UCR Botanic Gardens

UC Riverside's Botanic Gardens: the Inland Empire’s Oasis

tomwt — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 17:40:28 +0000

UC Riverside's Botanic Gardens: the Inland Empire’s Oasis tomwt Thu, 10/17/2024 - 10:40 More CNAS in the Media Allison Wang | KVCR October 08, 2024

KVCR - KVCR's Allison Wang interviews Director of the UCR Botanic Gardens, Jodie Holt. The UCR Botanic Gardens is a 40-acre living museum nestled in the foothills of the Box Springs Mountains.

Allison Wang: With 91.9 KVCR News, I'm Allison Wang. As a UC Riverside student, I have the opportunity to live and study next door to the UCR Botanic Gardens, a 40 acre living museum nestled in the foothills of the Box Springs Mountains. I interviewed Jodi Holt, the director of the Botanic Gardens on the garden's history, goals, and future.

Director Holt: I'm Jodi Holt. I'm a professor emeritus in the Botany and Plant Sciences Department where I worked for a little over 30 years. After I retired, the new dean at the time, Dean Uhrich, asked if I would like to come back to work as director of the Botanic Gardens. This is a great way to, sort of, extend my career and continue being involved in plants and botany and teaching with a lot less of the same kinds of academic pressure, but the ability to have an impact on a lot more people. You know, this last year was our 60th year of operation. The gardens were established in 1963; the first botany faculty needed a place to grow plants that they could study. So the gardens were established with just one director and one staff member for quite a long time.

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Giving Tuesday -- Give to CNAS!

ilseu — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 17:31:18 +0000

Giving Tuesday -- Give to CNAS! ilseu Tue, 12/01/2020 - 09:31 More College News November 30, 2020

Dear CNAS Colleagues,

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, many of us reflected on this year and all we are thankful for. I would like to express my gratitude to each and every one of you. Every member of the CNAS community has been instrumental in helping our students, the college, the university, and each other navigate through these extraordinary times. You continue to exhibit great resilience, courage, and empathy as we work to provide students with an accessible world-class education during unprecedented circumstances. I am incredibly thankful for your individual and collective efforts.

Nonprofit organizations across the globe are preparing for #GivingTuesday on December 1 and UC Riverside’s colleges and schools will be participating as well. CNAS’ featured funds focus on the importance of supporting our students and campus community and I invite you to learn more and support the college’s #GivingTuesday efforts by clicking on the links below.

CNAS Student Scholarships and Fellowships Fund allows supporters to make a direct impact on the lives of CNAS graduate and undergraduate students who will become the next generation of scientists. These funds play a critical role in helping students who demonstrate financial need during this time.

Advancing Inclusivity in Entomology Endowed Scholarship will support entomology undergraduate students who experience social, cultural, and financial barriers and allow them to participate and excel in entomology research at UCR without worrying about financial commitments.

Donations made to the UCR Botanic Gardens Conservatory will be used for a new interactive exhibit space designed to engage and educate visitors about the diversity of the plant kingdom while allowing them to enjoy nature safely.

Thank you again for your commitment and your support to the CNAS community.

Dr. Kathryn Uhrich
Dean, College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences

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Botanic Gardens Fall Online Plant Sale set for October 24-25, 2020

ilseu — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 19:12:40 +0000

Botanic Gardens Fall Online Plant Sale set for October 24-25, 2020 ilseu Wed, 10/14/2020 - 12:12 More College News Janine Almanzor | UCR Botanic Gardens October 14, 2020

The UCR Botanic Gardens is pleased to announce our Fall Online Plant Sale on October 24-25, 2020 (midnight-midnight), with in-person pickup at the Gardens entrance on November 5 and 6. For the first time, Friends of the UCRBG members will receive a 10% discount on all plant purchases. Join or renew your Friends membership before October 19, 2020 at gardens.ucr.edu/friends to receive your discount. The plant list will be available prior to the sale and will include hundreds of different species including house and patio plants, shrubs, herbaceous plants, trees, vines, cacti, succulents, and California native plants.

Now that the weather is cooling down you may want to spruce up your patio to enjoy the cooler weather outdoors this fall. With the exception of the autumn sage, which requires more light, here are some suggestions of plants that will transform any patio or semi-shady location.

Reed-stemmed epidendrum orchid, Epidendrum hybrid - These plants will add a tropical feel to your patio and are easy to grow. They have tall, reed-like stems lined with succulent leaves and in warm weather are topped with long-lived clusters of small, orchid flowers with fringed lips. The patio is the perfect place since they need protection from frost.

