Gardeners from all over Northern California come once a year to UC Davis for a remarkable sale of more than 1,000 varieties of uncommon garden plants for Central Valley conditions. On Saturday, Oct. 4, the 23rd annual Plant Faire begins at 8 a.m. at the UC Davis arboretum headquarters, near the intersection of La Rue Road and California Avenue. Hundreds of volunteer workers have spent thousands of hours propagating, watering and nurturing native plants, bulbs, houseplants and ornamental grasses for this year's nursery extravaganza. The team of garden experts strives to introduce new, hardy plants that will thrive in Central Valley environmental conditions, according to Warren Roberts, director of the University Arboretum. "Fall is the best time for planting perennials in the valley and our selection of choice perennials is unrivaled." The arboretum is one of the richest living 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.