University students, faculty and staff members use the Arboretum for study and research, home gardeners visit for ideas, and more than 3,000 elementary school children come on environmental education field trips each year. The Arboretum is supported by the University of California, by grants from public agencies and private foundations, and by its community support group, the Friends of the Davis Arboretum. The 700 members of the Friends include nearly 100 active volunteers. During the 1995-96 academic year, the Friends donated more than 15,000 hours of volunteer time. The monthly meeting features a display and discussion of plants in bloom in the Arboretum, and a slide lecture on a botanical or horticultural topic.
New members are always welcome.
The Davis Arboretum is located on the campus of the University of California, just north of Interstate 80 between San Francisco and Sacramento. Visitors may wander through the Arboretum on their own, or purchase self-guided tour brochures describing the gardens. There are free public tours on Sundays during the academic year, and special group tours can be arranged. The Arboretum has winding paths for walkers, joggers, or bicyclists. There are benches where visitors can sit and enjoy the view, and picnic tables for casual gatherings.