Guests crunch the snow underfoot in the Natural Area Oak Tunnel.
Photo by Dave Titensor
EDITORS
Kate Randall
Mindy Wilson
Sarah Zucca
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jason Baker
Sam Crump
Glenn Eurick
Kristan Jacobsen
Shawna McClanahan
Sam Nelson
Aleksandr Nik
Kate Randall
Heidi Simper
Dave Titensor
Mindy Wilson
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Leslie Hanna
PRINTED BY IC Group
2025 ADVISORY BOARD
David Classen, Chair
Kym Buttschardt, Vice Chair
Curt Crowther, Secretary
Lisa Andrues
Steve Barth
Nichol Bourdeaux
Carolyn Buma
Maura Carabello
Gary Christensen
Chelsey Curtis
Shaleane Gee
Greg Graham
Jeff Herring
Siamak Khadjenoury
Scott Mietchen
Lindee Nance
Jennifer Reed
JoLynda Stillman
Vicki Varela
Beverly Vargo
Kamrin Wilson
Emeritus Board Members
Sandi Behnken
As winter arrives in the valley, Red Butte Garden and Arboretum is preparing for the cold, snowy days to come. The braided grasses are ready to shelter pollinators, new spring-blooming bulbs are tucked in the ground, and trowels are taking a break after one of our busiest and best seasons ever.
This season ties a bow on the Garden’s 40th anniversary year. We are awed, proud, and grateful to you for everything we’ve achieved together. We welcomed a record number of guests. We added thousands more spring bulbs, thousands of new plants and trees, and a new trail in the Natural Area. More than 50,000 schoolchildren from nearly every school district in the state engaged in plant science with us. We hosted a production of Antiques Roadshow and celebrated our anniversary at the Botanical Alchemy party. And we presented another stellar concert season that included the legendary Jon Batiste in an unforgettable first appearance here.
Is it time for a breather? Not quite. As plant people know, a winter garden is dormant, but still full of life. Like plants quietly preparing below ground for spring, Garden staff and volunteers are recharging and planning for another exciting year of growth. Above ground, there’s still plenty of activity and beauty to explore.
As you take your own moment to reflect and recharge, use the Garden to make the most of this slowed-down season. With deciduous trees and shrubs bare, you can see and appreciate the bones and textures of every space, admire our exceptional collection of 200+ conifer tree types, and spot wildlife. Take advantage of your member discount and try a botanical painting class or learn how to prune your fruit trees. Use your guest passes to bring a friend for a walkand-talk or to spot cedar waxwings in the bare branches of a crabapple.
Above all, know how grateful we are for making this a year we’ll never forget. And thank you for helping make Red Butte Garden thrive, all year round.
Derrek Hanson, Executive Director
We acknowledge that this land, which is named for the Ute Tribe, is the traditional and ancestral homeland of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute Tribes. The University of Utah recognizes and respects the enduring relationship that exists between many Indigenous peoples and their traditional homelands. We respect the sovereign relationship between tribes, states, and the federal government, and we affirm the University of Utah’s commitment to a partnership with Native Nations and Urban Indian communities through research, education, and community outreach activities.
Forty Years of Concert Community
By Angela Wilcox, Associate Director of Advancement
As we mark the Garden’s 40th anniversary, we pay tribute to the loyal donors, major sponsors, and friends who comprise the Concert Donor Club (CDC). Generous contributions from CDC members, above and beyond their membership, help fund the Garden’s educational programming, conservation efforts, and maintenance and care of our gardens and facilities.
Being a member of the Concert Donor Club puts you in a community of like-minded music lovers where lasting friendships, connections, and memories are made. Many members
have been packing their picnics and throwing down blankets since 1987, when the series featured just a handful of local folk and bluegrass bands on a makeshift stage and porta potties for guests.
While members now enjoy reserved seating, exclusive amenities, and world-class acts from a grand stage, the reason they return year after year is the same. There's not a more beautiful setting than to be outside, under the stars, harnessing the power of live music to boost mental and physical health through shared experiences and emotional connections.
Our deepest gratitude to all of you, our members and donors, who have been supporting the Garden and the Outdoor Concert Series since our humble beginnings. We look forward to another 40+ years of encores!
