Volume 24, Number 2 Published by the UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BOTANICAL GARDEN at Berkeley Spring 1999

The flowering currants, genus Ribes, are a popularthematic element in the Californian Section of theGarden. The genus is placed in the gooseberry family(Grossulariaceae) in The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants ofCalifornia. They are especially welcome as a late winter/earlyspring bloomer and as a favorite of hummingbirds.

Approximately 150 species comprise the genus and areprimarily found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere,with nine species in Europe and a few in the South AmericanAndes. Many species have been used for their edible fruit,especially in Europe, where hybrids with relatively huge

Flowering Currant Selections

fruits have been selected (gooseberries). The Gardenincludes species from the U.S.A., Belgium, Canada,China, Germany, Korea, Mexico, and Switzerland.

They have tremendous potential for use in home gardensand larger landscapes. Garden horticulturist Roger Raichehas a special interest in this genus and has kept an eye outfor special forms during his many forays into the Californiacountryside. As a result, he has found and given cultivarnames to several wonderful forms of our native currants.These were published by Roger in Pacific Horticulturein the Fall 1991 issue, and are featured here.

‘Inverness White’’ ‘Joyce Rose’’

BU N I V E R S I T Y o f C A L I F O R N I A

OTANICALGARDEN

2 University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley

Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum ‘Inverness White’ is aproven fast grower with wonderful white flower clusters. Asthe flowers fade they develop a rosy cast, giving a bicoloredeffect. The typical form of this variety has pale pink flowers.Roger found this one on Inverness Ridge in Marin Co.,and it has since made its way around the state to variousgardens, both public and private. This plant was featured,with other new introductions, at a national meeting of theAmerican Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta.

Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum ‘Joyce Rose’ is namedin honor of his mother, for its beautiful deep pink flowers.It has the deepest rose-pink flowers of any of this speciesRoger has ever seen. He found the parent on MontaraMountain in San Mateo County, from which he collectedseed. This form features open, arching branches with fastgrowth and relatively long flowering period.

Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum ‘Pink Drops’ isderived from the same seed batch that produced ‘JoyceRose’. Its habit is more compact and slower growing. Theflowers appear in great number, creating a cheerful displayof pink.

Ribes malvaceum ‘Montara Rose’ was found among palerforms of this chaparral currant on Montara Mountain. Itfeatures deep rose-red buds and deep rose flowers becomingdarker with age. Its habit is much branched, and slowgrowing to a height of about four feet and width of three feetafter nine years.

These are only a few of the many selections of Gardenplants introduced by Roger and other members of the staff.Fourteen more were published by Roger in the same articleof Pacific Horticulture.

The Garden has launched a “New Plant IntroductionProgram” to further nurture this process of discovery andselection from within the Garden. Additional support forthis new program from the Elvenia J. Slosson Fund willbegin in July. Program coordinator Martin Grantham isworking with several nurseries to introduce a diverse groupof plants to the landscape industry. These include the drygrowing ferns featured in the Xerophytic Fern Display(temporarily disassembled in preparation for replacementof the Desert-Rainforest Greenhouse), forms of the Chileanbellflower Lapagera rosea, and many more. We will keep youinformed as these new introductions become available.

—Holly Forbes

‘Montara Rose’‘Pink Drops’

Spring 1999 3

DIRECTOR’S COLUMNSpring in the Garden this year means watching new

buds opening on plants blackened by winter frost andbeing grateful for the winter rains, which provided plentyof moisture without wreaking the damage caused by theprevious winter’s El Niño. Spring also brings some excitingchanges in our staffing. I am happy to announce that ChrisCarmichael, who has been working in the California NativeArea as an assistant horticulturist, has been selected as thenew career staff horticulturist for that area. I am also thrilledto welcome Janet Williams as our new development andmarketing staffer. She will be helping us improve ourpublic outreach.

We just received $14,477 from the Elvenia J. SlossonFund for Ornamental Horticulture to support our NewPlant Introduction Program. The proposal was written byDavid Brunner and Martin Grantham and they are veryexcited to have the resources to develop new horticulturalambassadors for the garden.

The Annual Fund return was up 50% over last year.Thank you to all who contributed.

Remember to mark Friday, April 23rd on your calendarsfor the 5:30 -7:00 p.m. Member’s Preview of the SpringPlant Sale. This is your chance to take advantage of ourspecial offerings. The regular Plant Sale will be open tothe general public on April 24th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.I look forward to seeing you there!

—Ellen L. SimmsDirector

RESEARCH IN THEGARDEN

Numerous requests for research material have been filled recently,

among them:

Prof. Alexander Purcell, Department of Environmental

Science, Policy, and Management at UCB, collected sap

from the Garden’s California grape (Vitis californica) for

his study of diseases on vineyard plants.

