Spring has officially arrived and with the weather getting warmer, the flowers at Red Butte Garden are starting to bloom. Strolling through the gardens, or attending any of the events hosted at the amphitheater or on the grounds is a fun way to spend a free day. Red Butte Garden is hosting a wide variety of events and performances appealing to gardeners, artists and concert-goers which began March 31.
Right now forests of daffodils are in bloom. The bright, happy yellow bells contrast with brown stone, delicate purple balloon flowers and white magnolias. Lavender and lilac are starting to blossom in the Fragrance Garden, greeting guests with a burst of their sweet floral scent. Monkshood and foxglove are sprouting and displays describe what ailments each plant helps heal. The occasional tulip pops in to say hello on the path from the Water Pavilion to the Visitor Courtyard, making it easy to enjoy the playful beauty around the grounds.
Red Butte Garden is starting spring off on an artistic note, hosting an exhibit of the Wasatch Camera Club’s photography, featuring several flowers that can be seen in the garden. This exhibit began March 31 and will continue until April 23. Tickets to this exhibit and the grounds are free for University of Utah students who bring valid U ID. After the Camera Club’s exhibit closes, a Garden Poetry Reading takes its place April 26. Winners of the Garden’s Spring Poetry Contest will be there to read and talk about their works. Their poems will be posted in the gardens throughout April as Red Butte Garden celebrates National Poetry Month and will be visible to all guests with an audio tour available via cellphone.
Celebrations abound in the month of April for Red Butte Garden, as Arbor Day events are set for April 28. Admission on that day is free for all guests. Events will include a tree scavenger hunt, exploration stops, special tours and a discussion on conifers led by David Olszyk, Western Region President of the American Conifer Society. Red Butte Garden will be planting a new tree in honor of the event and sending a free white fir tree home with guests.
Before the Outdoor Concert Series begins, Terry Scopes’ art exhibit will be hosted in the Visitor’s Center from April 28 to May 21 and will feature her abstract works. May 20 marks the opening of Red Butte Garden’s latest project, the Water Conservation Garden, exploring plants that thrive on small amounts of water. After the garden opens, the concert series begins with Jethro Tull by Ian Anderson on May 23. Ian Anderson has creatively arranged the works of the ‘60s band Jethro Tull who combined hard rock, folk and the blues for classical string quartets, the flute and guitar. Concert tickets go on sale May 1 for the public and April 24 for members. Additional information on the concert series, event registration and summer events are available on Red Butte Garden’s website.