For information on how to join the Concert Donor Club, please email angela.wilcox@redbutte.utah.edu or call 801.585.3813
Top: Stephanie Babalis, Sam and Victoria Souvall, and guests Bottom left: Amphitheatre stage, circa 2000s. Bottom right: The Amphitheatre stage today
Dig Deeper This Winter with a Class at the Garden
By Alex Lithgow, Adult Programs Manager
The quiet peace of Red Butte Garden and Arboretum in winter invites us to intentionally engage, connect, and reflect. Through the Garden’s adult programming, discover the subtle beauty of red berries against snow, birds perched on bare branches, and the first buds of the year. Learn how garden crops and herbs become warm, comforting meals, or spark
your creativity alongside friends and loved ones. Whether you’re pursuing new knowledge ahead of spring gardening or seeking wellness and mindful practices, our classes offer opportunities for discovery and growth. Join us to deepen your relationship with nature and community, both this winter and beyond.
Forest Bathing
By Chris Newton, certified forest therapy guide Class Highlight
Forest Bathing is a guided practice that welcomes people of all ages. Its gentle accessibility makes it truly special—easy paths, no steep climbs, and no destination to reach.
As a guide, I offer participants a supported space to slow down and be present in nature’s beauty. At Red Butte Garden, winter offers a special opportunity for restorative stillness. By exploring one sense at a time, we cultivate grounded awareness in the moment.
Forest Bathing originated in Japan where it is called ShinrinYoku and has been scientifically proven to lower blood pressure, support autonomic and immune function, and enhance mental health. Together, we’re invited to be held and healed by the living presence of nature.
Top left: Forest bathing class in the Meadow
Top right: forest therapy guide Chris Newton, Below: Writing in the Garden class
Brighten Your Winter Garden with Our Favorites
Crataegus ambigua
(Russian Hawthorn)
One of the lesser-known hawthorns, this small tree tolerates our alkaline soils and even tolerates some drought once established. Its white spring flowers, beloved by pollinators, are followed by large, glossy, rosy-red fruits that persist into late fall and winter and provide a winter food source for birds and wildlife. Its branches have a twisted or gnarled habit, giving the tree a broadly rounded overall habit in maturity.
—Marita Tewes Tyrolt, Director of Horticulture
Pinus monophylla
(Single Needle Piñon Pine)
I appreciate that it’s the only pine in the world with a single needle, and I love how the needles’ slight curve give the branches a unique, rounded look. Its dense form and beautiful blue-green foliage offer a striking contrast against a snowy background. Its large-scaled, woody cones also add an extra bit of charm throughout the colder months.
—Jason
Baker, Plant Records Curator
Mahonia repens
(Creeping Oregon Grape)
This adaptable, native, broadleaf evergreen shrub grows approximately a foot tall and spreads up to 2-3 feet wide. Its deep green summer foliage changes to a range of reds, purples, and sometimes almost black during cold weather. Its yellow gold flowers in early spring offer food to early pollinators and are followed by dark blue berries with a waxy light blue coating. The fruits, which persist in winter, are enjoyed by birds and small mammals.
—Guy Banner, Horticulturist (who couldn't pick just one—see his next two!)
Schizachyrium scoparium
(Little Bluestem)
This highly adaptable, moderately sized grass is native to prairies of North America. Its wonderful upright form, and colorful leaves and stems, are topped with silvery white seedheads that catch the winter light. There are several horticultural selections of this species available with varied colors, beginning with green and blue-green leaves in the spring, and ranging from gold tan in the fall to oranges, reds, pinks, purples, and burgundy. The plants hold their vertical structure well through winter, and its seeds are an excellent food source for birds foraging in the fall and winter.
Sesseli
gummiferum (Moon Carrot)
This short-lived perennial or biennial member of the carrot family comes from Türkiye. During its first season, it forms a rosette of feathery sage green to blue foliage with white stems. The blooms, which emerge the second year on robust stalks, are moon-like half spheres of cream-colored flowers, blushed with pink. The flowers are prized by a diverse array of pollinators, and they produce seed prolifically. Leaving the flower stems in place in the fall provides a beautiful, ivory white, sculptural form during winter. Overwintering foliage is evergreen with purple and pink hues.
There are so many plants with winter interest at Red Butte Garden that it’s hard to pick a favorite. But every year, I find myself drawn to Winter Flame Dogwood, camera in hand, trying to capture its fiery brilliance. Its vibrant stems stand out against the snow, and on a sunny day the whole shrub glows. I love that it’s beautiful through the seasons, with clusters of white flowers and fresh green foliage, but in winter it feels extra special—like it’s lighting up the garden during the quietest time of year.
