www.rsabg.org California’s Native Garden

GaRdenVarietye Newsletter of Rancho Santa ana Botanic GaRden

WINTER 2013

RANCHO SANTA ANA BOTANIC GARDEN

| Welcome

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e Newsletter ofRancho Santa anaBotanic GaRdenWINTER 2013VOLUME 28, NUMBER 1

editoR/deSiGneR

Pauline Amell Nash

contRiButoRS

Bill Allen, Debbie Carini,Eric Garton, Carol Lerew, Rebecca Lerback, Lucinda McDade,Bart O’Brien, Linda Worlow

editoRial office

Send letters and submissions to:RSABG, Public Relations, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden 1500 North College AvenueClaremont, CA 91711Email: pnash@rsabg.org

GardenVariety is published fourtimes a year by the Office of Development. Copyright 2013 byRancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden.Postage paid at Claremont, 91711.

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardendisplays, documents and conservesthe native flora of California.Members enjoy many benefits andhelp renowned horticulture, science and education programsflourish.

to become a member visitwww.rsabg.org or call (909) 625-8767.

Elin R. DowdChairperson, Board of Trustees

GaRdenVariety

Tis was an exciting year for Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden! We proudlycelebrated our 85th year as a valuable community—and worldwide—re-source for the preservation and study of California native plants and as aplace to play, relax and learn. Many things sustain us during these remarkabletimes, most importantly the support of friends like you.

Our founder, Susanna Bixby Bryant, held a deep curiosity about the natu-ral world and she believed that native California plants—the coastal sages,manzanitas and California buckwheats, to name just a few—are beautiful intheir own right.

Each day, we take care to stay true to Bryant’s legacy, encouraging discovery and lifelong learning. In recent months, Rancho Santa Ana BotanicGarden has experienced changes that will continue to help us grow in newand exciting ways. I am pleased to announce that Dr. Lucinda McDade isour new interim executive director. In November, the RSABG Board ofTrustees accepted Patrick S. Larkin’s resignation for personal reasons aftereight years of service as executive director. He left the organization after aperiod of considerable growth and in a good position to promote the conser-vation and appreciation of California native plants.

McDade is the RSABG Judith B. Friend Director of Research and profes-sor and chair of the Claremont Graduate University Botany Department.RSABG hosts a master’s and Ph.D. granting graduate program in botany inassociation with Claremont Graduate University. McDade has been withRancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden since 2006 and enjoys the diversity ofworking in a research institution that is set in a botanic garden, especially theopportunities to interact with members and visitors. She earned her Ph.D.from Duke University and has held previous appointments in natural historymuseums (the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, 2001-2006),academia (University of Arizona, 1992-2000) and in science administration(the Organization for Tropical Studies, 1985-1992).

McDade’s dedication to the mission of Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden has been evident over the years as she has fulfilled her public and research roles with knowledge and professionalism. You may have met her recently while she staffed the experts’ table at our Fall Planting Festival.

I hope you will join me in welcoming Dr. McDade to her new role and insupporting all the staff and volunteers as they continue our crucial work topromote and protect California’s native plants and their habitats.

Winter 2013

Contents |

2www.rsabg.org

Features

Depar tments

When They Were WildA collaborative project uncovers the beautifulhistory of California wildflowers.

California Native PlantGardeners Sprout atTemple City High

Garden SceneThe Great Horned Owl, Gateways to the Communities, powerPLANT

california native PlantsDiscovery Shows Studying Plants is Key toSaving em: A Barrel of Monkeyflowers

nursery newsGrow Native Nursery Calendar

volunteer todayA Gator for the Garden

Garden GuideEvents, Classes and Programs

on the coveR: Clara Mason Fox’sEschscholzia californica (California poppy).

On this page: Milford Zones’ Diplacuslongiflorus (southern monkeyflower).

