- Author: Harold McDonald
You'll definitely want to make sure you're on navigation, whether human or digital, because it's not the easiest place to find. Type it in on Google Maps, though, and it's not so bad. Get off I-80 onto CA 113 N and take the first exit to the right. The grove is just across the street from the veterinary school. We found plenty of free one-hour parking right on the street.
Most of the nearly 300 trees planted in the grove came from acorns in the collection of Dr. John Tucker, who was a professor and director of the UC Arboretum. There are more than 500 species of Quercus worldwide, and the Shields Grove features about 100 of those, mostly from California, Texas and Mexico in the New World, with old world species coming mostly from the Middle East. Easily the most impressive as far as size were the Persian oaks (Quercus macranthera) near the grove entrance, 100-foot giants also known as the Caucasian oaks for the mountains they call home.
But the Persian oaks are just the beginning of one of the most delightful strolls I have taken in an arboretum. If I lived in Davis, I'm sure I would spend many summer hours under the shade of the oaks. Shields Grove is really a series of connected groves—a netleaf oak grove, an English oak grove, a white oak grove, and groves of various encinos (live oaks) from Mexico—because the trees are planted in groups rather than single specimens.
One of the highlights is the gorgeous mosaic tree plaques found throughout the grove, created by UC entomology students in partnership with the Art-Science Fusion Program. Thirty-five oak species are identified by these one-of-a-kind signs, each one bringing to life the unique leaves, acorns and animals that share its life. A wall-sized mural near the entrance to the grove shows the oak family tree.
One of the highlights is the gorgeous mosaic tree plaques found throughout the grove, created by UC entomology students in partnership with the Art-Science Fusion Program. Thirty-five oak species are identified by these one-of-a-kind signs, each one bringing to life the unique leaves, acorns and animals that share its life. A wall-sized mural near the entrance to the grove shows the oak family tree.
If you're traveling through Davis, Peter J Shields Oak Grove (named after one of the founders of UC Davis) is a great refuge from the traffic of the interstate, even if you're not a plant nut—or even acorn!
Help for the Home Gardener from the CCMG Help Desk
Client Question:
The client was at the Shadelands Farmers' Market in Walnut Creek and made contact with the “Ask A Master Gardener" table. They wanted some information on planting a suitable vine for this area that could be grown on a trellis. They would prefer a California native. The vine will be in full sun. The AAMG table provided some guidance and also passed the question along to the Help Desk to provide a more complete answer.
Master Gardener Help Desk Response:
We are blessed with a large number of vines that grow well in Contra Costa County. The Contra Costa Water District website “Gardening in Contra Costa County, Guided Plant Search” (http://www.contracosta.watersavingplants.com/search.php) lists 57 low-water using vines which do well in full sun. The UC Davis Arboretum All-Stars website (http://www.arboretum.ucdavis.edu/arboretum_all_stars.aspx) also lists several low water-using vines. On both websites, each vine is accompanied by a picture and description. The choice can be daunting! There are many personal preferences to be considered when selecting a vine: do you want an evergreen vine (has leaves year-round) or a deciduous vine (loses leaves in winter); what color flowers do you prefer; do you want fruit; and how vigorous a grower?
Because I don't know if your trellis is on a fence or is a free-standing arbor, I will list a few of my favorites which could be used in either location.
- California Grape (Vitis californica ‘Roger's Red') is a fast-growing deciduous native California grape, or at least a hybrid with a native, which has the benefit of being rather drought tolerant, needing deep watering every 2 weeks or less when planted in the ground. California Grape is a pretty aggressive plant and once established will want to reach out and grow wherever it can. I have this vine growing on a large arbor to provide shade. This selection is also well known for its glorious red/orange leaf coloration in the fall. It does produce grapes about the size of raisins, edible but not exactly fulfilling….maybe small batches of jams? And you might want to give consideration to where the grapes fall as they will be something of a nuisance if they are stepped on and carried into the house. You will also become close friends with the neighborhood's birds and squirrels.
Violet or Lavender Trumpet Vine (Clytostoma callistegioides) is an evergreen non-native vine with large lavender trumpet shaped flowers in late spring to summer, a low to very low water user, and also on the UC Davis All-Stars list.Lilac Vine (Hardenbergia violacea) This a vigorous evergreen vine originally from Australia with purple pea-like flowers in late winter to early spring, a low water user, and also on the UC Davis All-Stars list. You would probably want to prune this vine back annually to prevent tangling. There are also varieties with white ('Icicle') and pinkish purple flowers ('Happy Wanderer' and 'Canoelands'), although I don't know the local availability. The purple flowers are usually widely available. This vine makes a glorious show when in bloom and will cover a long fence top to bottom. You can ask my neighbor.Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is a beautiful evergreen non-native vine with yellow flowers and shiny green leaves. This vine needs regular water when young, but is fairly drought-tolerant once established. One caution -- all parts of the plants are poisonous if eaten.Chilean jasmine (Mandevilla laxa) is a deciduous non-native twining vine with white funnel shaped flowers in summer, low water user, and also on the UC Davis All-Stars list. This vine shouldn't require much pruning.
Looking at each vine's characteristics, you can decide for yourself which will be the best for your garden. Any choice you make will be a good one and one you will enjoy for years.
Good luck!
Contra Costa Master Gardeners Help Desk
Editor's Note: The Contra Costa Master Gardener Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions. Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523.
We can also be reached via telephone: (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, and we are on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/
- Author: Sally Livingston
Last year, I went to a UC Davis Arboretum plant sale and found many plants that I wanted for my garden. They had so many different plants that it was hard to decide what to choose for my garden. I found some different ceanothus, some crape myrtle, a chocolate scented plant with yellow flowers and many others. I ended up buying over 15 plants and am enjoying all of them except the chocolate scented plant which did not survive our frost last winter.
The sale has hundreds of different kinds of uncommon garden plants that have been locally grown, including the Arboretum All-Star plants, their top recommended plants for gardens in our Mediterranean-type climate. Expert advice is also available to help you choose the right plants for your garden.
Their next plant sale is on Sunday, October 9 from 9 am to 1 pm with a focus on sustainable gardens. There will be a plant doctor clinic so you can bring your problem plants sealed in a plastic bag for diagnosis. The plant sales are at the UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery on Garrod Drive at the University of California in Davis. For more information, go to