—Heidi Simper, Plant Records Curator
‘Tis the Season to Support Local Holiday Markets
Holiday Open House & Art Fair
Red Butte Garden & Arboretum
Dec 6 & 7
Free admission thanks to Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts and Parks (ZAP) Your holiday shopping hot spot! Three unique shopping experiences in one.
Garden Gift Shop
Holiday Sale
Dec 6 & 7, 9am-5pm
Members save an additional 10% during our Holiday Open House on a distinctive selection of botanic-inspired gifts for everyone on your list.
Holiday Art Fair
Dec 6 & 7, 10am-5pm
Discover delightful holiday gifts and support 18 local makers. Peruse stunning jewelry, home décor, beautiful ceramics, and more. Visit our website to see the full list of the artists and links to their work. redbuttegarden.org/events/holidayopen-house-art-fair
Glass Art Show
Through Dec 20, 9am-5pm And that’s not all—the popular annual Glass Art Show, with stunning glass objects for sale, will be happening in the Visitor Center too.
Christkindlmarkt SLC
This Is The Place Heritage Park
Dec 3-7 | 11am-8pm
Inspired by the world-famous German Christmas markets, this popular old-world style bazaar offers a unique shopping and cultural experience featuring local artist booths, tantalizing food, and festive holiday entertainment daily. Free admission. christkindlmarkt-slc.com
Craft Lake City Holiday Market
Ogden Union Station
Dec 5, 5-9pm | Dec 6, 10am-4pm Shop 150+ local artisans, vintage vendors, foodies, performers, game creators, and youth entrepreneurs— plus craft cocktails, brews, and food trucks. With unique gifts, festive fun, and a visit from Santa, it’s the perfect place to celebrate the season. craftlakecity.com/holiday-market
Hawkwatch
Holiday Market
Hawkwatch International Dec 6, 10am-2pm
Meet and support HWI’s Raptor Ambassadors as you shop local, environmentally minded vendors. hawkwatch.org/event/hawkwatchholiday-market-2
Holiday Market
Utah Museum of Fine Arts
Dec 6 & 7 | 9 am-5 pm
The Annual UMFA Holiday Market offers an ideal shopping experience—one-of-a-kind purchases that support both local artists and the work of the UMFA, all in a festive atmosphere. Free market admission and parking. umfa.utah.edu/holiday-market-2025
What Will Be Your Legacy?
Help keep the Garden growing with a legacy gift through your will.
A legacy gift honors the donor’s life with a charitable gift to a chosen party, cause, or organization. Legacy giving is a lasting investment in Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, advancing our mission to connect people with plants and the beauty of living landscapes. When you include
Red Butte Garden in your estate plan, you ensure the continued growth of the garden for future generations.
For more information, please contact development@redbutte.utah.edu or 801.585.5658.
Museum Store
Natural History Museum of Utah
Find one-of-a-kind souvenirs and keepsakes from hand-crafted jewelry and fine indigenous artwork to the latest dinosaur toys and a wellcurated selection of natural history books for all ages.
And from Dec 1-23 flash your digital RBG member card at the Museum Store for 10% off your purchase. NHMU members save 10% at the Garden’s Gift Shop. Proof of membership must be presented at time of purchase.
Plant hope. Grow community. Protect nature.
With your help, Red Butte Garden and Arboretum has celebrated four decades of growth, discovery, and community connection.
Your gift today ensures that we can keep growing stronger. Thanks to your support, the Garden will continue to be an accessible place where everyone can explore, learn, and find peace among plants.
Together, we’ve made 2025 one of our most remarkable years ever:
278,000 total guests to Red Butte Garden
30,000 hours of volunteer service
13,595 students served in 41 of Utah’s 42 school districts*
3,608 new plants & trees added
*Fiscal year July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025
7,889 schoolchildren on field trips*
524 Botany Bins & Boxes for use by 35,420 students
Look Who Joined Our Team
Join us in welcoming these talented people to the Garden’s full-time staff.
Drew Freshour
Pronouns: she/her
Volunteer Program Coordinator
BS in biology, University of Tennessee
Drew has worked in plant ecology labs, conducted public health research on ticks and mosquitoes, and held roles in communications and education. She joined Red Butte’s plant records team as an assistant in early 2024 and is excited to shift gears to support and coordinate the essential work our volunteers contribute across the Garden.
