North American Experience 2008

The last destination within our 2008 North American Experience itinerary was the Arboretum at the University of Nevada/Las Vegas (UNLV), a campus tucked in amongst such street names as Tropicana, Flamingo and Paradise, and perhaps better recognized for a basketball coach named Tarkanian than its Champion Trees. Well, sports and urban geography aside, our visit to this Arboretum highlighted many reasons to break away from the Strip for a change of pace, or spend some time studying a challenging relationship between Arboretum management and UNLV administration.

We began our tour with Susan Jones and Paula Garrett, two enthusiastic supporters of the UNLV Arboretum with a strong commitment throughout their employment with UNLV. Susan and Paula distributed an excellent Self-Guided Tour brochure and immediately pointed out that we would start our walk at the Xeriscape Garden, which is often considered the “heart of the campus” and documented as one of the favorite places among UNLV students and staff. Yet, before even taking a few steps, we learned that this campus was not always planted with a xeric philosophy in mind. Prior to this garden’s completion in 1988, the campus resembled so many others around the country, with a spreading greenscape of irrigated lawns and no areas to depict the desert environment that typified Las Vegas. With the blessing of the UNLV’s president at the time, a transformation began. Today, many of the plant materials within this garden, as well as those located within other areas of campus, serve as important teaching elements for students in the Landscape Architecture program and at the nearby community college.

Our hosts pointed out that the Arboretum flourished under Dennis Schwartzel, the former Head of Facilities and Grounds for UNLV. His cooperative spirit with internal staffers, including Susan and Paula, led to an orchestrated development of the 335 acre campus and care for its 3000+ trees, and a growing communication between the university’s own grounds staff and academic faculty and staff. With Schwartzel now retired from UNLV and the Arboretum placed under the Director of the Harry Reid Center, “Targets of Opportunity” were identified within the UNLV Master Plan, as were “Heritage” spaces. One such space, the East Mall, contained many of the oldest trees on campus and would be left undisturbed for the sake of the trees themselves and their potential maturation. Champion Trees, a designation by the State Division of Forestry that recognizes the largest specimens in the state, can be found throughout the Arboretum and we saw several during our visit, including the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), weeping mulberry (Morus alba pendula ‘Chaparral’), and chir pine (Pinus roxburghii), to name a few.

We continued to “walk and talk” our way amongst buildings, planned gardens, and open spaces. As we approached the Bigelow Physics building, Susan made a point of directing our attention to the specific tree species, their positions, and their relationship with the surrounding hardscape and architecture of this building. A single apple tree may have appeared as an unusual choice for its central location within this building’s small plaza, but its significance to the field of physics was clear as a bell, at least to some of us! Yes, it was Isaac Newton’s own purported encounter with a falling apple and its “impact” on the field of physics that will forever be a reminder to passing students…..hope springs eternal! And about that curved façade to the Bigelow building? Well, that represents a sine wave with statuesque, linear palm trees strategically planted (and mathematically spaced) at the maximum points along the façade’s wavy exterior….clever, indeed.

Finally, at least for inclusion in this blog, we were introduced to yet another dimension of the Arboretum at UNLV. Our tour came to a close at one of the newest campus buildings, one which is also LEED certified. The gardens surrounding this structurally unique center for Science and Technology contain native Nevada species, including specimens that had been salvaged from development projects. Nevada staunchly protects its native plant species, most notably cactus, making it illegal to sell or otherwise acquire specimens for landscape use without proper documentation. Paula quickly pointed out the appropriate tags attached to each of the salvaged cacti, indicating complete compliance with state law and a renewed chance for survival for these plants.

At the conclusion of our visit to the UNLV Arboretum, all of us had a new or renewed appreciation for a campus-based arboretum, especially one in the middle of a desert, and a better sense of the challenges presented by changing governance. It was an eye-opening learning experience and we left hoping to return in the future to see a continuation of the fine leadership provided by individuals like Susan and Paula.



Article and Photography by Dr. Robert Lyons

August 21, 2008

Today our group visited the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, only 10 miles from the heart of the “Strip.” The purpose of our trip was to study the organization’s water smart gardens. Before we entered the site, its drought resistant landscape, prominently displayed solar panels, and unique architecture hinted to our group that we would be in for an experience that we had not yet encountered on the North American Experience to date. It turns out that the gardens we had come to visit make up only one component of Springs Preserve; anthropological, historical and sustainable exhibits are also highlighted.

