At summer's end, as plant growth slowed, the staff and I had a chance to relax a little and reflect on what we've accomplished this year. Garden manager Rand Plewak agreed to write a newsletter column itemizing what was planted out, so that our readers can share in our excitement about the new acquisitions. I'm pleased to report that this was our most active planting season of the decade. Such development energizes my team, and I hope that seeing the new materials will energize our Friends, as well. Our large corps of loyal volunteer gardeners also keeps us energized--they have provided indispensable assistance in maintaining the established plants.
I don't consider this newsletter a forum for quarterly discourses from me, and this time in particular I want to be brief so that we can devote more space to botanical topics. But I would like to invite you to take this opportunity at the end of the calendar year to rejoin our Friends and to become personally involved in YOUR garden. You can help by serving as a volunteer, finding exciting plant specimens for us to add, providing illustrations or assistance for the Web site, helping us develop a bloom calendar, identifying potential sponsors for special projects, or purchasing books for our library. The garden and its educational programs benefit both the campus and the broader Los Angeles community, and we will survive and thrive with your strong support. Keep following our progress, both outdoors and online (http://www.lifesci.ucla.edu/botgard/)!