Sunshine last weekend, rain on Tuesday, now more sun and a warming trend — perfect for an arboretum program titled Early Spring in the Terrace Garden, set for 2 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 23).

While looking for signs of spring, participants can gather plant ideas for their own containers and beds. The Arboretum Terrace Garden is next to Whole Foods market in the Davis Commons shopping center, First Street and Richards Boulevard.

Then, on Sunday (Feb. 24), Antonio Flores leads another of his workshops on the Native California tradition of making flutes from elderberry.

Flores, an East Bay Regional Parks docent, teaches how to make and play the flutes, and also talks about the culture of flute making. He also will talk about the endangered elderberry beetle.

All materials will be supplied; please bring sharpened pocketknives. All ages are invited; adults must supervise their young children. 1-3 p.m., 146 Environmental Horticulture.

MORE AT THE ARBORETUM

• Folk Music Jam Sessions — Pull out your fiddles, guitars, mandolins, penny whistles, pipes, flutes, squeezeboxes — you name it! — and join your fellow musicians during the lunch hour for a little bluegrass, old-time, blues, Celtic, klezmer and other world music. All skill levels welcome. Listeners, too! Noon-1 p.m. Friday, March 1, 15 and 29, Wyatt Deck.  

• Improvement project tour and workshop — The campus and the city of Davis are inviting the community to help plan the "urban greening" of the arboretum's east end (behind the Davis Commons shoppping center) and the Putah Creek Parkway. Saturday, March 2. Tour with the project designers, 1-2 p.m., starting in the parking lot behind the shopping center, First Street and Richards Boulevard; and design workshop, 2-3 p.m., meeting room at University Inn and Suites, 1111 Richards Blvd. See separate story.

• Acacia Encounters — A leisurely, guided walk through the Eric E. Conn Acacia Grove, featuring interesting acacias of all sizes and beautiful yellow blooms. 2 p.m. Saturday, March 2, Valley Oak Cottage (arboretum headquarters).

• Member Appreciation Plant Sale: “Dig In! Our Next 75 Years" — 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, March 9, Arboretum Teaching Nursery. The Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum present the season's first plant sale, accompanied by music, refreshments and children's activities. As always, the first sale is for members only — of either Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum or the Davis Botanical Society. Not a member? No worries — you can join the friends organization at the gate! All arboretum friends and Davis Botanical Society members receive 10 percent off their plant purchases at every sale, and an additional $10 off at the Members Appreciation Sale. (New members, those who join the day of the sale, will get the same benefits.)

Organizers said the "Dig In!" sale will honor the culmination of the arboretum’s 75th anniversary year and recognize the arboretum's role within the new UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, encompassing the entire campus. The program will address "what that means to the community and the exciting changes they can expect to be a part of."

This season's other sales, all open to the public, are scheduled for Saturday, April 6; Sunday, April 28; and Saturday, May 18. The times and place are always the same: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Arboretum Teaching Nursery.

• Storytime Through the Seasons: Under the Persian Oak — A new edition of Storytime, this time with a reading program about the natural and cultural world of the Middle East, and hands-on activities having to do with the diversity of oak trees. For children and families. The Arboretum Ambassadors (UC Davis students) who present Storytime said this program will follow the same general structure of other family events, but will make accommodations for children with special learning needs. The group sizes will be smaller, with more individual attention for each child; and the activities will be very flexible to accommodate different learning styles and abilities. 1-3 p.m. Sunday, March 10, gazebo (in case of rain: 146 Environmental Horticulture).

• Walk With Warren — Warren Roberts, arboretum superintendent emeritus, leads a tour among beautiful redbuds and blooming California wildflowers.  Noon Wednesday, March 13, meet at Valley Oak Cottage (arboretum headquarters).

All programs, including the flute-making workshop, are free and open to the public. More information: (530) 752-4880 or arboretum.ucdavis.edu (for directions, click on “Plan Your Visit”). Keep up with arboretum news by reading The Leaflet e-newsletter. To start receiving it, send an email to arboretum@ucdavis.edu, with “newsletter” in the subject line.

Follow Dateline UC Davis on Twitter.