Hundreds of workers have spent thousands of hours propagating, watering and nurturing uncommon plants for this year's UC Davis Plant Faire. On hand will be many one-of-a-kind plants such as native shrubs, bulbs, grasses, herbs, vines, perennials, shade plants, trees and house plants that are suited for the state's Central Valley. "The best time to plant perennials and California natives in the Sacramento Valley is in the fall when temperatures are cooler, days are shorter and fall rains are near," says Ellen Zagory, arboretum nursery manager. More than 800 varieties will be available at the fund-raising plant sale, which begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2, at the headquarters of the campus arboretum, near the intersection of La Rue Road and California Avenue. The University Arboretum is one of the richest historical museums in Northern California with more than 2,000 varieties of trees and plants covering more than 150 acres along a two-mile stretch of Putah Creek.