UC Davis Arboretum hosts free midweek tour, in search of signs of spring
Warren Roberts will lead his first "Walk With Warren" of 2025 this Wednesday, Feb. 19, starting at noon. Courtesy UC Davis Arboretum and Public Gardens
He’s back! Warren Roberts – everybody’s favorite guide to UC Davis Arboretum’s beautiful gardens – returns for a free midweek tour of the campus collections.
Set for noon Wednesday, Feb. 19, “Walk with Warren” will spotlight late-winter bloomers and early signs of spring with Roberts leading the way. With beautiful spring-like weather forecast, this lunchtime stroll should be doubly delightful.
Roberts probably knows these gardens better than anyone. As the Arboretum’s former superintendent, he had a direct hand in planting them.
Admission is free and no advance reservations are necessary. Just show up by noon at the Gazebo in the Arboretum’s Shields Garden.
“Get ready to immerse yourself in the vivid beauty of the UC Davis Arboretum as you embark on a midday adventure through gardens and collections with your guide Warren Roberts, superintendent emeritus,” say the organizers. “Renowned for his captivating storytelling and playful puns, Warren leads participants on an always-engaging exploration of the Arboretum’s seasonal highlights.
“Whether you’re a seasoned plant enthusiast or simply eager to revel in the tranquility of nature, this experience promises to be both educational and delightful,” they add. “This event is open to all and free of charge, encouraging everyone to come together and embrace the wonders of nature within the Arboretum’s picturesque grounds.”
Although admission is free, parking is not. Arrive early to find a spot.
According to the Arboretum, hourly parking can be found along Garrod Drive near the Gazebo for $2.75 via AggiePark on the AMP Park app. Other spaces in nearby Visitor Parking Lot 55 allow all-day parking with purchase of a $17 daily parking permit via AggiePark. For questions, call (530) 752-4880.
Details and directions: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/
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Garden Checklist for week of April 20
Before possible showers at the end of the week, take advantage of all this nice sunshine – and get to work!
* Set out tomato, pepper and eggplant transplants.
* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, radishes and squash.
* Plant onion sets.
* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias.
* Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.
* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom.
* Plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.
* Transplant lettuce and cabbage seedlings.
* Smell orange blossoms? Feed citrus trees with a low dose of balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) during bloom to help set fruit. Keep an eye out for ants.
* Apply slow-release fertilizer to the lawn.
* Thoroughly clean debris from the bottom of outdoor ponds or fountains.
* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.
* Spring brings a flush of rapid growth, and that means your garden is really hungry. Give shrubs and trees a dose of a slow-release fertilizer. Or mulch with a 1-inch layer of compost.
* Start thinning fruit that's formed on apple and stone fruit trees -- you'll get larger fruit at harvest (and avoid limb breakage) if some is thinned now. The UC recommendation is to thin fruit when it is about 3/4 of an inch in diameter. Peaches and nectarines should be thinned to about 6 inches apart; smaller fruit such as plums and pluots can be about 4 inches apart. Apricots can be left at 3 inches apart. Apples and pears should be thinned to one fruit per cluster of flowers, 6 to 8 inches apart.
* Azaleas and camellias looking a little yellow? If leaves are turning yellow between the veins, give them a boost with chelated iron.
* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.
* Weed, weed, weed! Don’t let unwanted plants go to seed.
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