Alex Lithgow
Pronouns: she/her
Adult Programs Manager
BS in human and organizational development, Vanderbilt University
After more than three years as the Garden’s assistant volunteer coordinator, Alex is excited to join the education & community programs department to manage adult programming. She’s passionate about fostering accessible spaces for community building and strengthening environmental stewardship. Alex is also a visual artist and brings additional experience in outreach, accessibility, communication, sustainability, and data management.
Cole Scott Irrigation, Turf, & Equipment Manager
BS in environmental science, water resources focus, Southern New Hampshire University
Cole joined the Garden as a seasonal gardener in 2021 and accepted a full-time role as equipment mechanic the following year. In 2024, he transitioned into the irrigation technology specialist position. He’s excited that his new role brings together his equipment experience—rooted in working on machinery at his family farm in Minnesota—his turf knowledge from high school summers working on his uncle’s sod farm, and his irrigation expertise focused on conservation and best management practices.
Sullivan Swoboda
Landscape Irrigation Specialist
Sullivan began his career at the University of Utah, where he studied and practiced horticulture, arboriculture, and irrigation, and then transitioned into the medical cannabis industry, leading teams across outdoor and greenhouse environments, as well as indoor propagation operations. According to Sullivan, “I recognized how deeply I value working outdoors and immersing myself in the educational culture that exists at the U and feel fortunate to have the opportunity to work at such a prestigious garden.”
Alexander Vincent Horticulturist II
Water Conservation Garden
BS in residential landscape design and construction, Utah State University
Alexander (Al) brings many years of experience in the green industry to the Garden—from conservation work to landscape design, installation, and maintenance. His expertise centers on sustainability, with proven success in xeriscaping and ecologically focused design that supports healthier landscapes and smarter water use. He looks forward to advancing environmentally responsible horticulture and shaping our outdoor spaces to be both beautiful and resilient.
Sarah Zucca
Marketing & Communications Specialist
BAs in journalism and Spanish, Marquette University
Sarah is an experienced communications professional with a passion for the outdoors and strong ties across the U, through previous positions at the Osher Center for Integrative Health and the Office for Sustainability Education. Sarah says, “Red Butte’s work resonates deeply with my own belief that nature is not only healing and humbling, it is also worth celebrating with our community now and protecting for generations to come.”
Garden to Star in Antiques Roadshow
Antiques Roadshow’s new season will premiere in early 2026 with three episodes produced at Red Butte Garden and Arboretum!
Filmed in June, these episodes will brighten the first three Mondays of the new year—January 5, 12, and 19. Snuggle into your comfiest blanket and savor the Garden in full summer splendor as the Roadshow drama unfolds.
Dedications
The following individuals have made contributions to Red Butte Garden and Arboretum to celebrate, honor, and remember their friends and loved ones. We appreciate these generous dedications and value being a part of the lives recognized through these gifts.
In Appreciation of Kym Buttschardt
Anonymous
In Memory of R. Endo
Joni Endo
In Appreciation of Kelly Belden Fisher
Anonymous
In Memory of Carolee Gunn
Dana Cremeno
In Honor of Jay A. Jacobson
John G. Francis
In Memory of Ginny Rothstein
Suzanne S. Stensaas
In Memory of John C. Young
G. Kenneth Handley
Gifts recognized were made between 7/1/2025 - 9/30/2025 For corrections, please contact Angela Wilcox at angela.wilcox@redbutte.utah.edu
WINTER 2025–26 CALENDAR
EXHIBIT ARTISTS
Please visit our website and social media for more Garden event information.
ART EXHIBITS
Nature-themed media by Utah artists. Admission not required to shop.
NOV 7-DEC 20
Glass at the Garden with the Glass Art Guild of Utah
JAN 9-MAR 2
Utah Watercolor Society
HOLIDAY SHOPPING HOTSPOT
NOV 30
Museum Store Sunday at the Garden
Sun 9am-5pm
Beat the crowds and enjoy an extra 10% off Gift Shop purchases.
DEC 6 & 7
Holiday Open House & Art Fair
Free admission thanks to ZAP.
Gift Shop Holiday Sale
Sat & Sun 9am-5pm
Botanic-inspired gifts for everyone on your list. Members save an additional 10%.
Holiday Art Fair
Sat & Sun 10am-5pm
Support local makers and find delightful handmade gifts!
DEC 1-23
NHMU Museum Store
Garden members save 10% next door. NHMU members save 10% at the Garden Gift Shop. Proof of membership must be presented at time of purchase.
