Sea of Cortez memorial site relocated to Arboretum’s East Asian Collection

Wed, July 08, 2015

Memorialized scientists — The five scientists lives memorialized in this garden include Gary Polis, internationally renowned scorpion expert, ecologist and, chair of the UC Davis Department of Environmental Science and Policy; Michael Rose, a postgraduate researcher in the UC Davis Department of Environmental Science and Policy; Tayuya Abe, Kyoto University professor of animal ecology and an expert in termite biology; Masahiko Higashi, Kyoto University professor and Japan’s premier theoretical ecologist and biologist; and, Shigeru Nakano, Kyoto University community ecologist studying land- and water-based food chains.

On March 27, 2000 a tragic boating accident on the Sea of Cortez claimed the lives of two UC Davis researchers and three visiting scientists from Kyoto University in Japan.

In 2001, a small garden and five trees commemorating the lives of these scientists were planted in an Arboretum garden near Putah Creek Lodge, but the soil’s low pH and high boron levels made it difficult for the plants to thrive.

Jonathan Su, student staff with the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, takes soil samples to send for testing prior to relocating this memorial.

Soil testing — Jonathan Su, student staff with the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, takes soil samples to send for testing prior to relocating this memorial.

In June 2015 the memorial was replanted with the help of staff, students, and volunteers near Mrak Hall on iconic Lake Spafford in the heart of the Arboretum. Not only is this area higher profile, its location within the Arboretum’s East Asian Collection just across the water from our Mary Wattis Brown Garden of California Native Plants, is ideally situated to honor both the Japanese and UC Davis researchers.

Plant list: