2150 North Alvernon Way, Tucson, Arizona 85712 326-9686 www.tucsonbotanical.org

Volunteer and Docent Newsletter

Summer 2011

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—VOLUNTEER MEETINGS—

Horticultural Therapy Meeting Wednesday, September 7, 10AM

Education Building

Tour Guides/ Signature Classes Instructors/

Proctors Meeting Wednesday, July 13, Noon

Volunteer Lounge

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UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

-Butterfly Affaire~ October 8 & 9

~Luminaria Nights~ December 2, 3, 4

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Next Volunteer Newsletter will be the September, 2011, edition.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!MARK YOUR CALENDARS!MARK YOUR CALENDARS!MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

All-Volunteer

Welcome Back Potluck...

...will be held on Wednesday, September 28,

11:30AM to 1:30 PM, in the Pavilion.

A sign-up sheet will be set up in the Volunteer Lounge as of September 1st.

<<<<>>>>

Regular All-Volunteer meetings will resume on Thursday, November 10th, and will continue every 2nd Thursday of the month through April, 2012.

—DOCENT TRAINING COURSE— September 17 - November 19, 2011 (skipping October 8 due to Gardens-wide event) 9-week course, Saturdays from 9AM-Noon

What does a docent do?

• Participate in specialized training sessions • Lead garden tours • Present educational outreach programs for adults and children

• Staff educational carts • Implement horticultural therapy programs • Teach Gardens’ Signature classes • Staff volunteer booths at community events • Information center to promote Gardens and provide information to visitors as a Gardens’ Interpreter

What do docents learn?

• History of Tucson Botanical Gardens • Botany for Gardeners • Wildflowers • Gardening for Birds and Butterflies • Water Resources and Conservation • Principles of Xeriscaping • Desert Ecology • Herb Gardening • Ethnobotany • Tour Guide and Presentation Skills

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Elizabeth Willott, Curator

BUTTERFLIES

The big change I wish to accomplish this summer is to get the organization and computer systems needs so Butterfly Magic can run smoothly and effectively. Our old systems were pushed much closer to the limit than I care to consider! I have focused as much as I can to improve this area. As any of you who have visited the Education Building will see, the supplies in the hallway are now organized to make them more accessible and attractive (and the butterfly office much better organized, too).

We have completed a 16x20 poster of the Gulf Fritillary life cycle. I am very pleased with the quality of this—I couldn’t list all the volunteers who have helped it become what it is. Thanks to each and every one of you. Of course, there are other projects along those lines…. I’m sure I’ll never run out of work!

We have been chipping away at turning last year’s frozen butterflies into educational resources for this coming year. Several people have been involved in this, typically on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning. If you are interested, please contact me.

Several volunteers have been intensely involved in cleaning the greenhouse (for orchids and for butterflies). If you haven’t seen the orchid display, please come and check it out, and you can then admire the cleaner walls and roof, too.

We are working on other educational resources for next year. Measurable progress has been made on videos, on our Butterfly of the Week (for Facebook), and on our overall plan. Now it’s almost time to focus on production of content. I know several of you have over the past expressed interest in acting as proof-readers, if you are interested in that—or being involved in making some of these products prior to proof-reading stage—please contact me.

We have many photographs, yet frequently rely on only a few of what we have. Why? Because we don’t have an adequate cataloguing system. I have set up an Access database and Eric Eaton test ran it with some of his photographs. If someone is interested in escaping the heat, being in an air-conditioned office, and looking at photographs of beautiful butterflies and more, please contact me. To start, you do not have to know anything about Access. There is a form that will have drop down menus from which you choose. Having more photos readily available would be great.

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Once I’m confident about the calendar and scheduling procedures I’m currently implementing, I’ll be mentally prepared to take on adding more to our information base on butterflies. There are several tasks involved in that for any of you interested. We need to confirm places of origin and sizes for a few of our newer butterflies. I would also like to include a list of host plants for the butterflies. We have some of that data, and would need more.

This year Loews Ventana has asked us for outreach programs. The three butterfly outreach programs at Loews Ventana so far this year has prompted us to create a more organized outreach package that can be used throughout the summer and also during Butterfly Magic. (For those of you who have been volunteering for many years, this likely sounds like reinventing the wheel—to some extent it is. That’s just the way it is, sometimes.)