The site on which the Springs Preserve is located has been an oasis in the Mojave Desert for thousands of years. This is due to the presence of a spring mound, a mound of soil that accumulated naturally on land surrounding a spring. For many years, local Native American tribes flourished from the water and wildlife that was found at/near this spring. Spanish explorers were also attracted to the area by the water and its resources, and gave Las Vegas its name, which means “the meadows” in Spanish.

The spring mound is still intact, and has beenplaced on the National Registry of Historical Landmarks, given the Native American artifacts that have been excavated from the site. Springs Preserve is comprised of 180 acres of land surrounding the spring mound, which is currently on long-term lease from the Las Vegas Valley Water District. The mission of Springs Preserve is to promote the importance and impact of water in this community and to engage people in efficient water usage; it relates this message in a myriad of interpretive, instructional and interactive ways that make this institution incredibly unique.

The three areas of Springs Preserve where we focused our attention were the Gardens, the Ori-gen Experience and the Desert Living Center. Director Jay Nichols, Peter, Russ Harrison and Linn Mills were our hosts and provided us with background information on the site, the project’s planning and construction, and maintenance of the facility. The Gardens of Springs Preserve showcase desert-adapted plants, mostly Mojave and Sonora Desert natives, to teach visitors about the importance of sustainable landscaping and efficient watering practices. Site interpretation is excellent and conveys this message successfully. The Ori-gen Experience is an interactive museum, which presents the Mojave Desert in great detail and communicates water usage in historical and current societies. The third area of the Preserve that we toured was the Desert Living Center, a complex of buildings that is used for demonstration and instruction on sustainability in the home and landscape in the desert environment.

Water at this site has provided a fountain of life for many previous generations of plants, animals and people in the region. The Springs Preserve is in a unique position to to teach local residents about the importance of water through its sustainable message; a message of water conservation in the desert that will enable future generations to live and thrive in this “Miracle on the Mojave.”


Written by Jacqueline Bergquist
Photography by Matthew Quirey

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

The famous Bellagio Las Vegas, with a commanding location on the Vegas Strip adjacent to Caesar’s Palace, first opened in 1998. This huge resort and casino, built on the grounds of the former Dunes Hotel by Mr. Steve Wynn, was named after a small, northern Italian city much loved by him. The magnificent, dancing musical fountain display, which frames the Bellagio’s position on the Strip, originally cost $35 million to construct. Upon entering the Bellagio, guests and visitors are awed by the beautiful $8 million glass sculpture by noted artist Dale Chihuly, blanketing the lobby’s large ceiling. Considering Mr. Wynn’s philosophy to continuously improve upon past successes, it isn’t surprising that everything at the Bellagio is on a grand scale.

Upon our arrival at the Bellagio, we were met by Ms. Beth Garner (horticulture training/safety manger) and Mr. John Symanski (exterior horticulture manager). In addition to our hosts, there are approximately 140 employees in the horticulture department, divided into the floriculture, conservatory, and exterior display divisions. Just like the famous concerts and theatrical performances throughout the Strip, we soon learned that the work of the Bellagio’s horticultural staff is also a highly choreographed and carefully orchestrated production.

The Bellagio’s centrally located conservatory showcased an amazing horticultural display where many of the plants were labeled with botanical names. Beth explained that the display is changed seasonally five times per year and nearly everything is in pots to facilitate convenient change-outs. The five seasonal displays are spring, summer, fall, Christmas, and Chinese New Year. All elements within the conservatory are selected in accordance with the given seasonal display. Even the water features, programmed to frolic and dance to music, are redesigned and changed out seasonally. Besides the plant materials and physical display features, the music and even the fragrances are carefully chosen to create a rich ambiance for the guests and visitors. For example, during the fall display, pumpkin-spice is subtly wafted into the space to further engage the senses of those touring the exhibit.

The horticulture department is currently designing the displays for the upcoming Christmas and Chinese New Year, as the department tries to plan at least 1-2 seasons ahead. Though all horticultural shows are highly regarded, Beth explained that the Christmas and Chinese New Year displays are the most popular. In order to ensure the highest quality and authenticity, the Bellagio has worked with a feng shui (风水) consultant each year to help develop the Chinese New Year exhibits according to the craft’s ancient principles.