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GaRdenVarietye Newsletter of Rancho Santa ana Botanic GaRden

WINTER 2013

try to imagine a creepy lost-in-the-woods movie or haunted house adven-ture without the familiar “hoo, hoo,hoo” call of the great horned owl.

e most frequently recorded owl call usedas background sound in movies, plays andtheme park adventures is that of the greathorned owl, Bubo virginianus. Also known as ahoot owl in some areas of the country, it is thelargest, most widely distributed owl in theAmericas (including both North and SouthAmerica). Its range extends from central SouthAmerica north through Alaska and the CentralPlains of Canada.

e great horned owl is the most daringand adaptable species of all the owls in theWestern Hemisphere. It can weigh over fivepounds with a wingspan up to 49 inches. Adults havethe distinctive large tufts that appear to be horns, butthis easily recognized feature is actually erect feathers.

ere is a wide variation in plumage coloration de-pending on habitat. ose living in forested regions tendto be darker with heavy barred markings. As they roostin pine or oak tree canopies, those markings camouflagethe owls with their surroundings. Subspecies inhabitingopen areas, such as the desert great horned owl, are notonly lighter in coloration, but tend to be smaller.

e large yellow eyes of the great horned owl are im-mobile in their round bone sockets. Instead of being ableto turn its eyes, an owl has to turn its whole head; theneck is capable of rotating 270 degrees without turningthe body. Its hearing is even better than its vision. eright ear, set higher in the skull at a slightly differentangle, allows for pinpointing the sound source.

Great horned owls are nocturnal. ey hunt at duskand dawn from a high perch position where shadowsand foliage serve as camouflage. From such vantagepoints, they dive to the ground, wings folded, crushingthe prey instantly with their long curved talons. eyalso hunt by flying low over the ground scanning forprey activity or, occasionally, they may walk on theground in pursuit of a meal.

Prey can vary based on opportunity and availability.Most prey are small to medium-sized mammals, such ashares, rabbits and rodents. Great horned owls will alsocatch and eat small and large birds and reptiles. Any-where from 6 to 10 hours later owls regurgitate pelletscomposed of non-digestible bits, often seen below theroosting or nesting site.

Great horned owls breed late in January or early Feb-ruary and are often heard calling to each other as early asOctober. Pairs may mate for life. Like all owls, great

3 RANCHO SANTA ANA BOTANIC GARDEN

| Garden Scene

e Great horned owlby Carol Lerew

PHOTO: BLAIRE BRADLEY

at last year’s family Bird fest, two great horned owls were added to the tally of 36species of birds spotted at the Garden during the Great Backyard Bird count.

www.rsabg.org

Garden Scene |

4Winter 2013

horned owls do not build their own nests. ey willmove into a nest used by some other large bird like acrow or raven, or even a squirrel’s nest. Also used arecavities in trees, sheltered depressions in rocks, de-serted buildings and artificial platforms.

ere are usually two eggs to a clutch, althoughthere can be more when food is plentiful. Incubationperiod averages about 33 days. e female does allthe incubation and rarely moves from the nest, whilethe male owl brings food to her. At approximately sixweeks, the young owls move onto nearby branchesand start to fly a week later, although they aren’t verycompetent until they are about 10 to 12 weeks old.ey remain nearby, continuing to beg for food fromthe parents, sometimes as late as five months afterleaving the nest.

Wild owls may live for up to 13 years, whereascaptive owls may live as long as 38 years. Most wildowl mortality is human-related. ey will sometimesfly into man-made objects including power lines,wire fences and moving cars. Pesticides have alsotaken a heavy toll. Although great horned owls arenot considered a threatened species, most states havenow outlawed the hunting and trapping of them.

In the Garden, at least one pair of the Californiagreat horned owl, Bubo virginianus pacificus, makesits home. Fraser Pemberton, RSABG volunteer na-ture interpreter and Audubon bird walk guide, notesthat they have nested in various places including theCalifornia Plant Communities. He recently has lo-cated them on Indian Hill Mesa between the Con-tainer Garden and the orne Council Ring.

In past years, visitors have delighted at the sightof four or five downy chicks aligned on a high pinebranch loudly begging for food from a harried momand dad. Frequent visitors watched those chicks growflight feathers, practice less-than-steady attempts atflying day by day until suddenly, it seemed, they hadfledged into the world.

come add your observation of a cooper’s hawk, mourning doveor owl to the list at the 2013 family Bird fest on feb. 17.

e California Plant Communities offer visitors a chanceto experience the distinct regional association of plants thatshare growing conditions. But the communities are someof the least publicly appreciated areas in the Garden. ScottLaFleur, director of horticulture, is working to change that.

