• Garden Prep for Winter — See how they do it in the Ruth Risdon Storer Garden. a drought-tolerant landscape that features many Arboretum All-Stars (plants especially well-suited for Central Valley gardens), flowering perennials and small shrubs. What should you cut back and how far? Should you divide your plants and transplant? 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1.

• 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, Dec. 7 and 21, Wyatt Deck.

• Walk With Warren — Warren Roberts, the superintendent emeritus of the arboretum, and noted storyteller and punster, leads a tour of the west end gardens. Noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, meet at the gazebo. Roberts' walks are scheduled during the noon hour on the second Wednesday of every month; meeting place varies.

• Crazy About Conifers — A tour of the Conifer Collection, with information on how these evergreens enhance the landscape. 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, meet in front of the arboretum headquarters (Valley Oak Cottage).

All programs are free and open to the public. More information: (530) 752-4880 or arboretum.ucdavis.edu (for directions, click on “Plan Your Visit”).

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