AT THE ARBORETUM

Plant sale preview — 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, Arboretum Teaching Nursery, Garrod Drive south of La Rue Road (the nursery is just beyond the Unitrans bus yard and across from the School of Veterinary Medicine). Beginning and experienced gardeners alike are invited to learn about the best plants for the Central Valley's climate, and to see examples of great plant combinations. If you see something you like, chances are you will be able to buy it the next week, during the second fall plant sale (see below).

Opening Night: Readings by Creative Writing Faculty — Award-winning fiction writers and poets celebrate the new academic year, by reading from their works. The list of participants includes Lucy Corin, Greg Glazner, Pam Houston, Joe Wenderoth and Yiyun Li. Sponsored by the arboretum and the Department of English. 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, Wyatt Deck (or 126 Voorhies Hall in the event of rain).

Folk Music Jam Sessions — Pull out your fiddles, guitars, mandolins, penny whistles, pipes, flutes, squeezeboxes — you name it! — and join your fellow musicians during the lunch hour for a little bluegrass, old-time, blues, Celtic, klezmer and other world music. All skill levels welcome. Listeners, too! Noon Friday, Oct. 15 and 29, Wyatt Deck.

Plant sale — "Fall Is for Planting," with experienced gardeners available to help you choose the best plants for your garden designs and conditions. Organizers said the sale will include many California native plants and Arboretum All-Stars, plants selected for their beauty, reliability, heat and drought tolerance, and value in attracting butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, Arboretum Teaching Nursery, Garrod Drive south of La Rue Road (the nursery is just beyond the Unitrans bus yard and across from the School of Veterinary Medicine). Members of Friends of the UC Davis Arborertum receive a 10 percent discount; you can sign up at the gate, thereby receiving the discount as well as a free plant. (See below for membership details.) Admission is free.

Birds That Winter in the Arboretum — This program, about bird-friendly gardening, including plants that attract birds, comes at a time when most of the fall migration should be completed, and birds have settled in to the arboretum for the winter. The program will start with a photo slide show of birds you might see in winter in the arboretum, and, then, weather permitting, the program will move outside to look for some of those birds. 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, arboretum headquarters, La Rue Road.

All programs are free and open to the public. More information: (530) 752-4880 or arboretum.ucdavis.edu (for directions, click on “Plan Your Visit”).

Annual membership: $15 student, $40 individual, $60 family/household. Membership can be arranged online, or call (530) 752-4880.

AT STEBBINS COLD CANYON

NATURE OUTINGS

• Star Gazing: Tour of the Night Sky — 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9.

• Basic Botany: As a Way to ID Plants — 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23.

• Nocturnal Happenings — 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6.

• Bobcat Ranch: A Place to Explore — 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

• Plant Communities and Habitats — 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13.

• Photography and Nature: Take Only Photos, Leave Only Footprints — 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20.

• Loop Trail: What Are You Thankful For? — 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28.

• Natural History: As If Looking at the Canyon for the First Time — 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4.

• Caroling in the Canyon — 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec. 11.

• The New Trail — 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18.

• Winter Solstice: Reflection and Optimism — 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19.

NATURE'S THEATRE FOR CHILDREN

• Summer Won't Go (ages 4-8) — 10 a.m.-noon Sunday, Oct. 17.

• Silly Ol' Professor Planthead (ages 6-10) — 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 30.

• Nature Heroes (ages 5-10) — 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Nov. 6.

• To Be a Tree (ages 5-10) — 10 a.m.-noon Sunday, Nov. 14.

• Consumasaurus, the Dragon (ages 6-10) — 10 a.m.-noon Sunday, Nov. 21.

GUIDE TRAINING

A three-part program, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on consecutive Sundays, Nov. 21, and Dec. 5 and 12.

SIGN-UPS

All activities are open to the public. Optional fees: $5 per person or $10 per family. Activities fill up fast; reservations are required. 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, including details on all activities.