UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA

NEWSLETTERER

Baja California bed, showing extensive desert community (photos byRichard Anderson)

Volume 19, Number 2

Published by the FRIENDS of the BOTANICAL GARDEN • Berkeley, California Spring 1994

Visit the New World Desert

what are deserts? Although many restrict theterm desert to barren often plant-free habitats(moonscapes), and others think of a cactus

plantation, here at the Garden we prefer to think ofdeserts as areas where evaporation exceeds actualrainfall. Therefore, many

Our New World Desert represents arid lands, whereplants such as grasses are adapted to erratic periods ofdrought and other stresses. Adding grasses has not onlysoftened the aspect, it has also created a sense of reality,a feeling of exploration. While at first features of grasses might be obvious, further

arid lands of the Americashave plants and animalsadapted to hiding, storingor saving available water.When one enters the aridlands of North or SouthAmerica, one finds anythingbut a monoculture of cacti,and often the cacti that arepresent are not immediatelyobvious.

Among the UC BotanicalGarden's impressive andhistoric collection of cactifrom New World deserts, isnow intertwined a rathercomplex community ofplants sympatric with cactiin a typical dryland habitat.When you first approachthe upper beds of the NewWorld Desert section, youmight notice the recentaddition of new herbaceousand woody material. Thebeds, rather than sterilegalleries of tall cactussculptures, have becomevibrant thriving communi-ties with much variation(though often subtle). Manyof the plants growing hereare highly derived and showwonderful examples of theirstruggle with the forcesof drought.

exploration finds them tobe an important part of thedesert ecosystem. Desertgrasses provide food andshelter for other plantsand animals, as well asbeing a key componentof soil stabilization.The newly plantedAchnatherum hymenoides(Indian Ricegrass), whichis common in sandy desertsfrom the Great Basin to theChihuahuan and SonoranDeserts, not only colonizesand stabilizes sandy areasthus allowing other speciesto grow there, but alsoproduces a very large seedthat has been an importantsource of sustenance foranimals and humans alike.

Another grass, Boutelouagracilis (Blue Grama) oftengrows on more stable groundand has been mimicked bymany cacti to protect them-selves from predation. Oneexample is Stenocactus, whichgrows in the Garden witha clump of the Boutelouato illustrate the remarkablesimilarity between theclumped grasslike spinesof the cactus and the bladesof the grass. During dry

southeast Oregon intoSonora may now beseen in the Gardenproducing a beautifulcrown of silver andblue-green hues.

Across the path, anArgentinian from thedeserts of Patagoniais forming a densepatch of deep greenbranchlets coveredwith translucentberries. Severalexamples of desert

legumes are to beA gamma grass, mimicked by a small cactus just to the left of center in the photograph

Resurrection fern that lives in the deserts of the New World

Page 2 University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley

winter months inhabitat, the grass isbrown and predatorshave difficulty distin-guishing the spinesof the grass fromthe spines of thejuicy cactus growingamid them.

Two groups ofplants that might atfirst seem foreign inthis environment arethe many species ofxeric Selaginella andferns. Commonly bothof them are referredto as "resurrection plants,"and although very welladapted to harsh conditions by their cover of "fur"or grey pallor, they respond dramatically to suddeninfluxes of water. These remarkable creatures often lietucked away in rocky crevices that receive intensesummer heat and great desiccation. During brief wetperiods they grow quickly to become lush and green buthave the ability to desiccate to unbelievably low waterlevels (water potential), withering to what appears to bea ball of fuzz only to resurrect before one's eyes duringone of our "mechanical thunderstorms." As youwander among the habitats represented in the upperDesert beds, you will see interspersed one of the world'slargest outdoor collections of desert ferns.

A multitude of xeric shrubs are now ascendingabove the horizon, most showing remarkable adaptationto the drylands fromwhich they come.For instance, manyEphedra species(essentially a primitivegymnosperm in thegroup Gnetopsida), arenow established in thebeds. It is a uniquegenus of shrubs andvines having scalelikeleaves, and is knowncommonly as Mexicanor Mormon tea (onespecies is the source ofephedrine). E. nevadensiswhich ranges from

found—a speciesof Prosopis (desert mesquite) from Argentina acts as aretroactive nurse plant display for some of our largeTrichocereus turcheckii. Another is a Calliandra enliven-ing the beds with its pink powder puffs throughoutspring and summer. A milkweed nearby sends forthmaroon to nearly black flowers with completely greyfelt-covered leaves. The plant's stamens hang precari-ously out of the flower and vibrate; this, along with arather unpleasant scent, beckons desert insects to feaston what they hope is something decaying.

You might notice piles of soil and reworking ofrocks throughout the New World Desert area. New soilhas been added to accommodate the water-sensitiveplants mentioned above that are often accustomedto a monsoonal climate and winter drought (unlikeour local cold-wet Mediterranean winters). The soil is a

mixture of very coarsegravels, expandedshale and fine lavascoria that allow nearlyperfect drainage inBerkeley's often muckywet winters. The rockswere moved in for theiraesthetic value and torecreate a facsimile ofnatural conditions.One new feature is theaddition of a limestoneoutcropping thathighlights some of themany desert limestoneendemics. Included in

Another desert grass, Arista sp.

Spring 1994 Page 3

this outcrop are manyof the desert fernsand examples of plantsthat have evolved tobe very cryptic, mim-icking the limestoneto prevent predation.

Also, just to theeast of this outcrop isa small bajada, plantedalongside examples ofsomewhat more mesicflora. Although theplants are adapted tothe wind and heat ofthe desert, they aretrapped in very narrowzones found in sheltered canyons or permanent seeps.