Though the scale is much larger, the Bellagio’s horticultural activities are similar to other public horticulture institutions. For example, like many other public gardens, Beth explained that the Bellagio has an aggressive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, in which beneficial insects, tea-sprays, and horticultural oils are used to combat insects and other pests. Pesticides and other chemicals are only a last resort, and only applied with the safety of the guests in mind.

Following our conservatory tour, we continued exploring the Bellagio’s property with John Symanski, who highlighted his areas of responsibility outdoors. He was quick to point out the challenges of maintaining attractive, well-manicured landscape plantings; in fact, he cited several examples where the extremes of the Las Vegas climate, coupled with the impact of thousands of guests, dictates plant choice and replacement. Several years ago, the Bellagio was purchased by the MGM Mirage Corporation, which owns many other casinos and hotels on the Strip. Scheduled to open in 2009, the huge $11.5 billion City Center project is another property on the Strip being developed by the MGM/Mirage Corporation. We were amazed to learn that in addition to the exterior gardens at the Bellagio, John overseas the horticultural maintenance at the New York, New York Hotel and the headquarters of the City Center project as well. If the caliber of horticulture exhibited at the Bellagio is any indication of what is to come at the City Center project, it will almost assuredly be a great success.


Written by Barnabas Seyler
Photography by Daniel Burcham

Tuesday August 19, 2008


We approached the Arboretum at Flagstaff just after sunset on Monday evening, driving along a dirt road occasionally illuminated by lightning flashes from a passing thunderstorm. Our overnight accommodations were at the Merriam Powell Research Station, a property built and maintained by the Arboretum, situated in a forest of towering ponderosa pines blanketed by Arizona fescue.


Early the next morning, the true beauty of the landscape revealed itself to our group with bright, segmented shafts of sunlight peering through a forest of pines. The San Francisco Peaks, rising over 13,000 feet to the north, enclosed the picturesque valley. Inspired by our surroundings, we met the Director, Mr. Steve Yoder, for a brief discussion of the Arboretum’s history and mission. The Arboretum at Flagstaff, situated at an elevation of 7,150 feet, was established on October 5, 1981 by a generous gift from Frances B. McAllister, who first received the property as a wedding gift from her new husband, John McAllister. The 200-acre property, along with the renovated home of Mrs. McAllister, comprises the home of the Arboretum, which specializes in native plants of the region. The mission of the organization supports its distinctive focus to “increase the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of plants and plant communities native to the Colorado Plateau.” The plant collection maintained by Arboretum staff is composed of approximately 2,500 taxa of mainly high elevation wildflowers, with the genus Penstemon being the best-represented group in the garden.


Steve describes the Arboretum as “full-service” with display gardens, public programming and plant research all open to the public from April to October. Focusing on native plant communities, Arboretum staff organizes numerous plant collection trips around the region, using the collected seed in research, ecosystem restoration and garden display. Showcasing native plants from a varied topography presents several distinct challenges, including species acclimated to specifically different elevations and a frequently shortened growing season. However, the cultivated garden, occupying 10 acres of the entire property, includes a wildflower meadow, butterfly garden, water conservation garden, and many others. The gardens display a brilliant, vast array of the native flora in attractive combinations.


Following our introduction, we explored the formal garden and walked to the research greenhouse to meet Dr. Kris Haskins, the primary research scientist. Here, she explained a few of the Arboretum’s current research projects. One involves studying a rare population of milk vetch distributed around the rim of the Grand Canyon. Staff is investigating propagation methods, mycorrhizal associations, and out-planting techniques to bolster this species’ sensitive native population. Overall, Kris cares for approximately 30 rare plant species in the garden’s collection, and routinely manages over six concurrent research projects on individual species requiring additional information. The Arboretum frequently partners with government landholding agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, working in the same region of the country to coordinate their plant preservation initiatives.


Ms. Rachel Edelstein, Public Programs Manager, then detailed the Arboretum’s array of public educational opportunities for our group. The programming schedule includes a concert series, wild mushroom retreat, and several gardening classes throughout the summer season. Every day of the week, the extremely successful Birds of Prey program offers a discussion of predatory birds and their function within a complete ecosystem. At the end of our exploration, we regrouped for a final discussion of the beautiful gardens and the required maintenance with Mr. Brian Keeley, Manager of Gardens and Facilities.


