UC Davis has been named “Tree Campus USA” for the fifth* year in a row by the Arbor Day Foundation! The Tree Campus USA program recognizes college and university campuses that effectively manage their campus trees, develop connectivity with the community beyond campus borders to foster healthy urban forests, and strive to engage their student population utilizing service learning opportunities centered on campus, and community forestry efforts.

Our Grounds and Landscape Services supervisor team received an honorable mention award in for their outstanding “Campus Community Contributions”  by the UC Davis Staff Assembly’s Citations of Excellence Committee! They were celebrated at the Citations of Excellence Award Ceremony on May 21, 2014.

This year, Chancellor Linda Katehi created a new STAR Award to recognize staff members who have made significant contributions to UC Davis in areas such as fostering a bold and innovative spirit, partnering in economic development, and promoting community. We are thrilled that Emily Griswold, our Director of GATEways Horticulture and Teaching Gardens, was one of 11 people to receive this first-ever recognition for her tireless work to grow and care for the Arboretum’s collections and develop new gardens in collaboration with academic and community partners.

The Sustainability Showcase, located in one of the main hallways of the Memorial Union, features revolving exhibits highlighting actions our campus units have taken to improve our sustainability. The exhibits may be about conserving our natural resources, being creative with our reuse, engaging with the community, or all of the above.

A huge thank you is due to Vice Chancellor John Meyer who retired from the university after 14 years of service. It was in July of 2011 that John integrated all of the units responsible for our outdoor spaces into the unit now known as the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden—a move he felt would lead the campus to a new level of sophistication and collaboration in its approach to stewarding the campus landscape.

Ellen Zagory, Director of Public Horticulture for the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden gives tips on a successful summer garden.

In 2013-14, our staff was fortunate to mentor 13 student employees and 40 undergraduate interns through the Learning by Leading program. Here are some of their amazing accomplishments

The Friends of the UC Davis Arbo­retum Board voted in February to officially change the name of their organization to Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Gar­den. Board Co-President Martha Ozonoff says: “We believe this name change is important as a symbol of the solidarity of the Friends group with the mission and scope of the wonderful organization we support.”

The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden is now on LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional social network.

Check out eight summer-blooming plants for your water-wise landscape!