations requested.

Horticultural Walk: Californian Area   

Tuesday, April 14, 1 pm
Join horticulturist Ken Bates for a tour through the California Area, the Garden's largest collection. See native flora from diverse regions of the state. Representing close to one-quarter of the state's native species, the U.C. Botanical Garden showcases one of the largest species collections of native California plants anywhere.
Members only. Free. Registration required.hortWalk

Cal Day

Saturday, April 16

Join Garden docents for free tours of Plants of the World throughout the day as a part of this campus-wide event. Visitors will enjoy hands-on activities, demonstrations and special discounts. Stroll through the Garden, visit the Garden Shop, relax with your family and friends, and maybe even pick up a new passion for horticulture! Tours at 11 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm.  

Free Garden admission for everyone.


Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs

Sunday, April 24, 1 - 2:30 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. Registration required.

 

pipevine swallowtails

Butterfly Walk

Tuesday, April 26, 3 - 4 pm
Join Sally Levinson, Garden volunteer propagator, docent and caterpillar lady as she guides you through the collection in search of butterflies.
Free with Garden Admission. Registration required.

Spring Plant Sale

Friday & Saturday, April 29 - 30

Members' Preview Sale: Friday, April 29, 5 - 7:30 pm

Public Sale:Saturday April 30, 10 am-2 pm

Shop our Spring Plant Sale! Those who have been to our plant sales know that we offer the cure for plant lust with a huge selection of unique and diverse plants, expert advisors and great service all in the splendid setting of the Bay Area's most spectacular public garden.  

 


Morris Dancers


 

Morris Dancers for May Day

Sunday, May 1, 1:30 pm
Celebrate May Day at the Garden. The Berkeley Morris Dancers will perform their traditional rites of spring. Free with Garden admission 

 

 

 


 

National Public Gardens Day

Friday, May 6, 9 am - 5 pm
Celebrate National Public Gardens Day with UCBG! National Public Gardens Day is a celebration of America's public gardens and their important role in promoting environmental stewardship and awareness, plant and water conservation and education. Better Homes and Gardens magazine offers BHG National Public Gardens Day 2011readers a free admission coupon for two to visit participating public gardens on National Public Gardens Day (visit their website at bhg.com for coupon). To show our gratitude for your support we'll be featuring special tours and activities throughout the day. Get out there and enjoy your local green spaces - for free! There will be docent-led tours at 11am and 1pm leaving from the Garden shop.
Free admission with BHG coupon  


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.


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.
  • Botanical Art: You''ll receive exclusive information about classes and exhibitions.
     
Editor: Vanessa Crews, [email protected], 510-643-2937