Later that afternoon, we traveled north with Director Steve Yoder to the Grand Canyon. We photographed and explored the massive, colorfully layered landscape around the south rim of the Canyon, and we briefly trekked into the Canyon along the highly popular Bright Angel Trail. Along the way, Steve discussed several noteworthy plant species thriving on the precarious canyon wall. Before returning to Las Vegas, we thanked Steve for his personal attention and regional expertise during our entire visit to the Colorado Plateau. The vast, natural landscape of northern Arizona, the Grand Canyon, and the Arboretum at Flagstaff were all exceptional destinations and uncharacteristic additions to our tour of the Desert Southwest.



Written by Daniel Burcham
Photography by Barnabas Seyler

Monday August 18, 2008





Monday morning marked the beginning of our tour of public horticulture institutions for the North American Experience. Our first visit was to the Wynn Las Vegas located in the heart of the famous “Vegas Strip.” We were welcomed by Mr. Jim Gibbons (executive director of horticulture), Mr. J. Zambo (exterior horticulture manager), Ms. Angela Johnson (interior horticulture manager), and Mr. Kevin Potts (horticulture training manager), and we were eager to learn more about their respective roles at a 5 star, 5 diamond, 5 red pavilion resort.

Jim Gibbons started by sharing his working experience with Mr. Wynn for over twenty years at eight different hotels. As for many organizations, the success of the Wynn Las Vegas starts with the vision of its owner, Mr. Steve Wynn. The mantra of “Do it better and make it the best” is at the core of each of Mr. Wynn’s projects and you don’t have to look very hard to see the results on Las Vegas Boulevard. The Bellagio and Mirage are two of his previous business ventures that Jim had been a part of creating. At these resorts, an enormous fountain display and volcano on the front of the property are the major attractions. At the Wynn, a different approach is used. While the 100 foot, man-made mountain with almost 2,400 mature pine trees and large waterfalls seems like more of the same, it stops at the assumption. To truly experience the Wynn, however, you have to go inside. Once there, the mountain reveals the true water feature: a three-story water wall with computerized light show, which is out of view for the person walking on the street. Unlike the display conservatory at the Bellagio that is a destination to visit, the Wynn approach is to create an environment for the guest with secluded garden spaces throughout the property.

As we toured the poolside gardens, atriums, and other display areas, J. and Angela explained how the Wynn aims to lead the way in hotel horticulture. Now in its fourth year, the Wynn is experiencing growth even in a time of national economic decline. This is all achieved by Mr. Wynn’s commitment to the well being of his employees and the staff’s innovative problem solving abilities. J. shared how the Wynn Las Vegas is the first resort on the “Strip” to use evapo-transpiration technology throughout the exterior irrigation systems. By using complex modeling software of the environmental conditions, water is used as efficiently as possible to provide the 5-star “environment” on a daily basis; just one of many “green” practices underway. Angela oversees the purchasing and care of thousands of potted foliage and color plants. Providing an outstanding, lush and colorful display, while staying at the forefront of design trends is no small task, but she has mastered it well. Kevin concluded our tour with a review of his training manager responsibilities as he toured us through the large cut flower workroom. The Wynn’s florists provide arrangements for all suites, villas, and display areas throughout the casino floor, as well as events and weddings at the resort. On August 8, 2008 there were 129 weddings alone!

We want to thank Jim Gibbons and his entire staff who welcomed us with a “5 star tour” and gave a rare inside look into the Wynn Las Vegas’ approach to hotel horticulture. We were all amazed at the scope and quality of work they do each and everyday. This was a tour and organization we will not forget.






Our next stop is The Arboretum at Flagstaff, situated in the nothern most section of Arizona.














Written by Matthew Quirey
Photography by Jacqueline Bergquist

Between August 17-23, 2008, the Longwood Graduate Program Class of 2009, Program Director Dr. Robert Lyons, and Longwood Gardens representative Pandora Young will travel to the desert southwest to visit numerous impressive public horticulture institutions. The trip will center around the luminous urban oasis in the Mojave Desert - Las Vegas, Nevada. During the trip the group will visit extravagant horticultural displays at the Wynn and Bellagio Hotels, sustainable desert plantings at Springs Preserve, and extensive botanical collections at the Arboretum at Flagstaff, Arizona as well as the University of Nevada - Las Vegas Arboretum. During their travels, the Fellows will be recording their experiences with daily written and photographic blog posts. Check back frequently during this year's North American Experience for all of the details during the trip!