Event Date
Special Events
Yoga • 2-3 p.m.
Lawn adjacent to Scrubs Café • Map to location
Participate in a yoga session led by a professional instructor. Bring your own mat, towel and water.
Ceramic Mural Unveiling • 3 p.m.
Map to location (same as other events on this day)
Join us for an unveiling of the 2025 Art-Science Fusion mural adjacent to Professor Emily Meineke’s Climate Adaptation Living Lab (CALL) Garden. Includes brief program and refreshments.
The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden is proud to be one of 12 campus collections participating in UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day — a free, family-friendly celebration of the incredible diversity of life on our campus and beyond.
While programs take place across 12 campus museums from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., you’ll find Arboretum and Public Garden events from 12–4 p.m. at the habitat gardens in our Environmental GATEway. There, Learning by Leading™ students and staff invite you to explore the rich biodiversity woven into our landscapes and discover how urban habitats can support both people and wildlife.
This year’s theme, Nature Rx, is all about fulfilling a prescription for better physical, mental, and social wellbeing simply by spending time outdoors.
Events below created by Learning by Leading™ students in the following programs: Arboretum Ambassadors, Waterway Stewardship, Habitat Horticulture, Sustainable Horticulture, Nursery Management and Urban Tree Stewardship.
Mindfulness & Meal on the Lawn
Schedule 12-4 p.m. | Yoga 2-3 p.m.
Relax on the lawn with a restorative yoga session or a calming moment of Nature Rx. Enjoy the space to breathe, stretch, or enjoy your lunch. Find more information on dining options.
The Living Drawing Booth
Schedule 12-4 p.m.
Come by and strike a pose for a one-of-a-kind, custom hand-drawn portrait created live by the Arboretum Ambassador’s Picasso, Kimberly Morales. Watch as your features are transformed into a unique work of art and have an opportunity to learn about Nature Rx!
Nature Polaroid Postcards
Schedule 12-4 p.m.
Take some time to capture the moment on a polaroid and decorate them with our nature-themed stickers and postcards.
Waterway Enhancement Project Birding Tour
Schedule: 12:00 p.m. • 1:30 p.m. • 2:30 p.m. • 3:30 p.m.
Take a 30-minute walk around the Arboretum Waterway to understand the recent work and how its been reimagined while looking for birds and other wildlife. Binoculars available to borrow.
Waterway Wildlife
Schedule 12-4 p.m.
Are you familiar with the wildlife that utilize the Arboretum Waterway for habitat? See candids of our Waterway wildlife taken by motion-activated trail cameras. Color and make your own wildlife mask! Do you want to be a racoon, squirrel, or rabbit?
Build Your Own Climate-Ready Garden
Schedule 12-4 p.m.
Design your dream garden in our interactive game, learning which plants work best to support biodiversity and withstand the challenges of our changing climate.
Find your Fauna Friend Quiz
Schedule 12-4 p.m.
Find out what creature in the Arboretum you most resemble by taking our personality quiz. Wear a sticker of your fauna friend like a badge of honor as you visit the plant they love the most.
Climate Adaption Living Lab
Garden open for exploring 12-3 p.m.
Special Mural Unveiling 3 p.m.
Come visit our new research garden, the Climate Adaptation Living Lab (CALL) garden! Learn more about the effects of climate change on plants and herbivores interaction.
Plant a Poppy and Octopus Agave
Schedule 12-4 p.m.
Want to learn more about low-water landscapes? Join us as we discuss the importance of using native plants and low-water plants while still creating an aesthetically pleasing garden! Discover how to enjoy these benefits at home with tips for creating sustainable landscapes, featuring advice from Life-After-Lawn homeowners. You’ll also have the chance to propagate poppy seeds and octopus agave pups to plant in your own yard!
Aqua Free Garden Tour
Schedule: 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
Join us for a 30-minute walking tour of our research garden, the Aqua Free Garden! Learn more about these drought-tolerant plant species and how they are capable of withstanding California’s climate.
Arboretum Teaching Nursery
Schedule: Self Guided 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Explore the nursery, learn about our Arboretum All-Star plants, and enjoy some biodiversity-inspired activities for kids!
Plant Your Own Acorn
Schedule 12-4 p.m.
Learn how to sow an acorn of our climate-ready oak species and take it home to watch it grow!
Online Self-guided Tree Tours
Schedule 12-4 p.m.
Scan the QR codes at our table to check out our online tree tours of Lake Spafford and central campus! Take these tours at your own pace to learn more about the history and beauty of some of our favorite campus trees.
Oak Personality Quiz
Schedule 12-4 p.m.
Find out which California native oak you are based on your personality! Take home a free pin to celebrate your favorite species.