Fuchsia, Fuchsia sp. (Jack’s) – We call it Jack’s because a long-time volunteer named Jack Goertzen selected many hybrids that tolerate our inland heat. You may remember Jack years ago, selling his Peruvian lilies (Alstroemeria) at the Plant Sales. This is one we especially liked so we have kept it going since Jack’s passing. Mine has been hanging in my patio for years. It will wilt when you forget to water it but mine has always revived and it blooms every year. You can cut it back to keep it tidy and full.

Gartenmeister fuchsia, Fuchsia ‘Gartenmeister Bonstedt’ – This is another beautiful fuchsia selected for our inland gardens. This is an evergreen shrub for a container or for the landscape with shade. It has dark, reddish foliage and spikes of pendant, salmon-red flowers from spring through fall. Both of these fuchsias will attract hummingbirds.

Flowering maple, Abutilon pictum ‘Aureo- maculatum’ – This is an eye-catching, fast growing, evergreen shrub for a container or for the landscape in some shade. Mine is in dappled shade and is doing great. It has maple-like leaves with a patchwork of white, cream, and different shades of green. The flowers add even more interest as they are nodding, bell-shaped, soft-orange flowers with crimson veins from spring through summer.

Pink star clusters, Pentas lanceolata (pink) – We have this plant listed as a tender, shrubby perennial for a protected landscape or patio. Don't let the word "tender" deter you. At the Botanic Gardens we have them growing in full sun and they have survived many winters. It will need some protection from frost. It’s very showy with many terminal clusters of starry, pink flowers all summer long. It makes a good cut flower and container plant and will attract butterflies.

Pincushion flower, Scabiosa columbaria – This is another plant that will attract butterflies and we have two varieties available. It is a clumping herbaceous perennial with dissected leaves and long-stalked, lavender blue flower heads. ‘Butterfly Blue’ has deeper colored flowers. It also makes a good cut flower and can be a container plant.

Shrimp plant, Justicia brandegeeana – This is an interesting shrub native to Mexico for a container or the landscape. It will do best if protected from afternoon sun in the summer and from frost in the winter. It produces red-bracted, shrimp- shaped spikes of white tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds from spring through summer. It can get to four feet tall but can be pruned to promote bushiness. The flowers will be darker with some shade.

Ruttyruspolia, Ruttyruspolia 'Phyllis van Heerden' – This compact shrub from Africa will grow to about four feet. It has small, medium green leaves above and lighter below and clusters of long lasting, dusty-rose flowers at the branch tips from spring through fall. The flowers will attract butterflies and make a good cut flower. Give it some afternoon shade or use it as a patio plant in a container.

Autumn sage, Salvia x jamensis – Just in time for fall color! We have just about every color of these water-efficient, sun loving shrubs. Most of them have been developed by our past Director, Dr. Giles Waines. They are small shrubs to about 3 to 4 feet with tiny, aromatic leaves and abundant spikes of two-lipped flowers from spring through fall. The hummingbirds love them!

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UCR Botanic Gardens online Plant Sale 2020

ilseu — Sun, 09 Aug 2020 16:15:55 +0000

UCR Botanic Gardens online Plant Sale 2020 ilseu Sun, 08/09/2020 - 09:15 More College News UCR Botanic Gardens Staff July 31, 2020

For over four decades the UCR Botanic Gardens has hosted the largest plant sale events in the Inland Empire. These events were recently redesigned to focus on plants propagated from our own unique collection and bring in local vendors to broaden the selection of plants suitable for the inland region.

Currently, due to the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, the Gardens are open with restrictions on gatherings, including our popular plant sales. However, our plants continue to flourish, so we are pleased to offer our first ever Online Plant Sale. As always we will offer Gardens-propagated horticultural and native plants, cacti and succulents, patio and house plants, water efficient plants, colorful landscape trees, and numerous pollinator-attracting species.

Friends members will enjoy early admission to the online sale as well as many other benefits described under “Become a Member.” To become a member and shop early at the online sale, visit myadv.ucr.edu/forms/UCRBG.