We also have our native Gulf Fritillary colony going. This spares the passion-vines on the grounds and also allows us to continue to sell our Sonoran Butterfly Kits. If any of you know anyone interested in having a kit, please contact me or the Gift Shop and you can obtain one. You get much more than just caterpillars that elsewhere would cost you more than the $20 the kit costs here.

Many thanks to all the volunteers who have been coming to help in so many ways!

MOSQUITOES

We have started monitoring for mosquitoes in the Gardens again. I’m sorry that I don’t have the numbers on hand to build you a nice graph showing the reduction over the last few years. However for those of you who have been here for several years, you likely are aware that our mosquito numbers are lower. They can only stay that way if we don’t promote the growth of mosquitoes. So, as with other wild animals we don’t want, I advise you not to feed them! Especially the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. These are the day-biting, ankle-biters. This species relies almost entirely on us for food. By reducing opportunities for larvae to develop and by not providing as much food, we can keep their numbers down. Culex quinquefasciatus pose a bit more of a problem because they feed not only on us, but on birds, too. However, we can reduce their larval sites and we can avoid being food. I’ll be giving a couple of classes on mosquitoes over the summer, if you wish to learn more please come! (See “Classes” info, pages 5 & 6.)

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GIANT MESQUITE BUGS

Have you seen these hanging out on your mesquite trees? These are Giant Mesquite Bugs. They feed on the new growth of the mesquite trees. Michael Chamberlain, Head of Horticulture, doesn’t think they do significant damage to any of our mesquites.

Unlike a butterfly that changes dramatically from caterpillar to pupa to adult, the mesquite bug has juvenile stages that resemble the adult in form (although not in color, as you can see here).

In the picture above, you can see a cluster of early nymphs that we found on the Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow shrub just south of the Education Bldg, and directly below one of our larger mesquite trees.

This past week, we started seeing the last juvenile stage on that mesquite and a few others in the Gardens. On June 23, Michael drew attention to a newly emerged adult among a group on the mesquite just south of the main Admin entrance. They can now be found in numerous places. On the left is one in the last juvenile stage. The yellowish adult is one that has newly emerged and has not yet darkened fully.

In the adult, you can see the folded wings on its back. Mesquite bugs are typically found in groups. In the picture, below, right, there are probably at least 100 on that particular tree. Once the adult has emerged, the exoskeleton of the juvenile is very strange-looking.

— JULY & AUGUST CLASSES — USES OF FUNGI IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND BIOTECHNOLOGY Saturday, July 2, 1-2PM An overview of how organisms of the Fungi Kingdom (mushrooms, molds, yeasts, rusts, mildews) have impacted our society over the course of history, as well as their contributions in our present society over the course of history, as well as their contribution in our present society in areas such as food, medicine, religion, famine, industry and basic science. Join Monica Alvarado Hernandez, a Plant Pathology PhD student in the Division of Plant Pathology and Microbiology at TheUniversity of Arizona, for this interesting exploration of the importance of fungi. $14, $7 members

MONSOON VEGETABLE GARDENS: A Four-Part Series Saturdays: July 9, 16, 23, and 30, 9AM-Noon More and more, people are interested in reconnecting to the process of growing their own food, but many feel it’s impossible to create a successful garden in the harsh Tucson desert. Luckily, the month of July marks the beginning of Tucson’s monsoons. The additional moisture, warm temperatures and humid air create ideal conditions for planting summer vegetables. The summer’s rainy season is also a great time to either plant late seasonal crops or sow seeds and prep garden beds for fall. Join acclaimed designer and owner of REALM™ Jason Isenberg, for his newly expanded four-part series which will guide you through the steps of planting seasonally-appropriate crops, helping them flourish with organic methods, harvesting the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor and creating exciting, yet simple meals from your own backyard.

Class one focuses on garden design, class two deals with preparing the soil, class three centers on the actual growing process, & the fourth and final class teaches about harvesting and cooking scrumptious meals. Classes may be taken as a series or separately. $32, $25 members ($115, $85 members, if you register for the series, up to $15 off)

GROWING ORCHIDS Sunday, July 10, 10AM-Noon Don’t think you have to be crazy to grow orchids if you live in Tucson! With a little know-how, you too can succeed at growing orchids at home. There is no better time to learn and go “nuts” over these plants, during our “Mad about Orchids” exhibit. Orchids are not as difficult to grow as some might think when basic

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light, temperature, humidity, soil media, and water/food requirements are met. Learn about basic orchid care and maintenance with Emily Rockey, Curator of Horticulture at the Gardens, in this hands-on course. You will leave knowing how to care for the small orchid you can take home with you. $20, $15 members

