Blog & News Articles

Blog & News Articles

Support California native bees with these 10 plants

The plants included here were selected based on information available through this work and that of others both in the Bay Area and the Sacramento Valley.  These plants were chosen for spring, summer and fall bloom, low to medium-low watering need, low maintenance requirements and the variety of bee species they attract.

Taking care of our native bees’ needs

California is home to 1600+ native bee species that range in size from less than a quarter inch long to more than an inch and a half. What may come as a surprise to many is that none of them make honey or live in hives like the ubiquitous European honey bee. However, they are all critical to the future of our state’s environmental health, the pollination of our food as well as the reproduction of plants in California’s natural areas. Here's how you can support native bees in your own garden.

Beyond the honey bee: Learn more about California native bees

Why care about bees?

Bees are important as indicators of environmental quality, are key in the continued existence of our wildlands, vital to sustainable pollination of crops, and serve as food that supports a diversity of other species. In addition, bees are critical to the health of natural, ornamental and agricultural landscapes.

Arboretum Waterway Construction Update 3.8.18

The path on the south side of the Arboretum Waterway, which we sometimes refer to as the yellow brick road, is more than halfway complete. Soon the entire walk from the east end of the Arboretum GATEway Garden to the beginning of the Redwood Grove will have a universally accessible path of smooth pavers.

UC Davis Arboretum receives TripAdvisor's 2018 Certificate of Excellence

The UC Davis Arboretum and the UC Davis campus both received TripAdvisor’s 2018 Certificate of Excellence. Now in its eighth year, the achievement celebrates destinations and businesses that have earned great traveler reviews on TripAdvisor over the past year.

“With the Certificate of Excellence, TripAdvisor honors destinations that have consistently received strong praise and ratings from travelers,” said Heather Leisman, Vice President of Industry Marketing, TripAdvisor. “This recognition helps travelers identify places that regularly deliver great experiences.”

What’s Up, Duck?

We love the ducks in the Arboretum, but too many ducks in the Arboretum Waterway can have negative impacts on the Waterway ecosystem and the ducks.

Waterway edge habitat provides ecosystem benefits

To provide multiple ecosystem benefits, students on our Learning by Leading Waterway Stewardship team are creating riparian (water edge) habitats around the newly constructed weirs throughout Phase One of the Arboretum Waterway Maintenance and Enhancement Project.

Arboretum Waterway Construction Update 1.8.18

The weirs in Phase One of the Arboretum Waterway Maintenance and Enhancement Project are functioning beautifully. They allow water to flow from the east end of the Arboretum Waterway (where the weirs are located) to the west end of the Arboretum Waterway (near the Equestrian Center) where pumps send the water all the way out to Putah Creek. Once here, the water eventually reaches the San Francisco Bay.

Arboretum Waterway Construction Update 1.2.18

The majority of the Arboretum is still open for walking, jogging, strolling, smelling the flowers and all the other activities you normally enjoy in the Arboretum except the portion between our Australian / New Zealand collection at the east end of the Arboretum up to, but not including, the Redwood Grove.

Consider a 2017 year-end gift to support our Learning by Leading program

Your support for the Learning by Leading program helps us develop the environmental stewards of tomorrow. Also, ten percent of your gift to the Arboretum and Public Garden Annual Fund goes to the Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden Endowment which provides long-term support for our free, all-ages environmental education programs.