Ironwood_Fall 2012

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden 1212 Mission Canyon Road Santa Barbara, CA 93105-2126 (805) 682-4726 www.sbbg.org

Nonprofit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid Santa Barbara, CA

Permit No. 451

Address Service Requested

Fall 2012 12 New Staff at the Garden

Meet the New Faces at the Garden

Paula Schaefer Multimedia Coordinator

Natalie Rosamund Shop Assistant

Michaela Ackerman Visitor Services Rep.

Laura Muasher Development Associate

Nina Dunbar Asst. Director of Development

Denise Knapp Conservation Program Manager

Jim Lechuga Facilities Manager

Nina Dunbar joined us in August as the new Assistant Director of Development. A long-time Santa Barbaran, she brings a vast knowledge of the local philanthropic community which will serve the Garden well. Laura Muasher has recently accepted the position of Development Associate, moving to the south coast from Virginia, and will be taking over maintenance of the Raiser‘s Edge database as well as providing much-needed membership and event support. Paula Schaefer, a talented and creative graphic designer started as a volunteer in our Communications department working on materials for advertising and events, before joining the Garden as part-time Multimedia Coordinator. Natalie Rosamund joined us a few months ago as a Visitor Services

Representative and her cheerfulness and sunny disposition was quickly recognized as an asset in the gift shop so she moved to an opening there. Michaela Ackerman is our newest addition to the VSR team and has already mastered the complex tasks involved in being the Garden‘s ambassador to the public. Our latest addition to staff is James Lechuga, new Facilities Manager and a multi-generational Santa Barbaran who will take on the challenging task of caring for the Garden‘s infrastructure and buildings. Finally, we look forward to the late September arrival of Denise Knapp, our new Conservation Program Manager, who will work with Dieter Wilken to ensure the long range plans of the conservation department.

Welcome to the Garden, one and all!

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

has big stories to tell: because all

life depends on plants; preserving

California's native plants today will help us

tell a brighter story tomorrow. Conservation

begins with each of us: from using natives in

our home gardens to designing large-scale

urban improvements incorporating the

concepts of healthy ecosystem services,

water conservation, and sustainability.

For the Education Department, teaching the

public is all about effective communication:

every time we have the opportunity to

communicate our values and knowledge, we

begin to engage an audience. Whenever our

conservation message connects with a

visitor, their interest might then translate

into a greater appreciation of native plants,

and eventually, a desire to help. Inspiration

can come from a variety of experiences: The

novice botanist who takes a plant

identification class and becomes fascinated

with plant families and communities; the

budding naturalist who takes our Nature

Journal design class and discovers the

intricate beauty of a single flower; the new

father who brings his toddler for a walk and

hears squeals of delight when she catches a

grasshopper in her bare hands. Whenever we

witness curiosity, it evokes those childhood

memories of experiencing nature for the

first time. Curiosity is related to our natural

inquisitive behavior, our innate drive to

know and learn new things.

At the Garden, we strive to both tell our

story and to satisfy this innate natural

curiosity to teach about conservation.

Environmentalist Baba Dioum captured this

goal in his speech to the International Union

for Conservation of Nature:

“In the end, we will conserve only

what we love, we will love only what

we understand, and we will

understand only what we are taught.”

Our newly-formed Education Committee is

faced with the challenge of elevating the

Garden‘s education programs by providing a

wider variety of opportunities for our visitors

and other life-long students to learn from

passionate experts. We are excited about

building a larger community of supporters for

our vital mission of native plant conservation.

Learning comes in different forms and thus it

is necessary to offer a variety of educational

opportunities. Contemplating the peaceful

quiet of the redwood grove may be

enlightening for some, while others may

become enthralled by an enthusiastic

Docent‘s informative tour. Visual displays,

from interpretive signage and plant labels to

maps and brochures, often satisfy those with

a thirst for facts, while others may prefer

the tools found in our family backpacks—nets

for catching, glasses for magnifying, and

plant guides for identifying—for a hands-on

learning experience. Our California

Naturalist Training will build a new

community of trained volunteers who will

become our future Docents and public

ambassadors, sharing our story to help build

relationships with the public.

Learning about the outside world comes

naturally for our youngest Garden visitors.

Seizing those ―teachable moments‖ by

engaging our local school children is the goal

of our outstanding Docent-led tours. Aligned

with the California State Standards for

Science and Social Studies, our education

program serves over 3,000 school children

each year and fosters their understanding of

the need for conservation of native plants

and habitats. On Saturday, November 10, we

will host our first teacher information day to

showcase our Golden Harvest Tour and Lab.

Our theme, Living Among the Oaks will

feature learning stations for hands-on

Education at the Garden: Oh, the stories we can tell!

by Judy Sanregret, Director of Education

FIRST PLACE GARDEN PANOROMA

George Welik, Evening in the Meadow

Continued on Page 9

TheSchaefers

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2 Fall 2012

www.facebook.com/sbgarden

www.youtube.com/sbbotanicgarden

Follow the Garden on the web

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

tel 805-682-4726 - fax 805-563-0352

www.SantaBarbaraBotanicGarden.org

Garden Hours:

March — October

Daily 9:00am - 6:00pm

November — February


Garden Shop Hours: (Ext. 112)

March — October




Garden Growers Nursery: (Ext. 127)

Open on a self-serve basis during

Garden Shop hours.

Staffed by volunteers 10:00am - 3:00pm daily

Class and Event Information: (Ext. 102)

Registrar is available Tuesday — Friday

9:00am - 4:00pm

Volunteer Office: (Ext. 119)

Call for information on volunteer opportunities.

Master Gardener Helpline: (805) 893-3485

IRONWOOD

Volume 20, Number 3 - Fall 2012

ISSN 1068-4026

The Ironwood is published four times a year by the

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, a private nonprofit

institution founded in 1926. The Santa Barbara

Botanic Garden fosters the conservation of

California native plants through our gardens,

education, and research, and serves as a role

model of sustainable practices. The Garden is a

Member of the American Public Gardens

Association, the American Association of Museums,

and the California Association of Museums.

©2012 Santa Barbara Botanic Garden All rights reserved.

Board of Trustees

Chair Vice-Chair Secretary Treasurer

John M. Wiemann John Brinker Carolyn Kincaid Henderson James O. Koopmans Sue Adams Patrick Connelly Leslie Deardorff John Gabbert Elizabeth Keate Amy Miller Charles J. Rennie, III Gary Robinson Peter Schuyler Ann Symington

TO OUR READERS

So far, over 100 members have given us permission to send the Ironwood

via email only. This will begin with the Winter, 2012 issue. We currently have

email addresses for ¾ of our members. You are receiving the Ironwood in hard

copy AND by email for this issue. Please let us know if you are ready to receive

your Ironwood electronically only by calling (805) 682-4726 ext 110 or emailing

[email protected]. Thank you for conserving valuable resources!

Director’s Message

The Garden as Inspiration

When established in 1926 as an institution dedicated solely to California native plants, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden was a design and horticultural pioneer. At a time when other public gardens were formal and filled with exotica, the Garden‘s designers and staff helped popularize the idea of a naturalistic garden, where the hand of the designer is purposely obscured to present a vision of ―nature perfected.‖ The goal of the Garden in those early years was to experiment with an

entirely new palette of landscape plants: to test their adaptability to garden conditions; select the most promising specimens; and promote their use. Dr. Maunsell Van Rensselaer, the first full-time Garden director wrote, ―The primary purpose of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is to increase the existing knowledge of native California plants, especially those having ornamental value, and to further encourage the use of these plants for our roadsides, parks and gardens.‖

As the Garden moves toward its second century, it is critical that we expand the tools we use to continually strive to better achieve these goals. Because the core of the Garden is now a county historic landmark, we will work closely with the county to ensure that the naturalistic design intent is preserved. Expanding our gardens beyond these historic boundaries will allow us to experiment with utilizing California native plants in other design styles. We believe to achieve our goal of increasing the use of California natives in public spaces and private gardens, we need to present them in garden displays which have a more explicit and legible design intent.

The selective appeal of a naturalistic landscape—and the scale which is required to achieve it—makes it inappropriate for many commercial and residential landscapes. While this style of design may have limited applicability, California native plants are suitable to a much wider range of more formal and obviously designed landscapes. Unfortunately, because we have not demonstrated this, it is not widely understood by the visiting public. Instead, some visitors appreciate the beauty of the Garden, and then return home and plant something from South Africa, Western Australia, or even the tropics. These exotic species result in either a high water demand for their landscapes, or run the risk of causing ecological harm as they escape our gardens and invade the nearby natural areas.

We are taking the opportunity to expand our gardens east across Mission Canyon Road as way to broaden the styles of design and horticulture which the Garden demonstrates. New garden displays along the Porter Trail and around future buildings will be designed in a wide variety of horticultural styles – some formal, others informal, but all distinctive and intentional. I hope this will inspire many more people to learn more about these magnificent native plants and to take them into their own home landscapes. Together, our new and historic landscapes will serve to encourage our members and visitors to love and conserve California native plants, and do an even better job of promoting the use of this wonderfully diverse flora in their own gardens!