ONLINE PLANT SALE with PICK UP 2020

MEMBERS SALE AUGUST 1-6, 2020
PUBLIC SALE August 8-13, 2020

HOW TO BUY ONLINE

Review plant list using link above
Choose your plants
Open order form using link above
Make your plant selections
Select your pick up date and time
Place your order and purchase!
Note—perennial plants fare best when planted in fall in Riverside

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Minimum purchase $25 to help us manage orders
Include your phone no. and email so we may contact you if necessary
No refunds, add-ons or additional sales at pickup; online purchases only
Bring your receipt and ID to pick up your plants
On your pick up date and time come to the UCRBG entrance gate at 1 Botanic Gardens Drive, Riverside, CA 92507
Staff and volunteers will bring your order and load it in your car for you
Facial masks and social distancing are required at all times
For additional information please call 951-827-7090

UCR Botanic Gardens online Plant Sale

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UCR Botanic Gardens reopens with new safety precautions

ilseu — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 17:38:33 +0000

UCR Botanic Gardens reopens with new safety precautions ilseu Mon, 06/29/2020 - 10:38 More College News Imran Ghori | Inside UCR June 29, 2020

The UCR Botanic Gardens reopened to the public Monday (9 am - 12 pm) after more than three months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 40-acre living plant museum, which has more than 3,500 plant species, is the first major area of the campus to reopen.

The Botanic Gardens is following state guidelines allowing for the reopening of parks and trails, taking a phased approach with new safety protocols, said director Jodie Holt.

The gardens will be open from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Monday through Friday. Before the shutdown, it was open daily, except for holidays, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The reduced hours are due to limited staffing and additional duties required to keep the gardens safe for employees, volunteers, and visitors, Holt said.

The gatehouse, which was unattended before, will now have a staff member keeping track of the number of visitors. No more than 450 people will be allowed at one time, a number arrived at based on the amount of walkable space and proper social distancing, Holt said.

Gardens staff members will also clean and disinfect the restroom near the gatehouse several times during open hours on top of the daily cleaning by Facilities Services.

Visitors will be asked to abide by new social distancing rules. Groups must be no larger than 10 people and must keep at least six feet away from others not in their group. They are asked to be mindful of those rules when approaching others on trails or pathways, especially in smaller garden areas.

UC Riverside students Yesenia Fraire, right, and Felicia Flores, visit the rose garden at the Botanic Gardens on April 17, 2019. (UCR/Stan Lim)

Face coverings over the mouth and nose will be required for those age 2 and up. They may be taken off when people are within their own group but must be worn when coming in close contact with other visitors.

New signs have been posted at the entrance and other areas instructing visitors of the rules.

Some physical changes have also been made to increase safety. Some pathways and trails have been widened and smoothed out in narrow areas to allow for easier passage. The upper restroom and drinking fountains will be closed, although touchless bottle hydration stations will still be available.

The closure gave the gardens staff members time to put in place some new features. One is a scannable bar code at the entrance that allows visitors to make a donation electronically with their phones. Although admission is free, a suggested donation of $5 is welcomed. Cash and checks were previously accepted in a drop box at the gatehouse.

The curator and volunteers have also created an interactive geographic information system guide to the gardens, which has replaced printed brochures. Separate GIS story-map guides to specific gardens, with detailed information about plant species, have also been rolled out. One is available for the North American desert garden, another explores plant ecology in the gardens, and story maps for two more gardens are being created.

Getting the gardens ready for reopening was not a simple task, Holt said. In addition to the changes that were made, they had to take care of maintenance needs such as pulling weeds and gopher control. Repairs needed to be made from recent rainfall and runoff that created some erosion. New security measures were also installed following some burglaries where potted plants were stolen in April.

“In the last month, the place has been transformed,” Holt said. “The gardens look really good.”

The UCR Botanic Gardens staff, shown in a 2019 photo, spruced up the gardens before the reopening.

Throughout the closure, Holt said she heard from many regular visitors of the gardens via social media and email expressing their appreciation and asking about the state of the gardens. She described meeting visitors, many with different connections to the campus, as one of her favorite parts of the job.

“Everybody has a story about why they love the gardens and why they came back,” she said.

Holt noted many studies have shown the health benefits of being out in nature and said the gardens offer a respite many people could use — even more so now.

“You can walk the same trail every day and see something different, see a bobcat, hear all different kinds of birds,” she said. “It’s really an extraordinary place.”

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UCR Botanic Gardens reopen June 29

ilseu — Sat, 20 Jun 2020 17:15:43 +0000

UCR Botanic Gardens reopen June 29 ilseu Sat, 06/20/2020 - 10:15 More College News CNAS Communications June 19, 2020

The UCR Botanic Gardens will reopen on June 29, 2020 with restrictions to insure safety of all staff, volunteers, and visitors.

At this time no large groups or events are permitted.

Please check the gardens.ucr.edu website and Botanic Gardens social media for more details.

