- Author: Karen Metz
I've enjoyed visiting the UC Davis Arboretum many times over the years. Because there is so much to see I've usually focused on one area at a time. In April, I came with a group that had never seen the Arboretum before. Because of health and time constraints, our visit was limited in scope, so I chose the Environmental Gateway Loop as it seemed to pack in many gardens in a small area.
The Arboretum All-Stars planted next to the Teaching Nursery were a beautiful introduction to our day. They were bursting with flowers that were being visited by butterflies, hummingbirds and many species of bees. It was truly a pollinator's paradise. Arboretum All-Stars are plants that haveproven themselves through Arboretum testing. They look good most, if not all, of the year, are hardy, and low maintenance. Most are drought tolerant and attractive to beneficial wildlife.
We visited the Ruth Risdon Storer Garden which showcased lovely lush plantings chosen to tolerate our hot dry summers and wet winters. It was so peaceful and filled with a myriad of textures, colors, and fragrances.
Our next stop was the Moon Garden. The group was totally enchanted with this area. They loved the concept of grouping white, silvery plantings together so the plants would truly glow in the light of the moon. These groupings also included plants that release their strongest fragrance at night which would enhance thenighttime experience even further. Even in the daytime this was a nice spot to sit, rest, andrehydrate.
I had never been to the Peter J Shields Oak Grove before. I enjoyed exploring this shady spot with so many different kinds of Oak species from different parts of the world. The variety in the shape of the leaves was amazing. The grove was accentuated by colorful ceramic tile bench/walls. These identified the different species, and the animals and insects that made up the oak ecosystem.
Beautiful handmade ceramic tiles were also on display at the Nature's Gallery and on the perimeter walls of the restroom. These were collaborations of Art and Science faculty, students, and volunteers. There were flowers, trees, insects, birds and more. All were beautiful and scientifically correct.
There is so much to see at the Arboretum. There are East Asian, Australian, South American, Mexican, and Mediterranean collections, to name a few. The gardens also change with the seasons and change over the years. If you visit most weekends, the parking is free unless there are special events. During the week, parking is challenging, both finding a spot and using the parking app. Only one of our three carloads was successful in getting the app to open. But the experience and the beauty are worth it.