Sincerely,

Steve Windhager, Ph.D.

Ironwood—Publication of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden 11

New in the Garden Shop

Hand-painted ornaments created exclusively for the Garden by Marcia Polling. These stunning baubles make the perfect gift for all the nature lovers on your list! Each glass ornament is signed by the artist and features a bird from our area with a native plant or natural roost in fine detail.

ORIGINAL WORKS BY KATHLEEN

CROCETTI ON SALE AT THE SHOP

After Labor Day, seven of the beautiful stained glass mosaic art pieces featuring California landscapes and close-up views of native plants by award-winning artist, Kathleen Crocetti, will be displayed in the breezeway of the Garden Shop and are available for sale. A portion of all proceeds benefit the Garden.

Gift of Membership The gift of a Garden membership lasts all year long. Perfect for a loved one, a friend or a client, each membership comes in a lovely gift box and is beautifully decorated with tissue paper and ribbon.

Call (805) 682-4726 ext. 110 or email [email protected] for more information.

SAVE THE DATE

10th Annual Orchid Show Reception & Auction Saturday, March 9th, 2013 6:30pm – 9:30pm

Each year the Garden‘s signature event is held at Earl Warren Showgrounds in conjunction with the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show. This event is set amidst stunning displays of orchids from around the world. The 2013 event will again feature a silent auction, music, hors d‘ouevres, and socializing with good friends. We will begin planning early this year, so save the date for Wednesday, September 19 4:30pm - 6:00pm and help us create a spectacular event. We‘ll meet in the Garden‘s Library. If you‘d like to help, contact Nina Dunbar (805) 682-4726 ext 151 or email [email protected] for more information.

YEAR END APPEAL

The Garden sends two appeals each year, one in the Spring and one in the Fall. We raise ~$25,000 from the Spring Appeal and ~$80,000 from the Year End Appeal. Your gifts over and above your membership, are what keep the lights on and the doors open.

These gifts have a huge impact on the Garden‘s bottom line and help us fulfill our mission. Look for your letter mid-November and please give generously. We thank you for your continued support.

Campbell Bridge Ribbon Cutting—Join us!

The Campbell Bridge was destroyed in 2009 during the Jesusita Fire. This meant the only way to cross Mission Creek below Mission Dam was via two boulder crossings. Last October we began raising funds to replace the bridge. More than 400 individuals, businesses, and foundations in our community contributed to an $80,000 fundraising goal. As is often the case with construction, the project costs were more than budgeted at closer to $100,000. Thankfully, The Santa Barbara Foundation, Pearl Chase Society, and Santa Barbara Beautiful came to the rescue with generous gifts to the project which helped tremendously. The Garden will break ground on the project in early Fall. Thank you to all who donated to rebuild the bridge. We hope to see you at the ribbon cutting in November.

19th Annual Holiday Marketplace Saturday & Sunday, November 17 & 18, 10:00am - 4:00pm

Enjoy a shopping experience found only at the Garden. Our Courtyard and Library will overflow with more than 30 remarkable local artisans displaying their latest, hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind, nature-inspired, creations. The Garden Guild will debut a new holiday line along with an amazing selection of seasonal decorations. 20% of purchases will help

support the Garden.

Fun new additions to this year‘s activities include: Classic photos with Santa Raffle Extraordinaire

Carpool or ride MTD #22 bus and receive one free raffle ticket

Campbell Bridge after the Jesusita Fire.

TheSchaefers

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10 Fall 2012

The Wild Gourmet: Seasonal Cooking with Native Plants

Join us for the 2012 Dara Emery Memorial Lecture

Would you like to make food and medicine from native plants in your own yard? How about a household cleaner from California bay? These, and other interesting ways to use natives for making delicious food, tea, medicines, and even household items will be the topic of the 2012 Dara Emery Memorial Lecture on Saturday, October 6 at 4:30pm.

Our featured speaker will be Alicia Funk, a leader in the field of natural living for over 20 years, founder of The Living Wild Project, and co-author of Living Wild: Gardening, Cooking and Healing with Native Plants of

the Sierra Nevada, with Karin Kaufman. After studying botanical medicine from indigenous peoples in Ecuador, Ms. Funk has continued her work in California, editing six books on herbal medicine and speaking widely on issues of sustainability and wellness. Published in 2011, Living Wild is an entertaining collection of plant profiles, recipes, and a guide to handcrafted projects. With detailed instructions on making acorn flour, manzanita ‗sugar‘, jams, cider, wine, and more, Living Wild has projects for both kids and adults.

Says Ms. Funk, “Our modern-day American diet relies upon a mere 30 or so plant species, while 200 years ago, an indigenous Californian's diet would have included about more than 1,000 plant species.‖ She seeks to connect people with the nutrition of our landscape through cooking native local foods that are tasty, beautifully prepared, and carbon-free. We can reduce our carbon footprint by avoiding carbon-heavy foods and instead using natives — plants that are both beautiful for the landscape garden, and delicious to eat. Making sugar from manzanita berries and substituting oak nut flour for water-thirsty, pesticide-intensive wheat are steps which move us closer to the land, while helping to address climate change.

This year‘s lecture will be an afternoon event, featuring a wine and hors d‘ouevres reception preceding the lecture. Please join us at 4:30pm, Saturday, October 6 for this informative talk on living sustainably.

MANZANITA CRACKERS Collect berries in summer.

2 cups Manzanita berries or 1 cup prepared Manzanita sugar (See “Condiments and Staples” section for recipe) 2 cups flour (wheat, Oak nut, or gluten-free substitute) 1⁄2 cup oil 2/3 -1 cup water 1⁄2 tsp salt

METHOD If using whole berries, prepare Manzanita sugar by grinding berries roughly in a coffee grinder. Push the ground berries through a strainer to remove the seeds. Preheat oven to 375o. Mix 1 cup berry powder with flour, salt and oil until mix is crumbly.

Gradually add water to form dough. Roll or press dough onto baking sheet in a thin layer, or roll on a floured surface and use a cookie cutter to make desired shapes.

Bake for 25 minutes or until light brown. Watch closely as cooking times may vary.

TIP For added color, use a strainer with a large mesh to make the sugar. This will add some of the red skins, while keeping out the seeds.

The Early Gardener Gets the Best Plants!

Fall Plant Sale Begins Late September

Our month-long sales event begins Saturday morning, September 29 at 10am with an exclusive opening for Garden members. All members enter free and receive a 10% discount. At Noon, the public is welcome to shop. The sale will continue through Wednesday, October 31, and there will be multiple deliveries throughout the month ensuring a wide selection throughout the sale. Over 5,000 plants and more than 400 different varieties will be presented in this, the largest retail collection of native Californian plants on the Central Coast.

As a special benefit for members, we are offering our exclusive Preview Sale & Reception on Friday, September 28, from 4:00pm - 6:00pm. See page 6 for details.

Look for the return of woolly blue curls (Trichostemma lanatum)! This beautiful and fragrant plant has been absent from the trade for the last three years, and a limited quantity will once again be a part of our sale. Its rosemary-like foliage actually smells very much like rosemary, if not more intense. Its stalks of small flowers are a rich velvety blue with purple highlights. Only a handful of plants will be available, so come early. On opening weekend, there will be a limit of three woolly blue curls per customer.

Bringing our increasingly-rare plants to the general public is the primary mission of the Growers Nursery. All sales support the Garden‘s horticulture programs. SPONSORED BY: S & S Seeds, Inc., Corbu Construction, El Nativo Growers, MarBorg Industries


Recently the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and Los Prietos Boys Camp embarked on a new collaboration. Los Prietos began sending a work crew of teens enrolled in their program to tackle projects at the Garden as part of their work training experience.

The Los Prietos Boys Camp and Los Prietos Boys Academy programs, part of Santa Barbara County Probation Department, are located on 17 acres in the Los Padres National Forest. The facility provides a local commitment option for delinquent males between the ages of 13 and 18. The goal of Los Prietos is to return wards to the community as responsible and productive members of society. “Discipline, respect and responsibility” is their motto. The programs provide training opportunities and life experiences which help to broaden each boy‘s world view, as well as his attitude toward the community.

The Garden learned about this program through several avenues, including other partnerships the Boys Camp has with garden/landscaping groups such as Goleta Valley Beautiful, La Huerta Historical Garden at the Old Mission, a forestry crew, and more recently the Heritage Garden at Trinity Lutheran Church which grows food for Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. The program has been in place since before 1999, and has also worked on such areas as Franchesci

Park. It seemed a perfect fit to add the Garden to the mix.

