Arboreta and Botanic Gardens
Summer 1991 S01 Nal Ave Volume 3, Number 2

626-821-3213

5
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A Publication of the Department of Arboreta and Botanic Gardens

Kenneth C. Smith named Department Director

The County Board of Supervisors has September to move to La Jolla with his wife,

appointed Kenneth C. Smith as Director of Bette. He was in the process of setting up his
the Department of Arboreta and Botanic own business when he learned of the open-
Gardens. Mr. Smith assumed the post on ing at the Department.

June 3. Leon Arnold had been acting director
of the Department since the retirement of
Francis Ching in March of last year.

Mr. Smith spent the first week getting
to know the staff and support groups at the
four gardens.

"Tam pleased to be part of such a great
organization," he said. "The gardens of Los
Angeles County have unlimited potential.
Each has its own personality, and together
they reflect the attention and care that have
been lavished upon them throughout the
years.

"Iam totally committed to supporting
the efforts to make this group of gardens one
of the finest botanic organizations in the
United States," he added.

Mr. Smith, 58, worked at Cypress
Gardens in Winter Haven, Florida, from 1950
to 1990, the last eight years as president. The — Kgyneth C. Smith
223-acre scenic attraction employs 700 and
has 1.2 million visitors annually. While in Florida, he served as vice-

He became executive vice-presidentin _ president of the Southeast Tourism Society
1972 at the time the company became publicly _and president of the Florida Attractions

LuAnn B. Munns

held. He is credited with the attraction’s Association.
expansion which doubled the size of the park Mr. Smith attended Florida Southern
in 1979. College in Lakeland and the University of

Mr. Smith left Cypress Gardens last Florida in Gainesville.

"Champagne Campaign" opens Descanso project

Descanso Gardens Guild kicked off their
campaign to raise $1.5 million for construc-
tion of a world-class rose garden complex
with a champagne reception on the evening
of June 14. KABC radio personality Roger
Barkley and his wife, Nila, are serving as
honorary co-chairmen of the campaign. The
Barkleys, long-time La Canada Flintridge
residents, contribute extensive time and
effort in support of the community.

More than $250,000 has already been
pledged to the campaign including gifts of
$100,000 from the Berger Foundation and
$5,000 from the Mary Pickford Foundation.

“This rose garden will be unlike any other
now in existence,” said Gail Boatwright,
president of Descanso Gardens Guild. “Two
years of research and planning have been
spent to create a rose garden in keeping with
Descanso Gardens’ naturalistic setting,” she
added.

Delmar Watson

Admiring a rose that symbolizes the garden
oject are (from left) radio personality Foor
rkley and his wife, Nila, Descanso Gui.

sie Gail Boatwright, Descanso Director

The new 5-acre complex will replace the
original rose garden begun in 1948. Although
the new garden will retain the historic roses
featured in the old plan, it will also contain 17
themed specialty garden vignettes including a
White Garden, a Children’s Secret Garden, a
Mission Garden and Empress Josephine’s
Garden.

Designed by Lawrence Moss & Associates
of Montrose, the garden design emphasizes a
free-flowing style that creates the illusion of
walking through a series of small, private
gardens. A stream will flow through the gar-
den, relating it to the water features found
throughout Decanso Gardens.

“We deliberately avoided the traditional
style where roses are displayed in formal
beds,” explained Steven Smith, Moss’ designer
for this project.

After groundbreaking this fall, completion
is expected by early 1993.

t Sue Murphy and Descanso Superin-

evelopmen
tendent Steve Cohan.

Jane Au: Volunteer of the Year

Jane Au was honored as the Department
of Arboreta and Botanic Gardens Volunteer
of the Year for her work with the South Coast
Botanic Garden Foundation. She also re-
ceived the Los Angeles County Arts and
Humanities Volunteer of the Year Award at
an April luncheon at the Dorothy Chandler
Pavilion.

As president of SCBGF in 1984-86 and
again from 1989 to the present, Mrs. Au has

spearheaded successful fund-
raisers for major improvements
and garden maintenance at the
garden.