Baja California

At the opposite end of the New World Desert areais an area dedicated to the flora of Baja California. Thearea is divided into roughly four sections: montane andinterior Baja California, and coastal, southern andisland communities. As one walks the lower road,straddled on one side by our California section, andon the other by Baja California, one might notice thesimilarity of beds. Although the most northeasterlyareas of Baja are not represented, the California floristicprovince does extend well into northern Baja Califor-nia. Many floristic elements (i.e., Eriogonumfasciculatum, Rosaminutifolia, and the

embellished with suchinteresting plants asCalliandra californica,small shrubs with verylarge bright red pow-der puffs, and Solanumhindsiana, a plant withsilver leaves and verylarge lavender flowersthat one would hardlyrecognize as a tomato.Further down the road,the plantings showadaptations to evenmore arid conditions,especially the succulentflora, the jojoba,

and such oddities as Salvia cedrosensis, a plant from theVizcaino Desert, often growing on serpentine soils andhaving large grey to nearly white leaves and sky-blueflowers, and another serpentine plant, Eriogonumencelioides, a grey-leaved shrub that can reach one meterin height. In similar habitats, but found only on north-facing slopes is Viguiera lanata, a close relative of Encelia,and looking very much like the Eriogonum. One speciesof Brahea, soon to be followed by others, along withcompanion plants, form an oasis community.

The Cupressus montana and C. arizonica are from theSan Pedro de Martir, a very high mountain range incentral and northern Baja supporting many uniqueplant communities from desert to alpine. Here amongthe cypress you will see the Xylococcus bicolor, an

interesting relative of Arctostaphylos and two

ubiquitous Aesculusparryi, which leaf outin the fall and godeciduous in spring)are constitutents of thesouthernmost stretch ofthe California floristicprovince and the morexeric central Baja coast.

Visible from theroad, a grouping ofIdria, some extant in theGarden for over thirtyyears, represents themore interior areas ofBaja. The grouping is

Magnificent cactuses flanked by new plantings in the Baja California beds nearest themain road

desert ferns, Pellaeamucronata andAstrolepis sinuata.Several species ofSphaeralcea, withtheir felty leaves andpeach-colored flowers,enliven the area atthis time of year.

Do come and visitthe Desert this Spring!

—Sean Hogan

At the end of every year the plant pathologist arrives to entertain thevolunteers; this photo was taken at the 1993 Volunteer Holiday Party

Page 4

University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley

THE DOCTOR SAYS

G et after those weeds! They compete withplants for space, light, nutrients, and moreimportantly, for water. It's easier to destroy

them when small and though hand weeding is very self-satisfying, a good hoe can do wonders. Hoes come inseveral types and each person has a favorite. Many likethe hula-hoe, though some swear by the common hoe(there are several types), some like the small, triangularhoe, and recently, a wide V-shaped hoe with a verysharp edge has become available. The latter is pushedthrough the soil. With most hoes, it is a good idea tocarry a file so a sharp edge can be kept. For some, aweed popper may be fun. It is pushed into the soil andwhen a spring is released, the weed is popped out withsome force.

Large weeds, particu-larly those with tap roots,need to be dug and thewhole root removed. Adandelion digger is fine ifused correctly. If such taproots are cut, the weed willgrow again and if piecesare left behind, each piecewill form a new root.Dandelions, sow's thistle,malva and many otherswith tap roots are ableto do this. Many grasses,even if they have fibrousroots, need to be pulled sothe whole plant is removed.Some grasses, such as Bermuda, have rhizomes andif cut, each piece will produce a new plant.

Of course, a good weed killer, such as Roundup,can be used. Be careful of drift, for it kills most plants.Temperatures should be 70 degrees or higher for it to beeffective. Pre-emergence weed killers are available ifbeds are clear and just being planted. Use only wheretransplants will be put in the soil and never whereseeds are to be sown. Read the directions before using.

Organic mulches will help control some weeds.Plastic mulches are good if the ground is coveredwith holes cut for the desired plants. Some considerthis unsightly.

Soil solarization can be used for killing weeds andweed seeds. Not all weed seeds will be killed however.Soil is prepared for planting and a clear polyethlylenetarp is spread over the surface and sealed around theedges with soil so that a closed "greenhouse effect" isestablished. This needs to be left on for four or five

weeks during sunny weather and therefore takes soilout of use during the growing season. It is effective inkilling most weed seeds, insects and disease-producingorganisms including bacteria, fungi and nematodes.However, it also kills many beneficial organisms inthe soil.

Damping off is a disease of seedlings resultingfrom infection by a number of soil-borne fungi. Plantsare attacked at the soil line, fall over and die. Thesefungi also can invade seeds or seedlings that havegerminated but have not emerged. Seed decay and pre-emergence damping off usually are more often blamedon poor seed than on a disease situation. Culturalcontrols can help. Don't sow seeds too close together

or too deeply. Spindlyseedlings more susceptibleto disease will result.Don't overwater becausethere will be similarresults and the water willfavor the fungi. Don'tfertilize before sowingseeds. Nearly all seedshave enough storednutrients to carry themto the stage where theyare to be thinned ortransplanted. Then, ifnecessary, they can befertilized. One otherapproach is to plant seedsin pasteurized soil. This is

practical for small amounts of soil. It is done by heatingthe soil at 140 degrees Fahrenheit for thirty minutes. Donot go higher or longer because it is desirable to keepas many beneficial organisms as possible in the soil.Pasteurization can be done in an oven. Soil must bemoist as for planting. A two inch layer should be puton a tray and a thermometer should be put one inchdeep in the middle. The oven should be turned on andbecause the lowest thermostat setting is generally200° F, it is necessary to guide the process. As thethermometer reaches 140° F, by cracking the door andturning on and off the oven, 140°F can be maintained.As soon as the soil cools, it can be used. Don't put it ina dirty pot or flat. They can be cleaned by washing soas to remove all soil particles. Soaking for 10 or 15minutes in household bleach (1 part in 9 parts ofwater) may help clean the container but not if soilclods are present.