―The partnership with the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has been a wonderful teaching tool for us,‖ said Dan Hernandez, Juvenile Institutions Officer with Los Prietos, who oversees the Community Service Program. ―It truly gives these young men a hands-on education and a sense of accomplishment and pride in a job well done. It is our hope that they take this self-confidence with them as they return to their lives outside of Boys Camp.‖

“The boys from Los Prietos have been a welcome

supplement to our grounds crew. They come to the Garden

with energy, strength, enthusiasm, and tools in hand.

They’ve worked to control invasive non-natives in our

displays and natural areas and they have carved out several new trails for our visitors.” ~Dave Kershaw, Head Gardener

At the Garden, the boys have built a new path from the parking area at the old Gane House site to the Horticulture building and the Porter Trail. Soon they will start building a new trail toward the river on the east side of the growing area

in preparation for relocating some of the barn areas.

This program empowers these young men to decide for themselves how to create and manage the trail – including where to put steps. It teaches them problem-solving skills and gives them the opportunity to see the end result of their labors and have a sense of satisfaction at the end of the day.

Kershaw adds, ―What I enjoy the most is seeing how eager these boys are to learn about the native flora, and to listen to them talk about their own gardening experiences. It‘s been a ‗win-win-win‘ partnership—for both institutions… and for the boys.‖

BECOME A GARDEN DOCENT

Join our group of dedicated and knowledgeable Garden Ambassadors. Lead tours for visitors and school groups, help with classes, events and projects, and participate in educational outreach to the community. This training course begins with becoming a certified UCCE California Naturalist, taught by SBBG staff and local experts, and then completing an additional Docent Education Program which provides all the necessary information for conducting tours including mentoring from experienced Docents.

13-week training begins in October, and meets on Wednesdays in the Blaksley Library from 2:00pm – 5:00pm Fee: $150 for SBBG prospective Docents / $300 others

To apply, e-mail [email protected]. Interviews will be held in September for the October training course, and again in January for the spring training course. 2013 Docent Courses are scheduled for spring and fall.

“The Garden is a really wonderful place and one of the most beautiful places in the world. I would strongly suggest that everyone should visit the Garden and see the masterpieces and the colors it brings to the community. The last time I was there, I was with a Los Prietos work crew building a new trail which will lead to the creek. While I was working I realized how much the community gives to us, and how we don’t give back, except to create more problems. The Garden has made me realize the importance in life and has helped me to find a part of me that I never knew I had. Thank you to all those at the Garden for everything you have helped me with.” - Manuel C., age 17, ward of Los Prietos Boys Camp.

Los Prietos Boys Camp Inspired by Work at the Garden - by Chérie Welsh, HR & Volunteer Manager

4 Fall 2012

With over 20 photographers submitting more than 400 photos, this year‘s photo contest was a great success. Thank you to the photographers who shared their talents. The Garden is pleased to display the winning photographs for your viewing pleasure. Categories include: Garden Panorama (first place photo on front page), Garden Postcard, Wildlife in the Garden, and Celebrate Wildflowers.

Launching in October at www.sbbg.org, our new Garden website allows online

visitors to explore, learn, and get involved at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

The new site is designed with simplicity in mind. Easily find directions, sign-up

for classes and events, plan an itinerary, learn about gardening with natives, or

simply browse the photo galleries from your home computer, tablet, or phone.

Enjoy access to online Garden collection resources including the Blaksley Library

online catalog, the SBBG Herbarium collection, and our new SBBG Digitial Image

Library at www.sbbgphotos.org.

The NEW Garden Website:

coming October 2012 to your

computer, tablet, or smart phone.

2012 Spring in the Garden Photo Contest Winners

Introducing the New SBBG Website


Ask The Expert

Q Can you recommend native

plants to use as a hedge?

A Hedges are an important element of the garden which provides privacy and screening while

also defining a border within a garden. To maintain a formal shape, good hedge plants must have dense, evergreen foliage and tolerate frequent pruning or shearing. Keep in mind the natural habit and care requirements of each plant, and choose the one that best suits your needs and site. Happy hedging!

Holly-leaved cherry (Prunus ilicifolia) is a moderate grower with dark, glossy green mature foliage, and bright green new growth. Its small white flowers turn into quarter-sized red fruits that are enjoyed by birds when ripe. Shade to sun, grows to 15 ft.

Lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia) has grey-green leathery foliage and small clusters of light pink flowers and fruit. A versatile and hardy plant, it can be maintained as hedge at any height up to 15 ft. This long-lived plant has been used as the formal hedge in the SBBG courtyard since 1944. Shade to sun.

Coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica) has glossy dark green to blue-grey foliage. With a dense natural habit, it responds well to frequent pruning and occasional shearing. The small, inconspicuous flowers are an important pollen source for bees during the late summer and early fall when other flowers are scarce. The various forms grow from 3 ft. to 10 ft. tall. Cultivar ‗Bonita Linda‘ is a notable form with a grey to blue hue and noticeably redder stems. Shade to sun.

Manzanita (Arctostaphylos sp.) can be a beautiful, less formal accent hedge for gardeners who are willing to wait for them to grow to full size. Arctostaphylos ‗Sunset‘, ‗Howard McMinn‘, and ‗Harmony‘ are the three cultivars suited to this niche, tolerating extra pruning or shearing. A mature Arctostaphylos ‗Sunset‘ hedge borders our Home Demonstration Garden. Partial to full sun, grows to 8 ft.

Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis) and Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) are recommended for tightly sheared hedges since their leaves are small and finely textured. Coyote brush has bright to light green foliage, with many different cultivars and selections from 1 to 6 ft tall. Chamise, has small, linear green foliage, and is a slow to moderate grower.

Barberry (Berberis aquifolium) with its prickly leaves, is a perfect candidate for a barrier hedge. It grows naturally 3-7 ft tall and spreads by underground rhizomes, forming a dense colony. Manage the colony with a root barrier or by digging plants that veer from the desired path. The new foliage is bright green to red, maturing to blue-green, and is accented by lightly fragrant flowers followed by blue berries. Barberries make a stunning backdrop for other plantings in shade to sun.

Visit our Fall Plant Sale during the month of October to find the perfect hedge for your garden.

New Volunteer Orientations

Join us on every other Thursday at 2:00pm in the Blaksley Library to catch a behind-the-scenes tour of the Garden, hear from current volunteers and their supervisors, and discover an area in which to serve that matches your interests and talents.

September 13 & 27

October 1 1 & 25

November 8 & 29

December 13

Call our Volunteer Coordinator at (805) 682-4726 ext. 119 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.

Heather Wehnau, Plant Propagator

activities located throughout the Garden, in our beautiful outdoor

classroom. Reaching out to local families is one of our key

objectives, and each student who visits during a class field trip receives a

Family Free Pass to bring their parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters,

back to the Garden on another day for more exploration and discovery.

It is often said, ―every picture tells a story‖ and inspiring

photographs certainly help the Garden tell our story. We are

pleased to showcase the winning entries of the ‗Spring in the

Garden‘ photo contest in this issue (see pages 4 & 5). Every

snapshot is a moment, frozen in time, which leads to a bigger

narrative, and the thread of conversation begins to grow and expand.

One of our winning landscape photos taken by photographer

George Welik, captures an every-day, spontaneous moment of

beauty that we may not always remember to stop and notice.

When asked about the story he is telling with this masterpiece,

George replied, “I was watching the shadows crawl across the

Meadow as the sun went down, but noticed it was still shining on

the mountains, and was able to capture both in this shot. I never

get tired of photographing this view.”

However you choose to discover, explore, engage, or create, a new chapter in Your Story awaits you. It will bring with it a rewarding and renewed sense of stewardship for the natural world, and propel your learning forward. We are passionate about telling Our Story because: people protect what they cherish, and we hope to inspire them to cherish California‘s native plants. Come learn with us, and remember to take some photos and capture those treasured glimpses into the beauty that surrounds us all every day.

Campers from the Garden’s Camp Wildflower display the Native Plant Mural paintings they created with Art Teacher Laura Denny. Laura will be adding an additional free Children’s Mural Workshop on Saturday, October 13 from and Saturday, November 3 from 10:00am - 3:00pm to help complete the mural. (see Leaves of Learning)

Continued from Page 1

8 Fall 2012

Aerial Adventures with Steve Junak

Santa Rosa Island Thursday, October 18, 10:30am - 6:00pm

Santa Rosa Island supports a very interesting and unique flora. Over forty kinds of plants restricted to the California Channel Islands are found on this spectacular island. Participants will see a number of unique Channel Islands plants, as well as the Santa Rosa Island manzanita (Arctostaphylos confertiflora) and the Santa Rosa Island Torrey pine (Pinus torreyana subsp. insularis), both of which are only found on the island. Our 9-passenger plane will depart from Camarillo Airport at 10:30am. The 30-minute flight to Santa Rosa will take us over Santa Cruz Island and the Santa Barbara Channel, offering amazing views. After landing, we will spend about 6 hours exploring the historic ranch complex and northeastern portion of the island.