“I want to make the communities more understandableto visitors,” said LaFleur. “e Gateways to the Communi-ties will help us tell the story of our collections and shareinformation about the connections between botanical re-search and conservation horticulture.”

e Gateways project is a long-term undertaking and acritical aspect of RSABG master planning that involves re-organization of the California Plant Communities. ecommunities’ overhaul will help RSABG better conveyplant diversity and adaptations within specific geographicalboundaries such as the California islands, Baja Californiaand scrub communities.

It will rearrange the communities and gardens to putthe right plant in the right place, while preserving acces-sioned plants that cannot be moved. Following the MasterPlan, e Gateways project creates the Communities Trail,a main loop around the California Plant Communitieswith educational signs and occasional respite with shade,water and plant and communities information.

More than a dozen arbors donated to RSABG will soonbecome the thresholds—gateways—to each plant commu-nity. e brightly colored arbors will be interpretative hubsalong the Communities Trail and will offer visitors an op-portunity to experience the creativity and ingenuity of theRSABG horticulturists who in addition to caring for theGarden’s beautiful plant collections are creating amazingenvironmental art in the California Plant Communities.

Gateways to theCalifornia Communities

| Garden Scene

RANCHO SANTA ANA BOTANIC GARDEN5

Grant Helps Garden PromoteEnvironmental Literacy with powerPLANT

RANCHO SANTA ANA BOTANIC GARDEN IS USING A $50,000 PRIVATE

FOUNDATION GRANT TO HELP PAY FOR A NEW ENVIRONMENTAL

EDUCATION PROGRAM, which is expected to broaden K – 12 and commu-nity engagement in environmental issues.

e BCM Foundation grant helps enhance environmental educationthrough powerPLANT (People Living and Nature riving), a new programthat builds on RSABG’s well-regarded educational programs.

PowerPLANT, which includes a series of free public workshops, uses un-conventional methods to reach students, teachers and school administrators.Designed like a contest, 10 teams are competing for prizes and cash awardsfor their school and recognition as leaders for positive environmental change.

e teams, consisting of at least four students, are spending the 2012-13school year researching and critically evaluating environmental topicsthrough team-based multidisciplinary activities that promote environmentalawareness, scholarship and stewardship.

e school-based initiatives, which range from planting native plantschool gardens to hosting Earth Day events at their schools, help personalizelocal environmental priorities. Participants will present their projects at theEnvironmental Action Showcase on May 18 at RSABG.

PowerPLANT encourages knowledge and engagement of relevant envi-ronmental issues, especially pertaining to California education state standardsin curriculum and California’s Education and the Environment Initiative(EEI), the first of its kind in the nation.

RSABG has more than 30 years of experience providing educational pro-grams for students and teachers that convey the importance of native plants,cultures of indigenous people and natural history of California.

In 2011, the BCM Foundation awarded the organization a grant to alignour longstanding K – 12 school tour curriculum with EEI, helping teachersreinforce classroom learning with hands-on instruction in the Garden.

powerPlant workshopsGet Sustainable!Jan. 29, 5 – 6:30 p.m.Sustainable Claremont provides infoon local sustainability projects and howyou can get involved.

School Gardensfeb. 27, 4:30 – 6 p.m.Learn about the many benefits of school gardens and how you cancultivate efforts at your favorite school.

Botanical Research and Conservation 101March 19, 5 – 6:30 p.m.See how RSABG botanical research and conservation efforts are vital in advancing knowledge of plants world-wide and protecting native plants.

Earth Day Extravaganzaapril 2, 4:30 – 6 p.m.Be selective with your time. Come learn about volunteering options at the many local Earth Day events.

Environmental Action ShowcaseMay 18, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.Come see the fruits of the powerPLANT projects.

Workshops are free and open to the public. Garden admission free for

workshop attendees.

e research was conducted by NaomiFraga, a conservation botanist at RanchoSanta Ana Botanic Garden and doctoralcandidate at Claremont Graduate Univer-sity, in Claremont, Calif.

Among the field projects Fraga hasconducted over the past decade as abotanist in Southern California, one fo-cused on monkeyflowers, so named be-cause some of their flowers resemblemonkey faces. California has dozens ofspecies of monkeyflowers, but the tinyplants often find themselves in harm’s way.e threats include development, waterdiversion and off-road vehicles.

