AT THE ARBORETUM

Tour — Living Under the Redwoods. 2 p.m. March 29, Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center, Old Davis Road. Free parking in Lots 1 and 2, and the south entry garage, south of the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts.

Folk Music Jams — Play or listen. Noon April 3 and 17. Wyatt Deck, adjacent to the redwood grove, Old Davis Road. Parking $6 in Lot 5, Old Davis Road and A Street.

Plant sale — Arboretum All-Stars Centennial Celebration and Plant Sale. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 4, Arboretum Teaching Nursery on Garrod Drive south of La Rue Road (this is the new nursery; it is just beyond the Unitrans bus yard and across from the School of Veterinary Medicine). Free admission; open to the public. Free parking along Garrod Drive and in Lot 55.

Tour — The Mediterranean in Your Back Yard. 2 p.m. April 5, Arboretum Terrace Garden, Davis Commons shopping center, First and A streets. Free parking behind the shopping center.

Walk With Warren — Noon April 8, gazebo, Garrod Drive south of La Rue Road. Parking $6 in Lot 55.

Tour — Spring in the Native Plant Garden. 11 a.m. April 11, Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center. Free parking in Lots 1 and 2, and the south entry garage, south of the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts.

Arboretum Discovery Day — Nature, Arts and Culture. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 18 (Picnic Day), Wyatt Deck, adjacent to the redwood grove, Old Davis Road. Environmental activities and demonstrations, music and dance performances, and prizes. Take home an eco-pot, home-made with seeds from native California plants. This event is presented by the student group Arboretum Ambassadors. More information: (530) 752-4880 or arboretumambassadors@gmail.com. Please give two weeks notice if special accommodations are required.

Author event — David Fross: California Native Plants for the Garden. Fross, the founder of Native Sons Nursery, Arroyo Grande, co-authored the book with Bart O’Brien and Carol Bornstein. 7 p.m. April 24, Wyatt Theater, Old Davis Road. Parking $6 Lot 5, Old Davis Road and A Street.

Gardeners Fair and Plant Sale — Expert advice and demonstrations from such organizations as TreeDavis, Yolo County Master Gardeners and the California Native Plant Society. Also, plant pathology graduate students will be stationed at the Plant Doctor booth, diagnosing plant pests and diseases (bring samples of your problem plants). And David Fross (see author event listing above) will be signing copies of his book, California Native Plants for the Garden. Plant and garden-themed activities for children. Free native bee houses from the Sacramento Audubon Society, for the first 100 families from the Sacramento Audubon Society. Join the Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum at the gate and receive a free plant and a 10 percent discount on your purchases. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 25, Arboretum Teaching Nursery, Garrod Drive, south of La Rue Road (this is the new nursery; it is just beyond the Unitrans bus yard and across from the School of Veterinary Medicine). Free parking along Garrod Drive and in Lot 55.

Bicycle tour — Slow, easy ride, lasting about an hour, and focusing on campus wildflowers. 11 a.m. April 25, Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center, Old Davis Road and Mrak Hall Drive. Free parking in Lots 1 and 2, and the south entry garage south of the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts.

Arboretum Adventures — In Search of Elusive Native Ants, with entomology professor Phil Ward. First hour: walking tour in the west end of the arboretum. Second hour (optional): Bring a bicycle for a visit to remote sites.1-3 p.m. April 26, gazebo, Garrod Drive. Free parking along Garrod Drive and in Lot 55.

All events are open to the public. All walking tours are free. More information: (530) 752-4880 or arboretum.ucdavis.edu.

AT STEBBINS COLD CANYON

NATURE OUTINGS

Nature and Culture — 9 a.m.-noon March 28. With instructors from UC Davis’ Nature and Culture Program. Hike at a gradual pace along the Homestead Trail.

Wildflowers: The Colors of Early Spring — 9 a.m.-noon April 4. Along the Homestead Trail.

The Song of Birds: A Journal Approach — 9 a.m.-noon April 5. Activities aimed at helping you tune in. Bring paper or a journal and something to write with. All levels welcome.

Music in the Canyon — 4-7 p.m. April 18. Hike along the Homestead Trail, with several music breaks along the way. Local musicians sing and play, inspired by their natural surroundings. Hikers can listen or join in.

Watercolors and the Outdoors — 9 a.m.-noon April 26. Explore how to use watercolors to capture the colors and moods of the canyon. No experience necessary, just a willingness to experiment with paints and an openness to the surrounding beauty. All painting materials, as well as tea and scones, will be provided. Bring blankets, sun protection and teacups.

Nocturnal Happenings — 6:30-8:30 p.m. May 2. A walk featuring experiential activities to help children (ages 8 through 12) and adults connect to what takes place in the canyon at night, among plants and animals.

A Sensory Experience — 9 a.m.-noon May 3. Activities designed to highlight one sense over another. For example, the group might walk in silence for a while, to heighten the sense of sound.

Native Plants: How They Survive — 9 a.m.-noon May 9. Get the low-down on some of the remarkable water-saving adaptations of the canyon’s native plants.

Yoga With the Elements: Wild Organic Movement — 9 a.m.-noon May 16. A walking yoga class dedicated to the four elements: air, fire, earth and water. Please do not eat before class. If you need nourishment, bring a light protein snack for an hour into the outing. Also, bring plenty of water. All levels welcome.

Big Sur Overnight — May 23-25. At Big Creek Reserve, another part of the UC Natural Reserve System. This holiday weekend adventure features an introduction to the reserve, a natural history presentation, and plenty of hiking (moderate) and exploration. Participants are responsible for all travel and food. Sleeping accommodations (for Saturday and Sunday) have been made at the reserve for $40 per person. Or you can camp out. E-mail jfalyn@ucdavis.edu with questions.

Bugs in the Night — 7-9:30 p.m. May 30. With UC Davis Professor Phil Ward, who will use a black light and a white screen to attract a diverse range of insects.

By the Banks of Putah Creek — 9 a.m.-1 p.m. June 6. Explore a private and remote section of Putah Creek, on an outing led by the property owners, Tom and Ginny Cahill. One-mile hike with an option for a longer distance paralleling the creek. Bring lunch and water.

Stargazing: Tour of the Night Sky — 8-11 p.m. June 13. After a 1 1⁄4-mile hike, settle into a meadow with guides from the UC Davis Astronomy Club. Wear appropriate clothing for evening; binoculars are optional.

Loop Trail: Summer Solstice at Sunrise — 5:30-10 a.m. June 21. Five miles of ups and downs with a 1,200-foot elevation gain. Many steps are interspersed with breathtaking views. Bring: sturdy shoes and at least a liter of water, plus sunscreen and a snack.

NATURE’S THEATER

Ages 1-4: Mother Nature and the Toddlers May 17.

Ages 4-8: Animal Circle Club April 4, How the Flowers Got Their Colors April 11, To Be a Tree April 19, Birdman May 9.

Ages 6-10: Plant-Plant Club March 29, Trashman May 2, World of the Small May 31.

All Nature’s Theater programs run from 10 a.m. to noon, except for Mother Nature and the Toddlers, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Stebbins Cold Canyon is a unit of the UC Natural Reserve System. All events are open to the public, and all events in the reserve and on nearby lands are free. Reservations are required for all events, and be advised: events fill up quickly. E-mail Jeff Falyn, jfalyn@ucdavis.edu, with your name, address, event date, and phone number and-or e-mail address, and indicate whether you need directions. More information: nrs.ucdavis.edu/stebbins.html.