Upcoming CNPS SCV Events and Activities - January 28, 2025

[CNPS-SCV News]

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

[1] Native Plant ID
Tuesday January 28, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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/305653781/

Have you been frustrated when trying to identify a plants in your photographs? This session will focus on resources for identifying native flowers in participants' photographs.

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 property where you have permission to collect or just come and work with the materials provided. We use the current edition of The Jepson Manual as well as other plant guides, and we have copies to share. If you have them, bring your own favorite guide and a hand lens. Microscopes will also be available.

The group meets at 7:00pm on the fourth Tuesday of each month.

[2] Bird Nests as Botanical Time Capsules, a Talk by Dr. Justen Whittall
Thursday, January 30, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Location: Online
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/305409305/

Museum nest specimens are botanical time capsules containing invaluable historical information about the plants from a specific place and time when they were built. Plants identified from historical nests can unlock new information about the ecology of extinct habitats.

In this talk, Santa Clara University Biology professor Dr. Justen Whittall describes his research on century-old nest specimens. Very little is known about this former native plant community. In attempts to improve our understanding of this endangered habitat, Dr. Whittall and his team sampled ~100-year-old song sparrow and savannah sparrow nests collected along the margins of the San Francisco Bay estuary. From this, they have confirmed the identity of some previous plant species from the transitional habitat and added several new residents to this list.

[3] Conservation Committee Meeting
Monday, February 3, 7:00 pm
Location: Zoom
https://www.cnps-scv.org/events/calendar/eventdetail/11601/-/conservation-committee

This committee covers many issues affecting native plants: conservation, advocacy, legislation, habitat restoration and rare plants. The committee meets once a month to provide information and support for these conservation issues and efforts. Members of our committee work on projects throughout the Chapter area, coordinating with our state CNPS program staff and other conservation organizations.

Please see the above link for details on how to attend.

[4] Chapter Restoration Activities
RSVP is required for all Chapter restoration activities, in addition to signed waiver forms. Please see the individual Meetup listings for details.

[a] Habitat Restoration at Lake Cunningham Park
Saturday February 1, 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Location: Native Garden Parking Lot, Lake Cunningham - 2305 S. White Road, San Jose
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/305572068/

Join us to restore habitat (weeding and mulching) in the Native Garden at Lake Cunningham Park. During the winter months, we weed, mulch and plant.

[b] Habitat Restoration at Cataldi Park
Saturday February 1, 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: Cataldi Park - 1797 Bethany Ave, San Jose
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/305573603/

Join us to restore habitat in Cataldi Park, San Jose. We are planting and maintaining native plants in a 1/4-acre area of the park off Bethany Ave. We will be planting around 100 native plants between November - February. In preparation for planting, we will also be sheet mulching to control weeds.

[c] Community Work Day at Kirk Park
Saturday February 1, 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: Kirk Park Native Garden - Briarwood Drive & Wawona Drive, San Jose
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/305573614/

Volunteers meet at the garden on Saturdays, weather permitting, for weeding, watering and other maintenance activities. Occasionally there will be other tasks such as mulching and planting.

[d] Friday Edgewood Restoration
Friday January 31, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Varies - join the email group to receive weekly notices
https://www.cnps-scv.org/events/calendar/eventdetail/11396/-/edgewood-restoration

Help restore habitat at Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve, known for fabulous wildflowers and amazing diversity. To participate, join the email list and sign the electronic volunteer agreement, by sending an email to weed-warriors-coord @ friendsofedgewood.org.