ALL ABOUT SAGUAROS Tuesday, July 12, 6-8PM Learn about the natural history of these big beautiful cacti and their importance in the Sonoran Desert. Taste the delicious fruit and learn how to harvest it. Plant your own baby saguaros and learn how to grow them (it’s easy). Join John Rhodes for this fun, family-friendly workshop that will include a formal presentation, a walking tour of the Saguaros of the Gardens, as well as harvesting, planting, and most importantly, tasting activities. John Rhodes has been growing and teaching about saguaros for 35 years. $25, $20 members

ARIZONA BUTTERFLIES PART 2: HAIRSTREAKS, BLUES, AND METALMARKS Thursday, July 14, 6-8PM The second installment of the butterflies of Arizona focuses on some of our most interesting insects. Hairstreaks, blues, and coppers are collectively known as gossamer wings. They are small, fast-flying butterflies that are quite colorful and have extraordinary caterpillars. Next we delve into the metalmarks, so named for their shimmering wing markings. Both families are easily observed in your yard or on a mountain hike. Join Jeff Babson of Sky Island Tours for a fun exploration of Arizona’s spectacular butterflies. $20, $15 members

INTRODUCTION TO OUR URBAN NEIGHBORS—RESIDENT RAPTORS Sunday, July 24, 10AM-Noon From the tiny Kestrel to The Great Horned Owl, Tucson is teaming with deadly predators. But you can safely enjoy a close-up view while learning more about our remarkable native neighbors. $14, $7 members

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— JULY & AUGUST CLASSES (continued) —

DISEASES OF DESERT PLANTS IN ARIZONA Sunday, July 24, 1-2PM An overview of representative plant diseases that affect desert plants in Arizona, with a special emphasis on basic concepts of diagnosis, life cycle, cause, epidemiology and control. Join Monica Alvarado Hernandez, a Plant Pathology PhD student in the Division of Plant Pathology and Microbiology at the University of Arizona as she explores the myriad diseases that can plague our desert plants. $14, $7 members

BUTTERFLIES OF THE CATALINAS Thursday, July 28, 8AM-4PM Get out of the desert heat on this field trip to the higher elevations in the Catalina mountains. We will be searching for butterflies in Marshall Gulch, Oracle Ridge, and other mountaintop habitats. We’ll be looking for goodies like Arizona Hairstreak, Nais Metalmark, Mylitta Crescent, and Satyr Commas. Transportation provided. Bring close-focus binoculars, lunch, snacks, plenty of water, sunscreen, and a hat. Join Jeff Babson of Sky Island Tours on this exciting and informative day trip. $70, $60 members (register early, limit of 10).

MOSQUITOES IN TUCSON Saturday, July 31, 1-3PM This workshop introduces you to some of the main mosquitoes in Tucson. You’ll get a chance to see adult specimens (dead) under a dissecting microscope; larvae of at least a couple of different species (most likely); and eggs (likely of at least two different species). We will discuss what you can do to reduce mosquitoes in your yard and what repellents may actually work for you. $14, $7 members

MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP Saturday, August 6, 8:30-10:30AM The Gardens are teeming with a rich and diverse array of flora and fauna to dazzle your eyes. Bring all your gear to this hands on experience for anyone interested in capturing the gleam in a bug eye, or the incredible detail of a flower’s bloom. $14, $7 members

BOUNTIFUL BATS Sunday, August 7, 10AM-Noon Don’t be fooled by the stereo-type, bats are beautiful, and we share our summer night skies with some of the most incredible creatures on earth! Find out more

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about these awesome aviators through a photograph journey to into the night sky. $14, $7 members

EDIBLE PLANTS OF THE SONORAN DESERT Saturday, August 13, Noon-3PM What is ethnobotany? How have indigenous groups in the Americas (past and present) utilized plants for food, fiber, and healing purposes? How were New World plants that we take for granted today domesticated? Participants will learn the basics of ethnobotany and gain background knowledge of many native plants and how they were and in many cases are still used. There will be a number of tastings and recipes will be discussed. Join Ron Bridgemon, M.A. on this fun and informative exploration of the ethnobotany of the Americas. Ron has degrees in anthropology and cultural geography with an emphasis on the American southwest and northern Mexico. $32, $25 members

