The large median along Old Davis Road near the Mondavi Center for Performing Arts is in the process of being converted to a low-water, region-appropriate landscape.

Early in 2014, teams from the Arboretum and Public Garden, including Grounds and Landscape Services, assembled to plant the northernmost section of the La Rue Road median with plants selected for their seasonal interest, water-wise qualities and long-term durability. When selecting the plants used for this project, Ellen Zagory, director of public horticulture, also wanted to make sure the flora blended well with surrounding landscapes.

The mix of meadow grasses planted last year to replace a high-maintenance, high-water lawn west of the Peter J. Shields Oak Grove continues to thrive. See photo below. (Capturing the majestic oaks before they lose their leaves also helps highlight the dramatic makeover!)

Grounds staff have sprayed the turf in the median on La Rue Road and you should see the grass turning brown.  In a couple of weeks, the turf will be removed and work will begin on retrofit of the irrigation from spray to drip.  The Arboretum staff has prepared a list of plants to be considered as CPCR Landscape Architects begin the design.  Watch for heavy equipment in November!

After a long wait and an unusually dry winter, some of the wild flowers planted along the La Rue Road median are finally putting on a show at the intersection of Russell Blvd. and La Rue Road.

In our last update on this project we let you know that a native wildflower mix would be planted here to allow our teams another growing season to eliminate the Bermuda grasses.

Our new field of native grasses is taking root and filling in what was once a little-used, high-maintenance lawn on the west side of campus, adjacent to our oak collection.

The La Rue Median Strip Conversion is the first of two pilot conversion projects to convert high-maintenance turf areas into lower maintenance and lower-cost landscape types which will showcase Central Valley ecosystems and Valley-Wise plants.

About 3 weeks after seeding we have germination at the Oak Grove Meadow! What you see in the photo below is a small Nasella pulchra. Now we wait, and irrigate as necessary if rain doesn’t come.

Last week the UC Davis Public Garden team put the finishing touches on the campus’s first landscape conversion project — the Shields Oak Grove Meadow. Congratulations to everyone involved in this team effort and to project manager Andrew Fulks, Director of the UC Davis Putah Creek Riparian Reserve!