The Climate Adaptation Living Lab (CALL)
The Climate Adaptation Living Lab, or CALL Garden, represents an exciting partnership with Dr. Emily Meineke, assistant professor in UC Davis' Department of Entomology and Nematology, to advance research illuminating how relationships between insects and plants will shift as the climate changes.
The CALL Garden, located adjacent to the Arboretum Teaching Nursery, is made up of multiple test plots simulating different levels of water availability that allow researchers with the Meineke Lab to observe how these changes affect interactions between plants and herbivores.
The goal of the research is to better understand which plants can thrive under shifting rainfall patterns while still supporting the pollinators and insects that are vital to healthy ecosystems. Learn more about the ongoing research.
The plant palette is composed of low-water, pollinator favorites, including:
- sneezeweed, Helenium puberulum
- mugwort, Artemisia douglasiana
- black sage, Salvia mellifera
- common snowberry, Symphoricarpos albus var. Laevigatus (UC Davis Arboretum All-Star)
- rock phacelia, Phacelia californica
Community and Student Involvement
The CALL Garden is home not only to cutting-edge research, but also to a living classroom and creative space. As part of Dr. Emily Meineke’s undergraduate course, ENT 001: Art, Science and the World of Insects, students are designing large ceramic mosaic panels that will gradually form a colorful backdrop to the garden. Each piece celebrates California’s diverse regions—from the coast to the Sierra Nevada—and showcases the plants, animals, and landscapes that define them. In collaboration with local community members, these murals connect science and art, helping visitors see how research in the garden links directly to the broader story of California’s environment.
Why it Matters
As California grows warmer and drier, gardens offer critical insight into how we can adapt. Research from the garden directly informs our Climate-Ready Gardening Toolkit, which helps people design landscapes that are both beautiful and resilient. By translating findings into practical guidance, the CALL Garden empowers home gardeners, landscapers, and communities to choose plants that will flourish in future conditions while continuing to support pollinators and other essential wildlife.
Read more about the CALL Garden and Dr. Meineke’s research
Click the image below to see more photos of the CALL Garden.