“ey’re very emblematic of the Cali-fornia flora,” Fraga says. “ey’re very di-verse here.”

In the past, scientists who specialize inclassifying species studied monkeyflowersthat had been dried and compacted asherbarium specimens. is obscured phys-ical characteristics of the plants importantto identifying differences among thespecies and “led to confusion,” she says.at, in turn, impeded understanding ofthe true nature of monkeyflower diversity.

With help from several botanical gar-den staffers and interns, Fraga spent 60days in mountains and deserts collectingdata on more than 100 populations of

monkeyflowers, photographing them andobserving their characteristics in their nat-ural state.

Among other findings, her study re-vealed that what was once considered asingle species of monkeyflower is insteadfive separate species. Analysis of DNAconfirmed this.

ey are not technically new speciesbecause they evolved over eons. But in theparlance of botanists they are called newlydescribed.

Why is all this important for plantconservation?

Fraga estimates that four of these fivenew species, after going through a conser-vation status review, would be consideredimperiled or critically imperiled—thenearest categories to extinction. Knowinghow close to disappearing these newly de-scribed species are, conservationists cannow take steps to save them.

e bottom line, Fraga and other sci-entists say, is that more field and lab workwill be needed if California’s imperiledbiodiversity is to be conserved intelli-gently. e case of the monkeyflower isjust one example of that.

“ere are lots of botanists working inCalifornia, but you’d be surprised,” she says.“A lot of things remain to be discovered.”

Winter 2013

California Native Plants |

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Discovery Shows Studying Plants

is Key to Saving ThemA new study of native California monkeyflowers shows how little isknown about plant species even as some slide toward extinction. Thestudy also demonstrates one of the key goals of botanical gardens: tolearn more about the diversity of plants and their status in the wild.

by Bill Allen

This ar ticle was originally featured in the special issue of theCenter for Plant Conservation newsletter, Oct 2012.

You can download the entire newsletter at http://tiny.cc/calplants

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When they

RANCHO SANTA ANA BOTANIC GARDEN

When They Were Wild: Recapturing

California’s Wildflower Heritage

The Huntington’s Boone Gallery

March 9 – June 10, 2013

A collaborative project of e Huntington,Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden and

the eodore Payne Foundation.

Special Membership Benefit! RSABG membersmay visit e Huntington at no charge through

the duration of this special exhibition with avalid RSABG membership card.

Winter 2013 8www.rsabg.org

were wildCalifornia’srich plant lifehas captured the imagination of horticulturists, scientistsand artists for more than a century.

A collaborative project of Rancho Santa Ana BotanicGarden, e Huntington Library, Art Collections, andBotanical Gardens and eodore Payne Foundation forWildflowers and Native Plants, When ey Were Wildinterprets the unique diversity of the California florafrom its origins to its current popularity.

This diversity has been depicted by talented artists whowere also amateur naturalists, including Alice Brown Chit-tenden, Clara Mason Fox and James Milford Zornes. Illus-trations by these and other artists, complemented byherbarium collections (museum specimens of dried plants),publications and ephemera, depict an era when many ofthese species passed from growing wild into domestication.

Some 200 items in the exhibition from the three collaborating institutions and from a number of otherpublic and private collections tell the story of the iconicbeauty of California plants and share the botanical, eco-logical and horticultural nature of native flowers.

Over the past three years, I have gathered and cata-loged RSABG’s holdings that will be part of the exhibitand/or part of the extensive online resources for the ex-hibit. Irene Holiman, RSABG’s library specialist, and twoGetty Multicultural Undergraduate Interns, Jessica Torresin 2012 and Jessica Dewberry in 2010, have been im-mensely helpful. Torres and Dewberry were indispensablein researching and writing up the artists’ biographies aswell as scanning a wide array of paintings and documents.

e exhibit will be organized around several themes: abrief introduction to the biological setting of California;the discovery, describing, cataloging and depiction ofCalifornia wildflowers; the science and horticulture ofCalifornia wildflowers and a gallery featuring dozens ofimages that we’ve nicknamed “the garden.”

Many of these artists portrayed dozens to hundreds ofCalifornia wildflowers. ese works illustrate remarkable

stories of beautiful plants. ese stories are the stuff of leg-ends; they meld scientific discovery and horticulture.

On display will be RSABG’s first edition copy of theoriginal published image of the first California nativeplant to flower in cultivation in Europe: beach sand ver-bena (Abronia umbellata). is California wildflower wasdescribed and published by Jean Baptiste Lamarck in1791 in his landmark 21-volume treatise, Tableau Ency-clopedique et Methodique des Trois Regnes de la Nature.

As with many early images of California’s flora, thisone has quite a backstory. e seeds of the plant were col-lected in Monterey in September of 1786, by Jean-Nicholas Collignon of the La Pérouse Expedition. isFrench expedition’s two ships, L’Astrolabe and La Bous-sole, carried the first non-Spanish European explorers toreach California’s shores since Sir Francis Drake’s landingin 1579. From California, the expedition crossed the Pa-cific and landed in Macao, and then traveled north untilthey reached Petropavlovsk on Russia’s Kamchatka Penin-sula on September 7, 1787.

e expedition departed from Petropavlovsk on Sep-tember 30, 1787, but left Jean Baptiste Barthélemy deLesseps to carry the expedition’s materials overland in orderto report to the French Ambassador in St. Petersburg.

It took de Lesseps an entire year to reach St. Peters-burg. From there, he traveled to Paris arriving on Octo-ber 17, 1788. e La Pérouse Expedition wassubsequently lost and was never seen again, leaving deLesseps the only survivor.

Interestingly, the botanist Jean Baptiste Lamarckwrites that the beach sand verbena had been growing inthe Jardin des Plantes in Paris since 1788. In my research,I have not been able to ascertain whether the seeds weresown and germinated in 1788 (highly likely) or whetherthey were blooming in 1788 (highly unlikely, given thetime frame). In any event, it is clear that this sand ver-bena is the first known California native plant to begrown from seed to flowering in Europe.

by Bart O’Brien

O’Brien is the RSABG director of special projectsand co-curator of When ey Were Wild.

IT ALL STARTED WITH A HUG FROM ACTRESS RENE RUSSO.Well, not entirely, but that’s how Scott Randles, chair ofthe science department at Temple City High School, likesto remember it.

Ten years ago, Randles, who teaches AP environmen-tal science, was looking at a grassy strip of land outsidehis classroom door and thinking of putting in a vegetablepatch, a place where his students could enjoy hands-onaccess to gardening. When he went to Garden with aView, a fundraising event at Rancho Santa Ana BotanicGarden, and heard Russo speak about her native garden,it got him thinking about a project that students couldenjoy during their time at school, from Septemberthrough June.

“With a vegetable garden, everything ripens in thesummer, when no one is around,” said Randles. “Studentscould be responsible for all aspects of a native garden.”

ough he had to wait a full year to receive the hugfrom Russo, he set his student crew to work, ripping outthe grass, removing the sprinkler system and creating listsof native plants. With purchases and donations fromRancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden and the eodorePayne Foundation, one-gallon containers of nativespecies like California flannel bush, Nevin’s barberry andbuckwheat were transplanted to the new garden.

One student of Greek descent learned about nativegrapes but was worried that his vine would never grow.Today, that grapevine weaves its way through a beautifularbor, another community project designed by architect,Claremont resident and Garden enthusiast Michael Sheaand built by students.

e Temple City High School native garden hasopened a world of opportunity for students who chooseplants with an eye toward utility and bringing in otheraspects of nature such as butterflies and hummingbirds.

According to Randles, several plants have naturalized.He cites the example of hummingbird sage, “From oneplant, we’ve now had three generations,” he explained.

Students and teachers conduct labs in the garden, forexample, doing calculations on biodiversity such as theShannon-Wiener Index (used to measure the effects ofhabitat quality such as effect of pollution effluents). Eng-lish classes use it as an inspiration.

e garden grew so popular, in fact, that it branchedout to a nearby seating area where students can eat theirlunches amid potted native plants. e project, known asOperation Sprout, was carried out by Temple City HighSchool’s Environmental Club and won first place at theFairchild Challenge Awards ceremony held on May 17,2012. e space is available for further plant study, dis-plays of artwork and social gatherings.

RANCHO SANTA ANA BOTANIC GARDEN9

California Native PlantGardeners Sprout atTemple City High

by Debbie Carini

www.rsabg.org Winter 2013 10

Scott Randles and the California native plant garden at Temple City High School

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Randles jokes that the native garden is often be-smirched by those who don’t understand its purpose.

“It’s been referred to as the weed patch,” he said with achuckle, “but it’s important to show the value of the na-tive plantings. Kids come into my class and they’ve nevereven been out there. en, it’s part of their class work andthey see all the species and the complexity of it.”

Randles went on to explain that many of his studentshave few opportunities to engage with nature.

“A lot of them don’t come into contact with anotherliving thing that isn’t a person or a lawn,” he said.

In the garden, students observe aphids on milkweed(demonstrating trophic levels—the position an organismoccupies in a food chain); they do comparisons with thegrassy areas and find that the birds and lizards prefer thenative habitat.

“Last week, a black widow captured a beetle in itsweb underneath a bench near the native garden,” saidRandles. “I told my students, ‘you won’t see that on agrassy lawn!’”

With community involvement, the garden continuesto flower. Local Girl and Boy Scout troops have con-tributed to the construction of planters and mulching.And the garden has inspired several other environmen-tally friendly efforts. e school’s Environmental Clubhas taken on the issue of ridding the cafeteria of Styro-foam products and the student parking lot now sports aphotovoltaic shade structure that provides 400 kilowattsof power for general use.

“e students even collect plastic recycling aroundthe campus to raise funds for projects in the garden,”said Randles who sees the project as learning in action.He also brings tour groups to Rancho Santa Ana BotanicGarden so that students can get a concept of what theirgarden could look like.

At the most basic level, though, the Temple CityHigh School native garden does what every good gardenshould do—provide a respite from the busy day.

“Sometimes I see the kids just stopping to smell thenative sages,” said Randles. “It’s nice to be able to tellthem, ‘these plants belong here.’”

RANCHO SANTA ANA BOTANIC GARDEN11

| Nursery NewsGrow Native Nursery

in the Veterans GardenVA Greater Los Angeles

Health Care System100 Davis Ave.

Los Angeles 90049(424) 234-0481

gnnwestla@rsabg.org

Grow Native NurseryClaremont

Rancho Santa AnaBotanic Garden

1500 N College Ave.Claremont 91711

(909) 625-8767 ext. 404gnnclaremont@rsabg.org

Free Native Plant ClinicGrow Native Nursery ClaremontJan. 5, feb. 2, March 2, april 6, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.Bring gardening questions to Claremont on first Saturdays.

Volunteer Day in the Veterans GardenGrow Native Nursery in the Veterans GardenJan. 12, feb. 9, March 9, april 13, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.Bring a hat, sunscreen, sturdy shoes and water and lenda hand to the veterans and GNN staff on second Saturdays.

Free Worm Tea SundaysGrow Native Nursery in the Veterans GardenJan. 13, feb. 10, March 10, april 14Bring a liter container and take home worm tea—yourplants will thank you.

Saturday Mornings in the Nursery Grow Native Nursery in the Veterans Gardenfree workshops, open to the public, 10 a.m.Jan. 10 Worm Composting WorkshopJan. 26 Planting to Pruning: e Basics of Native Plant HorticultureFeb. 10 Good Bugs, Bad Bugs, Beneficials in the Native GardenFeb. 16 Container Gardening with California Native PlantsFeb. 23 Caring for a California Native GardenMarch 16 Planting to Pruning: Basic Native Plant HorticultureMarch 30 Veggie Gardens with Stephen Baldonado

Tomatomania!Grow Native Nursery in the Veterans Gardenapril 5 and 6, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.Find native plants and tomatos at the renown heirloom tomatoseedling sale.

HousewarmingGrow Native Nursery in the Veterans Gardenapril 15, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Join the fun and festivities as we celebrate the opening of new retailfacilities and demo gardens at GNN in the Veterans Garden.

New-bee Workshop: Basics ofBeekeeping with Honey LoveGrow Native Nursery in theVeterans GardenMarch 9, 2 – 3 p.m.Bees thrive all year in Los Angeles,which means now is a great time tolearn beekeeping. Honey Love is a L.A. nonprofit organization ded-icated to protecting honeybees andeducating new urban beekeepers.