Catalina Island Monday, October 29, 9:00am - 5:00pm

Nearly forty kinds of plants restricted to the California Channel Islands are found on Catalina Island. We will have a chance to see a number of unique Channel Islands plants in their native habitat, as well as the Catalina Island ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus subsp. floribundus) and Trask‘s yerba santa (Eriodictyon traskiae subsp. traskiae), both of which are only found on the island. Our 9-passenger plane will depart from Camarillo Airport at 9:00am. The 30-minute flight to Catalina will take us to the island‘s ―Airport-in-the-sky‖, offering amazing views of Catalina and the surrounding waters. After landing, we will spend about 6 hours exploring the central portion of the island, looking for unique island plants, Catalina wildlife, the island‘s only natural lake, and a Native American soapstone bowl quarry.

Fee for each event: $250 members / $300 non-members

Bring lunch, water, snacks, a hand-lens, binoculars, camera, and wear layered clothing and good walking shoes.

Meet the Fall Plant Families! 2 Fridays, October 26 & November 2, 3:00pm – 5:00pm

Join Mary Carroll‘s seasonal series of plant identification classes which focus on the plants and flowers of the fall. Bring a 10x hand-lens if you have one. Class will begin with discussion of plant terminology.

Fees: $45 members / $65 non-members

Owl-O-Ween: A Family Nature Adventure Saturday, October 27, 10:00am – 1:00pm

Join the Education Department for an enlightening and fun morning learning about owls, bats, and scarecrows. Paint pumpkins to take home, compete in a scarecrow-building contest, and meet some living owl-ambassadors from the Audubon Society‘s ―Eyes in the Sky‖ program including Max, a Great Horned Owl.

Fee: $25 per member family (up to 4), $5 per additional person (members of SBBG or the SB Audubon Society $40 per non-member family (up to 4), $7 per additional person

NOVEMBER

Children’s Mural Workshop Saturday, November, 3, 10:00apm - 3:00pm (See full description under October section)

Fire and Chaparral: A Delicate Balance with Robert Muller, Ph.D. Thursday, November 15, 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Join us in welcoming the local Channel Islands chapter of the California Native Plant Society (http://www.cnpsci.org/Calendar/Events.htm) to the Garden as we host the Santa Barbara area meetings in the Blaksley Library. 6:30pm – 7:00pm. Please bring plants to ID, or extra natives from your yard to exchange.

November Speaker: Robert Muller, Research Associate, SBBG and former Director of Research. Dr. Muller presents an interesting look at the history and significance of wildfire as it relates to our native chaparral and will discuss ecological aspects of our policies towards fuel management.

Fee: Free to members and non-members

Plant Propagation: Native Plants from Seed Friday, November 9, 3:00pm – 5:00pm

Have you had little success growing native plants from seed? Learn about the biology of seeds, principles of seed propagation, seed dormancy-breaking techniques, and how to use specific tools and equipment from SBBG‘s Plant Propagator Heather Wehnau. An essential text, Seed Propagation of California Native Plants by Dara Emery, will be available in

class for $15.

Fee: $30 members / $45 non-members

Time Travelers: Private Domecar Botanical Day

Saturday, November 10, 10:00am – 5:00pm

Join SBBG‘s Steve Junak for a rare glimpse of some of the last

original native coastal landscapes in southern California. (see

description from September 29th trip) Reservations are limited

and must be made by October 19. Over 21 only. Trip will go

rain or shine.


LIVING AMONG THE OAKS:

Lessons from California’s First People


Come to an exciting day at the Garden and learn about the

many ways California Native Americans used native plants for

their food, clothing, and homes. Grind acorns, weave a tule

mat, play walnut-dice games, make rope and cordage, and

learn about trees for their habitats, including a variety of

birds, mammals, and insects. Our experienced Docents will be

giving demonstrations and leading hands-on activities from our

Golden Harvest School Program for families to enjoy and

teachers to preview before classroom visits.

Fee: Free with regular admission; free to members and

teachers school ID


Launching Soon: SBBG Photographic Website & Database

Launching in October at www.sbbgphotos.org, our SBBG Photos website provides public access to more

than 35,000 images from the SBBG Blaksley Library archive collection of slides, print photos, and

contemporary digital images. In addition to SBBG historical, cultural, and architectural images, this

online photo gallery covers a diverse range of subjects, including California native plants, planted and

natural landscapes, and animals. The online user can browse pre-selected galleries, search by keyword,

or utilize the custom database using the Advanced Search form.

This website is a proud outcome of the Garden‘s IMLS-funded Digital Image Database Project, which

began in September 2008. Several Garden staff (Tricia Wardlaw, Betsy Collins and Randy Wright), former

staff (Joan Ariel), and many volunteers (especially Corinne Gallagher, Fred Perner, Frank Gerety, Joe

Griffith, Ingrid Kaper, and Patterson Jaffurs) have spent thousands of hours sorting, organizing,

accessioning, digitizing, processing, and archiving photographs. We hope you enjoy this amazing new resource!

6 Fall 2012

Pruning Natives De-Mystified: A Demonstration Workshop Saturday, September 22, 11:00am - 1:30pm

Take some of the mystery out of pruning and maintaining your natives with this informative workshop lead by Nursery Manager Bruce Reed. Participants will learn the techniques for trimming natives such as sages, as well as pruning shrubs like Manzanita and Ceanothus. Join Bruce for this walking demonstration of pruning do‘s and don‘ts. Bring a hat!


Leaves of Learning

Calendar of classes, events and volunteer opportunities at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden To register for classes, visit www.sbbg.org under ―classes," call 682-4726 x 102 or email [email protected].

Fall Plant Sale Preview & Kick-off Party (see page 10 for full story) Friday, September 28, 4pm – 6pm

Be the first to buy at the Plant Sale! Tickets are $35 for members and reservations are required. Wine, hors d‘oeuvres, live music, a relaxed chance to browse our wonderful silent auction, hard-to-find plants, and impressive specimens highlight this event. Registration for members only can be made through our website or by calling 682-4726 ext 102.

Fee: $35 members only

Our month-long Fall Plant Sale begins Saturday morning, September 29 at 10am with an exclusive opening for Garden members. All members enter free and receive a 10% discount on their purchases. At Noon, the Sale will be open to the public. The sale continues through Wednesday, October 31.

Dara Emery Memorial Lecture (see page 10 for full story) Saturday, October 6 at 4:30pm

Each year, the Garden honors the horticultural legacy of Dara Emery with this very special lecture. During his 35-year tenure as Horticulturist, Dara launched several SBBG programs that continue to this day, such as the annual Fall Plant Sale, the Garden Growers Nursery, and the Plant Introduction Program. His invaluable book, Seed Propagation of Native California Plants, remains the standard reference on the subject.

Our featured speaker for 2012 will be Alicia Funk, a leader in the field of natural living for over 20 years, and co-author of Living Wild: Gardening, Cooking and Healing with Native Plants of the Sierra Nevada. Living Wild is an entertaining collection of plant profiles, recipes, and a guide to handcrafted projects. This year‘s lecture includes a wine and hors d‘ouevres reception preceding the lecture. Reservations required. Contact the Registrar at (805) 682-4726 ext. 102; via email: [email protected] or register online at www.sbbg.org under ―classes‖.


SEPTEMBER

Capturing the Beauty of Small Wonders with Larry Jon Friesen, Ph.D. Saturday, September 15, & Sunday, September 16, 9:00am - Noon

Enjoy a weekend workshop on macro (close-up) photography and biology with Larry Friesen. He will share the biological wonders of small life forms. Techniques for close-up photography will be demonstrated, followed by guided practice in the Garden. The second day will begin with a review and critique of photographs from the first day followed by a second photography session. The results of the second day will be included in the premiere opening of the new Nature Journal website. Cameras and lenses are provided to ensure all students have the same equipment to learn the techniques. Limited to 12 adults over age 16.


SBBG Book Discussion Group Monday, September 17, 4:00pm - 6:00pm

We will discuss a non-fiction book on an environmental topic. To reserve a spot or get more information, contact Betsy Green at [email protected].

Fee: Free to members / non-members

The PlantRight Program: Stopping the Sale of Invasive Plants in California Thursday, September 20, 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Please join us in welcoming the local Channel Islands chapter of the California Native Plant Society to the Garden as we host their Santa Barbara-area meetings in the Blaksley Library. 6:30 - 7:00pm Please bring plants to ID, or extra natives from your yard to exchange.

September Speaker: Greg Richardson manages PlantRight‘s annual Spring Nursery Survey, a data collection effort to track the retail market for invasive plants. The survey is conducted with the support of volunteers and UCCE Master Gardeners as a Citizen Science project. PlantRight is part of CAL-HIP (California Horticultural Invasives Prevention), and is recognized as a model of collaboration between leaders from the nursery industry, environmental advocates, academics, and professional landscapers for finding immediate solutions to stop the spread of invasives.