—Robert Raabe

Spring 1994 Page 5

GARDEN NOTES

Orchid Awards:Horticulturist JerryParsons and AssistantManager Judith Finndeveloped a grand andbeautiful display for theSan Francisco OrchidSociety whose annualPacific Orchid Exposi-tion took place in SanFrancisco February 25-27. The display was bothaesthetically pleasingand highly educational,for Jerry had arrangedseveral dissectingmicroscopes to focus on

We Californiansare very fortunate inhaving a remarkablydiverse flora, and thisobservation extendsto bulbs as well. Otherpublic gardens displaycosmopolitan collec-tions, drawing on theentire world for bulbs;here, our native bulbcollection alonenumbers over 118taxa. Many of themare magnificent at thistime of year. As Hollyrecommends, "Visitors

New Friends Board member Krishen Laetsch admires the new railing in the HerbGarden with Carol Baird

some of the more intriguing mechanisms that orchidsuse for pollination.

The judges seem to have liked the display as well,for the UC Botanical Garden not only took nine firstplace awards, six second place and five third placehonors, but also won the President's Award forBest Paphiopedilum exhibit in the show (featuringP. haynaldianum). Enhancing the display this yearwas a set of interpretive signs artfully designed byAcademic Arts and lavishly illustrated

are encouraged to see the display during peak flower-ing in March, April and May."

Meeting Room: The Friends of the UC BotanicalGarden are working with the University to renovate thecurrent Meeting Room, making it more "user-friendly."Those of you who have spent a hot spring afternoonclosed inside the building for a slide lecture, or have felt the cold seep through the concrete

by Judith. Congratulations to all!

California Bulbs: Our very ownHolly Forbes, Assistant Curator,recently penned an article about theGarden's California native bulbcollection, that appeared in theJanuary 1994 issue of The PublicGarden, the publication of the nationalAABGA (American Association ofBotanical Gardens and Arboreta). Thefull-page article was the lead article ofthree in the quarterly feature "Collec-tion Profiles," and provided readerswith a solid historical perspective onthe development of the native bulbbed, crediting our current horticul-tural staff with solving some of thepest problems that had beseiged thebulb collection in the past.

Nancy Field, who volunteered full time in theAfrican Hill area doing rock work

floor in midwinter will be pleased tolearn that some of the anticipatedchanges will make the room eminentlymore usable. Work is scheduled tobegin during the summer, with acompletion date in the fall.

African Hill: Thanks to thevolunteer work of a visitinghorticulturist, Nancy Field, theupper reaches of the African Hillnow have beautiful rock walls to linethem, and beds free of overgrowth.Nancy, who hails from Oregon andhas worked at the Berry BotanicGarden, visited us for over a monthand was hosted by Sean Hogan.

—Carol Baird

This Gunnera chilensis makes itsrelative in Mesoamerica lookdownright fluffy

Page 6

University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley

GARDEN SPOTLIGHT

Off the beaten path atthe UC Botanical Gardenyou will find one of itstreasures, the SouthAmerican Area, astunning patchworkof forest, scrub andgrassland, aboundingwith delightful surprises.Climb the wanderingpath and you come upona bed awash with brilliantcolor; look up and yousee the towering spikes ofPuya inflorescences; facedownhill and you haveyour own private andspectacular view of thebay, the Golden GateBridge, the mountain.

The Garden's SouthAmerican Area, whose

global geographic boundaries include the entire conti-nent and associated islands (including Juan Fernandezand the Malvinas), houses the largest and most matureChilean collection in the United States. Chilean plantscomprise the most prominent subgroup within the area,ranging from Araucaria araucana to Fuchsia magellanicaand Fitzroya cupressoides. Given that the area is entirely

Araucaria araucana from the Garden

out of doors, it is reasonable to concentrate on Chileanplants, as many of them do extremely well in ourclimate. Tropical plants from South America of coursemust be relegated to the Tropical House or RainforestHouse, while many of the desert plants end up inthe outdoor desert display.

But there is also a good-sized Andean collection, andthe area also boasts five beds devoted solely to Argentin-ian plants. The bulb collection is growing in size, and theGarden has a strong collection of Fuchsia, Alstroemeria,Lapageria and Puya species. And, as you can see in theaccompanying photos, South America is also home tosome of the weirdest-looking plants on the planet!

Major Themes

Thematically, the collection poses a challenge to thehorticulturist in charge, Peter Klement, as well as to thehorticultural planning committee at the Garden whosecharge it is to develop a long-term plan for each sectionin the Garden. The South American collection grew outof the Andes expeditions from the early years of theGarden's history (the expeditions of Paul Hutchison andof T. Goodspeed), augmented by more recent collectingexpeditions of several faculty (Robert Ornduff, forexample). Their collections reflected, quite naturally,the specific research interests of the individual facultymembers, and not a cohesive theme guiding collectiondevelopment as a whole. As a result, bed organization

Can you find this snake plant in the South Americansection?

South American Area

Spring 1994 Page 7

does not follow a comprehensive plan, other thanits basic division into mesic and xeric subsections.

Several strong interpretive themes have emergednevertheless from the somewhat random distribution ofplants in the area. By a stroke of good fortune, the NewZealand/Australian beds are directly adjacent to theSouth American Area, and the transpacific affinities ofboth regions, originally joined in Gondwanaland, areeasily exploited. For instance, Nothofagus species arefound in both Chile and in New Zealand, and ourspecimens are close by to illustrate the point.

