The best plants and techniques for Valley-wise gardening will be showcased Saturday, Oct. 4, during the 34th annual Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum Plant Faire, as the arboretum celebrates the grand opening of its new teaching nursery.

The annual plant sale will be open to the general public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a preview sale for arboretum members only from 8 am. to 10 a.m. The event will include live music, free children's activities and hundreds of different kinds of plants available for sale, including many varieties that are rare or unavailable in nurseries.

The sale will showcase the Arboretum All-Stars -- tough, easy-to-grow plants that have been tested in the arboretum, don't need a lot of water, have few problems with pests or diseases, and have other outstanding garden qualities.

Many Arboretum All-Stars are California native plants that support native birds and insects. They will be identified by brightly colored signs, each with a photo of the plant in bloom, a list of its outstanding features and growing information.

Expert sales assistants will be on hand to direct shoppers to the All-Stars and provide advice on choosing the best plants for specific garden conditions. Representatives from the Yolo County Master Gardeners, California Center for Urban Horticulture and Tree Davis also will be present to answer questions. Plant faire participants can sign up for a free shade tree from Tree Davis.

Visitors who join, or renew their memberships in, the Friends of the Arboretum will be eligible for early admission and a 10 percent members' discount on their plant purchases. New members also will receive a free plant and a $5 discount on their membership during the plant sale.

All proceeds from the plant faire support the gardens and education programs of the arboretum and UC Davis' Botanical Conservatory. Shoppers are encouraged to "think green" and bring a box or wagon for carrying their purchases.

The new teaching nursery is located on Garrod Drive, east of the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Free parking is available between the hospital and the nursery in Visitor Parking Lot 55.

A map and plant list can be obtained online at http://arboretum.ucdavis.edu or by calling (530) 752-4880.