Growing Better Together

Why the Friends was founded 50 years ago

In 1971, a group of community members banded together to formally support the UC Davis Arboretum during a period of budget cuts that threatened its future. They sold iris corms in Central Park and bought hoses and buckets to hand-water the plant collections.

It was a labor of love to save the Arboretum for our entire community and for future generations. These advocates founded the Friends of the Davis Arboretum, the first authorized support group at UC Davis.

Fast forward 50 years, and we see the legacy of the Friends founders in the vibrant gardens, robust volunteer groups, and thriving plant sales and public programs. This group, now called the Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, continues to engage the community and garner volunteer and financial support to keep the Arboretum and Public Garden healthy for future generations.

Why celebrate this anniversary?

The Friends were founded in 1971, the same year the Arboretum lost its funding due to university budget cuts. They helped bridge the gap, established a membership program to provide annual funding and more! Click here to keep reading!