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"Friend us," say the , encouraging people to know and understand the benefits of membership — in other words, really know and use the benefits of friendship.

And consider "friending" (or "liking") the arboretum on , to stay connected to the .

You can meet up with like-minded friends at the arboretum's first plant sale of the season — the Friend Us! sale, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 10. This sale is a members-only event, thus highlighting the best-known benefit of membership: exclusive or early access to certain plant sales.

Not a member, or, has your membership expired? Not a problem — you can join or renew at the gate. Inside, besides all the plants, you will be treated to music, refreshments and children's activities.

Members also receive a 10 percent discount on all purchases, not only at arboretum plant sales, but at selected garden centers and nurseries in the region.

Other benefits include discounts on arboretum workshops and classes, plus advance notice so that you can register before popular events are filled; 12 days of complimentary, on-campus parking for your arboretum visits; invitations to special events; access to the arboretum library of more than 1,500 books and periodicals on gardening, botany and natural history; and free admission and discounts at other botanical gardens around the United States.

Plus, with the March 10 sale being a member appreciation event, all members — including those who join at the gate that day — will receive $10 off their purchases, in addition to the regular 10 percent discount.

New members also will receive a $10 coupon for use at the March 10 sale or subsequent sales.

At the Friend Us! sale, members will get the first pick of beautiful spring garden plants, while shopping from the area’s largest selection of attractive, low-water, easy-care, region-appropriate plants including .

And, as at every plant sale, experienced gardeners will be on hand to help you choose the best plants for your garden design and conditions

The arboretum has two more plant sales on the calendar for this season:

• Saturday, April 14 — 3Bs: Birds, Bees and Beneficials, focusing on attracting and supporting pollinators in the home landscape. Open to the public.
• Saturday, May 19 — Some Like it Hot: Summer Bloomers and Sizzling Deals. End of season clearance sale with a focus on the stars of the summer garden. Open to the public.

All sales take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the , on Garrod Drive south of La Rue Road (the nursery is just beyond the Unitrans bus yard and across from the School of Veterinary Medicine). Free parking in Lot 55 across from the nursery.

MORE AT THE ARBORETUM

Guided Tour: Nature’s Gallery Court — Check out this project — construction still in progress — that will be the home of the Nature's Gallery mosaic mural, made at UC Davis in 2007 and which debuted in a summerlong exhibition that year at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. Now the mural is getting a permanent home in the arboretum. 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, .

Workshop: Native Californian Elderberry Flute-Making — In this free, two-hour program led by Antonio Flores, East Bay Regional Parks docent, you will learn how to make a Native Californian elderberry flute. Flores also will talk about the culture of flute making and teach people how to play their flutes. All materials will be supplied; please bring sharpened pocketknives. All ages are invited; adults must supervise their young children. 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, 146 .

Folk Music Jam Session — Pull out your fiddles, guitars, mandolins, penny whistles, pipes, flutes, squeezeboxes — you name it! — and join your fellow musicians during the lunch hour for a little bluegrass, old-time, blues, Celtic, klezmer and other world music. All skill levels welcome. Listeners, too! Noon-1 p.m. Friday, March 2 and 16, .

Guided tour: All Things Acacia — Acacias are popular with gardeners for their masses of brilliant yellow flowers and honey-like fragrance. The Eric E. Conn Acacia Grove in the �ٺ���Ƶ Arboretum displays over 50 varieties of acacias from around the world that are adapted to Central Valley conditions. Enjoy a free public tour of the acacia collection in the Arboretum  2 p.m. Saturday, March 3, arboretum headquarters, , La Rue Road.

Walk With Warren — With Warren Roberts, arboretum superintendent emeritus. Enjoy the brilliant magenta redbuds in bloom in the grove named for Warren, then stroll to the Eric E. Conn Acacia Grove to see another spectacular spring display. Noon Wednesday, March 14, arboretum headquarters, , La Rue Road.

Guided tour: California Native Plants Spring To Life — Standouts in the spring native plant garden will be the focus of a tour of the Mary Wattis Brown Garden of California Native Plants. Two favorite California spring bloomers, ceanothus and redbud, should be in full bloom. 2 p.m. Saturday, March 17, .

All programs are free and open to the public. More information: (530) 752-4880 or (for directions, click on “Plan Your Visit”).