DAVIS, Calif. — Nestled in the heart of the UC Davis Arboretum lies the California Rock Garden, an educational haven designed to showcase the state's diverse geology. Developed by the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, the garden features rocks from all corners of California, sampling the very foundation of the state's geological history.
“All of these rocks were carefully selected to showcase the really different, beautiful rock features of California,” said Nicholas Pinter, a geologist and professor at UC Davis. The garden facilitates self-guided tours, allowing visitors to explore at their own pace. Resources, including PDFs and maps, are available on the department's website.
Each rock, in its unique formation, tells a story dating back over 200 million years. Special features include minerals, fossils, and notably, the serpentinite—California's state rock, which, although toxic to most plants, creates a unique soil supporting specialized vegetation. “It’s just a cool rock and there is so much in it and it's so interesting to study it,” said Susann Pinter, a geologist and lecturer with the CalTeach Program.
Interactive posts and quizzes scattered throughout the garden enhance the learning experience, including crowd favorites like a chunk of petrified wood. “It fell down into the flood plain of some ancient river, got covered up, mineralized and fossilized,” said Nicholas Pinter. The California Rock Garden at UC Davis is a must-visit, free attraction that encapsulates the state's natural history.
For more information and to download a visitor's guide, visit the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences website. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter.
