UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden Initiative

Oak grove meadow conversion update 10.25.12

The mix of meadow grasses planted last year to replace a high-maintenance, high-water lawn west of the Peter J. Shields Oak Grove continues to thrive. See photo below. (Capturing the majestic oaks before they lose their leaves also helps highlight the dramatic makeover!)

La Rue Road Median Conversion 10.14.11

Grounds staff have sprayed the turf in the median on La Rue Road and you should see the grass turning brown.  In a couple of weeks, the turf will be removed and work will begin on retrofit of the irrigation from spray to drip.  The Arboretum staff has prepared a list of plants to be considered as CPCR Landscape Architects begin the design.  Watch for heavy equipment in November!

Renowned conservationist Dr. Peter Raven lauds Public Garden plan

Peter Raven, the internationally respected botanist, president emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Garden and a recipient of the National Medal of Science, attended a planning meeting with Arboretum staff and campus partners last month focusing on the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden initiative, a plan to transform campus plantings into sustainable teaching landscapes. Dr. Raven spoke enthusiastically about the project’s potential for educating students and visitors about the university, environmental science and global climate change.

Master planning session with Dr. Peter Raven

Dr. Peter Raven is one of the world’s leaders in botanical research and conservation. Mary Burke, Director of Planning and Collections at the UC Davis Arboretum, has collaborated with Dr. Peter Raven on several projects and was able to help schedule his visit to UC Davis in partnership with the College of Biological Sciences.

The Evolving Role of Botanical Gardens

In October, the scientific journal, BioScience (Vol. 61, no. 10), ran a feature article on botanical gardens, “The Evolving Role of Botanical Gardens.” In this overview about the role of public gardens in contemporary society, the variety of botanical gardens around the world — which includes more than 3,000 gardens that manage living collections of plants for science, study, and pleasure — was emphasized, along with the conservation work the gardens undertake as modern day arks for plant biodiversity.

Shields Oak Grove meadow: prepped and seeded

Last week the UC Davis Public Garden team put the finishing touches on the campus’s first landscape conversion project — the Shields Oak Grove Meadow. Congratulations to everyone involved in this team effort and to project manager Andrew Fulks, Director of the UC Davis Putah Creek Riparian Reserve!