Accomplishments during her
tenure include inauguration of a
new $127,000 tram service, repair
of the driveway into the garden
and installation of new driveway
lights. In addition, Mrs. Au’s
efforts have resulted in donations
of more than $50,000 annually by
the Foundation for garden services,
supplies and major improvements
on the grounds.

Mrs. Au became active in the
Foundation in 1980 as the volun-
teer in charge of purchasing, staff-
ing and inventory control in the
gift shop. In 1983, she was chair-
man of Fiesta de Flores when the
annual benefit plant sale raised a
record-breaking $40,000. “Sunday
in the Gardens,” a program she
started in 1984, is a series of horti-
culturally related lectures and demonstra-
tions that attracts many Foundation members
and local gardeners. Under her leadership
Foundation membership has increased every
year, reaching a high of 3,000 members in
1991.

Mrs. Au is also active in many non-profit
organizations in the South Bay area. Through
her personal contacts with other community
leaders, she has made possible new cultural

programs at the garden such as Shakespeare
on the Lawn, art exhibits and flower arrang-
ing shows. She also arranged to have the
multi-national Big Eight accounting firm
conduct the Foundation’s annual audit as a
public service for the past eight years. The
Foundation office is now being automated
with help she obtained from Epson for com-
puter hardware and from Ashton Tate for
computer software.

Huell Howser, host of KCET’s Videolog, (left) and Supervisor
Michael D. Antonovich congratulate Jane Au
awards she received for her volunteer efforts at the gardens.

(center) on the

Capping off Mrs. Au’s successes was the
completion and approval of a Master Plan for
the garden. Her adroit channeling of input
from the County, Foundation Board, volun-
teers, horticultural organizations and the
Master Plan consulting firm resulted in a
cohesive outline for the garden that will have
lasting benefits for both the garden and the
community.

Eileen Ames

Crowd celebrates D

Five-cent popcorn and lemonade, penny-
farthing bicycles, Model A automobiles and
century-old kitchen gadgets were all part of
the 100th anniversary celebration of the Santa
Anita Depot June 2 at the Los Angeles State
and County Arboretum.

Charles Gilb, Mayor of Arcadia, and Direc-
tor Kenneth C. Smith joined in cutting the
centennial cake, opening festivities enjoyed
by more than 700 visitors.

Volunteers from Las Voluntarias y Los
Ayudantes demonstrated farm equipment
and household appliances that included
toasters and cream separators in use a cen-
tury ago. Docents also led capacity crowds
on tours through the stationmaster's living
quarters and office.

Lornetta Platford, a member of the Ar-
cadia Historical Society in the 1950s who
played a pivotal role in the 1966 “Save The
Depot” campaign, was an honored guest.
She answered questions about the Society’s
efforts to move the Depot and regaled
visitors with stories about the history of the
Depot and Arcadia.

Eileen Ames

dae left: Director Kenneth Smith (left) and
yor of Arcadia Charles Gilb, cut the table-size
cake to start the centennial festivities.

Monica Curi

Special guest Lornetta Platford, (left) is greeted
Dolunteer Carol Lib cay elt ht fotonical?
Curator Sandra Snider (right).

epot

= :

Centennial

“es KEY

Above An aque cars from the Santa Anita Model
A Club turned back the clock for visitors celebrat-
ing the Depot's anniversary.

‘-u- . : : Vy o™ ' Sere. 3

Monica Curi

€,

Leading the way, this future engineer takes an
imaginary run on the century-old railroad tracks
laid in front of the Depot.

Pies aS

" Summer Concerts

Jada

Arboretum

August 4
Friends of Dixie

August 11
Verdugo Swing Band

August 18, 1 p.m.
Laurel Woodwind Quintet

elgg

Descanso
July 21, 2:30 p.m.
Pasadena City College

August 4, 2:30 p.m.
John Sherman

August 25, 2:30 p.m.
The Verdugo Swing Society

Be a
South Coast
September 2, 4 p.m.

