Re: how you learn(ed) botanical names

At 01:51 PM 1/25/99 PST, rachel wrote:
>I must say that one place I have learned far less botanical 
>nomenclature is botanical gardens and arboreta (is that the correct 
>plural :)?)  I frequently encounter attractive or intriguing 
>specimins in the botanical gardens that are unmarked.  Why is this?  
>I would think these gardens are the very best resource for interested 
>gardens to continue to expand their knowledge of plant nomenclature.  
>I find this to be the case at both the Strybing and UC Berkeley 
>botanical gardens, for example.  I'm sure that budget restrictions 
>play a role, but it seems a shame.

Hi Rachel -

It is a shame.  I know one reason why there is little enthusiasm for
clearly labeling plants at Strybing, from my discussions with the
staff there.  Seems that almost anything that is desirable or unusual
in the garden AND has a name tag, mysteriously 'walks off' very soon
after it is planted.  Plant theft is a serious problem in many of
these gardens, even those with good security systems.  And labeling a
plant just makes it easier for those who might be inclined to steal to
know that it is something worth stealing!  Working as a volunteer in a
public garden, I know about plant theft.  We even had a woman in a
weelchair, in broad daylight, digging up some small cacti with her bare
hands and putting them into her lap (in plain view).  When we asked he
not to take them, she said she "had to have them".  We finally got them
away from her and offered to give her some divisions or other plants.
She refused.  The plants were gone later that week.

What the garden is look at for the future is a numbering system, and
educational brochure which describe the plants, name them correctly and
give other information.  These would be available for a very modest
charge to defray photo-copy costs.  So, if people are interested, they
can get more information.  If people are tending towards theivery, you
might defray their actions a bit.  You also have more of an opportunity
to do a little 'P.R.' for the garden via the brochure.


Sean A. O'Hara                       sean.ohara@poboxes.com
h o r t u l u s   a p t u s          710 Jean Street
'a garden suited to its purpose'     Oakland, CA 94610-1459, U.S.A.
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