Prof. Rex Brennan, Soft Fruit and Perennial Crops Department,

Scottish Crop Research Institute, Dundee, Scotland

requested rooted cuttings and pollen of various species of

California native gooseberries and currents (Ribes; origin:

California) for his research program. He is collaborating

with Prof. J. Carter at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul.

Dr. Harald Auge, UFZ Centre for Environmental Research

Leipzig-Halle, Department of Community Ecology, Halle,

Germany, received seed of two species of barberry

(Mahonia; origin: California), for his study of the invasive

nature of North American Mahonia in Europe.

Dr. Wendy Zomlefer, post-doctoral associate at the Univer-

sity of Florida, received flowers from several members of

the genus Zigadenus (origin: California) for her research

of its taxonomic relationships.

Prof. Douglas Soltis, Washington State University in Pullman,

received Indian rhubarb (Darmera peltatum; origin:

California) flowers in various stages of development for a

study of its taxonomic relationships.

Dr. Mark Fishbein, post-doctoral associate at the Washington

State University in Pullman, received flowers of the

milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae; origin: South Africa) in

various stages of development.

Mr. Michael Zanis, doctoral student at Washington State

University in Pullman, received samples of boldo (Peumus

boldus; origin: Chile) flowers in various stages for his

phylogeny study of the family Monimiaceae.

Ms. Sandra Floyd, doctoral student at the University of

Colorado in Boulder, received samples of Illicium

mexicanum (origin: Mexico) flowers for her study of early

angiosperm development.

Mr. Andrew Salywon, graduate student at Arizona State

University in Tempe, received samples of Myrtaceae

(origin: Chile) for his study of relationships in the

subtribe Myrtinae.

Ms. N. Misa Werner, doctoral student at the University of

Georgia received cuttings of two tropical species

(Souroubea exauriculata and Norantea guianensis) for her

study of the systematics of the family Marcgraviaceae.

Ms. Barbara Whitlock, doctoral student at Harvard Univer-

sity, received leaves of Hermannia (origin: South Africa)

for her molecular systematic study of the family

Sterculiaceae.

University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley4

Cacti & SucculentsA fine assortment of plants for adventurous xeriscapersinterested in drought-resistant landscaping. These includecolumnar Cleistocactus and Trichocereus, low growing cacti suchas Echinopsis, and succulents such as Dudleya, hardy Echeveria andSedum species, hardy aloes, small and large growing Agavespecies and Furcraea species, in particular the spectacularFurcraea macdougallii (now reportedly extinct in the wild), whichlooks like a yucca on a stick with an enlarged, caudiciform base.For indoor growers we have a good selection of Haworthia,minature Aloe, Gasteria, Anacampseros, unusual South AmericanEcheveria and uncommon Mexican Crassulaceae, some veryinteresting Mexican and South American cacti, and collector’sitems such as winter growing dwarf Crassula, succulentPelargonium, and an excellent assortment of Conophytum.

California NativesSmall but varied selection.

Carnivorous PlantsNepenthes (Old World pitcher plants), including alata, intermedia,maxima, rokka, and ventricosa, as well as a selection of Sarracenia(New World pitcher plants). Sundews include Drosera species, aswell as Utricularia, Pinguicula, and venus fly traps. Bring the kids!

FernsWe will offer a limited number of tree ferns, including: Cyatheabrownii, Dicksonia sellowiana, Dicksonia squarrosa. Hardy fernspecies: Dryopteris, Polystichum, Thelypteris, Polypodium. AlsoPlatycerium bifurcatum, Adiantum, and many others. For theterrarium we have Hemionitis palmata (Strawberry Fern).

Grasses and Grass-like PlantsWe will have some Festuca (fescue). And for the grass-like plantswe will have Restionaceae (from Australia and South Africa) andLiriope (Liliaceae).

HerbsWe will continue to offer selections from our Chinese MedicinalHerb Garden as well as thymes, oreganos, rosemary and otherMediterranean offerings from the Herb Garden.

HouseplantsAeschynanthus from Borneo, Hibiscus, Hoya bella, Whitfieldialongiflora, Crusea calocephala, Scindapsis pictus ‘Argyraeus’,Calliandra emarginata, Bromelia pitcairniifolia, Costus igneus, Pileainvolucrata (Peru), Dichorisandra thyrsiflora, Tillandsia species,begonias, and bromeliads.

Tropical OrchidsYou don’t need a greenhouse to enjoy growing these exoticplants. A bright windowsill will make a happy home forPaphiopedilum (lady’s slipper) and Phalaenopsis (moth orchids),for instance. We have a very large selection of orchids on handfrom many genera (particularly Paphiopedilum) to satisfybeginners and experienced growers alike.

Hardy OrchidsNamed Cymbidium cultivars in flower and spike, Epidendrum, andour unique selection of Bletilla hybrids.