Palos Verdes Symphonic Band

jadi

Growing Urban Forests

Although there have always been trees in

cities, the “urban forest” is a concept that is
catching on for the first time among an
increasingly wide cross-section of people
and organizations. This reflects the growing
awareness of the value of trees in our cities.

Trees provide important psychological
and aesthetic benefits. The urban forest is
the city’s equivalent of the countryside, a
natural environment which has been
crowded out of most metropolitan areas. In
the urban setting they also offer a range of
economic and environmental amenities
which are just now being realized. Trees can
dramatically alter the urban climate in a way
that can make substantial reductions in
energy consumption. They also absorb
significant amounts of gases resulting from
carbon emissions.

Successful management of the urban
forest is an art and a science which involves
maintaining trees long enough for them to
become a long-term amenity in the urban
environment, while meeting aesthetic re-
quirements that justify the cost and labor of
establishing and maintaining them.

Urban vs Natural Forests

But trees have been growing for millions
of years without the assistance of people.
Why should city trees be an expensive and
labor intensive proposition? Why not just
plant some trees wherever we want them
and let nature take its course?

The natural forest differs from its mod-
ern urban counterpart in many ways. Ina
natural climax forest, trees reproduce and
renew themselves as a matter of course.
There is a constant ongoing and overlapping
cycle of renewal and decline.

In an urban setting, the offspring of
highly reproductive trees are generally
considered a nuisance. Trees that produce
large quantities of successful seed should
not be used in most urban settings. Most

tree species, however, can not produce viable
offspring in urban habitats. Therefore, part of
the challenge to urban foresters is both to select
trees that are sustainable over a long term
under the particular conditions in which they
are to grow, and to enhance the conditions of
planting sites to promote that sustainability.

Trees Respond to Site

The plants that grow in a natural forest
setting do so because they are generally well
adapted to the environmental conditions that
prevail there. Nevertheless, more trees suc-
cumb to competition in a natural forest than
survive to maturity. In the natural scheme of
things, individual trees are of little importance
except as winners in the process of natural
selection; as long as the population remains
intact in some form, a given species as a whole
successfully occupies that site.

Mortality rates that occur in a natural forest
setting are unacceptable in an urban forest
because here each tree represents a consider-
able investment of time, energy and money.

In a natural forest, the balance of exposure
to beneficial and adverse elements determines
the shape or “habit” of trees. Those which
must reach for sunlight through a small open-
ing in a closed forest canopy can’t develop the
broad spreading crown that characterizes our
most prized shade trees, yet may still be very
successful in a biological sense.

In the urban forest it is expected that trees
measure up to a certain standard of beauty and
function. But left to its own genetic program-
ming, a tree will respond to a restrictive envi-
ronment in a city the same way that it does in a
natural setting. The required aesthetic and
functional considerations of the urban forest,
therefore, require more than just an under-
standing of what keeps a given species of tree
alive. Selection of a proper planting site, ade-
quate site preparation, proper installation,
watering, feeding, and routine maintenance are
basic necessities. But effective planning and

follow-through also require an understanding
of exactly how a particular species of tree
adjusts its branching habit, leaf development,
flowering and root development to the condi-
tions of the space, both above and below
ground, in which it will grow and mature.

Rather than thinking along the lines of
modifying a given tree to fit a certain space or
condition, urban foresters must select trees
that require a minimum of modification over
their lifetimes. The right tree must be chosen
to fit the existing conditions.

The goal in designing and planting an
urban forest is to provide more and longer-
lived trees that will enhance quality of life in

the city. By directing more attention to the
selection, planning and planting phases, we
can reduce the amount of resources required
for maintenance and replacement of trees. By
using our resources in this more efficient
manner we can obtain greater coverage, more
continuity and increased access to the urban
forest.

The author, Allen Howard, is the Department t's
representative on the planning committee a the
Fifth National Urban Forest Conference to be held

Nov. 13-17 at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.

Baldwin Bonanza XXI

Drought tolerant plants, palms
and orchids were the top sellers at
Baldwin Bonanza XXI, according to
John Provine, Arboretum superin-
tendent. Co-chairmen John and Eva
Shepard were in charge of the two-
day benefit plant sale that attracted
almost 4,000 people to the Los
Angeles State and County Arbore-
tum the first weekend in May.