Children’s Mural Workshop with Art Teacher Laura Denny Saturday, October 13, 10:00am – 3:00pm Saturday, November, 3rd, 10:00am – 3:00pm

Join local art teacher Laura Denny for this fun mural workshop and help complete the new native plant alphabet mural for the Garden. All supplies will be provided and no experience necessary. For children ages 7-12; bring a sack lunch. Reservations required to [email protected].


OCTOBER

Lecture and Book Signing: Fire in Mediterranean Ecosystems Friday, October 12, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Join us for a fascinating presentation from author Jon Keely, as he shares his new book, Fire in Mediterranean Ecosystems: Ecology, Evolution and Management. Analyzing fire in separate, but ecologically convergent ecosystems provides lessons for understanding fire regime diversity and its role in the assembly and evolutionary convergence of ecosystems. It stands as a challenge to ecologists, bio-geographers, and paleo-ecologists, who have long held the view they can understand the world through climate and soils alone. This review of fire in the five Mediterranean-type climate ecosystems of the world aims to change our view of the evolution of fire-adapted traits and the role of fire in shaping the Earth. Jon E. Keeley is a Research Scientist with the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, as well as Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology UCLA, and a Research Associate at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. Books available for purchase in the shop.


Time Travelers: Private Domecar Botanical Day Trip Saturday, September 29, 10:00am – 5:00pm

Join SBBG‘s Steve Junak for a rare glimpse of some of the last original native coastal landscapes in Southern California. The trip begins at the Santa Barbara train depot

where you will ride in style aboard a beautifully restored Vista Dome Lounge-Dining Car (built in 1956) for a narrated scenic adventure along a beautiful coastline and through historic ranchos (which cannot be seen from Highway 101). We will travel through Gaviota, the Hollister Ranch, the Cojo Ranch (including Point Conception), and Vandenberg Air Force Base (including the Sudden Ranch), and the Guadalupe/Oceano Dunes region. Learn about the area‘s rich human and natural history before stopping in San Luis Obispo. Includes a catered buffet lunch onboard (with beer, wine, and soft drinks), and change levels and sides for a new view on the return trip. Reservations are limited and must be made by September 7. Over 21 only. Trip will go rain or shine.


California Naturalist Program and SBBG Docent Training 10 Wednesdays, October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, November 7, 14, 28, December 5, 12, 2:00pm – 5:00pm, Blaksley Library and Garden Grounds

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has been chosen to pilot the new UCCE California Naturalist Program (www.ucanr.org/sites/UCCNP) this fall. Join us for this innovative new program developed by the University of

California Cooperative Extension to foster a committed corps of volunteer naturalists and citizen scientists trained and ready to take an active role in local natural resource conservation, education, and restoration. The program fees include a handbook and 10 lectures plus hand-on class sessions, and three field trips, all led by local experts. The program will focus on the Santa Barbara region, and provides the core curriculum to become a SBBG Docent. An additional 3-week course in January will be required to complete the SBBG Docent Program.

Applications are due by September 4th. Please contact Judy Sanregret, Director of Education, at [email protected] for an application or more information. Limited to 32 participants.

Fee: $150 current/future SBBG Docent Volunteers; $300 others

SBBG Book Discussion Group Monday, October 15, 4:00pm - 6:00pm

We will discuss a non-fiction book on an environmental topic. To reserve a spot or get more information, contact Betsy Green at [email protected].


Fall Morning Bird Walk Wednesday, October 17, 8:30am – 10:00am

Be the first morning visitors in the Garden and enjoy watching the diverse and beautiful bird species which make the meadow, woodlands and creekside their home! Join our experienced naturalist leader Rebecca Coulter as she looks and listens for woodpeckers and quail, wrens and raptors, and many more.


The Amazing Geology of Santa Barbara County: Rattlesnake Canyon Saturday, October 20, 10:00am – 1:00pm

Join local expert Susie Bartz for a 3-hour morning hike in moderate terrain with some steep uneven slopes and rocky creek crossings. Beginning with the big boulders at Skofield Park, we‘ll trace their source up the throat of Rattlesnake Canyon. See faults, folds, and three major rock formations—clues to the dynamic forces that are shaping our landscape. Bring water, hat, sturdy hiking boots, jacket, snacks, sun protection, and plenty of curiosity.


SAVE THE DATE

Saturday December 15, 10:00am - Noon

Annual Holiday Nature Craft Workshop for the Family

8 Fall 2012

Aerial Adventures with Steve Junak

Santa Rosa Island Thursday, October 18, 10:30am - 6:00pm

Santa Rosa Island supports a very interesting and unique flora. Over forty kinds of plants restricted to the California Channel Islands are found on this spectacular island. Participants will see a number of unique Channel Islands plants, as well as the Santa Rosa Island manzanita (Arctostaphylos confertiflora) and the Santa Rosa Island Torrey pine (Pinus torreyana subsp. insularis), both of which are only found on the island. Our 9-passenger plane will depart from Camarillo Airport at 10:30am. The 30-minute flight to Santa Rosa will take us over Santa Cruz Island and the Santa Barbara Channel, offering amazing views. After landing, we will spend about 6 hours exploring the historic ranch complex and northeastern portion of the island.

Catalina Island Monday, October 29, 9:00am - 5:00pm

Nearly forty kinds of plants restricted to the California Channel Islands are found on Catalina Island. We will have a chance to see a number of unique Channel Islands plants in their native habitat, as well as the Catalina Island ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus subsp. floribundus) and Trask‘s yerba santa (Eriodictyon traskiae subsp. traskiae), both of which are only found on the island. Our 9-passenger plane will depart from Camarillo Airport at 9:00am. The 30-minute flight to Catalina will take us to the island‘s ―Airport-in-the-sky‖, offering amazing views of Catalina and the surrounding waters. After landing, we will spend about 6 hours exploring the central portion of the island, looking for unique island plants, Catalina wildlife, the island‘s only natural lake, and a Native American soapstone bowl quarry.

Fee for each event: $250 members / $300 non-members

Bring lunch, water, snacks, a hand-lens, binoculars, camera, and wear layered clothing and good walking shoes.

Meet the Fall Plant Families! 2 Fridays, October 26 & November 2, 3:00pm – 5:00pm

Join Mary Carroll‘s seasonal series of plant identification classes which focus on the plants and flowers of the fall. Bring a 10x hand-lens if you have one. Class will begin with discussion of plant terminology.

Fees: $45 members / $65 non-members

Owl-O-Ween: A Family Nature Adventure Saturday, October 27, 10:00am – 1:00pm

Join the Education Department for an enlightening and fun morning learning about owls, bats, and scarecrows. Paint pumpkins to take home, compete in a scarecrow-building contest, and meet some living owl-ambassadors from the Audubon Society‘s ―Eyes in the Sky‖ program including Max, a Great Horned Owl.

Fee: $25 per member family (up to 4), $5 per additional person (members of SBBG or the SB Audubon Society $40 per non-member family (up to 4), $7 per additional person

NOVEMBER

Children’s Mural Workshop Saturday, November, 3, 10:00apm - 3:00pm (See full description under October section)

Fire and Chaparral: A Delicate Balance with Robert Muller, Ph.D. Thursday, November 15, 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Join us in welcoming the local Channel Islands chapter of the California Native Plant Society (http://www.cnpsci.org/Calendar/Events.htm) to the Garden as we host the Santa Barbara area meetings in the Blaksley Library. 6:30pm – 7:00pm. Please bring plants to ID, or extra natives from your yard to exchange.

November Speaker: Robert Muller, Research Associate, SBBG and former Director of Research. Dr. Muller presents an interesting look at the history and significance of wildfire as it relates to our native chaparral and will discuss ecological aspects of our policies towards fuel management.


Plant Propagation: Native Plants from Seed Friday, November 9, 3:00pm – 5:00pm

Have you had little success growing native plants from seed? Learn about the biology of seeds, principles of seed propagation, seed dormancy-breaking techniques, and how to use specific tools and equipment from SBBG‘s Plant Propagator Heather Wehnau. An essential text, Seed Propagation of California Native Plants by Dara Emery, will be available in

class for $15.


Time Travelers: Private Domecar Botanical Day


Join SBBG‘s Steve Junak for a rare glimpse of some of the last

original native coastal landscapes in southern California. (see

description from September 29th trip) Reservations are limited

and must be made by October 19. Over 21 only. Trip will go

rain or shine.


LIVING AMONG THE OAKS:

Lessons from California’s First People


Come to an exciting day at the Garden and learn about the

many ways California Native Americans used native plants for

their food, clothing, and homes. Grind acorns, weave a tule

mat, play walnut-dice games, make rope and cordage, and

learn about trees for their habitats, including a variety of

birds, mammals, and insects. Our experienced Docents will be

giving demonstrations and leading hands-on activities from our

Golden Harvest School Program for families to enjoy and

teachers to preview before classroom visits.

