The Spring Celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. is just one more effort to inform the public of the wealth of, and also the responsibility for, our natural resources.
Through a series of classes, workshops and demonstrations, residents can learn about everything from small-space gardening to "gardening for the soil challenged." Vendors and artisans will be near the pavilion, and master gardeners will be on hand to share spring gardening advice at the Utah House.
"We need to help people understand where we live and what is a responsible action to living in Utah. Here in a high mountain environment, we are facing challenging times with respect to water: the availability of new water sources and the ability to distribute that water," said Dave Anderson, the associate director of the center.
While Anderson stops short of a doomsday mentality, he said there is a dire need of education.
Take the idea of "hydrozoning," the idea of understanding the watering needs of plants, and placing them accordingly. A juniper and a weeping willow may look nice side-by-side but because their needs are totally different - either one plant will be over watered, or the other won't be watered enough.
Through education, people can familiarize themselves with which plants grow best here in Utah.
"We are promoting our native plants," Anderson said. "The master gardeners and trained volunteers can provide people with easy to understand information." One such suggestion is to plant native perennials that can be divided.
"Be smart with plant purchases," Anderson said. "Buy discounted perennials at the end of the season. Believe what it says on the tag; it will grow.
The Utah House was built to show that even the design, architecture, and orientation of our homes can greatly reduce the amount of energy and resources currently used by most homeowners.
The house uses 60 percent less energy than most homes and has a full-day lighting scheme, using natural light to light the house during the day. The house also demonstrates a healthy indoor air quality, not trapping chemicals and other harmful agents that are used in a home. It is also completely handicapped accessible.
"The Utah House promotes energy and water-efficient living," said Kerry Case, coordinator for the Utah House. "We also want to promote the idea of sustainability, and the principles of universal design and healthy indoor living environments."
The Center and House form an educational partnership and are part of a master plan to use 180 acres of protected open space located in the middle of Kaysville as a working classroom.
Besides being a source of educational information, the house, grounds, and walking trails serve as a kind of natural haven from a busy lifestyle. Local residents can be seen fishing along the water's edge, while birds, including a pelican, soar overhead.
Thanks to master gardeners and volunteers like Alene Cook of Woods Cross, residents will be able to enjoy the beauty of these surroundings for years to come.
Cook retired a few years ago and enrolled in the Master Gardener program. Whether she is teaching a class, answering questions, or pulling weeds on the grounds, Cook is committed to helping others.
"I just love seeing things grow," she says.
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If you go
* The Utah Botanical Center and Utah House are located at 920 S. 50 West in Kaysville.
* For more information about the Spring Celebration, call 593-8969 or log on at www.utahbotanicalcenter.org. Tours of the Utah House are offered from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tours leave on the hour. Classes are $5 at the door, seating is limited.
