At 90, the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden advances climate-ready landscapes, student leadership and community well-being through innovative programs.
Author Barbara Keer celebrates our 90th anniversary through personal visits, historical highlights and stories from volunteers. She explores how the Arboretum connects beautiful landscapes with university research, student learning and community engagement.
Celebrate 90 years of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, connecting community, student learning and climate-ready landscapes for a more resilient future.
At 90, the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden advances climate-ready landscapes, student leadership and community well-being through innovative programs.
A six-acre stretch along the western edge of West Village, between Russell Blvd. and Hutchison Dr., is becoming something new: a native habitat corridor designed to support wildlife, climate resilience and the surrounding community.
In 2025, we were approached by the San Francisco Succulent and Cactus Society about applying for a grant. The timing was excellent as a large heritage oak tree had recently come down in our Desert collection. Although we were sad about the tree, it did mean our sunny real estate for desert plants was significantly expanded. We applied and were awarded funding from SFSCS to travel to Tucson, Arizona to visit nurseries and botanic gardens with the purpose of learning about best practices for desert horticulture and bringing back plants to add to our collection.
A transformational $3.7 million gift from Cate McGuire and her husband Michael Smith honors her memory while establshing support for the Arboretum and Public Garden's Learning by Leading™ program. As the largest gift in the organization's 90-year history, the donation represents a powerful investment in the next generation of environmental leaders.
Open until filled! Students can get hands-on experience caring for vibrant and climate resilient landscapes, completing tasks like weeding, mulching, irrigating, and using power tools, as a Landscape Assistant for the Arboretum and Public Garden.