Fee: Free with regular admission; free to members and

teachers school ID


Launching Soon: SBBG Photographic Website & Database

Launching in October at www.sbbgphotos.org, our SBBG Photos website provides public access to more

than 35,000 images from the SBBG Blaksley Library archive collection of slides, print photos, and

contemporary digital images. In addition to SBBG historical, cultural, and architectural images, this

online photo gallery covers a diverse range of subjects, including California native plants, planted and

natural landscapes, and animals. The online user can browse pre-selected galleries, search by keyword,

or utilize the custom database using the Advanced Search form.

This website is a proud outcome of the Garden‘s IMLS-funded Digital Image Database Project, which

began in September 2008. Several Garden staff (Tricia Wardlaw, Betsy Collins and Randy Wright), former

staff (Joan Ariel), and many volunteers (especially Corinne Gallagher, Fred Perner, Frank Gerety, Joe

Griffith, Ingrid Kaper, and Patterson Jaffurs) have spent thousands of hours sorting, organizing,

accessioning, digitizing, processing, and archiving photographs. We hope you enjoy this amazing new resource!

4 Fall 2012

With over 20 photographers submitting more than 400 photos, this year‘s photo contest was a great success. Thank you to the photographers who shared their talents. The Garden is pleased to display the winning photographs for your viewing pleasure. Categories include: Garden Panorama (first place photo on front page), Garden Postcard, Wildlife in the Garden, and Celebrate Wildflowers.

Launching in October at www.sbbg.org, our new Garden website allows online

visitors to explore, learn, and get involved at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

The new site is designed with simplicity in mind. Easily find directions, sign-up

for classes and events, plan an itinerary, learn about gardening with natives, or

simply browse the photo galleries from your home computer, tablet, or phone.

Enjoy access to online Garden collection resources including the Blaksley Library

online catalog, the SBBG Herbarium collection, and our new SBBG Digitial Image

Library at www.sbbgphotos.org.

The NEW Garden Website:

coming October 2012 to your

computer, tablet, or smart phone.

2012 Spring in the Garden Photo Contest Winners

Introducing the New SBBG Website


Ask The Expert

Q Can you recommend native

plants to use as a hedge?

A Hedges are an important element of the garden which provides privacy and screening while

also defining a border within a garden. To maintain a formal shape, good hedge plants must have dense, evergreen foliage and tolerate frequent pruning or shearing. Keep in mind the natural habit and care requirements of each plant, and choose the one that best suits your needs and site. Happy hedging!

Holly-leaved cherry (Prunus ilicifolia) is a moderate grower with dark, glossy green mature foliage, and bright green new growth. Its small white flowers turn into quarter-sized red fruits that are enjoyed by birds when ripe. Shade to sun, grows to 15 ft.

Lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia) has grey-green leathery foliage and small clusters of light pink flowers and fruit. A versatile and hardy plant, it can be maintained as hedge at any height up to 15 ft. This long-lived plant has been used as the formal hedge in the SBBG courtyard since 1944. Shade to sun.

Coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica) has glossy dark green to blue-grey foliage. With a dense natural habit, it responds well to frequent pruning and occasional shearing. The small, inconspicuous flowers are an important pollen source for bees during the late summer and early fall when other flowers are scarce. The various forms grow from 3 ft. to 10 ft. tall. Cultivar ‗Bonita Linda‘ is a notable form with a grey to blue hue and noticeably redder stems. Shade to sun.

Manzanita (Arctostaphylos sp.) can be a beautiful, less formal accent hedge for gardeners who are willing to wait for them to grow to full size. Arctostaphylos ‗Sunset‘, ‗Howard McMinn‘, and ‗Harmony‘ are the three cultivars suited to this niche, tolerating extra pruning or shearing. A mature Arctostaphylos ‗Sunset‘ hedge borders our Home Demonstration Garden. Partial to full sun, grows to 8 ft.

Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis) and Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) are recommended for tightly sheared hedges since their leaves are small and finely textured. Coyote brush has bright to light green foliage, with many different cultivars and selections from 1 to 6 ft tall. Chamise, has small, linear green foliage, and is a slow to moderate grower.

Barberry (Berberis aquifolium) with its prickly leaves, is a perfect candidate for a barrier hedge. It grows naturally 3-7 ft tall and spreads by underground rhizomes, forming a dense colony. Manage the colony with a root barrier or by digging plants that veer from the desired path. The new foliage is bright green to red, maturing to blue-green, and is accented by lightly fragrant flowers followed by blue berries. Barberries make a stunning backdrop for other plantings in shade to sun.

Visit our Fall Plant Sale during the month of October to find the perfect hedge for your garden.

New Volunteer Orientations

Join us on every other Thursday at 2:00pm in the Blaksley Library to catch a behind-the-scenes tour of the Garden, hear from current volunteers and their supervisors, and discover an area in which to serve that matches your interests and talents.

September 13 & 27

October 1 1 & 25

November 8 & 29

December 13

Call our Volunteer Coordinator at (805) 682-4726 ext. 119 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.

Heather Wehnau, Plant Propagator

activities located throughout the Garden, in our beautiful outdoor

classroom. Reaching out to local families is one of our key

objectives, and each student who visits during a class field trip receives a

Family Free Pass to bring their parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters,

back to the Garden on another day for more exploration and discovery.

It is often said, ―every picture tells a story‖ and inspiring

photographs certainly help the Garden tell our story. We are

pleased to showcase the winning entries of the ‗Spring in the

Garden‘ photo contest in this issue (see pages 4 & 5). Every

snapshot is a moment, frozen in time, which leads to a bigger

narrative, and the thread of conversation begins to grow and expand.

One of our winning landscape photos taken by photographer

George Welik, captures an every-day, spontaneous moment of

beauty that we may not always remember to stop and notice.

When asked about the story he is telling with this masterpiece,

George replied, “I was watching the shadows crawl across the

Meadow as the sun went down, but noticed it was still shining on

the mountains, and was able to capture both in this shot. I never

get tired of photographing this view.”

However you choose to discover, explore, engage, or create, a new chapter in Your Story awaits you. It will bring with it a rewarding and renewed sense of stewardship for the natural world, and propel your learning forward. We are passionate about telling Our Story because: people protect what they cherish, and we hope to inspire them to cherish California‘s native plants. Come learn with us, and remember to take some photos and capture those treasured glimpses into the beauty that surrounds us all every day.

Campers from the Garden’s Camp Wildflower display the Native Plant Mural paintings they created with Art Teacher Laura Denny. Laura will be adding an additional free Children’s Mural Workshop on Saturday, October 13 from and Saturday, November 3 from 10:00am - 3:00pm to help complete the mural. (see Leaves of Learning)

Continued from Page 1

mailto:[email protected]

10 Fall 2012

The Wild Gourmet: Seasonal Cooking with Native Plants

Join us for the 2012 Dara Emery Memorial Lecture

Would you like to make food and medicine from native plants in your own yard? How about a household cleaner from California bay? These, and other interesting ways to use natives for making delicious food, tea, medicines, and even household items will be the topic of the 2012 Dara Emery Memorial Lecture on Saturday, October 6 at 4:30pm.

Our featured speaker will be Alicia Funk, a leader in the field of natural living for over 20 years, founder of The Living Wild Project, and co-author of Living Wild: Gardening, Cooking and Healing with Native Plants of

the Sierra Nevada, with Karin Kaufman. After studying botanical medicine from indigenous peoples in Ecuador, Ms. Funk has continued her work in California, editing six books on herbal medicine and speaking widely on issues of sustainability and wellness. Published in 2011, Living Wild is an entertaining collection of plant profiles, recipes, and a guide to handcrafted projects. With detailed instructions on making acorn flour, manzanita ‗sugar‘, jams, cider, wine, and more, Living Wild has projects for both kids and adults.

Says Ms. Funk, “Our modern-day American diet relies upon a mere 30 or so plant species, while 200 years ago, an indigenous Californian's diet would have included about more than 1,000 plant species.‖ She seeks to connect people with the nutrition of our landscape through cooking native local foods that are tasty, beautifully prepared, and carbon-free. We can reduce our carbon footprint by avoiding carbon-heavy foods and instead using natives — plants that are both beautiful for the landscape garden, and delicious to eat. Making sugar from manzanita berries and substituting oak nut flour for water-thirsty, pesticide-intensive wheat are steps which move us closer to the land, while helping to address climate change.

This year‘s lecture will be an afternoon event, featuring a wine and hors d‘ouevres reception preceding the lecture. Please join us at 4:30pm, Saturday, October 6 for this informative talk on living sustainably.

MANZANITA CRACKERS Collect berries in summer.

2 cups Manzanita berries or 1 cup prepared Manzanita sugar (See “Condiments and Staples” section for recipe) 2 cups flour (wheat, Oak nut, or gluten-free substitute) 1⁄2 cup oil 2/3 -1 cup water 1⁄2 tsp salt

METHOD If using whole berries, prepare Manzanita sugar by grinding berries roughly in a coffee grinder. Push the ground berries through a strainer to remove the seeds. Preheat oven to 375o. Mix 1 cup berry powder with flour, salt and oil until mix is crumbly.