And the scrublands of Chile, the beautiful matorralfound in the western beds of the area, resonate withthose of other Mediterranean climes, most notablythe chaparral of California (well-documented in ourhuge California chaparral beds) and the maquis ofthe Mediterranean, as shown in our Mediterranean/European Area. The convergences of form andadaptation to pronounced seasonal drought in thethree sections are stunning—the plants tend to havetiny leaves, or they are waxy and sclerophyllous.

Ghosts of Ancient Forests

Although most other beds in the area are notorganized by plant community, there is an Araucariaaraucana forest in the upper reaches of the Garden,rapidly attaining conspicuous height. This gymnospermspecies is considered by some to be a relict species,meaning that its present range is considerably reducedfrom former evolutionary times; it is gradually beingreplaced by angiosperm trees that are better adaptedto today's climate (Thomas T. Veblen). The long-termplanners hope to see this forest embellished with typicalsouthern Chilean understory plants in a few years.The other habitat that is well-evoked is the bog at the

Bright yellow flowers adorn Calceolaria salicifolia

intersection of the Asian, New Zealand and SouthAmerican areas, in which some remarkable wet-adapted plants luxuriate.

There are some other ancient forests in SouthAmerica, which are represented in our collection.Among these is Fitzroya cupressoides, the alerce(ah-lair-say), a conifer that at one time blanketed muchof southern Chile, and was named by Charles Darwinfor Robert Fitzroy, the captain of the HMS Beagle, onwhich Darwin traveled to Chile. Timber companiesnow threaten the oldest trees in the Chilean alerceforest, especially since it takes about 500 years forthe tree to mature enough to be cut. And there isalso Saxegothaea, another rare conifer, in one of thebeds along the main road.

Nothofagus obliqua and Nothofagus dombeyi(collectively known as "southern beech") can alsobe found along the main road, underplanted withvarious Fuchsia, Calceolaria, Alstroemeria, and Lobelia.The "beeches" apparently are remnants of the super-continent Gondwanaland, that existed in the southernhemisphere before tectonic movement separated it intofour distinct continents.

Bursts of Floral Color

You shouldn't leave the South American Areawithout visiting the Nicotiana that is covered withflowers and hummingbirds much of the season, or theFuchsia species that form part of the lower understory(we have many species, including the source speciesfor most horticultural varieties, Fuchsia magellanica),the trumpetvine, or the Lapageria vines that trail upseveral trees. It may take a little exploring to find allthese delights, but the adventure will be well worththe time.

—Carol Baird

A wonderful Acaena sp.

journey through the seasons4gadu.Ja ma", plowman

Page 8

University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley

BOOK REVIEWS

Christopher Lloyd and Rosemary Verey willbe giving talks sponsored by UC BotanicalGarden on Saturday, June 11, 1994. Some oftheir books will be available for purchase onthis occasion so that those wishing to havethem autographed can do so. The followingreviews are of their most recently publishedtitles.

4, Christopher Lloyd'sFlower Garden.Christopher Lloyd;photography by StevenWooster: DorlingKindersley, London,Stuttgart, New York,1993.Illus. 160 pp. Cloth.$29.95.

All good storytellerschoose their favorite

stories for the telling because these stories are themost successfully told. The same could be said aboutgardeners talking about their gardens. There is muchmore enthusiasm and pleasure in talking about one'sown garden — the plants, the plans, the problems —than there is in talking about gardens abstractly.Christopher Lloyd's latest nicely illustrated book is agood example of this. All of his skills as a garden writerare focused on his own garden through four seasons.It is pleasant reading about his enthusiasms, his dislikesand his solutions to garden problems. Here is a manwho likes his work and really enjoys his garden.

When Rosemary Verey's book The Englishwoman'sGarden first appeared more than a dozen years ago,gardeners worldwide sat up and took notice, and theyhave not stopped noticing her ever since. Over theyears she has written about Englishmen's gardens,American men's and women's gardens, flower-arrang-ers' gardens and special types of gardens. She is aknowledgeable plantswoman, a good garden historianand a good writer. Now, with her most recent book, sheis giving us her personal and practical advice on how toplan and plant a garden. It is classical advice given aftera lifetime of experience and will be helpful to anyoneplanning a garden for themselves or others.

4, The Gardener's Guide to Plant Conservation.Nina T. Marshall; photos by Nina T. Marshall and theNew England WildFlower Society: World WildlifeFund, Wash. D.C. 1993. Illlus. 187 pp. Paper. $12.95.

The global disappearance of animals throughhabitat destruction and commercial trade has beenapparent for a long time, but the disappearance of plantspecies by these same processes has not attracted theuniversal attention and concern it deserves. Now theWorld Wildlife Fund, the Garden Club of America andthe Natural Resources Defense Council have jointlysponsored research into the commercial trade ofdisappearing bulbs and wildflowers, and have soughtto find their places of origin and the status of thesespecies in the wild.

The result of their collaboration has been to publishthis guide for gardeners with the purpose of enlistingtheir help in species preservation. Some of the figuresgiven in the introductory statements are staggering:1) The bulb industry in the Netherlands each yearproduces approximately 8.5 million bulbs and importsnearly 50 million wild bulbs, most of them fromTurkey; 2) World trade in orchids was about 9.3 millionplants in 1989, with over 10% of these likely to be ofwild origin; and 3) Cacti are predominantly grown innurseries but in 1989 nearly 15% of the 7.5 million cactiin international trade were collected in the wild!

