USU Botanical Center

H. Paul and Mary Jane Rasmussen Teaching Garden

The H. Paul and Mary Jane Rasmussen Teaching Garden, adjacent to the Utah State University Botanical Center Greenhouse, is open to the public and is used extensively by the more than 150 students working toward degrees in the Utah State University off-campus horticulture program. The garden is named in honor of H. Paul and Mary Jane’s long-time support of the USUBC and its mission to conduct research and demonstrate wise use of plant and water resources. The garden is planted in a series of “islands” that are beautiful from many angles and change with the seasons. The garden also showcases the USUBC’s collection of daylilies and iris that represent Dyke’s annual award winners since 1947. A water feature, by garden sculpture designer Allison Armour, was added in the summer of 2008. The beautiful piece is a gift from USUBC supporters Dan and Claudette Eastman.

Stokes Ornamental Grass and Iris Garden

Eleda Vee Smith Stokes loved to grow and nurture all sorts of things: children, grandchildren, young people, missionaries and gardeners. She loved to create beautiful things that enriched the lives of her family, friends and countless others. Eleda Vee worked with her husband Deloris to build a prominent farm and ranching operation in northern Utah.

The Stokes Ornamental Grass and Iris Garden is a teaching garden located on the southwest corner of the USU Botanical Center. It was established in 2011 through a generous gift from Deloris Stokes and his children to honor the memory of Eleda Vee Smith Stokes. It is home to USU’s largest collection of irises. It also features a labyrinth and large display of ornamental grasses and crabapple trees.

William A. Varga Arboretum

The Varga Arboretum showcases trees and shrubs that are well-suited to Utah’s arid, mountain valleys. Trees and shrubs in the arboretum are grouped in three zones according to the amount of water they require. They are examples of plants that make outstanding additions to the region’s residential, public and commercial landscapes, selected for the beauty, hardiness, wise use of water and ability to adapt to Utah’s extreme weather conditions. The arboretum began with 57 trees and shrubs moved in 1999 from the former USU Botanical Garden in Farmington. More than 100 others were planted in 2008 and 2009. The arboretum is a growing, living legacy started by William A. Varga, Utah State University Botanical Center’s first director and long-time Utah State University horticulture educator.

Fredrick Stuart Liljegren Trellis

In honor of Fredrick Stuart Liljegren, 1950-2013. As a landscape architect with the Bureau of Reclamation, Fred inspired a new era of landscape water conservation in Utah. His passion for landscaping, dedication to wise water use and ability to motivate set the standard for preserving the quality of life while conserving water.

While serving in the Air Force Reserves on an active duty in the Air Force, Fredrick attended Utah State University. He graduated in 1974 with a bachelor’s of landscape architecture and pursued a distinguished career as a landscape architect/recreation planner for the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation for 39 years. He was also recognized for his devoted service to multiple civic organizations and was awarded the Silver Beaver by the Boy Scouts of America.

Barton’s Pond

Peter Barton, was a local farmer and rancher who was one of the original homesteaders in the Kaysville, Utah area. In May 1862 he and his family set sail for America, crossing the Atlantic in the sailing vessel “Manchester.” After 38 days travel they landed at New York City. The family traveled westward to Florence, Nebraska, where they fitted themselves up with ox teams and provisions, and traveled over the plains in Ansel P. Harmon’s ox train. After 66 days of travel, driving an ox team and walking the entire distance, they reached Salt Lake City in October 1862, where they made their home for about three weeks. They moved to Kaysville and lived with John S. Smith in West Kaysville for a short time. They afterward moved into an adobe house that stood just west of the Rio Grande track, where Peter lived and worked on the farm, rode the range after stock, went to the mountain for a week and sawed logs to make lumber for their new home. Later the family built the first brick house in Kaysville. The structure still stands west of the Short Line track.

Peter Barton was engaged as a school teacher, holding school in West Kaysville for some time, nearly all of those he taught being older than himself. Afterward he focused his efforts on farming, and having bought an extensive tract of land lying a mile south of town, he made his home there in 1881.