From Deseret News archives:
Brough among great gardening teachers
While looking at his credentials on his application, I noticed he had a doctorate in botany. Since taking the class, Brough has been an active part of the master gardener organization and has shared his knowledge of plants with those around him.
Brough, who grew up in Nephi during the Depression, became involved in the USU 4-H program and the forestry club.
"At the time, there were 4-H clubs around the county, and I enjoyed learning about trees and identifying them," Brough said. "I cannot say that that was why I had such an interest in botany, but I did enjoy the camps and other activities."
He later attended USU where he received a bachelor's degree. He then got a master's degree at the University of Washington and a doctorate at the University of British Columbia, where he would later teach for 28 years.
"British Columbia was a wonderful place to teach because you could collect (specimens) all year round," Brough said.
When asked about his interest in trees he said, "All my degrees are in mycology, which is the study of fungi. I took one of the very first classes ever offered on marine fungi and did extensive work in many areas of the country studying these organisms.
"I like trees better because you do not see mushrooms every year. You might find them once and then not ever see them again for 20 years. In the meantime, you have forgotten all about them."
While he published extensively in his scientific endeavors, he has also written three books that are of interest to the lay gardener. They are "Wild Trees of British Columbia," "Trees in Idaho" and my personal favorite, "Trees of Utah," co-authored by Darrell J. Weber.
So how did a mycologist come to write books on trees? Brough said it began when he was doing research on chromatography of compounds in lichens while on sabbatical from Brigham Young University.
"I had two months left. It had not been going well and I knew my department head would want to see some results for my sabbatical leave. I had not studied trees since my 4—H youth club and I was not very familiar with the trees of this area, so I started to key them out and one thing led to another." The result was "Trees of Utah."
The book is an excellent guide to the trees in our state. In addition to the identifying characteristics, Brough includes cultural notes and, on less common trees, locations where they can be seen.
Here are Brough's 10 favorite trees, some of which are readily available at local nurseries and others that may be harder to find.