The Gardener's Guide to Plant Conservation providesgardeners with information on the origin and conserva-tion status of bulbs, insectivorous plants, terrestrialorchids and North American wildflowers. Armed withthis information all of us can help to preserve theseplants through careful purchases and pressure broughtto bear on their commercial sources.

—Elly Bade

All of these books and many many more areavailable at our Visitor Center. Membersreceive a 10% discount on books in theVisitor Center.

4, Rosemary Verey'sGood Planting PlansRosemary Verey;special photographyby Andrew Lawson,watercolors by JeanSturgis: Little, Brownand Co., Boston. 1993.144 pp. Cloth. $40.

NEW MEMBERSHIP BENEFITFOR 1994!

The Friends are pleased to announce a new membership

benefit for 1994. Beginning in January, all members of

the Friends of the Botanical Garden will receive

RECIPROCAL ADMISSION to more than 120 gardens and

arboreta nationwide.

A brochure listing the participating gardens is being

mailed with this Newsletter. In addition it will be

available at the Visitor Center.

Spring 1993 Page 9

Friends of theUC Botanical Garden

TREASURER'S SUMMARYFiscal Year 1992-93

For fiscal year 1992-93 the Friends income was$338,000, expenses were $81,331 and disbursementswere $290,664. The primary sources of income weremembership, gifts, restricted gifts, Plant Sales, incomefrom the Visitor Center, program, and interest oninvestments. The expenses included membership andadministration expenses, the newsletter, propagationand program.

A total of $308,095 was disbursed to the Gardenthis year from Friends accounts: $17,431 from theFriends account at the U.C. Berkeley Foundation and$290,664 from the Friends' own account. The majordisbursements from the Friends' own account were asfollows: $204,000 for the renovation of the meetingroom, $28,000 for the Education Program, $27,000 fordirect Garden support, $8,500 for the SerpentineProject, $5,000 for the Strawberry Creek Project, $5,000for Staff Development, and $2,950 for the docents andvolunteers.

The Friends have two endowment funds throughthe U.C. Berkeley Foundation. The Directors' Fundcontains $102,607 and the Twenty-First Century Fundcontains $32,290.

This year the Friends had the financial recordsaudited by Nini Charles McCone, Certified PublicAccountant. If more information on the finances isdesired, please contact the Treasurer, Ramona Davisthrough the Friends office.

—Ramona Davis

FROM THE DIRECTOR

What Have We Got Here?

The UC Botanical Garden is home to over 13,000species, some famous, others not even named. Some arebotanical garden "must haves," due to the phenomenathey illustrate or the stories they bring with them.Others have fascinating tales buried in the catacombs ofscientific literature, or perhaps even stories for us todiscover on our own. One plant species might show anintriguing pollination mechanism, and its neighbor mayyield drugs that save lives, or produce an enormousedible root willing to grow in places where people arehungry. The account of the discovery or history ofmany species is stranger than fiction, and in ourgeographically oriented Garden, we have unparalleledopportunities to display and explain astoundingbiogeographic patterns: why are there species in easternNorth America, western North America and Japan thatlook so much alike one can have trouble telling themapart? Why do so many California plants look likespecies from Chile?

The interpretive possibilities are endless. Wehave endangered species in protective cultivation forthe Center for Plant Conservation. One reason forcultivating endangered species is to display them andto promote interest in conservation. Moreover, severalendangered species happen to be beautiful. Throughinterpretation botanical gardens promote interest innature, in safeguarding the biodiversity that sustains us,in gardening, in ecology and in art. As I walk the pathsof the Garden, I often feel the urge to tell somebodyabout the wonderful plants before me. Our docents dothat for thousands of visitors per year. Often, visitingprofessors and staff members have a chance to explainthe plant world to students. But what about everyoneelse—the thousands of casual visitors not lucky enoughto receive a guided tour?

For them we are holding a series of staff discussionsaimed at adding a combination of easily accessible,tasteful, and eye-opening interpretive signs, augmentedwith fliers and ultimately a guidebook about theGarden. Under development now is a series of aboutten pilot interpretive signs to highlight particularlyinteresting plants or plant groups. Beyond these, apossibility is to establish a series of information "kiosks"around the grounds, these serving the casual visitor andas convenient gathering points for tours. No sense inelaborating, as the details need a great deal of work.The point is, the UCBG is a treasure house of fascinatingthings to know, and we have the pleasant duty ofrevealing those things to our visitors.

— George Rogers

UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA

OTAN:CALARDENBERKELEY • CALIFORNIA 94720

The Newsletter is published by the Friends of the BotanicalGarden, a non-profit organization that provides support for theU.C. Botanical Garden. Articles may be reprinted with credit to theauthors and the U.C. Botanical Garden.

Friends' Board of Directors:Robert Riddell, President

Dr. William Weeden, Vice PresidentRamona Davis, TreasurerThomas Shaw, Secretary

Mai ArbegastEleanor BadePamela CanalesFred CoeGladys Eaton

Krishen LaetschErrol Mauchlan

Alison MillsTanya Muschietti

Dr. Robert RaabeRobert Ratcliff

Dr. George RogersWilliam S arling

James Van Sicklen

Staff:Dr. George Rogers, Director

Dr. Robert Raabe, Associate DirectorDaniel Campbell, Manager

Judith Finn, Assistant ManagerDr. Carol Baird, Education Coordinator

Dr. Robert Ornduff, CuratorHolly Forbes, Assistant Curator

Toni Kafton, Administrative AssistantNancy Swearengen, Education Assistant

Deborah Darnell, Friends' AssistantAryan Assadi, Security

John DomzalskiGerald FordMartin Grantham

Horticulturists:Sean Hogan

Peter KlementJerry Parsons

Roger RaicheElaine Sedlack

Kurt Zadnik

Newsletter:Carol Baird, Editor

Academic Arts, Production Richard Anderson, PhotographyPrinted by TechniPrint

(510) 642-3343 Visitor Center • 642-0849 Administration643-8040 Curation • 642-3352 Education • 643-7265 Friends

