A Winter Visit to the UC Davis Arboretum

An egret keeps watch in the UC Davis Arboretum. On wintery days, when the temperature dips below 55, there are more birds than bees. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

But when the temperature hits a sunny 55, look for them.

It's winter in the UC Davis Arboretum, 11 weeks until spring.

Last Saturday we spotted a few bees foraging in the bush mallow and rosemary. Hello, strangers!

There were more bicyclists than bees. There were more birds than bees. Indeed, on some days there are more otters than bees.

If you're interested in volunteering at the 100-acre UC Davis Arboretum, and becoming a part of the gardening or land stewardship teams,  the deadline to submit your application is Friday, Jan. 15.  Volunteerism is a way of giving back, learning new skills, and meeting new people. Check out the Arboretum volunteer recruitment website or if you have questions, contact Roxanne Loe at (530) 752-4880 or rgloe@ucdavis.edu.

Gardening volunteers work in teams on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday mornings to help maintain and beautify Arboretum and Public Garden landscapes, according to the Arboretum officials. Each team focuses on a different area; volunteers work in collaboration with horticultural staff. The training dates are Thursdays, Jan. 28-March 3, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The land stewardship teams work on the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve and campus naturalized lands with staff on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday mornings. Projects include light construction, trail repair, native plant care, weed control, and a variety of equipment and power tool operation. Training dates are Jan. 26, 27 or 28, from  9 a.m. to12 p.m.

Meanwhile, as the season changes, expect more bees than bicyclists, more bees than birds, and definitely more bees than otters.

And don't forget the human-equivalent of worker bees. The Arboretum staff and volunteers make it all happen.