The arboretum presents poet Thomas Centolella, reading some of his work, at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 on the Wyatt Deck. The event is free and open to the public.
The Commonwealth Club of California awarded him a silver medal for poetry in 1995, for his book Lights & Mysteries. He received a Lannan Literary Award for Poetry in 1992.

MORE AT THE ARBORETUM

Folk Music Jams — Play or listen. Noon Sept. 18, and Oct. 2, 16 and 30, Wyatt Deck.

Tour — Australian Plants for Central Valley Gardens. 10 a.m. Sept. 19, Arboretum Terrace Garden, Davis Commons shopping center, First Street and Richards Boulevard.

Tour — Perennial Plants for the Central Valley. 10 a.m. Sept. 26, gazebo.

Fall Plant Sale — Oct. 3. Member sale, for Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum, 9–11 a.m., with music and children’s activities; anyone may join at the gate, to receive access during the member sale. Members receive a 10 percent discount, and every new member receives a free plant. Public sale 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Arboretum Teaching Nursery, Garrod Drive, south of La Rue Road (across from the School of Veterinary Medicine).

Tour — Planting Perennials. 2 p.m. Oct. 4, gazebo.

Tour — Tips for Successful Container Gardens. 11 a.m. Oct. 10, Arboretum Terrace Garden, Davis Commons shopping center, First Street and Richards Boulevard.

Walk With Warren — With Warren Roberts, arboretum superintendent. Noon Oct. 14, arboretum headquarters, La Rue Road.

Opening Night: Readings by the Creative Writing Faculty — 7 p.m. Oct. 15, Wyatt Deck (or 126 Voorhies Hall, in the event of rain). Award-winning fiction writers and poets open the new academic year with readings from their work. The writers include Lucy Corin, Joshua Clover, Pam Houston, Joe Wenderoth and Alan Williamson. Co-sponsored by the arboretum and the Department of English.

Plant Sale and Warren Roberts Retirement Reception — Featuring a group of "Warren's Favorites," great for home landscapes, with the plants having been selected by the arboretum superintendent, who is retiring after 37 years with the arboretum. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Oct. 17, Arboretum Teaching Nursery, Garrod Drive, south of La Rue Road (across from the School of Veterinary Medicine). Join Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum to receive a 10 percent discount on your purchases; every new member receives a free plant.

Tour — Meet Some Native California Plants. 2 p.m. Oct. 18, Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center.

Tour — Outstanding Oaks! 11 a.m. Oct. 24, gazebo.

Poetry in the Garden — Emerita Sandra Gilbert, Distinguished Professor of English, the author of seven collections of poetry, a memoir and an anthology of elegies; and Kel Munger, book editor, Sacramento News & Review, and author of the poetry collection The Fragile Peace You Keep. Noon Oct. 29, Wyatt Deck.

Tour — Autumn Colors in the Storer Garden. 11 a.m. Oct. 31, gazebo.

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