PerennialsActaea pachypoda ‘Dolls Eyes’, Alstroemeria, Campanula, Crinum,Doronicum, Hemerocallis, non-bearded Iris, Libertia, Lilium davidii,Lilium pyrenaicum, Peucedanum japonicum, Sandersonia, Tulbaghia(white flowers), and more.

Rock Garden: Agapanthus ‘Tinker Bell’, Aquilegia, Alyssumspinosum ‘Roseum’, Ardisia japonica, Aster ‘Tiny Tot’ (with darkpurple flowers), Dorycnium pentaphyllum, Heuchera, Geum ‘LionelCox’, Potentilla, Primula, Silene, Vellozia elegans, and more.

This list represents stock as of the end of January. More iscoming by seed and digging...

RhododendronsSeveral Maddenias, both species and hybrids, most of which arefragrant: Species: Rhododendron burmanicum, R. ciliicalyx, R.crassum, R. cubittii, R. dalhousiae, R. lindleyi, R. veitchianum, R.parryae. Cultivars: Rhododendron ‘Elyse Frye’, R.‘Fragrantissimum’, R. ‘Lemon Mist’, R. ‘Mi Amor’, R. ‘Reine Long’.

Among the many rhododendrons we will be offering are:Rhododendron ‘Anna Rose Whitney’, R. ‘Antoon van Welie’,R. ‘Graf Zeppelin’, R. ‘Purple Splendour’, R. ‘Mrs. Chas. Pearson’,R. ‘Vulcan’, and more.

Malaysian rhododendrons (Vireyas): Rhododendron lochae,R. laetum, and hybrids: R. ‘Clorinda’, R. ‘Satan’s Gift’ xR. aurigeranum, R. ‘Satan’s Gift’ x R. (aurigeranum x R. ‘Dr.Sleumer’) and others.

Trees & ShrubsCornus capitata, Coprosma howera, Heterocentron subtriplinervium(white flowered) Hetercentron muricatum (pink flowered),Escallonia poasana, Eucryphia nymansensis ‘Nymansay’, Grevilleavictoriae, Jovellana violacea, Monochaetum amabilis, Phygelius‘Treewidden Pink’, Stachyurus praecox, Tibouchina scabriuscula.

VinesTwo new Bomarea species (one apricot-colored, and one withlarge clusters of inch-long red flowers) as well as Bomarea salsillafrom Chile, Eustrephus latifolius, Cardiospermum corindum, seedlingplants as well as limited numbers of named cultivars of Lapageriarosea, Pandorea pandorana ‘Golden Showers’, Tecomanthe venusta,Viburnum foetidum var. rectangulatum, and many more.

Silent AuctionHighlights from the silent auction should include Amorphophallustitanum and other species, Aristea spiralis as well as the rare andendangered Aristea lugens with petals that mimic beetles, Bruniaalopecuroides, Cannomois virgata and other restios, Heliconia strictaand other Heliconia species, selected Lapageria cultivars, Micheliawilsonii, Oldenbergia arbuscula and more. Watch for a moredetailed list available at the Garden Shop and on the Gardenweb site as the sale approaches.

Spring Plant Sale 1999Member’s Preview: April 23, 5:00-7:30 p.m. for members only

General Sale: April 24, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Spring 1999 5

GARDEN NOTES

We are pleased to report the recent award of two grantsto the Garden: The California Horticultural Society grantscommittee awarded $1,000 in September 1998 to theGarden for the purchase of equipment for fern propagation.This equipment will make it possible to produce manyindividual plants from the diverse xerophytic fern collectionas well as ferns from throughout the Garden. The Elvenia J.Slosson Fund awarded $14,447 (to begin July 1, 1999) insupport of the New Plants Program. Activities fundedinclude the development and testing of preliminaryevaluation protocols and propagation methods forselected plants. We are grateful for the support of thesetwo organizations.

New Plants Program coordinator Martin Granthamwent on a fern study trip to Costa Rica in late December,early January.

“A little this way...no, no, to the left, up, up over a bit,ahh that’s looking good now.” And so it went on February3rd with Carol Williams conducting and Terry Ohlmandancing the forklift about and around as they deftlypositioned the seven or so tons of boulders donated byAmerican Soil Products, Inc. to the Garden. AlthoughCarol has mainly retired from her job, she was happy, shesaid, to come out and supervise the placement of this hand-selected family of field stones at the corner of the SouthAmerican Area, because “we just love the Garden!” Therocks look right at home there beside the Gunnera chilensis(frost damaged but rapidly re-growing those huge“primordial” leaves). The corner is quite transformedand we send many thanks to Mr. Lou Truesdell, Carol andTerry at American Soil Products Inc.

