On April 15, the UC Davis Department of Human Ecology hosted a site visit from the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board as part of the re-accreditation process for the university’s Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture program. While accreditation visits are a formal step in maintaining program standards, this one also served as a celebration of student creativity, collaboration, and sustainability in action.
At the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, we are dedicated to promoting sustainable horticulture and helping the public understand how climate change impacts gardens, pollinators and wildlife, and the broader environment. In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to create landscapes that are not only beautiful but resilient—landscapes that contribute to local biodiversity, our personal well-being, and environmental health.
A lot can fit into a sideyard. Here are grapes, a pomegranate, peach, nectarine, fig, and tomatoes in Earthboxes. I choose small varieties and summer prune to keep everything small.
I love succulents and many other Arboretum plants purchased at plant sales. I can't help myself!
Cement sewer rounds hold most of my veggies. And there is a glass greenhouse to baby my starts. Galahad tomato did best this year.
From daisies and lavender to sunflowers and orange blossoms, flower gardens not only result in beautiful table centerpieces, bragging rights and a joyful hobby. They can also be hugely beneficial to local pollinators and, by close extension, food security and biodiversity.
