The UC Davis Arboretum is unlike any other. Unique to the arboretum is a magnificent handcrafted tile ceramic wall of 140 colorful ceramic tiles. These are hand-crafted by students, staff, faculty, and community members—each depicting diverse drought-tolerant plants or insects found in the Arboretum’s Ruth Risdon Storer Garden. This spectacular mural of tiles was first featured at the US Botanic Garden in Washington, DC, before finding its permanent installation in its home on the UC Davis campus in 2012.
In addition, the Oak Circle of Life installation is comprised of 43 hand-made ceramic tiles that form an interlocking pattern, in Oak Grove. Each of the 43 Oak Circle of Life Tiles represents one part of the life cycle of a mighty oak tree. Each tile represents a beautiful and unique work of art, honoring nature’s beauty – the great Oak tree, succulents and drought-tolerant plants, and all the other native trees and plants home to this garden.