Unusual plants from Monrovia
Nursery in Azusa, Magic Growers
Wholesale Nursery in Pasadena and
Desert to Jungle Nursery in
Montebello supplemented those
grown at the Arboretum.

Robert Smaus, Los Angeles
Times garden editor, was honorary
chairman at the Preview Party
Friday evening. About 800 Califor-
nia Arboretum Foundation mem-
bers attended to meet Mr. Smaus
and make early plant selections.

Profits from the sale will be used
to maintain Arboretum programs
and plant collections.

Ken Quigley

Honorary Cocco. eg us (left) and California Arbor.
tum Foundation President Richard Grant enjoy the Baldwin
Bonanza preview party.

Prelude to San Juan River Rafting

Botanists Trek Through Three Deserts

The rains of March had begun to induce
the annual miracle of dressing the deserts in
a bright covering of spring wildflowers
when Arboretum botanists Suzanne Granger
and Allen Howard set out in late April for
an 84-mile rafting adventure down the San
Juan River of southeast Utah. The appeal of
a rafting trip was manyfold. In addition to
the outstanding array of floristic and geo-
logic features in and around the San Juan
River Canyon, this stretch of the river is rich
in unvandalized dwellings and artifacts of
the mysterious Anasazi Indians who flour-
ished here centuries ago. The only way to
see all this is by small boat.

Driving to the San Juan was half the fun
of the trip. Certainly the natural features
encountered along the broad slice of the
American Southwest from Los Angeles to
Monument Valley was as interesting as the
San Juan River corridor itself. This was a

A A stunning ary of distin distinct geological formations

frum any aspect along the
the San Juan River. ig .

special year, for the rains which produced the
flowers also triggered a phenomenal popula-
tion boom of American painted lady butter-
flies. The way to the river was awash with
carpets of wildflowers on the ground under-
foot and clouds of butterflies in the air.

This is not a barren and boring succession
of empty landscapes, and certainly not
a“wasteland.” The route passes through the
confluence of three out of the four great North
American deserts and five floristic provinces
which are as beautiful as they are distinct.

Beyond the urban confines of the Los Ange-
les Basin, one enters the southern margin of the
youngest of our deserts, the Mojave, which is
characterized by an open woodland of the
incomparable Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia).
The Mojave is far richer in ephemeral flower-
ing species than its neighboring deserts, the
Great Basin to the north, and the Sonoran to
the south. A prominent feature in the Mojave
roadside landscape were bright carpets of the
pale yellow desert dandelion (Malacothrix
glabrata), interspersed with blue-flowered
lupines (Lupinus), and Great Basin blue sage
(Salvia dorrii), whose silver foliage and deep
royal blue flowers rivaled the more cosmopoli-
tan bright orange-flowered globe mallow
(Sphaeralcea ambigua).

Across the Colorado River, one enters the
northern reaches of the Sonoran Desert. Here,
where the Mojave and Sonoran deserts inter-
grade, one encounters the rare sight of Joshua
trees and ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), a
Sonoran species, growing together. At one
point, off the Interstate east of Oatman, Ari-
zona, was a stand of Joshua trees up to their
knees in a breathtaking three-foot-deep sea of
white, foamyCaulanthus, a mustard, in full
flower.

In this portion of the Sonoran Desert, just
north of the saguaro cactus zone, the ocotillo’s
fountain-like habit, scarlet flowers, and green

Allen Howard

Pale Mariposa lilies flutter over blackbrush growing among cobblestones in a relict hanging riverbed.