FAX • (510) 642-5045

Charles & Pat Mason, Jr.Mildred M. MathiasJoe R. McBrideThomas MorleyDr. Robert OrnduffDouglas M. PostDr. Peter RavenMary & John RicksenM. Y. SheikhBob & Clare SweeneyJohn M. TuckerRichard WalkerBernard & Alba WitkinMyrtle Wolf

Page 10 University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley

Ron Antipa & FamilyElizabeth A. AppelDawn BanasiakF.R. BarnesDebra BlankeLinda C. BlumParke & Dorothy BoneysteeleCarol BowenKaren CarkhuffMr. & Mrs. William J. CaseyTanyia L. CeremelloJoe & Susan CernyPatricia G. ConnollyDennis & Myrna ConwayAnne CookLucie-Mae CoveyDean CurtisGail & Steve Cutter

Frank & Kay DavisMr. & Mrs. Gilbert F. DavisD. Gail DeLallaMike DoerrSandra EdwardsDebrah ElsonKristin EpplerEVANS ASSOCIATESLouis A. FalconLinda FeldmanRandee S. FriedlandMr. & Mrs. Sam S. GallingerCarol J. GaytonJanet GeisselsoderJennie E. GerardAnnemarie GrieveDore & Martha GriffingerTom Gschneidner

Jeff GuyonWolfgang & Ilse HaddaDexter HakeMarianne HallerLola J. HarrisMrs. Mavourneen HarshmanAnn-Marie HoganSara HoltzappleJunko HosodaAlice Q. HowardJohn P. HurabiellEleanor JardineLyle E. JensenMaxine JohnsonDiane JoyRebecca KarlinerJames E. KellermanMarshall & Phyllis KlausFrank J. KluberRon & Elena KrauseMr & Mrs. Ted KrumlandAdam KufeldHelen H. LarsonAlan & Debra LaVergneMr. & Mrs. LawlerLisa LeandroRobert M. LeavittGeorge & Nancy LeitmannDr. & Mrs. William Lidicker, Jr.Sandy LundgrenSteven J. MalamuthSarah E. MarkShirley A. MasseyJohn N. & Mary McCombsLaura MeltsnerHelga Mok

Isabella A. AbbottElly & Bill BadeBeatrix BakkerC. Ritchie BellMary L. BowermanSherwin CarlquistBudd & June CheitDr. Theordore J. CrovelloGladys EatonJune FalknerAlice Q. HowardJames H. JonesHsuan KengGeorge E. Lindsay

Ron MorrisonJames J. MullinsNancy L. NicholsonMr. & Mrs. NoyceK. E. OberholtzerWayne & Elaine OvePALOMAR PARK GARDEN CLUBKirk P. PattersonRuth PohlmanBillie & Daemem ReiydelleLarry & Susan RicksenMelinda M. RivasplataAndrea RuleJennifer L. SabalaAnn SaxbyMary K. SimpsonGayle M. SpencerShelley R. Spiro and

Gabriele W. KassnerMarjorie H. SproulTheresa A. StuartSarah ThompsonStan ToddMary N. TrueAndrea VanekKim-Hoa T. VoY.I. WadaPat WadleighDr. & Mrs. David WakeSteven WaldenJewel A. WalesAnnie WalrandCarolyn C. & Melvin M. WebberAmelia WilcoxMelanie S. WongDavid & Rita Wustner

New MembersThe Friends of the Botanical Ganew members.

rden welcome the following

In HonorThe Friends offer appreciation and thanks for gifts from these donorsin honor of Lincoln Constance.

On March 27, Lincoln Constance was honored as an enthusiastic andvaluable supporter of the Botanical Garden by the Friends. A fundwill be established in his name to be used to partially support astudent for one year to work on some special Garden project. Thefollowing people contributed to that fund:

Three New Life Members NamedThe Friends' Board voted to make Errol Mauchlan, Dr. Carol Bairdand Dr. Alan Harper Life Members of the Friends of the BotanicalGarden.

Gifts in KindThe Friends offer appreciation and thanks for gifts in kind.

Elly BadeMrs. Fred CochranLucie-May CoveyDavid de LeeuwJames H. JonesSara Jorgensen

Dr. Robert OrnduffST. MARK'S LUTHERAN CHURCH

OF SAN FRANCISCOWayne RoderickJune B. SmithCatherine M. Trefethen

Special ProjectsThe Friends offer appreciation and thanks for gifts from these donorsto support the special projects noted.

Marion H. Greene for California Alive!Robert & Evelyn RatcliffMyrtle Wolf for the Entrance Gate ProjectDr. Stephanie Kaza, Mac & Sita Laetsch and

Mary & Philip Pierpont for EducationJames H. Jones for the 21st Century EndowmentJames & Irma Uren for the Third Annual Art Poster ContestOrinda Garden ClubPiedmont Garden Club for the Meeting Room Project

In MemoryThe Friends offer appreciation and thanks for gifts from thesedonors in memory of:

Suzanne Clausen, fromDr. Stephanie KazaElizabeth Palmer

Gloria Conway, a loyal volunteer in our Visitor Center, fromElly BadeCarol BairdDeborah Darnell

Kate Dow, from Dr. & Mrs. Warren A. PlowmanCarolyn Hecathorn, from Mary and Richard SchroterRalph & Helen Morris, from Eleanor & Thomas SpatzCeda & Philip McCombs from John N. McCombs and

the McCombs FamilyOwen Pearce from Mollie A. BalamuthDorothy Riggs Pitelka from

Charles & Jacqueline Desoer Martin & Charlotte LichtermanJames H. Jones Myrtle WolfProf. & Mrs. Paul Licht

A bench has been given in memory of long-time volunteer AddieCollins from her son Pablo and her many friends (who werelisted in the Winter Newsletter)

Spring 1994 Page 11

Grateful ThanksThe Friends wish to thank these donors who have made asubstantial gift over and above membership.