Gradually add water to form dough. Roll or press dough onto baking sheet in a thin layer, or roll on a floured surface and use a cookie cutter to make desired shapes.

Bake for 25 minutes or until light brown. Watch closely as cooking times may vary.

TIP For added color, use a strainer with a large mesh to make the sugar. This will add some of the red skins, while keeping out the seeds.

The Early Gardener Gets the Best Plants!

Fall Plant Sale Begins Late September

Our month-long sales event begins Saturday morning, September 29 at 10am with an exclusive opening for Garden members. All members enter free and receive a 10% discount. At Noon, the public is welcome to shop. The sale will continue through Wednesday, October 31, and there will be multiple deliveries throughout the month ensuring a wide selection throughout the sale. Over 5,000 plants and more than 400 different varieties will be presented in this, the largest retail collection of native Californian plants on the Central Coast.

As a special benefit for members, we are offering our exclusive Preview Sale & Reception on Friday, September 28, from 4:00pm - 6:00pm. See page 6 for details.

Look for the return of woolly blue curls (Trichostemma lanatum)! This beautiful and fragrant plant has been absent from the trade for the last three years, and a limited quantity will once again be a part of our sale. Its rosemary-like foliage actually smells very much like rosemary, if not more intense. Its stalks of small flowers are a rich velvety blue with purple highlights. Only a handful of plants will be available, so come early. On opening weekend, there will be a limit of three woolly blue curls per customer.

Bringing our increasingly-rare plants to the general public is the primary mission of the Growers Nursery. All sales support the Garden‘s horticulture programs. SPONSORED BY: S & S Seeds, Inc., Corbu Construction, El Nativo Growers, MarBorg Industries


Recently the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and Los Prietos Boys Camp embarked on a new collaboration. Los Prietos began sending a work crew of teens enrolled in their program to tackle projects at the Garden as part of their work training experience.

The Los Prietos Boys Camp and Los Prietos Boys Academy programs, part of Santa Barbara County Probation Department, are located on 17 acres in the Los Padres National Forest. The facility provides a local commitment option for delinquent males between the ages of 13 and 18. The goal of Los Prietos is to return wards to the community as responsible and productive members of society. “Discipline, respect and responsibility” is their motto. The programs provide training opportunities and life experiences which help to broaden each boy‘s world view, as well as his attitude toward the community.

The Garden learned about this program through several avenues, including other partnerships the Boys Camp has with garden/landscaping groups such as Goleta Valley Beautiful, La Huerta Historical Garden at the Old Mission, a forestry crew, and more recently the Heritage Garden at Trinity Lutheran Church which grows food for Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. The program has been in place since before 1999, and has also worked on such areas as Franchesci

Park. It seemed a perfect fit to add the Garden to the mix.

―The partnership with the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has been a wonderful teaching tool for us,‖ said Dan Hernandez, Juvenile Institutions Officer with Los Prietos, who oversees the Community Service Program. ―It truly gives these young men a hands-on education and a sense of accomplishment and pride in a job well done. It is our hope that they take this self-confidence with them as they return to their lives outside of Boys Camp.‖

“The boys from Los Prietos have been a welcome

supplement to our grounds crew. They come to the Garden

with energy, strength, enthusiasm, and tools in hand.

They’ve worked to control invasive non-natives in our

displays and natural areas and they have carved out several new trails for our visitors.” ~Dave Kershaw, Head Gardener

At the Garden, the boys have built a new path from the parking area at the old Gane House site to the Horticulture building and the Porter Trail. Soon they will start building a new trail toward the river on the east side of the growing area

in preparation for relocating some of the barn areas.

This program empowers these young men to decide for themselves how to create and manage the trail – including where to put steps. It teaches them problem-solving skills and gives them the opportunity to see the end result of their labors and have a sense of satisfaction at the end of the day.

Kershaw adds, ―What I enjoy the most is seeing how eager these boys are to learn about the native flora, and to listen to them talk about their own gardening experiences. It‘s been a ‗win-win-win‘ partnership—for both institutions… and for the boys.‖

BECOME A GARDEN DOCENT

Join our group of dedicated and knowledgeable Garden Ambassadors. Lead tours for visitors and school groups, help with classes, events and projects, and participate in educational outreach to the community. This training course begins with becoming a certified UCCE California Naturalist, taught by SBBG staff and local experts, and then completing an additional Docent Education Program which provides all the necessary information for conducting tours including mentoring from experienced Docents.

13-week training begins in October, and meets on Wednesdays in the Blaksley Library from 2:00pm – 5:00pm Fee: $150 for SBBG prospective Docents / $300 others

To apply, e-mail [email protected]. Interviews will be held in September for the October training course, and again in January for the spring training course. 2013 Docent Courses are scheduled for spring and fall.

“The Garden is a really wonderful place and one of the most beautiful places in the world. I would strongly suggest that everyone should visit the Garden and see the masterpieces and the colors it brings to the community. The last time I was there, I was with a Los Prietos work crew building a new trail which will lead to the creek. While I was working I realized how much the community gives to us, and how we don’t give back, except to create more problems. The Garden has made me realize the importance in life and has helped me to find a part of me that I never knew I had. Thank you to all those at the Garden for everything you have helped me with.” - Manuel C., age 17, ward of Los Prietos Boys Camp.

Los Prietos Boys Camp Inspired by Work at the Garden - by Chérie Welsh, HR & Volunteer Manager

2 Fall 2012

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Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

tel 805-682-4726 - fax 805-563-0352

www.SantaBarbaraBotanicGarden.org

Garden Hours:

March — October




Garden Shop Hours: (Ext. 112)

March — October




Garden Growers Nursery: (Ext. 127)

Open on a self-serve basis during

Garden Shop hours.

Staffed by volunteers 10:00am - 3:00pm daily

Class and Event Information: (Ext. 102)

Registrar is available Tuesday — Friday

9:00am - 4:00pm

Volunteer Office: (Ext. 119)

Call for information on volunteer opportunities.

Master Gardener Helpline: (805) 893-3485

IRONWOOD

Volume 20, Number 3 - Fall 2012

ISSN 1068-4026

The Ironwood is published four times a year by the

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, a private nonprofit

institution founded in 1926. The Santa Barbara

Botanic Garden fosters the conservation of

California native plants through our gardens,

education, and research, and serves as a role

model of sustainable practices. The Garden is a

Member of the American Public Gardens

Association, the American Association of Museums,

and the California Association of Museums.

©2012 Santa Barbara Botanic Garden All rights reserved.

Board of Trustees

Chair Vice-Chair Secretary Treasurer

John M. Wiemann John Brinker Carolyn Kincaid Henderson James O. Koopmans Sue Adams Patrick Connelly Leslie Deardorff John Gabbert Elizabeth Keate Amy Miller Charles J. Rennie, III Gary Robinson Peter Schuyler Ann Symington

TO OUR READERS

So far, over 100 members have given us permission to send the Ironwood

via email only. This will begin with the Winter, 2012 issue. We currently have

email addresses for ¾ of our members. You are receiving the Ironwood in hard

copy AND by email for this issue. Please let us know if you are ready to receive

your Ironwood electronically only by calling (805) 682-4726 ext 110 or emailing

[email protected]. Thank you for conserving valuable resources!

Director’s Message

The Garden as Inspiration

When established in 1926 as an institution dedicated solely to California native plants, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden was a design and horticultural pioneer. At a time when other public gardens were formal and filled with exotica, the Garden‘s designers and staff helped popularize the idea of a naturalistic garden, where the hand of the designer is purposely obscured to present a vision of ―nature perfected.‖ The goal of the Garden in those early years was to experiment with an

entirely new palette of landscape plants: to test their adaptability to garden conditions; select the most promising specimens; and promote their use. Dr. Maunsell Van Rensselaer, the first full-time Garden director wrote, ―The primary purpose of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is to increase the existing knowledge of native California plants, especially those having ornamental value, and to further encourage the use of these plants for our roadsides, parks and gardens.‖

As the Garden moves toward its second century, it is critical that we expand the tools we use to continually strive to better achieve these goals. Because the core of the Garden is now a county historic landmark, we will work closely with the county to ensure that the naturalistic design intent is preserved. Expanding our gardens beyond these historic boundaries will allow us to experiment with utilizing California native plants in other design styles. We believe to achieve our goal of increasing the use of California natives in public spaces and private gardens, we need to present them in garden displays which have a more explicit and legible design intent.

The selective appeal of a naturalistic landscape—and the scale which is required to achieve it—makes it inappropriate for many commercial and residential landscapes. While this style of design may have limited applicability, California native plants are suitable to a much wider range of more formal and obviously designed landscapes. Unfortunately, because we have not demonstrated this, it is not widely understood by the visiting public. Instead, some visitors appreciate the beauty of the Garden, and then return home and plant something from South Africa, Western Australia, or even the tropics. These exotic species result in either a high water demand for their landscapes, or run the risk of causing ecological harm as they escape our gardens and invade the nearby natural areas.

