In response to another “atmospheric river” headed our way, we have made the very difficult decision to cancel this Saturday’s (3/11) Member Appreciation Sale. 

"We don’t take these decisions lightly. The sales typically happen rain or shine, heat wave or windstorm…not to mention, pandemic,” said Taylor Lewis, nursery manager. “We can deal with a lot, and so can our customers, but this next round of weather, with the quantity of rain falling so close to the sale, won’t give us time to recover before Saturday.” 

Instead organizers will make April “Member Appreciation Month” by offering $10-off coupons to Friends members at both the currently scheduled April events, in addition to early access at both sales, and 10% off.

"We know our community, just like us, really looks forward to these plant sales. It’s disappointing for all of us to have to cancel,” said Carmia Feldman, assistant director at the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden. “It’s incredibly rare that this happens. In fact, outside of the surprise start of the pandemic, we’ve only ever had to cancel one other plant sale, also due to weather.”

“The irony of having to postpone a plant sale that offers one of the area’s largest selections of low-water plants due to rain, is not lost on me,” Lewis said. “It speaks to the extreme weather we’ve been experiencing up and down the state and actually, further reinforces the need for plants like ours to support the environment.”

Canceling a sale is unfortunate, but organizers hope providing extra member benefits at both April sales will make up for the disappointment and inconvenience.

Member Appreciation Month at the April Plant Sales

At both the April plant sales (Saturdays, April 8 and April 29), members will get a $10-off gift automatically applied to their purchases at check-out when they show their membership card (no cash value), as well as receiving the usual 10% off member discount. Members will also get early access at both sales. The first two hours (9:00-11:00 am) of the April 8 sale will be members only. The public can enter from 11:00 am-1:00 pm. On April 29, members will get in early at 8:30 am for first pick of carts and plants, with the public entering at 9:00 am. If you’re not a member, you can join ahead of the sale online or at the door.

The plant sale features an inventory of over 20,000 plants representing over 700 varieties, including a large variety of fruit trees. For more information visit arboretum.ucdavis.edu/plant-sales.