Michael & Susan AddisionJanet AldertonF.R. BarnesC. Ritchie BellBERKELEY HORTICULTURAL

NURSERYCarol BowenMary L. BowermanLawrence & Katherine BrookesJean & Robert BrownBudd & June CheitEleanor CraryThe Estate of Ethel L. CrossTheodore J. CrovelloDr. & Mrs. Jonathan DixonMike DoerrCharles & Jacqueline DesoerMarion H.GreenePamela & Elmer GrossmanLouise Gamble HarperMitchell S. HarveyBruce HayesTrudis HeineckeCarl & Elizabeth HelmholzFrancine Dunham HendersonJack & Eleanor HigsonAlice Q. HowardBruce & Jeannette HowardM. Anne JenningsCecilia L. JohnsonHowar & Virginia JohnstonJames H. JonesSusan & Henry KahnDr. Stephanie KazaHsuan KengDavid Shaw KingToni KlassenDiane Kothe & Frank DobsonDouglas & La Verne LeachDr. & Mrs. Watson M. LaetschMiriam H. Lar RieuLizzie & Dick LeeAnn K. LenwayElise Lew

Robert & Caroline LichtensteinGeorge E. LindsayCharles & Pat MasonErrol MauchlanJohn N. McCombsNancy J. McLaughlinMildred M. MathiasHenry & Jeanne MayRon MorrisonBarbara NeerhoutDouglas James NgKay & Steve OnderdonkMr. & Mrs. David H. OsborneElizabeth O'SheaRobert & Esther OswaltRoderic B. ParkAmos R. ParkerBarbara & Ed PetersonPIEDMONT GARDEN CLUBPhilip & Mary PierpontFrank A. PitelkaRobert & Evelyn RatcliffDr. Peter H. RavenMrs. Victor ReiterKay & Bob RiddellJames T. Ringland &

Karen E. IvyMr. & Mrs. John R. ShumanSIDNEY MITCHELL IRIS

SOCIETYTomiye SumnerRoy & Janet TaylorMark Uhlmann* UNITED TECHNOLOGIESJames & Irma UrenJim & Winnie Van SicklenJewel A. WalesMr. & Mrs. Revett WallaceJane & Nelson WellerBernard & Alba WitkinMyrtle WolfMelanie WongCharles & Barbara Woodward*Matching Corporate Gift

MEMBERSHIPThe Friends of the Botanical Garden offerspublic education programs and providesindependent funding to support the manyneeds of the Garden. You can enjoy andsupport the Botanical Garden year-round bybecoming a member of the Friends of theBotanical Garden.

Membership benefits include:

• Newsletter• Workshops, lectures, and tours

• Discount on Visitor Center purchases• Discount on educational classes

• Early admission to Spring Plant Sale• Volunteer opportunities

• Reciprocal admission to more than120 gardens nationwide

Friends of the Botanical Garden Membership ApplicationYes, I would like to support the U.C. Botanical Garden at Berkeley as a member:

q Student* $10 1=1 Sponsor $250q Individual $25 q Patron $500q Family $35 q Benefactor $1000

q Contributing $50q Supporting $100 1=1 New q Renewal

Name

Address

City/State/Zip

Telephone

q My employer has a matching gifts program. I have enclosed the appropriate forms.

Contributions are tax deductible. Please make checks payable to Friends of theU.C. Botanical Garden and mail to:Friends of the Botanical Garden, U.C. Botanical Garden, Berkeley, CA 94720*Full-time only.

Calendar of EventsAPRILPLANT CLINIC Sat, APR 2Bring your ill plants to see Dr. Robert Raabe, UC Plant Pathologist. FirstSaturday of the month, 9am-12, Meeting Room.MULCHERS (After School Group) Weds, APR 13-JUNE 8The Garden is offering a new after school program called "MULCHERS."It is designed for 4th through 6th graders interested in plants and theenvironment; it is perfect for the budding botanist, biologist or gardener.MULCHERS will meet once a week (Wednesday afternoons) and continuefor nine weeks. $55 per child. For more information phone 642-3012 or652-2737.ART IN THE GARDEN Wed ams, APR 13-JUNE 1The popular watercolor class at the Garden, offered on eight Wednesdaymornings from 9:30am to noon. Instructor Judith Corning welcomes alllevels, including beginners. Meet at the Meeting Room. Members $55,non-member $70.HOW TO USE THE JEPSON MANUAL Sat, APR 16So you have purchased the wonderful new Jepson Manual: Higher Plants ofCalifornia and find it too intimidating to use! Join Glenn Keator in anexploration of Jepson Manual basics, especially how to use its keys inthe field. 1-3pm, Meeting Room. Members $8, non-members $11.BIRD WALK & BREAKFAST Sun, APRIL 17Professor Robert Middlekauff will lead a birdwalk through the Garden toobserve resident and migrant birds, breakfast afterwards. Congregate atthe Meeting Room at 7:15am, pre-registration required.WILDFLOWER IDENTIFICATION Thurs eves, APR 21-JUNE 9Dr. Glenn Keator, well-known botanist, celebrated educator and author ofThe Complete Garden Guide to Native Perennials of California will present aneight-week evening course on identification of California wildflowers.Reservations recommended. Meeting Room. 7-9pm. Members $60,non-members $75 for the series.BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION Fri eve, Sat, Sun APR 22,23,24Dr. Linda Vorobik, formerly Principal Illustrator for the Jepson andUniversity Herbaria at UC Berkeley, presents an evening seminar on thehistory, uses and techniques of botanical illustration, and two one-dayworkshops on the process of scientific illustration from rough sketch topublication. Friday 7-8:30pm; Saturday and Sunday 8:30am-4:30 pm withlunch, Meeting Room. Members $5 Fri, $80 Sat, $80 Sun; non-members $8Fri, $95 Sat, $95 Sun.