The Garden ishappy to welcomeJanet Williamsto the part-timeposition ofMarketing andDevelopmentOfficer. Janetbrings several yearsof experience tothe position,coming to us from the RACORSE Network, where she wasdirector of development. RACORSE recycles home healthcare and medical equipment to the medically needy. She alsohas great experience in fund-raising for local public schools,including the New Columbus School and for JeffersonElementary P.T.A. in Berkeley. Janet brings great enthusi-asm, excellent ideas, and familiarity with the Garden to hernew position, having been a regular visitor since her arrivalfrom Australia in 1986.

Since arriving at the Garden she has delighted in talkingto everyone in sight about what they do at the Garden,what their jobs involve, why they like volunteering hereand what they see as the benefits the Garden affords thelocal community and researchers. By fitting all of thesepieces together she will be able to best communicate whatis exciting about the Garden and the programs we offer here.

Janet takes over the editorship of the newsletter with thenext issue and would like to hear what people are interestedin seeing in print—so if you are interested in seeing aparticular topic explored in print, or would be preparedto join a newsletter advisory committee, please call her at510-643-2937.

The February 19th meeting of the Bay Area GardenNetwork was hosted by the Arboretum of the University ofCalifornia at Santa Cruz. Associate Director for EducationJennifer White and New Plants Program CoordinatorMartin Grantham represented the Garden.

University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley6

From the Education Director

EDUCATION ATTHE GARDEN

Over 7,000 elementary and middle school students cometo the Garden each year and have a chance to becomeacquainted with this magnificent botanical resource in theirmidst. For many of these children, their tour in the Gardenprovides the sole botanical instruction for the year. A recentnational survey by the American Society of Plant Patholo-gists revealed that few middle school teachers and fewer stillhigh school teachers devote any time to teaching botany intheir classrooms. While many more elementary schoolteachers do fit in units about plants, there, too, is a need foreffective curriculum and instruction. Fortunately, the driveby State Education Superintendent Elaine Easton to put agarden in every California school is creating a greaterawareness of plants and their fundamental importance inour lives. However, the Garden remains one of the few localresources with trained educators that can provide botanicaleducation now. Our docents are educational treasures forthe Bay Area. And what a fabulous outdoor classroom theywork in.

Requests for docent tours continue to grow. Time andagain, those who have devoted themselves to working andvolunteering in botanical gardens, cite a single experience asa child when someone opened their eyes to the wonder ofplants. It is our responsibility not to just deliver informationon tours, but also to reach out to the potential in each child.

Creating such a memory can start a lifetime of enjoymentand personal growth among plants.

We continue to review and update our diverse tours.Last year under Kathy Welch’s outstanding leadership the“Creeks and Ponds” tour had hands-on activities addedand/ or revised; the content was modified based on previousexperience in giving it to children. She and other leaddocents conducted small training sessions over severalweeks for other docents that modeled the way the tour wasto be given. At all ages, we learn best when the group issmall, we have a chance to do the activities and ask our ownquestions. This training was incredibly effective and morethan doubled the number of docents who are now availableto present the tour.

The revision of the “Creeks and Pond” tour demon-strates a major goal I have for all our tours. We shall makechildren active learners whenever possible. Children learnmore effectively when they are active learners. Activities canbe as diverse as finding a particular leaf adaptation, compar-ing flower colors, floating leaves down the creek, feeling thesoil the plants are growing in, locating the leaf that is givingoff that special odor, reciting a Yani acorn collecting songwhile gathering acorns, or comparing stems from plants atthe pond. Linda Govan generously has undertaken tooversee the revision of the “Native American Uses” tour.

Docents Eleanor Stark, Linda Govan, Kathy Welch andElizabeth Woodbury try out new activities for the “Plantsthrough Time” tour.

Spring 1999 7

To provide inspiration and tangible ideas for this tour’srevision, Bev Ortiz, local Native American educator, cameto October’s Docent Continuing Education program. Bevwill return this spring to demonstrate activities. Linda andher committee have developed a list of props that will beused at five stations. We currently are in the process ofacquiring props to make food gathering, uses of plant fibers,making and using tools, and diverse games to make thesetour ideas come alive for the children. Last year when we putout the call for mortar and pestles for our display boxes inthe California Area a number of you responded generously.If any of you have artifacts that fit these categories that youwould like to donate it would be most appreciated.

Not only is active learning more effective for children,it also helps focus student’s attention on the content of thetour. For many students, a field trip to the Garden means achance to be out of class and a time to chat with their friends.Docents have remarked of the difficulty of keeping theirattention, especially of older students. As we all know,there are a lot of social interactions among 6th to 8th gradestudents competing with our tour information. By givingeach student a task on the tour, they are more activelyengaged. Recently, we added activity cards to the “California Habitats” tour. As the group rotates among theseven habitats on the tour, one student compares the colorof vegetation typical for the habitat to a color, two otherslook at different leaf characteristics, another compares soilin the habitat to a series of labeled samples, while the fifthcharacterizes the overall community’s growth form. Thestudent investigations take only a few moments when thegroup arrives at each habitat; yet each student’s observationsbecome the basis for further discussion and questions.Through this technique docents are able to guide studentobservations and comparisons. The students’ active rolesincrease the information they take home.

