At the arboretum

Plant sale preview — 2 p.m. Saturday, March 26, Arboretum Teaching Nursery. Upcoming sales: April 2 and 30, and May 14 (see individual listings below).

Spring in the Storer Garden — With the priomise of gorgeous spring blooms in this demonstration garden of drought-tolerant, low-maintenance perennials and flowering shrubs. Many of these plants will be for sale at the spring plant sales. 11 a.m. Sunday, March 27, gazebo.

The Sonnet Project — The Davis Shakespeare Ensemble presents "an original love story," based on The Bard's famous sonnets. "Told through music, the narrative follows a writer and his beloved as they struggle against the allure of time and the ever-seductive muse," the ensemble declares on its website. Presented by the ensemble in cooperation with the arboretum. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, March 31-April 2, and 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday, April 3, gazebo.Tickets: $12 adults, $8 students, $5 children 12 and under. Reservations: davis.shakespeare@gmail.com or (661) 304-4341. More information is available online or by e-mail, davis.shakespeare.gmail.com.

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, April 1, 15 and 29, Wyatt Deck.

Plant sale — Storer Garden Spotlight, emphasizing carefree, low-maintenance gardening, with experienced gardeners on hand to help you choose the best plants for your garden design and conditions. Ten percent discount for members of Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum; new members receive a free plant. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 2, Arboretum Teaching Nursery.

Workshop and special plant sale — Your Sustainable Backyard: Landscaping in California. UC Davis' California Center for Urban Horticulture is presenting this workshop, and, upon its conclusion, the participants are invited to visit the Arboretum Teaching Nursery, to browse, and, if desired, buy plants. The workshop is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 9, in the Ballroom at the Activities and Recreation Center. The plant sale is scheduled from 3 to 5 p.m.

The workshop program features Debra Lee Baldwin, photojournalist and author of Designing with Succulents, and Bob Perry, landscape architect and author of the new Landscape Plants for California Gardens, discussing sustainable landscaping and the unique plants that are best for California gardens. Fee: $35, including coffee in the morning, and lunch. Registration and more information.

Storytime Through the Seasons: Down Under the Eucalyptus — Stories and hands-on activities amid the arboretum's Australian Collection. All ages are welcome for this exploration of the natural and cultural world of Australia.  Presented by the Arboretum Ambassadors. 2-4 p.m. Sunday, April 10, meet at the south end of Lot 10, near First and A streets.

Walk with Warren: California Wildflowers — With Warren Roberts, retired superintendent of the arboretum. Noon Wednesday, April 13, meet at the Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center.

Poetry in the Garden: Aung Aung Taik — Born in Burma and now living in San Francisco, Aung Aung Taik has published many poems and essays, a novel and a cookbook, and his work has appeared in such publications such as The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle and Poetry USA. He is also one of Burma’s pioneering modern painters, and has had numerous solo exhibitions in the United States, Japan and Burma. Noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, Wyatt Deck. In the event of rain, this program will moved to 146 Environmental Horticulture.

Spring Musical Gathering — Featuring the Sacramento City College World Music Ensemble, in its first collaboration with the arboretum, with the public welcome to bring chairs, sit back and enjoy the music — or bring your own instruments and join in. Bob Wren, Sacramento City College instructor, will direct. 4-6 p.m., Sunday, April 17, gazebo.

Arboretum on Wheels! — The university's treasured trees (and plants) and a prized tradition (bicycling) come together in this program, with people invited to bring their bikes for a two-wheeled tyour through the arboretum. 2 p.m., Sunday, April 24, meet at the gazebo. In the event of rain, this event will be postponed to Saturday, May 28. In case of rain, the ride will be rescheduled to May 28. For more information, call Brett Anne, (925) 286-5485.

Plant sale — Gardening for the Senses, featuring plants for color, texture and fragrancewith experienced gardeners on hand to help you choose the best plants for your garden design and conditions. Ten percent discount for members of Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum; new members receive a free plant. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 30, Arboretum Teaching Nursery.

