Everything's coming up roses, ants and raptors this weekend. You'll find the roses and the ants in the arboretum, the raptors at the California Raptor Center, which is presenting its spring open house on Saturday (May 5). See separate story.

AT THE ARBORETUM

Romance and Legend: Roses of the Storer Garden — Topics on this tour include the history and geography of wild roses, leading up to today’s cultivated varieties — and why the rose is considered “the Queen of Flowers.” By the way, the arboretum's selected the Storer Garden roses for their suitability for Central Valley conditions. Also, the roses do not require chemical pesticides or fertilizers. 8 a.m. Saturday, May 5, gazebo. (This tour coincides with the fifth annual Rose Day, actually, two days: a workshop and plant sale Saturday at Foundation Plant Services, and Day of the plant sale on Sunday. See separate story.)

In Search of Native Ants — Entomology professor Phil Ward, who has studied ants for three decades, leads this tour of ant refuges. He will highlight interesting features of the natural history of ants, and talk about the interactions between native ants and the invasive Argentine ant. First hour: walking tour in the west end of the arboretum. Second hour (optional): Bring a bicycle for a visit to remote sites. All ages welcome. 1-3 p.m. Sunday, May 6, gazebo.

Walk With Warren — Warren Roberts, arboretum superintendent emeritus, guides this tour of the native plant garden. Noon Wednesday, May 9, gazebo.

Folk Music Jam Session — 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, May 11 and 25, Wyatt Deck.

Poetry in the Garden: Justin Desmangles, with musical accompaniment by Harley White Jr. — Desmangles is the host of KDVS Radio’s weekly New Day Jazz, featuring jazz, poetry, political commentary and interviews. Desmangles’ poetry and journalism have appeared in Amerarcana, Shuffle Boil, Konch, Drumvoices and Black Renaissance Noire. White, from Sacramnento, is a pop recording artist, a member of two Latin jazz ensembles and an award-winning bassist with the Harley White Jr. Jazz Orchestra. Noon-1 p.m. Thursday, May 17, Wyatt Deck.

Some Like it Hot: Summer Bloomers and Sizzling Deals — This plant sale (a clearance event at the end of the season) will focus on the stars of the summer garden. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, May 19, Arboretum Teaching Nursery.

Ethnobotanical Plant Walk and Meditation — The Arboretum Ambassadors present this program on traditional uses of California native plants for food, medicine and ritual. Tea and meditation will follow. 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19, Wyatt Deck.

Wild Family Day — The student group Wild Campus, in partnership with the arboretrum, presents this afternoon of games and activities — all aimed at raising awareness of native wildlife and what the community can do to help preserve these critters. Wild Campus will provide supplies to build pinecone bird feeders, to take home. 1-4 p.m. Sunday, May 20, gazebo. More information is available by e-mail: WildCampus411@gmail.com.

Movie Night in the Arboretum — The Academy Award-winning Avatar, presented by the Arboretum Ambassadors and the ASUCD Entertainment Council. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, on the lawn above Lake Spafford, east of Mrak Hall (bring a blanket).

Davis Shakespeare Ensemble: Henry V — A thorough portrait of heroism as King Henry rallies his outnumbered army to defeat France on its home turf. The ensemble looks at this classic in a whole new way, presenting the war epic with a small cast in an intimate setting. June 14-July 1, gazebo.

All programs are open to the public, and all are free except Henry V. More information on arboretum events: (530) 752-4880 or arboretum.ucdavis.edu (for directions, click on “Plan Your Visit”). More information on Henry V is available from the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble.

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