Thanks to Dr. John M. Tucker, professor of botany, director of the Arboretum (1965-66 and 1972-84), and a prominent oak researcher, the UC Davis Arboretum is home to one of the largest and most diverse oak collections in the country, focusing on trees from the southwest U.S., Mexico, and the Mediterranean region. Our collection includes about 100 species, varieties, and hybrids.

Exploring the UC Davis Arboretum’s Peter J. Shields Oak Grove just got easier with the launch of “Oaks Gone Wild!,” a web-based story map dedicated to informing the public about this important campus collection. Virtual visitors can tour the collection at home on their desktops or access the information when they arrive on site using their smart phone or tablet.

In the past few weeks the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve, has hosted two different service organizations interested in conservation and habitat restoration. Wild Campus, a student group whose mission is to engage students and the community in the conservation of native wildlife, planted 100 oak trees amongst Eucalyptus trees slated for removal on the reserve. The area, now renamed Wild Campus Grove, will be cared for by the student group which received saplings from the Sacramento Tree Foundation.