GARDEN EVENTS
NOV 1-DEC 31
Rock Your Membership
Enter to win a Concert Donor Club package for two–22 shows! redbuttegarden.org/events/ rock-your-membership
DEC 13
Gnome for the Holidays
Sat 10am-1pm
Make your own winterthemed miniature garden and holiday keepsakes.
Blooming with Pride: Rooted TogetherCall for Artists Artists, florists, and horticulturists! Apply now to create an artistic display made of plants that celebrates individuality and Pride for our annual June event.
Calling all poets! Enter your spring-inspired poem for a chance to be displayed in the Garden.
Apply: redbuttegarden.org/ events/call-for-poetry
FEB 13
Garden Member Valentine Party Fri 2-5pm
Join us for a special Valentine’s Day-inspired event. Tickets: redbuttegarden.org/ events/valentine-party
Join Our Volunteer Team
Support garden tours, summer camps, youth programs, and horticulture. No experience necessary. Learn as you go and at training workshops. redbuttegarden.org/ volunteer
Top: Glass Art Guild, Chimney Stack by Joseph Peretto Bottom: Utah Watercolor Society, Aspen Grove by Gail Allen
Picea abies 'Acrocona' (Red Cone Norway Spuce)
WINTER 2025–26 CALENDAR
CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
Find more classes, descriptions, and online registration at redbuttegarden.org/ adult-education or call 801.581.8454.
Members receive 20% off all listed public prices.
GARDENING & HORTICULTURE
DEC 1
Designing for Every Season: Year-Round Beauty in Your Landscape
Mon, 6:30-8:30pm
General public $39
JAN 28 & 31
Pruning Fruit Trees Wed, 6-8pm Sat, 10am-12pm or 1:30-3:20pm
General public $70
FEB 12 & 19
Growing Your Own Food Garden: Soil Prep to Harvest (Online) Thurs, 6:30-8:30 PM
Botanical Painting for All Fri, 6-8:30pm Sat, 10am-1pm
General Public $60
JAN 10
Block Printing 101 Sat, 1:30-4pm
General public $70
JAN 17
Terrarium Workshop Sat, 2-4pm
General Public $80
JAN 21
Pressed Flower Necklaces Wed, 6-7:30pm
General public $70
WELLNESS
DEC 20
Immunity in a Jar: Crafting Fire Cider with Herbs Sat, 10-11:30am
General public $50
Escape From Business as Usual
Winter is the perfect time to take your office party or meeting offsite to Red Butte Garden and Arboretum.
Enjoy lower rental rates January, February, and March, access to a winter wonderland, and—best of all—an attentive and professional staff.
DEC, JAN, FEB
Yoga & Sound Bath with Kristin Vance Sun, 10-11 AM
General public $18
JAN, FEB (bi-monthly)
Wintering Well:
Self-Myofascial Release and Nervous System Support with Kara Delfanti Tue, 6-8pm
General Public $24
DEC, JAN, FEB
Forest Bathing with Chris Newton
Dates vary Weekends, 12-1:30pm
General public $30
CLASSES FOR KIDS
Garden Adventures
For kids ages 5-13 and a caregiver.
Sat 10-11:30am (all classes)
Garden members $16
General public $20 redbuttegarden.org/kidsclasses/garden-adventures
JAN 10
Arctic Adventures
Discover the secrets of snowflakes and create your own frosty-themed craft to take home.
JAN 24
Follow that Gnome
Follow the clues to uncover hidden treasures and discover how garden creatures stay cozy through the winter.
FEB 7
Plant a Valentine
Learn about plants that symbolize love, decorate a heart-themed planter, and plant a houseplant to share with someone special.
FEB 28
Sprouting Seeds
Explore different kinds of seeds and plant your own starter seeds to take home.
CONTACT US
Visitor Center 801.585.0556
Website: www.redbuttegarden.org
Comments: 801.581.5754 or email pr@redbutte.utah.edu
GO GREEN!
Opt out of printed newsletters. Email membership@redbutte.utah.edu with "NEWSLETTER OPT OUT” in the subject line. We’ll take care of the rest.
THANK YOU
Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) Program for your support.
@redbuttegarden
Red Butte Garden and Arboretum is one of the largest botanical gardens in the Intermountain West, a regional center for plant-focused science education, conservation and research, and cultural enrichment. Communityfunded, the Garden is renowned for its diverse plant collections, themed gardens, and spectacular mountain setting, with almost 600,000 springtime blooming bulbs, awardwinning horticulture-based educational programs, and an iconic outdoor summer concert series.
