We’re not just pretty gardens! Nanette Kuich Betty Ford Alpine Gardens Vail, Colorado Plants talk – we need to translate for them Dr. Suzanne Simard “Visitors to gardens are extremely receptive to interpretation. 80% want stories along the path in the form of information and signs.” - Jessica Luke, University of Washington “The chief aim of interpretation is not instruction, but provocation. Interpretation should stimulate people into a form of action.” Freeman Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage “Through interpretation, understanding; through understanding, appreciation; through appreciation, protection.” Freeman Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage Interpretive Planning • deliberate and systematic process • recorded in a written plan • facilitating meaningful and effective experiences for visitors Wells, M., Butler, B., & Koke, J. (2013) “Performance relative to mission, not financial returns, is the primary definition of success. ” Good to Great and the Social Sectors - Jim Collins Mission: To promote conservation of alpine plants and fragile mountain environments BFAG Board of Directors Strategic Plan 2020 - 2023 Design standard needed Interpretive Signs Regulation Signage Physical and psychological barriers Team up! Education Center Interpretive Plan developed with stakeholder input 2014 Extensive planning and testing Research and design Curious visitors oriented and piqued Some remediation required What story can the garden tell? Original Master Plan -1987 Three Simple Themes • Rocky Mountain Ecosystems • Alpine Plants of the World • Taming the Mountain West ”The single most important thing one could do for learners is provide them with an advance organizer.” Ausubel, Novak & Hanesian (1978) • Too Many Entrances • No Flow “When people feel disoriented, it directly affects their ability to focus on anything else; when they feel oriented, the novelty enhances learning.” Falk, J.H. & Dierking, L.D. (2000) “Where am I?” It’s complicated • Artistic • Complicated • Incorrect “Anatomically Correct” & GPS Compatible Redesigned Map Welcome Kiosks New Kiosk – Level 1 Used Immediately! Who am I telling the story to? Philbrook Museum of Art Alpine Plants of the World Cold is the common condition connecting the Mountains are diversity hotspots with many Alpine life zones by altitude and latitude Himalaya alpine life zones around the world. 8 Kilimanjaro different plants and animals- 7 California Mexico New Guinea Rocky Mts. Andes Andes Australia some of which exist nowhere else. Alpine plants occupy a rapidly advancing ice sheets 6 Alps Atlas 5 Alpine plants and animals of adjusting to just the right unique niche. They survive and mountain glaciers. 4 New Zealand Tierra Scandinavia del 3 Fuego can adapt to match traits forsurvival. Over time, in the areas abovethe wind- Alpine plants re-established Altitude (km) 2 whipped treeline. themselves more broadly 1 Tundra conditions found in their this genetic drift creates During the Ice Ages of3-4 throughout the mountains 0 isolated mountain homes. plants and animals that are 80° 70° 60° 50° 40° 30° 20° 10° 0° 10° 20° 30° 40° 50° 60° million years ago, these of the world after the Ice Alpine Montane Some plants even carry extra completely different from tough plants hung on in Ages ended about 10,000 The alpine ecosystem climbs higher up the mountains as it approaches the equator. sets of genes (polyploidy) their evolutionary relatives. refuges separated from years ago. Original Graphic by Koerner, adapted by Xplore.Design that give them more chances Mountains are the water towers of the planet. In winter, snow and ice collect on cycle for food and drink. The sensitive Look for this icon high peaks and plateaus, slowly climate balance that maintains these Alpines for info about other of the Alpines of the World. melting in warmer months to supply fragile mountain ecosystems mustbe World water to rivers and streams. Over able to provide for rapidly increasing half the world’s human population human population. depends on this high elevation water An American pika (Ochotona princeps) carrying alpineforget-me- not (Eritrichium nanum) and grass to build itsnest. Photo by Frédéric Dulude-de Broin/WikiMedia Commons The Himalayas photographed from the International Space Station. Photo montage by NASA/WikiMedia Commons Alpines of the The Roof of the World World Miraculously, plants have found ways to survive in the world’s tallest mountains and on the highest plateaus of the AsianHimalayas. The Himalayas are home to more alpine plants than any other region. About 50 million years ago, the land was pushed three miles up when the Indian As you explore this garden, look carefully for adap- tations that support survival in extreme conditions. subcontinent began colliding with Eurasia. Today, For example, the Himalayan blue poppy (Meconopsis vegetation is still rising as the Himalayas grow taller. betonicifolia) has hairs on flower buds to keep them warm and protect them from drying winds. Dramatic environmental changes create dramatic Photo by Axel Kristinsson/WikiMedia Commons plants. The noble rhubarb (Rheum nobile) creates a “glasshouse” with see-through bracts (specialized leaves) that warm and protect developing flowers from harmful UV radiation underneath. The most anticipated flower in our gardens is the Himalayan blue poppy (Meconopsis). About 40 species of this poppy have been identified in the Himalayas including Meconopsis betonicifolia, discovered by The shy wild yak (Bos mutus) lives on grasses and George Mallory on a failed attempt to climb sedges in the alpine tundra of the Himalayas. Once Mount Everest in 1922. roaming the mountain heights, they are now threat- Noble rhubarb (Rheum nobile). Note the translucent light green bracts that ened mainly from poaching. Remaining herds are form a warming “glasshouse” for this plant. found primarily in northern Tibet and western Qinghai, China. Photo by Dong Lei Photo: Donald Macauley/WikiMedia Commons The Gardens mean so much more Impact of interpretation is greater with multiple layers of interpretation Weiler & Smith, 2009 Evaluation is in everyone’s job description • Oriented • Organized • Provoked.