We are taking the opportunity to expand our gardens east across Mission Canyon Road as way to broaden the styles of design and horticulture which the Garden demonstrates. New garden displays along the Porter Trail and around future buildings will be designed in a wide variety of horticultural styles – some formal, others informal, but all distinctive and intentional. I hope this will inspire many more people to learn more about these magnificent native plants and to take them into their own home landscapes. Together, our new and historic landscapes will serve to encourage our members and visitors to love and conserve California native plants, and do an even better job of promoting the use of this wonderfully diverse flora in their own gardens!

Sincerely,

Steve Windhager, Ph.D.


New in the Garden Shop

Hand-painted ornaments created exclusively for the Garden by Marcia Polling. These stunning baubles make the perfect gift for all the nature lovers on your list! Each glass ornament is signed by the artist and features a bird from our area with a native plant or natural roost in fine detail.

ORIGINAL WORKS BY KATHLEEN

CROCETTI ON SALE AT THE SHOP

After Labor Day, seven of the beautiful stained glass mosaic art pieces featuring California landscapes and close-up views of native plants by award-winning artist, Kathleen Crocetti, will be displayed in the breezeway of the Garden Shop and are available for sale. A portion of all proceeds benefit the Garden.

Gift of Membership The gift of a Garden membership lasts all year long. Perfect for a loved one, a friend or a client, each membership comes in a lovely gift box and is beautifully decorated with tissue paper and ribbon.

Call (805) 682-4726 ext. 110 or email [email protected] for more information.

SAVE THE DATE

10th Annual Orchid Show Reception & Auction Saturday, March 9th, 2013 6:30pm – 9:30pm

Each year the Garden‘s signature event is held at Earl Warren Showgrounds in conjunction with the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show. This event is set amidst stunning displays of orchids from around the world. The 2013 event will again feature a silent auction, music, hors d‘ouevres, and socializing with good friends. We will begin planning early this year, so save the date for Wednesday, September 19 4:30pm - 6:00pm and help us create a spectacular event. We‘ll meet in the Garden‘s Library. If you‘d like to help, contact Nina Dunbar (805) 682-4726 ext 151 or email [email protected] for more information.

YEAR END APPEAL

The Garden sends two appeals each year, one in the Spring and one in the Fall. We raise ~$25,000 from the Spring Appeal and ~$80,000 from the Year End Appeal. Your gifts over and above your membership, are what keep the lights on and the doors open.

These gifts have a huge impact on the Garden‘s bottom line and help us fulfill our mission. Look for your letter mid-November and please give generously. We thank you for your continued support.

Campbell Bridge Ribbon Cutting—Join us!

The Campbell Bridge was destroyed in 2009 during the Jesusita Fire. This meant the only way to cross Mission Creek below Mission Dam was via two boulder crossings. Last October we began raising funds to replace the bridge. More than 400 individuals, businesses, and foundations in our community contributed to an $80,000 fundraising goal. As is often the case with construction, the project costs were more than budgeted at closer to $100,000. Thankfully, The Santa Barbara Foundation, Pearl Chase Society, and Santa Barbara Beautiful came to the rescue with generous gifts to the project which helped tremendously. The Garden will break ground on the project in early Fall. Thank you to all who donated to rebuild the bridge. We hope to see you at the ribbon cutting in November.

19th Annual Holiday Marketplace Saturday & Sunday, November 17 & 18, 10:00am - 4:00pm

Enjoy a shopping experience found only at the Garden. Our Courtyard and Library will overflow with more than 30 remarkable local artisans displaying their latest, hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind, nature-inspired, creations. The Garden Guild will debut a new holiday line along with an amazing selection of seasonal decorations. 20% of purchases will help

support the Garden.

Fun new additions to this year‘s activities include: Classic photos with Santa Raffle Extraordinaire

Carpool or ride MTD #22 bus and receive one free raffle ticket

Campbell Bridge after the Jesusita Fire.

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden 1212 Mission Canyon Road Santa Barbara, CA 93105-2126 (805) 682-4726 www.sbbg.org

Nonprofit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid Santa Barbara, CA

Permit No. 451

Address Service Requested

Fall 2012 12 New Staff at the Garden

Meet the New Faces at the Garden

Paula Schaefer Multimedia Coordinator

Natalie Rosamund Shop Assistant

Michaela Ackerman Visitor Services Rep.

Laura Muasher Development Associate

Nina Dunbar Asst. Director of Development

Denise Knapp Conservation Program Manager

Jim Lechuga Facilities Manager

Nina Dunbar joined us in August as the new Assistant Director of Development. A long-time Santa Barbaran, she brings a vast knowledge of the local philanthropic community which will serve the Garden well. Laura Muasher has recently accepted the position of Development Associate, moving to the south coast from Virginia, and will be taking over maintenance of the Raiser‘s Edge database as well as providing much-needed membership and event support. Paula Schaefer, a talented and creative graphic designer started as a volunteer in our Communications department working on materials for advertising and events, before joining the Garden as part-time Multimedia Coordinator. Natalie Rosamund joined us a few months ago as a Visitor Services

Representative and her cheerfulness and sunny disposition was quickly recognized as an asset in the gift shop so she moved to an opening there. Michaela Ackerman is our newest addition to the VSR team and has already mastered the complex tasks involved in being the Garden‘s ambassador to the public. Our latest addition to staff is James Lechuga, new Facilities Manager and a multi-generational Santa Barbaran who will take on the challenging task of caring for the Garden‘s infrastructure and buildings. Finally, we look forward to the late September arrival of Denise Knapp, our new Conservation Program Manager, who will work with Dieter Wilken to ensure the long range plans of the conservation department.

Welcome to the Garden, one and all!

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

has big stories to tell: because all

life depends on plants; preserving

California's native plants today will help us

tell a brighter story tomorrow. Conservation

begins with each of us: from using natives in

our home gardens to designing large-scale

urban improvements incorporating the

concepts of healthy ecosystem services,

water conservation, and sustainability.

For the Education Department, teaching the

public is all about effective communication:

every time we have the opportunity to

communicate our values and knowledge, we

begin to engage an audience. Whenever our

conservation message connects with a

visitor, their interest might then translate

into a greater appreciation of native plants,

and eventually, a desire to help. Inspiration

can come from a variety of experiences: The

novice botanist who takes a plant

identification class and becomes fascinated

with plant families and communities; the

budding naturalist who takes our Nature

Journal design class and discovers the

intricate beauty of a single flower; the new

father who brings his toddler for a walk and

hears squeals of delight when she catches a

grasshopper in her bare hands. Whenever we

witness curiosity, it evokes those childhood

memories of experiencing nature for the

first time. Curiosity is related to our natural

inquisitive behavior, our innate drive to

know and learn new things.

At the Garden, we strive to both tell our

story and to satisfy this innate natural

curiosity to teach about conservation.

Environmentalist Baba Dioum captured this

goal in his speech to the International Union

for Conservation of Nature:

“In the end, we will conserve only

what we love, we will love only what

we understand, and we will

understand only what we are taught.”

Our newly-formed Education Committee is

faced with the challenge of elevating the

Garden‘s education programs by providing a

wider variety of opportunities for our visitors

and other life-long students to learn from

passionate experts. We are excited about

building a larger community of supporters for

our vital mission of native plant conservation.

Learning comes in different forms and thus it

is necessary to offer a variety of educational

opportunities. Contemplating the peaceful

quiet of the redwood grove may be

enlightening for some, while others may

become enthralled by an enthusiastic

Docent‘s informative tour. Visual displays,

from interpretive signage and plant labels to

maps and brochures, often satisfy those with

a thirst for facts, while others may prefer

the tools found in our family backpacks—nets

for catching, glasses for magnifying, and

plant guides for identifying—for a hands-on

learning experience. Our California

Naturalist Training will build a new

community of trained volunteers who will

become our future Docents and public

ambassadors, sharing our story to help build

relationships with the public.

Learning about the outside world comes

naturally for our youngest Garden visitors.

Seizing those ―teachable moments‖ by

engaging our local school children is the goal

of our outstanding Docent-led tours. Aligned

with the California State Standards for

Science and Social Studies, our education

program serves over 3,000 school children

each year and fosters their understanding of

the need for conservation of native plants

and habitats. On Saturday, November 10, we

will host our first teacher information day to

showcase our Golden Harvest Tour and Lab.

Our theme, Living Among the Oaks will

feature learning stations for hands-on

Education at the Garden: Oh, the stories we can tell!

by Judy Sanregret, Director of Education

FIRST PLACE GARDEN PANOROMA

George Welik, Evening in the Meadow

Continued on Page 9

Ironwood_Fall 2012

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