Garden hobbyists and professional florists, landscapers and nursery owners from throughout California will gather Wednesday, May 20, at UC Davis for "Salute to Spring.. Roses et al!," a one-day event featuring research briefings and a community horticultural tour. Campus horticultural and floricultural experts will discuss residential and commercial rose culture, biotechnology as applied to roses and rose varietals, growing conditions and pest management. Elaborate floral displays will be showcased in Freeborn Hall, and a lecture and demonstration on arranging cut roses will be presented by horticulturist and floral artist Charlie Groppetti of the California Cut Flower Commission. A Davis-area tour will visit a commercial sod farm, innovative elementary-school gardens, exquisite home landscaping and university rose plantings that provide disease-free rootstocks for commercial breeding and sales. The event is co-sponsored by the UC Davis Department of Environmental Horticulture, the Davis Flower Arrangers and the UC Davis Grounds Division. .