Last but by no means least, this effort to revise andupdate our teaching approach on tours is intended toincrease enjoyment for the docents themselves. As we revisetours, docents have the opportunity to learn new content

and revitalize their own interest in presenting the tour. TheGarden has a wonderfully creative group of educators asdocents. As individuals have given tours over the years,many have developed special props and/ or stories they liketo use. During the process of revising individual tours weinclude opportunities for docents to share their specialsuccesses. Thereby, we all are learning to make the tourmore effective and interesting for ourselves.

As students are more focused and involved while ontours, docents have more time to share their knowledge.Importantly docents also have time to make that specialcontact with every student to create a memorable momentthe student takes from the Garden. Through our tours wehave a wonderful opportunity to provide effective botanicaleducation units to local school children. We have an evenmore precious opportunity to light the spark of interestand create future botanists. We dare not waste eitheropportunity.

—Jennifer Meux WhiteAssociate Director for Education

Docents Bob Lichtenstein, June Cheit, BarbaraDonald, and Robert Coombs test tour activitiesduring a Continuing Education Workshop.

8 University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley

NEW BOOKS

The Garden Shop offers a10% discount to members of the

UC Botanical Garden

Nepenthes of Borneo. CharlesClarke; Natural History Publications,Sabah, Malaysia, 1997. 207 pp.Hardcover $70.00

A Yardscapes Year: Ideas andPlants for Bay Area Gardeners.

Mia Amato; Sasquatch Books,Seattle, WA, 1999. 206 pp.

Paper $15.95

Where on Earth: A Guide toSpecialty Nurseries and OtherResources for California Gardeners.Barbara Stevens & Nancy Conner; 4thed., Heydey Books, Berkeley, CA, 1999.Maps; nursery and mail order nurserylistings; schools, colleges, societies, clubsand other resources; plant index; generalindex; 387 pp. Paper $14.95

The Guide to Sonoma CountyNurseries. Rita and Michel Ter

Sarkissoff; Spring Hill Press,Sebastopol, CA, 1997

(second printing, October 1998). Map,nursery listings (alphabetical and

geographic), plants and products index;203 pp. Paper $20.00

AFFILIATED NURSERIES

The Garden is pleased to present the followingnurseries offering a 10% discount on plant materials

to UC Botanical Garden members(remember to present your membership card

at time of purchase):

Copacabana Nursery234 Hall Drive

Orinda(510) 254-2302

The Dry Garden6556 Shattuck Avenue

Berkeley(510) 547-3564

East Bay Nursery2332 San Pablo Avenue

Berkeley(510) 845-6490

Grand Lake Ace Garden Center4001 Grand Avenue

Oakland(510) 652-9143

Magic Gardens729 Heinz Avenue

Berkeley(510) 644-1992

Smith & Hawken1330 10th Street

Berkeley(510) 527-1076

Thornhill Nursery6250 Thornhill Drive

Oakland 94611(510) 339-1311

Westbrae Nursery1272 Gilman Street

Berkeley(510) 526-7606

Yubasaki’s Dwight Way Nursery1001 Dwight Way

Berkeley(510) 845-0335

The Tulip: The Story of a Flowerthat has made Men Mad. AnnaPavord; Bloomsbury Publishing,

New York, NY, 1999. 438 pp.Hardcover $35.00

Spring 1999 9

THE DOCTOR SAYSIn reading reports, sometimes information is from

gardeners making suggestions, only to have the suggestionslacking information. Such happened about the recentreport of vinegar on slugs. A gardener from Connecticutadded extra information to report that the vinegar does notkill slugs but causes them to produce their protective layerof mucus, from which they emerge and continue theirroutine. Thus to kill them, they need to be sprayed a secondtime, either with vinegar or sprinkled with salt before theslugs have time to produce a second coat of mucus. FineGardening 64: 5.

The world’s largest fungus fruiting body recently grew atthe Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The circumference ofRigidiporus ulmarius was 490 centimeters and the weightwas 316 kilograms (696 pounds). It has been estimated thatthis giant puffball can produce 7,000,000,000,000 sporesbut of these only 0.001% can germinate. Kew ScientistOct. 1997 (12): 7, and Plant Talk 3: 36.