A Gator forthe Garden

Albert Finnerty is not one to shy away from tack-ling difficult projects at RSABG. Since 2008, hehas helped out in many ways, including assisting

with last year’s vocational horticulture training programfor parolees and as a weekly volunteer in the vast plantcommunities section of the Garden. e key to workingin the communities is to have patience, thick gloves,plenty of water and a reliable electric cart to bring you—and your heavy tools—safely from place-to-place.On a particularly hot and sunny day last June, when hewas working at the farthest corner of the Garden, Alberthad all he needed except for one thing. His cart wouldnot start when it was time to leave. Feeling stranded andfrustrated, he was determined not to let this happen tohim, or anyone else, again. “at night, I told my wifeAnnette that I wanted to get a new cart for the Garden,”said Albert. “I knew it would be put to good use immedi-ately, and would be a welcome addition to the horticul-ture department.”

Timing was just right for them to make this gift.Annette had recently benefitted from her parents’ estate,and she wanted to do something in their honor. anksto the Finnertys’ generosity, RSABG now has a fullyloaded John Deere Gator TE cart given in memory ofParker and Dorothy Daughhetee. “is gift reflects our

appreciation to the Garden and its importantmission; and its practice of treating its volun-teers with consideration and appreciation,”noted Annette. “e John Deere Gator is reallycool,” remarked Albert. “I worked closely withJoan McGuire, grounds manager, to find theright cart for the best price. Richard Rojo

[RSABG horticulturist] said he would be afraid to put ascratch on it. So would I.”

“RSABG is thrilled to have this new cart,” said ScottLaFleur, director of horticulture. “It will make a big dif-ference in our efficiency on the grounds, and has theadded benefit of improving the comfort and safety of ourvalued volunteers.”

www.rsabg.org Winter 2013 12

Volunteer Today |

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Joan McGuire and Alber t Finner ty discuss one of the oaksaplings he planted in the California Plant Communities.

RSABG volunteers put the Gator to work rightaway helping to clean up the Communities.

“My father was raised on a farm inIllinois and having a John Deere wouldwarm his heart,” said Annette Finnerty

JanuaryJan. 5, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.free native Plant clinicGrow Native Nursery ClaremontBring gardening questions to Claremont on first Saturdays (Feb. 2, March 2, April 6). Look formore nursery events listed on page 11.

Jan. 6, 8 a.m.Beginning Bird WalkBring binoculars and join Pomona Valley Audubon Society on guidedbird watching walks. Free event andfree Garden admission for participants.

Jan. 20, 10 a.m.Guided tram tour of thecalifornia Plant communitiesTickets: $5/person

Jan. 26, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.Medicinal Plants of californiaJoin experienced herbalist WilliamBroen for a Garden walk and presenta-tion featuring medicinal and edibleplants native to California.Fee: members $20, public $25.

Jan. 29, 5 – 6:30 p.m.Get Sustainable!powerPlant WorkshopSustainable Claremont will provide information on local sustainabilityissues and projects. Learn how you canget involved.

Februaryfeb. 3, 8 am.Beginning Bird WalkBring binoculars and join Pomona Valley Audubon Society on guidedbird watching walks. Free event andfree Garden admission for participants.

feb. 17, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.family Bird festFree with Garden admission. Learnabout the diverse bird life in the Garden and participate in the “GreatBackyard Bird Count,” a national citizen-science project.

feb. 17, 10 a.m.Guided tram tour of the california Plant communitiesTickets: $5/person.

feb. 17, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.Gift Shop Sale: Birds in focusYou’ll be happy as a lark when you save25% on any bird-related merchandisein the California Garden Gift Shop.Visit our website to print a coupon topresent when you visit for savings.

feb. 24, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.Medicinal Plants of californiaJoin experienced herbalist WilliamBroen for a Garden walk and presenta-tion featuring medicinal and edibleplants native to California.Fee: members $20, public $25.

feb. 27, 4:30 – 6 p.m.School GardenspowerPlant WorkshopFrom elementary to colleges, schoolgardens are flourishing. Learn aboutthe many benefits and how you cancultivate efforts at your favorite school.

MarchMarch 3, 8 a.m.Beginning Bird WalkBring binoculars and join Pomona Valley Audubon Society on guidedbird watching walks. Free event andfree Garden admission for participants.