GROWING ORCHIDS Sunday, August 14, 10AM-Noon Don’t think you have to be crazy to grow orchids if you live in Tucson! With a little know-how, you too can succeed at growing orchids at home. There is no better time to learn and go “nuts” over these plants, during our ‘Mad about Orchids’ exhibit. Orchids are not as difficult to grow as some might think when basic light, temperature, humidity, soil media, and water/food requirements are met. Learn about basic orchid care and maintenance with Emily Rockey, Curator of Horticulture at the Gardens, in this hands-on course. You will leave knowing how to care for the small orchid you can take home with you. $20, $15 members

PESTS AND BIOLOGICAL CONTROL STRATEGIES IN TOMATO PRODUCTION Saturday, August 20, 3-4PM Discover the biological properties of the various groups of organisms and commercial products used to control common pests in tomato production, with special emphasis on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programs. Join Monica Alvarado Hernandez, a Plant Pathology PhD student in the Division of Plant Pathology and Microbiology at The University of Arizona as she explores natural pest management. $14, $7 members

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— AUGUST CLASSES (cont’d)—

BOUNTIOUS BEETLES Thursday, August 25, 6-8PM Beetles are the most diverse group of animals on the planet. There are well over 300,000 known species and many experts think that the total number is over one million! Beetles are also full of contradictions. Many are stunningly beautiful; others are plain black or brown. Some beetles are serious agricultural and forest pests; others are important as pollinators, decomposers, and predators of injurious insects. This class will introduce students to the amazing diversity of beetles, focusing on species found in southern Arizona. We will be bringing in some live specimens as part of the class. Join us for a fun introduction to the wonderful world of beetles. Join Jeff Babson of Sky Island Tours for a fun look at beetles. $20, $15 members

MOSQUITOES IN TUCSON Saturday, August 27, 1-3PM This workshop introduces you to some of the main mosquitoes in Tucson. You’ll get a chance to see adult specimens (dead) under a dissecting microscope; larvae of at least a couple of different species (most likely); and eggs (likely of at least two different species). We will discuss what you can do to reduce mosquitoes in your yard and what repellents may actually work for you. $14, $7 members

COMMON PLANT DISEASES OF TOMATOES Saturday, August 27, 3-4PM Learn about the wide variety of plant diseases (caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses) that affect tomatoes in greenhouse and open field production systems, with emphasis on basic concepts of diagnosis, life cycle, cause, epidemiology and control strategies. Join Monica Alvarado Hernandez, a Plant Patahology PhD student in the Division of Plant Pathology and Microbiology at The University of Arizona as she delves into the world of tomato diseases and what can be done about them. $14, $7 members

To register for classes by phone with a credit card, or for more

information, call 326.9686, ext. 19.

Michael Chamberland, Director of Horticulture

A BIG THANKS TO ALL OF THESE VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED MAKE THE WEIRD PLANT SALE SUCH A SUCCESS!!

Micha Buller, Kyla Macario, Sidney Thompson, Sheila Zeuch, HL Swain, Loveda Petrie, Amy Collinsworth, Christine Lange, Mary Lerner, Karen Farwell, Libby Hughes, Suzanne Seville, Lucy Stevens, Monica Burgan, Margi Alkire, Nieves Miljure and Sherry

Murphy!! You folks ROCK!!

Speaking of rocks……….

NEW ROCKS FOR THE CACTUS GARDEN

The wealth of rocks and minerals from Harrison Yocum’s yard are finding a new home in the Cactus Garden. With the average cost of a landscape boulder being over a hundred dollars, the value of these special rocks is incalculable. These are not average landscape rocks—many of Harrison’s rocks have glistening crystals and interesting shapes and colors. When set in a naturalistic manner, the new rocks provide a rugged desert look as we replace the rounded river rocks previously used in the Cactus Garden. As desert hikers know, river rocks occur in stream beds and not alongside cacti and succulents. Different zones of rock types are being set to help visually distinguish the different geographic regions featured in the Cactus Garden. As more rocks are transported to the Gardens, expect to see new rock work in the Xeriscape Garden too. Look for new logs of petrified wood recently added to the Prehistoric Garden (alongside the Komodo Dragon). With all the diversity of rocks coming from Harrison Yocum’s yard, we often do not know the names of the minerals we are dealing with. We would appreciate assistance in learning more about them from any Volunteers with knowledge about minerals. Expect to see new rocks added to the Gardens through the summer and into the fall. Please excuse some disarray as we set the new rocks into position.

2150 North Alvernon Way

Tucson, Arizona 85712