There are many lists of butterfly-attracting garden plantsbut a short concise list is in The National Gardener 69 (3):14-15. Included are Pentas, Lantana, Buddleja, Asclepias,Echinacea, Tithonia, Rudbeckia, Caryopteris, Coreopsis,Monarda, Phlox, Heliotropium, Eupatorium, Salvia, Sedum,Cosmos, Zinnia, Verbena, Tagetes, Ageratum, Canna,Passiflora, Scabiosa, Agastache, Nicotiana, Achillea, Lilium,and Solidago (goldenrod).

Burdock (Arctium minus) produces seed heads thatstiffen into burrs when the plant (a biennial) dies and driesout. The burrs securely lock onto anything brushing againstthem, thus ensuring dissemination. It has been found in apark in Washington D.C., that occasionally hummingbirdsand possibly other small birds become trapped and can notpull themselves free, resulting in their death. (The parkremoved most of the plants causing the trouble.) Reports bya Canadian ornithologist indicate this plant has sporadicallytrapped various small birds and even brown bats in variouslocations. Science News 154(16): 244.

Film period dramas sometimes show how un-period orun-localized they are. Examples include knights roamingamidst American vegetation or explorers in deepest Africapeering through groves of eucalyptus. The recent film“Amistad” shows an African violet in an American green-house in 1840. This is over 50 years before these plants werediscovered. They are native to eastern Tanzania and Kenyabut in the movie, they are recognized by a western African,who lived many hundreds of miles away from their origin.

Interestingly, the plant (Saintpaulia) was named for thelocal governor Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire, who iscredited with their discovery but the plant probably wascollected by German missionary nuns, who were moremodest regarding the naming of the plant than the Baron.Remaining populations of African violets are restricted tosmall patches of habitat often less than 1/10 hectare. Somepopulations are so small they could be removed by hand ina matter of a few minutes and some populations are facingextinction. Plant Talk 15:5.

—Dr. Robert Raabe

New MembersThe Garden welcomes the followingnew members:

In AppreciationThe Garden offers appreciation andthanks to these donors for theirgenerous contributions:

Mr. Keith AbeyDr. John AdamsMs. Dorothy AngleMs. Carol Lynn Hansen BassettDick and Linda BeidlemanMs. Sharon Belmont, Native Sons Wholesale

NurseryMrs. Margaret BenedictPeter and Carol BerkenkotterMr. Scott BohningDr. Mary BowermanMr. Walter Busse JrMr. Albert CapronLinda and David ChapmanMs. Josephine ClarkMs. M. Esther ColwellRobert and Renate CoombsMs. Hillgia CordesMs. Mary Lynn CoxMs. Carla D’AntonioMs. Patricia DalyFrank and Janice DelfinoDr. Bernard DietzMr. Earl DolvenMr. Richard EmorySara Everitt and Joe SabelMr. Ben FaberJulie Faisst and Mark SchwartzMs. Lucy FergusonMr. G. R. F. FerrariMs. Hilary ForbesMr. John GamePeter and Liebe GoldbergRobert Goldstein and Anna MantellMs. Nancy Goldstein, Plants UnlimitedMs. Heather GravesMs. Patricia GreeneMr. Noble Hamilton IIIWalt and Shirley HausserAmy and Sady HayashidaPat and Dunc Haynes, Haynes VineyardMs. DeeDee HeathLeon and Ginette HenkinMs. Susie HodgesBarbara and John HopperMr. & Mrs. Richard HotalingDorothy and Thomas HumphreyMs. Sheila HumphreysMr. John HurabiellMs. A. Kristin Jakob, Botanical Illustrator &

Garden ConsultantMs. Ruth KasleNorman and Rosemary KingMr. Bohun Kinloch, Jr.Ms. Susan KinlochMs. Selma KlettMs. Karen KlitzEugene Kodani and Kimi HillMs. Lynn LandorMrs. Vivien LarsonMs. Helen LewyWilliam Lidicker, Jr. and Louise LidickerLinda LocatelliRani Marx and Jim Kahn

Lisa Depass and Christine WilliamsJohn Dunmire and Helaine DunmireMarie-Anne Fisher and Eric CraigMs. Clare GriffithMs. Liana HeldGreg Hutchings and Laurette BeaucampMr. Gregory KellettMs. Ann KnepperMr. David MargoliesAkhila RamanYuri Saito and Grace NicholsMs. Maria SalasMrs. Margo Schueler CoxMs. Colleen SteelMs. Barbara StottMs. Diane TannenwaldChun TsaiMr. Don Van AckerMs. Amelie WegnerKaren Wheeler and Stephen MeierMichael and Suzanne Ziegler

Grateful ThanksThe Garden wishes to thank these donorswho have made a substantial gift over andabove membership:

Willy and Charles AdamMs. Elizabeth BadeMr. Ian CarmichaelMs. June CheitMs. Betsy ClebschMr. & Mrs. Thomas ConnollyDr. & Mrs. Jonathan DixonMr. & Mrs. Theodore GeballeGrant and Suanne InmanRaymond and Mary JewellMr. Dwight JohnsonMs. Toni KlassenSally Levinson and Douglas DanielsGeoff and Ann MachinStuart and Melva McDonaldMargaret and James MitchellJohn and Josephine ShumanMr. Thomas Wolf

University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley10

Ms. Louise MassieMr. Russell MaysMs. Sarabelle McCleeryPaul and Raquel McJonesEllen and Paul McKaskleMs. Emily McKibbenMs. Michelle MehlhornDr. & Mrs. James MerrillMs. Jean NunnallyMr. Robert Osborne, Ph.D.Mr. Louis PenningMs. Norma PfeiferRaymond and Joyce RaicheMs. Nancy RampaniJohn P. and Katherine RatcliffMr. James Ratcliff, Jr.Dr. John ReynoldsMs. Elsie RicheyMr. & Mrs. Louis RiggsMs. Anmarie RoacheMs. Drew RobartsJeff and Lisa Rosendale, Rosendale NurseryMr. Sheldon RothblattMs. Pat RougeauFred and Nan SchurkusMs. Lorraine SharmanMr. Jack D. ShenMs. Patricia SmithersMs. Peggy SmuklerPaul and Beatrice SpencerMr. Donald StangMs. Jean SteidelDonald and Arloine StonerMs. Barbara TandyMr. Ted TawshunskyWayne and Jean ThornburgMs. Bev Tree, The Gardening CompanyMs. Georgie Van De KampAnnie and Jean WalrandMs. Sharon WaltersJohn and Marilyn WatsonMrs. Siv WheelerMs. Catherine WhitesideMs. Miriam WilkinsEdward and B. Diane WilsonJean WilsonMs. Beverly WuHedy Yuen and William Chang

11Spring 1999

The Newsletter is published by the Universityof California Botanical Garden with supportfrom donations and memberships. Articles

may be reprinted with credit to the authors andthe UC Botanical Garden.

Garden StaffDr. Ellen Simms, Garden Director

Executive CommitteeDavid Brunner, Horticulture Manager

Holly Forbes, CuratorElaine Meckenstock, Business ManagerDr. Jennifer White, Associate Director

for Education

AdministrationOldriska Balouskova, Visitor Services

AttendantGerald Ford, Lead Building MaintenanceKandle Fraser, Administrative AssistantLydia Perez, Visitor Services Attendant

Margaret Richardson, Tour &Rentals Coordinator

Candice Schott, Business Operations SupervisorMarilyn Setterfield, Visitor Services Attendant

Nancy Swearengen, Volunteer ServicesCoordinator

Janet Williams, Marketing &Development Officer

CurationDr. Robert Ornduff, Faculty CuratorBarbara Keller, Curatorial Assistant

HorticultureDr. Robert Raabe, Garden Pathologist

Chris Carmichael, HorticulturistDaria Curtis, Horticulturist

John Domzalski, PropagatorJudith Finn, Horticulturist

Martin Grantham, New Plants ProgramCoordinator

Peter Klement, HorticulturistLawrence Lee, HorticulturistJerry Parsons, HorticulturistRoger Raiche, Horticulturist

Eric Schulz, HorticulturistElaine Sedlack, Horticulturist

Matthew Winterling, Assistant Horticulturist

NewsletterHolly Forbes, Editor

Academic Arts, Production

The Garden Shop 510/ 642-3343Entrance Kiosk 643-2755Administration 642-0849Director’s Office 643-8999Education 495-2805Development 643-2937Tours/Rentals 642-3352Plant Collections 643-8040Volunteers 643-1924Fax 642-5045 E-mail: garden@uclink4.berkeley.edu

Web Site: http://www.mip.berkeley.edu/garden/

Special ThanksThe Garden would like to honor andthank those supporters makingsubstantial donations:

Rita and Richard AtkinsonMs. Patricia Bacchetti, DVMElizabeth and Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr. FoundationR .J. and Daphne BerteroMr. Mike Boss, Rock & Rose LandscapingMr. & Mrs. Lawrence BrookesJohn and Virginia ChinMary Ann Cobb and Peter WilsonMr. Robert ConnickCrawford and Jess CooleyNorman and Gail CorreiaMs. Eleanor CraryMr. & Mrs. Thomas DelfinoEwald Detjens and Margaret SpauldingMs. Jana Drobinsky, Omega TooMs. Linda FisherDr. Anne GoetschNorman and Mary GrahamDr. & Mrs. Elmer GrossmanMr. Gene HassanLee and Chris House, Vintage BMW

