UC Garden Clippings

University of California Botanical Garden

September  2013 - Vol 5, Issue 3

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Free with Garden Admission

Docent-led Tours
Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays
1:30 pm   

Bee Explainers
Sunday, September 15
11:30 am - 1 pm

Butterfly Walk
Tuesday, September 24
3 pm - 4pm

Summer Self-Guided
Tour Brochure  

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Banner Photo | Melanie Hofmann  

 

Visit the East Coast...

without leaving Berkeley

 

 
Photo by Melanie Hofmann
For those who grew up on the east coast, the Garden's Eastern North American collection offers nostalgic encounters with plants from our past.  Whether it's the beautiful flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) from North Carolina that lines the main road with a billow of white blossoms in the spring, or the tall white pine (Pinus strobus) from Michigan just not far away, these plants are iconic reminders of an eastern North American plant heritage.  To our knowledge this collection is unique on the west coast.

From July to September species of coneflowers (Echinacea and
 
Photo by Melanie Hofmann
Rudbeckia), boneset and joe-pye weed (Eupatorium), campion or catchfly (Silene), goldenrod (Solidago) and Aster deliver a wide spectrum of colors. These plants serve as nectar and pollen sources for honeybees and native bees, as well as for anise swallow tail, painted ladies and blue copper butterflies. The Eastern North American area has a beautiful fall foliage color display, including reds of dogwoods (Cornus) and maples (Acer) and the gold of the spice or benzoin bush (Lindera benzoin).

Be sure to include the Eastern North American Area in your Garden visits throughout the year. In addition to interesting and beautiful plant material that just may evoke your nostalgia for home, the area is pleasant for strolling and has a lovely picnic area.
 
View a slideshow of the Eastern North American area created by Garden volunteer Melanie Hofmann.  
 
Propagator's Choice
 
Araucaria araucana
Monkey Puzzle Tree

null This unusual conifer is the national tree of Chile. It is the hardiest species in the genus, growing well in our Bay Area climate. It prefers full sun. It is not fussy about soil and thrives in cool, mild climates. Our plants are from seed collected from our 40' mature trees in the Garden's South American section.  Plants in one gallon pots are $15.00 each.

Membership

Better than Christmas and my birthday combined, the Plant Sale is my favorite event of the year.

                                                                                                     Garden Member 
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The highlight of our autumn calendar is the Fall Plant Sale on Sunday, September 29th and membership has its privileges at this renowned event.

Garden members get first pick of the choicest plants at this plant-shopping extravaganza. Members enjoy exclusive shopping hours from 9 - 10:30 am - before we open the gates to the public! The Members'-only Preview will also feature pastries from International House Catering, blueberry coffee cake from Trumpetvine Catering and coffee.

Members will also enjoy an exciting silent auction featuring  unusual plants
and other items including weekend stays at Quarry Hill Botanical Garden
and Goldeneye Winery.

JOIN or RENEW and start a new year of enjoying the many benefits being a Garden member.


THREE WAYS TO JOIN OR RENEW

On-Site: Stop by the Garden Kiosk
Phone: 510-643-2755

Questions?  

Contact our Membership Department  

at  510.643.1924 or [email protected] 

September Programs

California Native Plants for Seasonal Interest
Thursday, September 19,
9:30 am - 12 pm

The workshop will begin with a discussion of Katherine's favorite native plants for seasonal interest and suggestions for companion plants.
On a walk through the California section of
the Garden, Katherine will show examples of flowers, foliage, and other ornamental features that can enhance a native garden. Fall is the ideal time for planting, and participants will have an opportunity to purchase native plants at the end of the workshop. Katherine's book, Growing California Native Plants, includes descriptions of 300 California native plants, 200 color photos, lists of plants for different garden situations, and resources for gardeners.
$20, $25 members

Katherine Greenberg is a garden designer and the co-author of Growing California Native Plants,
UC Press, 2012. She is a past president of the Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden, the Mediterranean Garden Society, and Pacific Horticulture Society. Her native garden in Lafayette has
been featured in a number of books and articles.
Free; members only





