Spring splendor is at its peak at Red Butte

As I viewed the golden trumpets of the daffodils covering the hill above the Cottam Visitor's Center at Red Butte Garden, I could not help but think that they might resemble the Angel Gabriel's golden horn at Judgment Day.

Of course, they had nothing to do with Judgment Day; they were instead gracing one of the beautiful gardens at Red Butte. The specific garden I was enjoying was the lovely Four Seasons Garden in its spring splendor.

I was soon joined by the gardener, Camilla Thygerson Dahle. She cares for this garden, the Children's Garden and the Patio Garden at the Orangerie. The diversity of these gardens quickly reminds me of the need to visit Red Butte throughout the year.

Camilla grew up in West Valley City and credits her passion for gardening to her mother.

"My mom was in love with gardening. She started me with a passion of wanting to know how things grow and to make things pretty."

She completed her horticulture degree at Utah State University and worked for a time at Western Garden Center.

She confesses, "I started out in landscape architecture but soon discovered I wanted to be out in the soil. I have worked here for almost three years, taking care of these gardens."

When I asked her to outline some of the favorite reasons for visitors to enjoy the gardens she willingly complied.

"The viburnum collection is one of my favorites because it has both spring and summer flowers."

"I also love the lilac collection and the crab apple collection," she said. "These have so many different varieties and fragrances. The wisteria collection is also a must-see choice."

The magnolias in the Four Seasons Garden were a spectacular sight to see. She admitted that they sometimes searched far and wide to find the right plant for the specific location.

She explained that location is the key to growing the plants. Some like sun and some like shade.

The delicate, lavender-colored blossoms were 3 to 5 inches across on the striking Magnolia x loebneri "Leonard Messel." These form a small tree or large shrub that eventually gets 20 feet high with a similar width. Magnolia loebneri "Merrill" is a similar size plant with white flowers that have fewer petals.