Fwd: Spring Awakens in the Asia Collection

[Diane Tokugawa]

Diane

Begin forwarded message:

From: UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley <gardenm...@berkeley.edu>

Subject: Spring Awakens in the Asia Collection

Date: February 3, 2026 at 8:36:25 AM PST

To: dtok...@comcast.net

Reply-To: gardenm...@berkeley.edu

Garden News Spring is officially making its debut at the Garden. From the towering, majestic rhododendrons to the delicate pink canopy of magnolias, the Garden's Asia Collection is coming to life this month. Plus, find out what’s splashing around the Japanese Pool! Magnolia Highlights Home to a nationally recognized magnolia collection, visit the Garden now through March to witness these gorgeous flowers at their peak. Growing along Strawberry Creek you'll find the Magnolia campbellii, where delicate pink blooms are unfurling against a backdrop of bare branches. Interestingly, flower color can vary significantly even within the same species; another Magnolia campbellii, located on the lower margin of the lawn, is producing striking white flowers. Both of these historic trees were grown from seeds collected in West Bengal, India, in 1974 by former Garden curator Dr. Bruce Bartholomew. As the season progresses others will bloom including Magnolia laevifolia. Magnolia campbellii, located along the lower lawn Magnolia laevifolia, bed 221 Rhododendrons In Bloom The Garden's rich and varied rhododendron collection begins its spectacular display that will last well into spring. Breathtaking blooms abound in a vibrant palette of white, pink, red, purple, and yellow. The Asian Area holds the Garden’s largest concentration of rhododendron species, rooted in a foundational donation from the 1930s. These plants still form the core of the collection along Strawberry Creek, below the Japanese Pool. Many of these specimens originate from western China, Tibet, and the Himalayas, where the genus is widespread and often the dominant species in the wild. The bloom cycle kicks off with Rhododendron delavayi, boasting vibrant red flowers, many blooming on towering trees. Rhododendron delavayi, bed 234 Rhododendron protistum, bed 230 Newtapalooza at the Garden! A stop at the Japanese Pool this month offers a fascinating look at the local ecosystem as we welcome back the migratory newts. Their mating behaviors and developing eggs can be easily observed. It's a seasonal scene we never grow tired of watching!  The Garden is home to two newt species, California newt (Taricha torosa) and rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa). The adults are difficult to distinguish even to the trained eye, but their egg masses are distinctive. The clear gelatinous balls containing eggs that are most easily seen are those of T. torosa. As the season progresses, it is easy to watch these little round eggs develop into the small larval newts that will hatch in a few weeks.  Visit the Newt Discovery Stations this month This month drop into a Discovery Station to learn more about these fascinating animals. Docents will provide an up-close look and answer questions about these amazing animals. Discovery Stations are drop-in experiences included with admission and will occur on Sunday, Feb. 8, 12:00–3:00 pm and Sunday, Feb. 15, 12:00–3:00 pm Newts mating, also known as amplexus, during which the male clasps the female from behind and rubs his chin on her nose to stimulate egg-laying Easy to spot in the Japanese Pool, are the Taricha torosa egg masses showing various stages of development Save the Date! Big Give is March 12, 2026 Big Give is a 24-hour fundraising blitz to raise money for colleges and organizations at UC Berkeley. Donating to the Garden during Big Give helps fund our mission to connect people to plants, support global research and preserve our priceless plant collections. Stay tuned for more information.  Your commitment to the Garden means the world to us!  See you March 12th! #BigGardenGive More for you in the Garden! Apple Tree Grafting Workshop Two sessions available: Sat, March 14 OR Sun, March 15 10:00–11:30 am $120 Adult/$100 Member Learn the traditional horticultural technique of grafting–and gain two apple trees for your home garden!  All supplies provided, including a new Opinel gardening knife to keep. Register: March 14 Register: March 15 Spring Basketry Workshop Sunday, March 22 10:00 am–3:00 pm $100 Adult/$95 Member Create a charming spring basket using natural basketry fibers and raffia, pre-dyed in soft, muted tones by the instructor Judith Thomas. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to weave a functional basket, plus the basics of sourcing and dyeing materials so you can continue the process in future projects.  Register Honoring a Legacy: Tribute Benches at the Garden Whatever the event, whoever you choose to honor, the Garden can help you establish a lasting remembrance with a tribute bench that can be enjoyed for years to come. Your tribute gift is not only tax deductible, but also benefits the Garden and ensures that our priceless plant collection will be preserved for generations to come. We can also accommodate a group tribute purchase which may be applied toward a single tribute bench. For more information visit our website or contact Melissa Chan at meliss...@berkeley.edu. A Tribute Bench for John Wujek: The UC Berkeley connection for our family is strong, and we knew that a garden setting would be perfect to honor our brother John. John was a plant enthusiast, and in addition to studying landscape design and horticulture, he was especially passionate about palm trees. Our father and sister are UC Berkeley alumni, and our dad was a lecturer at UC Berkeley. Personally, I love that the Garden is a teaching lab, training the next generation of plant stewards. In fact, our favorite aspect of the Garden’s mission is its educational component, as well as its benefit to the larger community as a gathering space. That was an important deciding factor for our family when choosing this tribute. We’re honored to support the Garden—without it, thousands of people wouldn’t be able to enjoy the beauty, serenity, and sheer wonder of spending time in nature. Native species might be lost, and countless birds, bees, and insects would be left without habitat. I love coming to sit at the bench to enjoy the sound of the creek and remember my dear brother, and that has brought me peace. It also soothes me to know that other people rest on the bench and may think about John as they read the inscription. I deeply value the importance of unplugging and spending time in nature, and the Garden always teaches me something new. —Paula Wujek Thank you to the Wujek family for your generosity to the Garden! Become a Member! Members enjoy year-round, free admission to the Garden to enjoy tranquil walks and moments of awe, invitations to exclusive events, discounts on classes and merchandise in the Garden Shop and Plant Nursery. Join Today! Support the Garden Our mission is to develop and maintain a diverse living collection of plants, to support teaching and worldwide research in plant biology, further the conservation of plant diversity, and promote public understanding and appreciation of plants and the natural environment. Give EXPLORE: Plan Your Visit, Plant Collections, Event Calendar Images: UCBG; Sarab Seth; Saul Bromberger and Sandra Hoover Photography; Saxon Holt

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