Plant sale — End-of-Season Clearance, featuring reduced prices on exceptional plants, with experienced gardeners on hand to help you choose the best plants for your garden design and conditions. Ten percent discount for members of Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum; new members receive a free plant. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, May 14, Arboretum Teaching Nursery.

All programs are open to the public. Admission is free to the plant ales and all programs except The Sonnet Project. More information: (530) 752-4880 or arboretum.ucdavis.edu (for directions, click on “Plan Your Visit”).

At Stebbins Cold Canyon

NATURE OUTINGS

• A Gentle Stroll Up the Canyon — With so many kinds of plants in Cold Canyon, you would have a hard time identifying them all. Unless you happened to be botanist Glenn Holstein of the California Native Plant Society, who will lead this leisurely walk on the Homestead Trail. 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday, March 26.

• Words Into Images — Look at a scene in nature and allow words to join the images in your mind. Take those words and use them in a pattern to create images. Artist Alison Kent leads this program on the creative process of thought and expression. Please bring your favorite media (pens, or colored pencils and sharpener) and a blank journal. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, March 27.

• Discovering Creek Critters — Hands-on exploration and other activities, focusing what types of things are living in local creeks, how to assess water quality by looking at bugs in the creek, and, most important, how to play safely in the water. A three-hour hike. All ages welcome, with the organizers saying this program is great for children 9 and up. 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 2.

• 4 Perspectives — Learn how to use all of your senses in the canyon. With Barbara Byrne, who uses the senses of touch and sight in exploring plants and flowers; artist Alison Kent, who looks and listens for birds and other animals; Goran Muhlert, a blind hiker and musician who tunes into sounds and smells; and Ann Noble, professor emeritus in the Department of Viticulture and Enology. Noble is the sensory scientist who developed the wine aroma wheel, which can be used by inexperienced wine tasters to train their brains and noses to connect aromas with the appropriate terms. 9 a.m.-noon Sunday, April 3.

• From the Trail to the Garden: Native Plants and Wildflowers — Many of the the canyon’s plants and wildflowers can also grow beautifully in home gardens and landscapes. Ryan Deering, horticulturist with the UC Davis Arboretum, leads this stroll through the canyon, highlighting the familiar and unusual plants of the reserve with a special emphasis on their potential use in the garden. 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 9

• Watercolors and the Outdoors — How to use watercolors to capture the colors and moods of natural scenery. No experience necessary, just a willingness to experiment with paints and an openness to the surrounding beauty. All painting materials, as well as tea scones, will be provided. Participants should bring blankets, sun protection and teacups. 9 a.m.-noon Sunday, April 10.

• Wildflowers: The Colors of Early Spring — Each month new wildflowers bloom for a brief period and then fade away until the following year. Barbara Byrne leads this walk on the Homestead Trail at the height of the blooming season. 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 23.

• Nocturnal Happenings — What happens when night falls in Stebbins Cold Canyon? On this walk, you will rely on all of your senses to experience the vibrant world of the reserve after sunset. Stories, stargazing and experiential activities along the way to help the participants appreciate the “dark side” of Stebbins. For adults and children 8 and up. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, April 30.

NATURE’S THEATRE: Nature Play for Kids

Nature’s Theatre invites children to become part of the story and learn from Mother Nature, Professor Planthead and Tiny and Whiny, to name a few.

Each outing is an opportunity to play outside and learn a little bit more about the secrets of nature. All programs run from 10 a.m. to noon, except Mother Nature and the Toddlers (10-11:30 a.m.)

• Winter Won’t Go (ages 4-8) — Sunday, March 27

• Mother Nature and the Toddlers (ages 1-4) — Sunday, April 3

• Silly Ol’ Professor Planthead (ages 6-10) — Sunday, April 10

• World of the Small (ages 5-10) — Saturday, April 23

• Starwalker and the Planets (ages 6-10) — Saturday, April 30

• Consumasaurus, the Dragon (ages 6-10) — Saturday, May 7

• Nature Heroes (ages 5-10) — Saturday, May 14

• Glug, Glug and the Water Boss (water play for kids, ages 5-10) — Sunday, June 5

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 the complete schedule.