Upcoming CNPS SCV Events and Activities - April 22, 2025

[CNPS-SCV News]

Dear friends,
Check out our chapter's upcoming events:

[1] Native Plant ID
Tuesday April 22, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm  Tonight!
Location: Peninsula Conservation Center (first floor), 3921 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/307157438/

This session will focus on Lupines and includes a presentation by Bruce Homer-Smith. His key to Lupines on the SF Peninsula is available here: https://classic.plantid.net/LinkArticles/SFPenLupineKey.htm. If you have any Lupine samples, please bring them to the meeting.

Native Plant ID is a Chapter group that works together to learn plant identification using botanical keys and other resources. Join us as we look at plant samples collected from local gardens and practice methods of identifying the native plants of our region. Bring in plant samples if you have some from a property where you have permission to collect or just come and work with the materials provided. The group meets at 7:00 PM on the fourth Tuesday of each month. For more information please contact Janet Hoffmann at janet @ cnps-scv.org.

[2] Photo Group Meeting
Friday April 25, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Online
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/306327882/

The Photo Group meets via Zoom on the fourth Friday of every month. In this supportive peer group, beginners and experts are equally welcome. Folks who just want to see pictures and hear photo tips are welcome too. Share your pictures, techniques, and ideas via Zoom. Slots are 20 minutes each. If you have pictures to share, sign up for a slot here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f49a9a729aafd0-cnps18#/

[3] 50th Wildflower Show
Saturday, April 26, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Location: West Valley College, 14000 Fruitvale Ave, Saratoga
https://www.cnps-scv.org/wildflower-show
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/307157501/

Please join us on Saturday, April 26, from 9:30 am - 4 pm for our 50th Wildflower Show at West Valley College. This family-friendly event features hundreds of native wildflowers and plants on display as well as a variety of activities for all ages. The event and parking are all free to the public.

Our keynote speakers this year are John Muir Laws and Kate Marianchild.

The show will feature hundreds of species of wildflowers and native plants from Santa Clara, San Mateo and surrounding counties gathered and identified by our volunteer collectors. In addition to local plants, we will have a section featuring flowers from native plant gardens in our Chapter.

A selection of native plants and native plant art, t-shirts, books and other related goods will be available for purchase.

For the full list of activities see: https://www.cnps-scv.org/events/wildflower-shows

The West Valley College campus is located at 14000 Fruitvale Avenue in Saratoga. The show will be located in the Biology wing of the Science and Math buildings, which parallels Allendale Avenue. Free parking in lots 2 and 3 during the event.

[4] Volunteers needed for the Wildflower Show
April 24, 25 and 26
https://www.cnps-scv.org/volunteer-wfs

Our chapter's 50th Wildflower Show is on Saturday, April 26 from 9:30 am - 4 pm at West Valley College. The show is a major annual event and we need lots of volunteers to help make it successful. In addition to the day of the show (April 26), volunteers are also needed on April 24 and 25. We especially need drivers to take supplies from the CNPS office in Palo Alto to the West Valley College on April 24 and back to the office on April 26.

The link to the volunteer sign-up page is included above. No special skills or experience is needed, unless noted, to volunteer. You just need to be enthusiastic about native plants.

Detailed descriptions about the various volunteer positions are available at: https://cnps-scv.org/74-about-us/volunteer/431-volunteer-opportunity-wfs

For more information: www.cnps-scv.org or email: info @ cnps-scv.org or call: 650-260-3450.

[5] Looking for a Treasurer

The Santa Clara Valley Chapter of CNPS is currently looking at a vacancy for our treasurer position if we don't come up with a candidate in the next couple of months. Do you or anyone you know keep a personal budget, do your own taxes or have similar experience? Formal bookkeeping or accounting experience is not necessary.  Anyone interested in learning more about what is involved in being treasurer, please contact Radhika Thekkath at cnpsradhika @ gmail.com.