leaves are a dominant element, creating a
dramatic display at any time of the year that
rain occurs. Other outstanding blooms in
this area included the scarlet and violet
flowers of penstemon, which grew in dense
drifts, the pale lavender flowers of the desert
hyacinth (Dichelostemma pulchella), and the
clear magenta flowers of the hedgehog cactus
(Echinocereus engelmannii). Another promi-
nent plant in both the Mojave and Sonoran
deserts is the creosote bush (Larrea divaricata).
This graceful, somewhat open shrub, whose
resinous fragrance filled the air, was a profu-
sion of bright yellow flowers and silver-
haired seed pods. One of the many spectacu-
lar and iridescent blue-flowered species of
Phacelia bloomed in its sheltering shade.
Beyond the Sonoran Desert are the higher
elevation Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands, a
serenely beautiful open woodland of low-
growing junipers and pines, which eventu-
ally grades into a tall Ponderosa Pine forest
in the high San Francisco Peaks area north of
Flagstaff, where the spring wildflowers were
still dormant. On the other side of the moun-
tains, one descends once again through a
Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands into the breath-
taking grandeur of Monument Valley. Here
the harsh expanse of the Great Basin Desert

was a pale green open shrubland of Great
Basin sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata).

The trip culminated at the bottom of the
San Juan River Basin, where an astounding
array of desert and riverine plants were in
bloom side-by-side. Evening primrose
(Oenothera), blue lupine (Lupinus), and purple
vetch (Astragalus ) covered the high terraces
above the river. Purple mariposa lily
(Calochortus flexuosus), gentian-blue Phacelia
flowers, and scarlet Indian paintbrush
(Castilleja) formed a spectacular display high
above the canyon, among the cobblestones of
a relict, uplifted riverbed. Hanging gardens
of pale lavender alcove columbine (Aquilegia
micrantha) and delicate maidenhair fern
(Adiantum cappilus-veneris) filled moist seep-
ages of side canyons.

The deserts of the American Southwest
are alive and interesting in all seasons, but
are most captivating in Spring, when the
many drought adapted desert plants show
their true colors. Certainly many of these
plants have a place in our garden landscapes,
as well.

ie authors are both members of the Department
, Suzanne Granger as Associate Herbarium
Caeae and Allen Howard as Biologist.

500 Attend Third Annual Robinson Garden Tour

On May 10 more than 500 guests strolled
through Virginia Robinson Gardens, fea-
tured estate on the third annual benefit
garden tour sponsored by Friends of
Robinson Gardens. Other gardens on the
self-guided tour were an epic garden in
Brentwood designed by Pamela Burton and
Katherine Spitz, a contemporary California
villa garden in Beverly Hills designed by
Daniel J. Busbin, an English country garden
in Brentwood designed by Richard
Mosbaugh, a Mediterranean hillside garden

in Los Angeles designed by Chris Rosmini and
an early California garden in Bel Air designed
by Ron Sidell.

Mrs. Vincente Minnelli was honorary chair
of the event. Co-chairmen were Gail (Mrs.
James R.) Andrews and Karen (Mrs. Michael)
Gould.

Proceeds from the tour will go to the con-
tinuation of serveral restoration projects and
the maintenance of the Virginia Robinson
Gardens said Friends president, Carol (Mrs.
Douglas) Mancino

+ 8 i: <=. “
P et cal bate
Cue on ote Oe

Co-chairmen Karen Gould (left) and Gail Andrews (right) greet Mrs. Vincente Minnelli,

honorary chair of the third annual garden tour sponsored by Friends of Robinson Gardens.

Fiesta de Flores

Doubts raised by the drought and reces-
sion convinced organizers of Fiesta de Flores
to look for different ways of supplying a wide
variety of plants for the annual benefit plant
sale at South Coast Botanic Garden.

“Our goal was to raise as much for the
garden as we did last year,” said Ed Hancock,
Fiesta chairman, “but we didn’t want to spend
a lot on a huge plant inventory that might not
sell.” Twelve local plant societies added their
stock to the plants grown by SCBG Founda-
tion volunteers for the two day sale held May

18-19. Several wholesale growers also sup-
plied an assortment of colorful annuals
perennials, shrubs and trees.

As a result, the sale attracted more than
2,500 shoppers and grossed over $50,000 to
help support the garden’s programs.