The UCR Botanic Gardens will be open daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm with exceptions.

Please be sure to check the calendar of events on the website, entrance message board, or posted signs before planning your visit.

Gates lock at 5:00 pm. The last entry is at 4:45 pm. 1:00 pm late opening days occur on the 1^st and 3^rd Friday of each month.

Please wear a cloth mask and follow social distancing and hygiene guidelines.

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Here’s how UCR Botanic Gardens is renovating 25 acres showcasing 3,500 plants

ilseu — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 00:38:53 +0000

Here’s how UCR Botanic Gardens is renovating 25 acres showcasing 3,500 plants ilseu Mon, 02/03/2020 - 16:38 More CNAS in the Media Rebecca K. O'Connor | The Community Foundation | PE February 01, 2020

THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE - A public garden in Riverside offers an oasis of nature to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Located in the foothills of Box Springs Mountain, the 40-acre UCR Botanic Gardens features about 25 acres of gardens nestled against natural habitat. Over 4 miles of scenic trails wander through the gardens which showcase more than 3,500 plant species.

“If you haven’t been to gardens you should come and if you haven’t been in the last three years, prepare to be really surprised,” Holt said. “We have added so much more than enhances the visitor experience.”

Information: 951-784-6962; Visit gardens.ucr.edu

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Changes afoot at UCR’s garden oasis

ilseu — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 23:41:36 +0000

Changes afoot at UCR’s garden oasis ilseu Sun, 09/15/2019 - 16:41 More College News Imran Ghori | Inside UCR September 11, 2019

UCR Botanic Gardens sees improvements

For decades, the UCR Botanic Gardens have served as a quiet getaway tucked in a corner of campus where one can explore and enjoy nature.

The 40-acre living plant museum still stands as an oasis from the bustle of campus, but some changes have been implemented in the past three years to modernize and improve the experience for visitors.

They include a renovated and expanded restroom, a revamped membership program and newsletter, an Instagram account (@ucrbotanicgardens), and new technology to help guide tours. The garden is also selling merchandise and there are plans to add new gardens with different plant species.

UCR Botanic Gardens has new features to discover. (UCR/Carrie Rosema)

When Jodie Holt took over as director of the Botanic Gardens three years ago, she began looking into its finances and discovered there were funds socked away for a rainy day.

“We made the decision we want to invest the money to improve it and promote it,” she said. “If we did, people would come and support it in a greater way,” she said.

One of the most prominent improvements is the renovation of the entrance gatehouse/restroom building, a 40-year-old structure that was in poor condition, Holt said.

The two restrooms were remodeled, and one now meets federal disability access requirements with new fixtures such as toilets, sinks, and doors installed. The exterior and interior were painted, new LED lighting was added, a new sidewalk outside the building was paved, and a railing along the sidewalk was installed. The building also has a hydration station where visitors can fill up their water bottles. The improvements were completed in April.

“The entrance gatehouse building is one of the first things our visitors see, and it is important that it be attractive, functional, and present UCR and the Botanic Gardens in a positive light,” Holt said.

The redesigned sidewalk maintains access to a donation box and cashier window — the only university-approved site where the garden can collect donations. Holt said the site could also be used for future pop-up shops and possibly expanded into a gift shop at some point.

The Botanic Gardens has been able to expand sales with the launch of a new visual brand last year, which is being placed on merchandise including T-shirts, baseball caps, water bottles, and tote bags.

Its regular plant sales continue to attract crowds, but Holt said the garden is putting its focus on selling unique plants grown on site while inviting local vendors to sell other types.

UC Riverside students in Amy Litt's plant taxonomy class take notes at the UCR Botanic Gardens on May 22, 2019. (UCR/Stan Lim)

Another new feature at the Botanic Gardens is the use of mapping technology to offer visitors wayfinding and additional information about the plants and features they see.

The geographic information system technology has also been used to create a story map of the North American desert garden, providing names and descriptions of plants as visitors walk through. Holt said she expects the mapping program to be expanded to more gardens.

Plans are also underway to add new gardens. One will feature plants indigenous to local Native American lands. The Native American Student Program and local tribes are working with the Botanic Gardens to design and start planting the garden in October, Holt said.

Another one in the works is a bee garden, which will feature native plants that the insects are attracted to, and bee boxes. Holt said the Department of Entomology is assisting staff with the project.

The new features give visitors a chance to make new discoveries when they tour the gardens.

“We really tried to make it a destination for Riverside and the whole Inland Empire,” she said.

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