March 9 – June 9friday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.When ey Were Wild (at RanchoSanta ana Botanic Garden)Selected original works not included inthe exhibition at e Huntington willbe on display at RSABG. Free withGarden admission.

March 16, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.Medicinal Plants of californiaJoin experienced herbalist WilliamBroen for a Garden walk and presenta-tion featuring medicinal and edibleplants native to California.Fee: members $20, public $25.

March 17exclusive director’s circle eventDinner and behind-the-scenes tour ofthe When ey Were Wild art exhibit,co-curated by Bart O’Brien. Seating islimited, reservations are required.

March 17, 10 a.m.Guided tram tour of the california Plant communitiesTickets: $5/person

RANCHO SANTA ANA BOTANIC GARDEN13

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Garden hoursDaily 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Closed Jan. 1, July 4, anksgiving and Dec. 25

admissionFree for RSABG members

$8 Adults$6 Seniors (65+) and Students

$4 Children (3-12)

MembershipIndividual $45

Family $75

Winter 2013

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March 19, 5 – 6:30 p.m.Botanical Research and conserva-tion 101: powerPlant WorkshopHow botanical research and conserva-tion efforts at RSABG play a vital roleadvancing knowledge of plants world-wide and protecting native plants.

March 23, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.Spring open housefree Garden admission dayWelcome spring at the California Garden Gift Shop, complimentary refreshments and prize drawings.

March 23, 11 a.m.Member appreciation dayLearn more about RSABG and theGarden during the Spring OpenHouse. Welcome remarks and refresh-ments for members at 11 a.m.

March 30 and 31Wildflower ShowFree with Garden admission. Specialexhibition of wildflowers broughtindoors for an intimate viewing. Free Garden admission and tram tourson April 1 for visitors over 65 (noApril fooling).

Aprilapril 2, 4:30 – 6 p.m.earth day extravaganzapowerPlant WorkshopBe selective with your time. Come learn about volunteering options atthe many local Earth Day events.

april 4exclusive Gold card donor eventOpening Reception for Gateway tothe Communities exhibit. Seating islimited, reservations are required.

april 5 and 6, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.tomatomania!GNN in the Veterans Gardene longest-running heirloom tomatoevent in the nation gets a Californianative plant twist! Select from hun-dreds of heirloom tomatos and growthe best of both worlds—edibles and aCalifornia native garden! Look formore nursery events listed on page 11.

april 7, 8 a.m.Beginning Bird WalkBring binoculars and join Pomona Valley Audubon Society on guidedbird watching walks. Free event andfree Garden admission for participants.

april 15 - 19, 5 – 6 p.m.california native Plant Week Sunset Tours free with Gardenadmission. Guided walking toursconclude with a view of the setting sun.

april 15, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.housewarmingGNN in the Veterans GardenJoin the fun and festivities as we celebrate the opening of new retail facilities and demo gardens at GNNin the Veterans Garden. Look formore nursery events listed on page 11.

april 15 – 21, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.Gardening Book SaleIn honor of California Native PlantWeek, the gift shop is offering 20%off all gardening books. Visit our web-site to print a coupon to present forsavings on popular gardening books.

april 21, 10 a.m.Guided tram tour of the california Plant communitiesTickets: $5/person.

WeeklySat., 8:30 a.m. Garden Walking clubFree with Garden admission.

Wed., 9:30 a.m.Yoga for BeginnersMembers: $10, public: $12/each class.

urs., 9 a.m.tai chiMembers: $48, public: $60/month.

Sat. and Sun., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.March 23 – June 9Wildflower WalksFree with Garden admission.

www.rsabg.org

Manzanita are not only beautiful, the berriesand fruits of many species are edible.

Rancho Santa ana Botanic GaRden

1500 North College AvenueClaremont, CA 91711

Address Service Requested

Nonprofit OrganizationU.S. Postage PAID

Claremont, CA 91711Permit No. 469

June 15, 2013claremont folk festivalRancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden isproud to welcome the Claremont FolkFestival to the Garden next June!

Bring the family and join us for twostages of live music, an artists’ village,food trucks, children’s entertainment andmusic and art workshops.

thiS iS a SPecial ticketed event.e Garden will not be open for generaladmission. Guest, membership or admission passes are not accepted for thisevent. e Claremont Folk Festival is presented by the Folk Music Center andMuseum, a nonprofit organization.