Arboretum University Calif. Davis by elliott on Blogster

After one week in Santa Fe, NM for a 5 day course "Creativity and Madness," my wife Gloria and I drove to Davis, California(our "adult roots!") We lived there from late 1977 to 1996 and raised our two sons there.

My favorite retreat there was the Arboretum on the UCD Campus. When I was running, I used to train for races on the 3 mile loop around Putah Creek, site of the Patwin Indians some 2000 years ago.

I will show a few pictures including the Visitor's Map. If any of you get to Davis, California, about 10 miles west of Sacramento, Ca., I urge you to "take a little stroll" around the Arboretum.

The following is the Visitor's Map, cropped to fit requirements for uploading:

Entrance to one of the many collections of flora, the South American collection:

Lake Spafford is a lake offshoot from Putah Creek. My wife was in PEO with Edwin Spafford's wife when we lived in Davis, Ca:

Geese flew over me and landed in Spafford Lake as I was walking by:

Large administration building mid-way along the 3 mile trek around the loop:

Robert Arneson was a famous sculptor at UCD who died in 1992. He is famous for his "Egghead" sculptures. The following are "See No Evil/Hear No Evil" which are in front of King Hall, the law school at UCD:

This is Arneson's "Bookhead" located in front of Emil Mrak Hall(Admin. Building):

Redbud tree(the sprouts/branches were said to be used by the Patwin Indians about 2000 yrs. ago), for making baskets:

Valley Oak trees in the North Coast Collection:

Just when I got to my favorite collections northwest: Carolee Shields White Flower Garden, Peter Shields Oak Grove(which has 125 species/varieties of Oak Trees found all over the world, and Ruth Risdon Storer's Perennial California plants and flowers(she was the first physician at UCD, a pediatrician and avid gardener), my battery ran down!

The good news about this happenstance, is that I will HAVE to go back and finish my mission. LOL I am now back in Arizona, my wife staying in Davis, Ca with son Ben and wife Melissa and baby Julianna, to help with the 10 piano concert. Students from all over the world attend this amazing event. I will fly back to Sacramento August 18th to see this amazing feat where 10 students simultaneously play the same piece together(from the beginners, like my other two granddaughters simply bowing, to those in Book 5 or higher! If you are in the area, I would strongly suggest you look this event up(It is Suzuki Piano method, and I think either will be held at Sac State or downtown).

I hope you are all well and happy. I haven't had much time lately to interact with many of you fine people!

R Elliott

13 comments on Arboretum University Calif. Davis

bluegrasslady said 1 years ago
So pretty there Elliott,[THUMBUP][HEART][SMILE][WINK][COOL]

Hazel[HEART]
elliott said 1 years ago
God really works through the dedicated people who work at the Arboretum. Similarly, Stephen Ministry, like the Arboretum, only survives with dedicated people, who simply bear the fruit God produces. This will be my opening statement when I give the Moment for Mission, Hazel, at our church next month, promoting Stephen Ministry.[THUMBUP][HEART][HEART]
bluegrasslady said 1 years ago
Sounds good Elliott,[THUMBUP][HEART][SMILE][WINK][COOL]

Hazel[HEART]
elfie33 said 1 years ago
Wow Elliott, those are great pics, and the lake looks so beautiful. Sounds like a great place to visit.[SMILE]
elliott said 1 years ago
Yes, it was my favorite retreat from the stresses in life, when we lived in Davis, California. Yes, even in "Camelot Davis, California," there were stressors to escape.[SMILE][SMILE]
unlimited said 1 years ago
[SMILE][THUMBUP]
elliott said 1 years ago
[THUMBUP][SMILE][THUMBUP]
elderjanememorabilia said 1 years ago
I am still looking forward to an article on what was gleaned from the Creativity and Madness seminar. [HEART]
elliott said 1 years ago
I will try to assimilate one or two of the many presentations over the 5 days when I get back from Sacramento, Ca August 22nd, as my wife is helping with the 10 piano concert in which 300+ kids from all over the world are gathered at Sac State where the 10 pianos are aligned. It is amazing to hear all 10 play the same piece simultaneously. I have only attended one before, but got goosebumps on more than one occasion. I fly into Sacto Aug. 18th and then Gloria and I will drive back to the Phoenix, AZ area. All the material is in Davis, Ca. where my wife is staying with son, daughter-in-law, and the 1+ yr. old Julianna![THUMBUP][HEART][THUMBUP]
shafee said 1 years ago
beautiful![THUMBUP]
elliott said 1 years ago
Yes, this is an amazing retreat from the city life in Davis, Ca and nearby Sacramento. I have found amazing refreshment over the years when I visit this retreat just south of the UCD campus. Take care, and thanks for coming by and glad you appreciated the pics[THUMBUP]
elliott said 1 years ago
Thanks. I was able to return for the 10 piano recital in Sacramento, Calif. last weekend, so slipped back to the Arboretum before the recital and shot some more pictures of the White Flower Garden, the Peter Shields Oak Grove, and the perennial central valley garden dedicated to Dr. Ruth Risdon Storer. When I get rested up, I will try to post a few of the best pictures as Part II![SMILE]
anniel said 10 months ago
I've never been on the Davis campus and I didn't realize they had such a nice Arboretum. I will have to swing over to Davis next time I head south to Modesto and check it out.[SMILE]