About 800 Foundation members and
guests attended the Preview Party the evening
of May 17. Besides the opportunity to select
their plants early, party goers could wina
cruise to Bermuda and many other raffle
prizes.

10

Irma Diaz: Employee of the Year

Irma Diaz, has been named Los Angeles
County Department of Arboreta and Botanic
Gardens Employee of the Year. In April she
received a plaque at a reception recognizing
county employees for their dedication and
hard work.

Employed at the Los Angeles State and
County Arboretum for 5 1/2 years, Irma
started as the receptionist and was promoted
to intermediate clerk typist. As automation
became a part of the gardens, Irma adapted
easily.

When the antiquated telephones were
replaced with a modern, more complicated,
system, Irma learned all the fine points and
then helped the staff members who kept
calling and coming to her with questions.

A new phone system is not the only ob-
stacle Irma has overcome in her career. Grow-
ing up in a Spanish-speaking family, she
didn’t learn English until she started school.
Now she speaks it without the trace of an
accent. But she still uses her language skills
when asked to translate for the garden’s
many Hispanic visitors. When thanked for
her help, Irma usually responds with, “That's
okay, it was nothing.”

Besides attending Rio Hondo College, Irma
helps her husband with his Little League
coaching and her son and daughter with their

Her red wagon filled with colorful flowers, this
little shopper is ready for spring planting.

education. She is also coordinator of religious
education at Epiphany Parish in South El

Irma Diaz receives congratulations and a scroll
from Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich..

school year, Irma is the lay leader responsible
for 250 young people from kindergarten
through fifth grade. She oversees 27 teachers
and reports directly to the nun who is the
Director of Religious Education.

Irma’s weekdays are just as busy as her
weekends. Besides handling the switch-
board, she has taken over many vital func-
tions that were handled by others before the
Department staff was reduced. Every day she
prepares deposit slips for attendance receipts
and compiles attendance reports. She also
mastered computer spreadsheet programs to
handle various reports and budgets.

Irma also helps plan, decorate and even
clean up for the Department’s Christmas party
and fund raisers. Always cheerful, she is
willing to lend a hand to anyone who asks
her, no matter what the task. Irma’s modesty
is sincere; whenever she receives com-
pliments, she says, “It’s only my job.”

11

GARDEN EVENTS

July Cactus and Succulent Show Aug.
5- Arboretum 17-
7 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 18
Cactus and Succulent Society of
America displays thousands of exotic
and local cacti and succulents. Thou-
sands of plants sold. Members
available to answer questions.
July Begonia Show Aug.
27- Arboretum 31-
28 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept.
San Gabriel Valley Begonia Society 2
features cane-type varieties with col-
orful clusters. Begonias and compan-
ion shade plants for sale.
Aug. Bromeliad Show and Sale Sept.
3- South Coast Botanic Garden 2
- Sat. 12-4:30., Sun. 10-4:30 p.m.
South Bay Bromeliad Associates

display prized specimens, on-going
demonstrations and rare and exotic
plants for sale.

Dahlia Show
South Coast Botanic Garden

. Sat. 12-4:30, Sun. 9-4 p.m.

South Coast Dahlia Society features
individual flowers and arrange-
ments. Blooms from one inch to 12
inches across in a variety of colors.

Fern and Exotic Plant Sale
Arboretum

9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Los Angeles International Fern

Society fills Ayres Hall. Lectures at

11 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day.

Free Picnic and Concert

South Coast Botanic Garden

4 p.m. to dusk

Palos Verdes Symphonic Band takes
the labor out of the day with a free
concert in the Upper Meadow. Bring
a picnic and relax.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors

Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, 5th District, Chairmen
Supervisor Gloria Molina, 1st District

Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, 2nd District

Supervisor Edmund D. Edelman, 3rd District

Supervisor Deane Dana, 4th District

Los Angeles State & County Arboretum
301 North Baldwin Avenue
Arcadia, CA 91007-2697

Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Drive
La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011

South Coast Botanic Garden
26300 Crenshaw Blvd.
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274

Virginia Robinson Gardens
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

LuAnn B. Munns, Editor
(818) 821-3214