HouseMs. M. Anne JenningsMs. Suzanne KingMr. Ted Kipping, Tree ShaperMr. Royal KopperudLaVerne and Douglas LeachMs. Rebeca MarthinsenMr. Bill McJohnMr. Eugene PeckJanet Perlman and Carl BlumsteinPhilip and Mary PierpontMr. F. Anthony Placzek, The Placzek

Family FoundationDonna and Darwin PoulosMr. Jerry PowellMs. Carla ReiterRobert Riddell, Jr. and Kathryn RiddellMr. Donald RileyJames Robinett and G. MarchMs. Susan RogersSteven and Elizabeth RosenbergJohn and Julia SerencesMs. Mary SmallBernard Taper and Gwen HeadElizabeth and Robert TuckJames and Irma Uren, Uren Family TrustMr. Pablo ValenzuelaKathy and David WelchJane and Nelson WellerMs. Elise WhiteDrs. Jennifer and Marshall WhiteJennifer and Marshall White Shasta Wildlife

Conservation FoundationChuck and Barbara Woodward

In MemoryThe Garden offers appreciation andthanks for gifts from these donors inmemory of:

Marjorie Gray fromDr. Robert Ornduff

Professor Michael Goodman fromMs. Mildred Goodman

William Sumner fromPublic Health Nursing Division,City of Berkeley

In HonorThe Garden offers appreciation andthanks for gifts from this donor inhonor of:

Errol Mauchlan fromDr. Robert Ornduff

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Plants are for sale at The Garden Shop all year ❀ 510-642-3343

University of California Botanical Garden200 Centennial Drive, #5045Berkeley, California 94720-5045

Nonprofit Org.

U.S. Postage PAID

University of California

Sick Plant ClinicDr. Raabe and Dr. Mills will see all patients on the first Saturday ofevery month, 9 am to noon, in the Garden Conference Center. (Seethe T-shirts with the sick plant clinic logo available in The GardenShop.)

Fibers and DyesA spectacular exhibit featuring plants that give us cloth, cordage,building materials, and dyes of all kinds. After the exhibit, take aself-guided Fibers and Dyes Walk around the Garden.

March 27-April 17, 10 am - 4 pmFree with Garden admission.

Beginning BirdwatchingHere’s your chance to get started with one of America’s most popularpastimes. Find out what you really need and where to find it, andstart with an in-depth look at 50 of the Garden’s most common birds.

Four Thursdays, beginning April 15, 9:30 - noonMembers $50, non-members $65.

Members’ Plant Sale Preview and Silent AuctionGet first pick of the plants, and relax with light refreshments.

Friday evening, April 23, 5 - 7:30 pmMemberships available at the gate.

Spring Plant SaleExtraordinary items for your spring planting from our world-widecollection.

Saturday, April 24, 10 am - 2 pm

An Artist’s GardenLocal artist Marcia Donahue opens her fantastic garden just for us!She’ll share its evolution and her creative gardening ideas. Please signup early. Space is limited.

Saturday, May 8, 2 pmMembers $12, non-members $15.

Rhododendron WalkA leisurely look at late-blooming rhodies with horticulturist ElaineSedlack. A selection of UCBG rhododendrons will be available forsale.

Sunday, May 9, 10 am-noon

Mothers Day TeaA novel way to celebrate Mothers Day, with tea and luscious home-made goodies in the beautiful Spring setting of the UC BotanicalGarden. Marvel at a special soft-sculpture exhibit by The FlyingPhoebes of Castro Valley.

Sunday, May 9, seatings at 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pmMembers $8, non-members $10.Please reserve early. Space is limited.

Intermediate BirdwatchingBuild the skills you developed in Beginning Birdwatching, and giveyourself a reason to spend four more Thursday mornings findingbirds in the Garden.

Four Thursdays, beginning May 13Members $50, non-members $65.

Gardening with ButterfliesBarbara Deutsch will share some of her butterfly expertise. You canadopt some of her ideas for your own garden! Selected “butterflyplants” will be available for sale.

Saturday, June 5, 10:30 amMembers $10, non-members $12.

Restios of South AfricaSouth African Restio experts Rod and Rachel Saunders are eager toenlighten you about the hottest new plants to hit California horticul-ture. These rush-like perennial southern hemisphere natives promiseto perform wonderfully in our Mediterranean climate and this will bethe Saunders’ only Bay Area Restio talk this year! Selected plants willbe available for sale

Saturday, June 12, 2:00 pmMembers $15, non-members $20.

Fathers’ Day TraditionDads who bring a child can enjoy the Garden free.

Sunday, June 20, 9 am - 6 pm

Get to know the GardenJoin UCBG docent trainer Nancy Swearengen for a short talk on theGarden’s origins and a leisurely walk “around the world in 80minutes.”

Sunday, June 27, 10 amMembers free, non-members $5.

Forwarding and Address Correction Requested