More Outdoors: At Stebbins Cold Canyon

The Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum have chosen "Storer Garden Spotlight" as the theme for their second plant sale of the season, Saturday (April 2), putting the emphasis on carefree, low-maintenance gardening.

The sale is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Arboretum Teaching Nursery, and, as always, experienced gardeners will be on hand to help you choose the best plants for your garden design and conditions.

Members receive a 10 percent discount. If you are not a member, you are welcome to join at the gate, and thereby receive the 10 percent discount and a free plant.

The nursery is on Garrod Drive off La Rue Road, just beyond the Unitrans bus yard and across from the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

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 today (April 1) and Friday, April 15 and 29, Wyatt Deck.

The Sonnet Project — The Davis Shakespeare Ensemble presents "an original love story," based on The Bard's famous sonnets. "Told through music, the narrative follows a writer and his beloved as they struggle against the allure of time and the ever-seductive muse," the ensemble declares on its website. Presented by the ensemble in cooperation with the arboretum. Continues at 8 p.m. today and Saturday, April 1 and 2, and 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday, April 3, gazebo.Tickets: $12 adults, $8 students, $5 children 12 and under. Reservations: davis.shakespeare@gmail.com or (661) 304-4341. More information is available online or by e-mail, davis.shakespeare.gmail.com.

Workshop and special plant sale — Your Sustainable Backyard: Landscaping in California. UC Davis' California Center for Urban Horticulture is presenting this workshop, and, upon its conclusion, the participants are invited to visit the Arboretum Teaching Nursery, to browse, and, if desired, buy plants. The workshop is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 9, in the Ballroom at the Activities and Recreation Center. The plant sale is scheduled from 3 to 5 p.m.

The workshop program features Debra Lee Baldwin, photojournalist and author of Designing with Succulents, and Bob Perry, landscape architect and author of the new Landscape Plants for California Gardens, discussing sustainable landscaping and the unique plants that are best for California gardens. Fee: $35, including coffee in the morning, and lunch. Registration and more information.

Storytime Through the Seasons: Down Under the Eucalyptus — Stories and hands-on activities amid the arboretum's Australian Collection. All ages are welcome for this exploration of the natural and cultural world of Australia.  Presented by the Arboretum Ambassadors. 2-4 p.m. Sunday, April 10, meet at the south end of Lot 10, near First and A streets.

Walk with Warren: California Wildflowers — With Warren Roberts, retired superintendent of the arboretum. Noon Wednesday, April 13, meet at the Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center.

Poetry in the Garden: Aung Aung Taik — Born in Burma and now living in San Francisco, Aung Aung Taik has published many poems and essays, a novel and a cookbook, and his work has appeared in such publications such as The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle and Poetry USA. He is also one of Burma’s pioneering modern painters, and has had numerous solo exhibitions in the United States, Japan and Burma. Noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, Wyatt Deck. In the event of rain, this program will moved to 146 Environmental Horticulture.

Spring Musical Gathering — Featuring the Sacramento City College World Music Ensemble, in its first collaboration with the arboretum, with the public welcome to bring chairs, sit back and enjoy the music — or bring your own instruments and join in. Bob Wren, Sacramento City College instructor, will direct. 4-6 p.m., Sunday, April 17, gazebo.

Arboretum on Wheels! — The university's treasured trees (and plants) and a prized tradition (bicycling) come together in this program, with people invited to bring their bikes for a two-wheeled tyour through the arboretum. 2 p.m., Sunday, April 24, meet at the gazebo. In the event of rain, this event will be postponed to Saturday, May 28. In case of rain, the ride will be rescheduled to May 28. For more information, call Brett Anne, (925) 286-5485.

Plant sale — Gardening for the Senses, featuring plants for color, texture and fragrancewith experienced gardeners on hand to help you choose the best plants for your garden design and conditions. Ten percent discount for members of Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum; new members receive a free plant. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 30, Arboretum Teaching Nursery.

Plant sale — End-of-Season Clearance, featuring reduced prices on exceptional plants, with experienced gardeners on hand to help you choose the best plants for your garden design and conditions. Ten percent discount for members of Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum; new members receive a free plant. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, May 14, Arboretum Teaching Nursery.

All programs are open to the public. Admission is free to the plant sales and all programs except The Sonnet Project. More information: (530) 752-4880 or arboretum.ucdavis.edu (for directions, click on “Plan Your Visit”).