Public Garden Visit

ELEDA VEE ORNAMENTAL GRASS AND IRIS GARDEN 

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY BOTANICAL CENTER

Sheriden Hansen

I chose to visit the Utah State University Botanical Center (USUBC) in Kaysville, focusing mainly on the new ornamental grass garden.  I am particularly interested in the grass garden because I feel that grasses can be a great asset to gardens in Utah.  Most are very drought tolerant, they survive the extreme temperatures of our climate, and they add a great aspect to the garden that I think is often under used: movement.  The main focus of the USUBC is to bring education and awareness to the public about plants and how to use them.  They have done an outstanding job raising awareness of the use of grasses in gardens.  

I visited the garden during the Fall Garden Fair, which was a free public workshop.  The focus was the use of grasses in the garden.  I toured the garden with the greenhouse manager, Richard Anderson.  Mr. Anderson is responsible for the propagation of the many plants that are required to plant the USUBC and also for the plants that are sold at public plant sells.  He also propagates native wildflowers and works with local greenhouses to build inventory of the newest cultivars of popular plants.  He recently published a book about wildflowers with  Jerry Goodspeed and JayDee Gunnel, who I also met and spoke with about the garden.  

The garden is planted in a very unique way.  There is a labyrinth in the center of the garden that is planted with low growing species that are good for ground cover in our extreme climate.  It is a beautiful centerpiece for the grasses that have been planted surrounding it.  The grasses are planted in family groups.  There are cool season grasses, such as Fescue, and warm season grasses such as Miscanthus or “Maiden Hair” grasses.  I particularly liked the Switch Grasses, the seed heads are very delicate and lace-like in appearance.  I was very drawn to the variety “North Winds”, which is a tall, upright switch grass with a beautiful blue colored foliage.  

I loved watching the grasses move in the wind, it gave a feeling of relaxation and calmness that can easily be added to any garden.  Feather Reed grass was used as a screen near the road to help block sound and create a room-like space for the garden.  There is a fountain that will soon be placed in the middle of the labyrinth, and that will add to the serene calm that washes over you as you walk through the garden.  

Mr. Anderson demonstrated how to divide a cool season grass for the group.  He chose a fescue called “Schottland”, a cool season grass that would continue to grow in cool weather after the division.  I was impressed by the number of people in the group who did not know how to divide perennial grasses.  This is why the USUBC is so important to the public, they provide education through tours, demonstrations, a question and answer hotline run by the Master Gardener Program, and an opportunity for hands on learning.  

The final addition to the tour was the inclusion of a small plant sale.  The public, after viewing the garden was invited to purchase some of the same plants that they had just seen.  The plants were propagated by Mr. Anderson with the help of several Davis County Master Gardener volunteers.  This is a wonderful way not only to introduce people to grasses, but give them an instant opportunity to take them home so they can benefit from them in their own gardens.  

The public is greatly benefited by the effort to educate and the beauty that is provided by the gardens at the USUBC.  I have been the recipient of the many efforts of the staff at the USUBC through their many classes and workshops and dedication to beautify the land in my community.  This new grass garden is beautiful; I even took home some grasses for my own yard, as well as a broader understanding of grasses in general and a greater appreciation for public gardens.

References

Anderson, Richard.  (2012, September 15).  Personal Interview.  

Goodspeed, Jerry.  (2012, September 15).  Personal Interview.  

Gunnel, JayDee.  (2012, September 15).  Personal Interview.

Hunter, Brtiney.  (2012, September 15).  Personal Interview.