FAMILY PROGRAM 
Kids Cook in the Garden
Saturday, September 21, 10 am - 12 pm
There's nothing better than eating what you've freshly picked! Join Garden education staff to discover foods growing in the Garden's Crops of the World Collection where you'll harvest ingredients and learn
to create delicious snacks. For budding chefs aged 7-12 and their adult chaperone. Space is limited, registration required.  $18, $15 members; Price is for each participant adult or child

    

   

 

 


Fall Plant Sale
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Check out the Fall Plant Sale website for regular updates HERE
 
Public Sale: 10:30 am - 2 pm

Get a head start at our eagerly anticipated fall sale.
We have exotic, unusual plants and regionally appropriate Mediterranean-climate plants (from California, South Africa, Australia, South America and the Mediterranean basin). We have plants for every purpose.

The UC Botanical Garden's expert staff and volunteer propagators will be on hand to answer questions and give advice. There are a lot of years of expertise and experience to help guide you towards your dream garden.  

 

Free to the public

 

Members' Sale: 9 am - 10:30 am 

As always, members get a jump on things with the Members' Only Preview Sale. This special preview includes coffee and tea and a silent auction of especially choice items from 9 am - 10:30 am.
If you're a non-member and want to enjoy the benefits of this preview sale, sign up or renew a membership ahead of time and take advantage of the yearlong perks afforded members. Memberships and all proceeds help support the Garden. 

 

Members only; become a member online or at the gate!

SPONSORED BY:

Platinum Sponsor
Efficient Irrigation & Lighting for the Landscape

Gold Sponsor

October Preview

OCTOBER 2 -  18 | 10 am - 4 pm daily 
Foods of the Americas website

Come explore our annual exhibit filled with colorful displays of foods first cultivated by ancient Mayan, Aztec, and Incan cultures. These include corn, tomatoes, potatoes, beans, squash, peppers, amaranth, quinoa and chocolate. Take an ethnobotanical tour of our Mexican, Central and South American collections, and special Crops of the World Garden and Tropical House.

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OPENING NIGHT
Fall Harvest Dinner 
Sponsored by PICANTE
Wednesday, October 2 | 5:30 pm - 8 pm
Come join us on our opening night for a festive celebration of our Foods of the Americas exhibit and a fundraiser for its related educational programs. We'll have a special cocktail hour in the Crops of the World Garden where you will see traditional plantings such as the Three Sisters garden and then gather in the conference center for music and a bountiful Foods of the Americas meal prepared by Picante Catering
 in Berkeley. Enjoy this special event while supporting the
UC Botanical Garden's education programs.
$75 / $60 members


FIRST FRIDAY AFTER HOURS
Chocolate Tasting with Dandelion Chocolate
Friday, October 4 | 5:30 pm - 7 pm
Come view our Foods of the Americas exhibit - a colorful display of crops native to the Americas. We have special guests from Dandelion Chocolate of San Francisco who will be demonstrating their unique chocolate making process and
offering tastings!
$10 / $5 members


Family Day Festival
Sunday, October 6 | 10 am - 2 pm
Crafts, food, talks, docent tours, corn husk dolls and food tastings and demos.
Free with Garden admission

BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION
Fall Foods of the Americas Crops
Thursday, October 10 | 10 am - 4 pm
Join Botanical Artist and Teacher Catherine Watters for a day long workshop
in Botanical Illustration. This class will feature some beautiful Fall foods
such as gourds, squash, tomatoes and other fruits featured in the
Foods of the Americas exhibit.
$85 / $75 members


Andean Food Crops for your Garden
Saturday, October 12 | 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Join Anders Vidstrand for a presentation on forgotten crops of the Americas.
 In this presentation you'll learn about food biodiversity, forgotten origins of crops, horticulture and rare edible species.
$25 / $20 members


Exhibit Explainers | 11:30 am - 1 pm | Drop-in
Thursday, October 3 | Saturday, October 5 | Sunday, October 13
Free with Garden Admission

Docent-led School and Group Tours by appointment

The Garden Shop
  
MIX & MATCH
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Garden logo items will be available for purchase at our Fall Plant Sale.

The Garden Shop offers a variety of styles and colors to mix,
match (and layer) for a gardening season!

 

THE GARDEN SHOP 

 

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: Kemi Amin, [email protected], 510-642-0849.