MAYPLANT CLINIC Sat, MAY 7Bring your ill plants to see Dr. Robert Raabe, UC Plant Pathologist. FirstSaturday of the month, 9am-12, Meeting Room.SPRING PLANT SALE: MEMBERS PREVIEW Fri eve, MAY 6The Annual Spring Plant Sale begins on Friday evening with a MembersPreview Party. First choice of rare and beautiful species. 10% surcharge.Food and refreshments will be served. Come early and find the best buys!5-7:30pm.SPRING PLANT SALE Sat, MAY 7Our biggest sale of the year. Everything from perennials to orchids ,from vines to trees and herbs.Great plants are available all day long.Sale proceeds benefit the UC Botanical Garden. Gates open at 10am,close at 3pm.NEW MEDICINES FROM OLD CULTURES Tues, MAY 10Alondra Oubre and Stephen King, of SHAMAN Pharmaceuticals, willpresent an inspiring talk on their involvement in the intensive search forthose plants whose medicinal properties have been known in other partsof the world for centuries and which can be successfully used by Westernmedicine. Both the ethnobotanical and the pharmacological aspects of thisvery exciting work will be covered. Meeting Room. 7-8:30pm. Members $5,non-members $8.

NAPA VALLEY GARDEN TOUR Fri, MAY 20We are delighted to announce another all-day garden tour to the NapaValley. We expect this popular event to fill fast, so please register early.Price includes lunch. Members $125, non-members $150 (includes amembership in the Friends).BUG DAYS Sat & Sun, MAY 21-22Our most popular event! If you missed it last year, here is another chancefor you to experience the wonderful world of insects, their relatives, andtheir special relationship with plants! The Fourth Annual BUG DAYSevents run continuously and feature live insects, games and prizes,beehives, art activities, videos. Bring the family! Meeting Room. 10am-3pm.Children $1.00, adults $2.00.CHINESE MEDICINAL HERBS Sat, MAY 28Principles of Chinese herbal medicine with a special emphasis on anti-viraland immune-enhancing herbs with Barbara Wilt, licensed acupuncturist.10am-noon. Members $10; non-members $15.

TUNEPLANT CLINIC Sat, JUNE 4Bring your ill plants to see Dr. Robert Raabe. 9am-12, Meeting Room.CHRISTOPHER LLOYD & ROSEMARY VEREY Sat, JUNE 11Join Rosemary Verey and Christopher Lloyd, world-renowned gardenwriters and lecturers, for a set of talks on the theme of creation of gardensthrough the thoughtful use of plant material. Rosemary Verey will speakon "Making the Most of Your Garden: Design & Plants," and ChristopherLloyd will present a talk on "Garden Plants and How to Use Them." Anhour-long break in the Chancellor's Garden will feature refreshments andthe opportunity for book-signing and conversation. We expect this eventto fill early, so be sure to register now. Valley Life Sciences Building (theformer LSB), U.C. Berkeley. 9am-lpm. $40 members, $50 non-members.GRASSES Sat, JUN 11Join grasses expert Travis Columbus in a wonderful grass identificationworkshop that concentrates on the important groups of California grasses.Beginners welcome. Ornamental grasses also discussed. Meeting Room.9am-4pm. $40 members, $50 non-members.GARDENS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST JUNE 13-19Join Sean Hogan for a tour designed especially for garden enthusiasts.The tour will take us to Portland, which fulfills its reputation as a "gardencity" and Seattle, visiting gardens and nurseries along the way. You willfind Sean to be a delightful host, who knows his way around the PacificNorthwest (this is his native territory). For information call 642-3343or contact Pacific Northwest Tour, UCBG, Centennial Drive,Berkeley, CA 94720. Space limited.

COMING ATTRACTIONSGREENSTUFF DAY CAMP JULY 11-AUGUST 12Week-long programs for children with instructors from the UCB campus,on the wide world of plants, ecology, how people use plants, stories, artand games. Three sessions available. $125 per session. Call 642-3352 forinformation.STORYTELLING IN MATHER GROVE JULY & AUGUSTSecond and fourth Sundays.

For further information on classes and events, call the Visitor Center,642-3343. To register for classes, send checks to UC Botanical Garden.Two weeks advanced notice is necessary to accommodate individualswith special needs. No refunds the week before the class date unlessclass is cancelled. Pre-registration is suggested, as classes fill early.The Garden is open every day of the year except Christmas from9:00am to 4:45pm. Free public tours led by docents are given onSaturdays and Sundays at 1:30pm. Admission to the Garden is free.

Friends of the Botanical GardenUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeley, California 94720

Address Correction RequestedJune Falkner762 Creston Rd

5/95

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage Paid

Berkeley, CAPermit No. 1061

Berkeley CA 94708

Plants are for sale at the Visitor Center all year �a,642-3343