Upcoming CNPS SCV Events and Activities - May 14, 2024

[CNPS-SCV News]

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

[1] Propagating Native Plants at Home, a talk by Stanley Gu
Thursday May 16, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: Los Altos Library Orchard Room - 13 S. San Antonio Rd, Los Altos
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/300725579/

Note: This talk will be held in-person at the Los Altos Library and will not be available online.

Growing native plants from seeds and cuttings is a great way to bring biodiversity to your garden, while saving money and connecting more deeply with nature. Stanley will share a few methods used to propagate plants at the Grassroots Ecology nursery for their restoration projects, such as at Redwood Grove Nature Preserve. The talk will also cover ways to adapt these techniques for your home.

Growing up in the East Bay, Stanley developed an obsession with plants while observing the native and non-native flora of his neighborhood. He is now an Ecologist at Grassroots Ecology and has worked under the guidance of Nursery Director Deanna Giuliano for two years. His passions include growing native plants and sharing his love of botany with others.

Grassroots Ecology is a nonprofit organization dedicated to caring for public lands and waters across Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

[2] Greeters needed for talk
Thursday, May 16, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: Los Altos Library Orchard Room - 13 S. San Antonio Rd, Los Altos
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f49a9a729aafd0-library#/

Stanley Gu from Grassroots Ecology will be speaking at the Los Altos library on "Propagating Native Plants at Home". We need two greeters for this event.

Worry not, if you are new to doing this! You will have an experienced volunteer with you to assist you. The responsibilities of the greeters are - staff the welcome table and answer basic questions about CNPS, if attendees have any. Tables, chairs and CNPS literature will be provided.
Please sign up on the link above if interested. Questions? Contact Priya at: priya4cnps @ gmail.com.

[3] Edgewood Restoration
Friday, May 17, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Varies - join the email group to receive weekly notices
https://www.cnps-scv.org/events/calendar/eventdetail/3299/-/friday-edgewood-restoration

The Edgewood Weed Warriors operate under a permit issued to the Friends of Edgewood. They meet regularly to remove invasive plants at Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve, thereby allowing for greater biodiversity, natural habitats, and those beautiful wildflower displays that everyone enjoys.

The Weed Warriors normally meet at 9:00 AM on Friday throughout the year and on Wednesday afternoons during daylight savings time. Special sessions may be added with notice given at the beginning of the month.

Notice of the meeting location and time for each session is sent to the Weed Warrior email group each week - do not go to the park and expect to find the weeding group if you are not on the email list. If you wish to be added to the Weed Warriors email, contact the Weed Warrior program coordinator, Paul Heiple, at weed-warriors-coord @ friendsofedgewood.org. New weeders must fill out forms before they come out. Contact vc @ friendsofedgewood.org for the form to fill out.

[4] Habitat Restoration at Lake Cunningham
Saturday May 18, 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/300696951/

Join us to restore habitat (weeding and mulching) in the Native Garden at Lake Cunningham Park, San Jose. During the summer months, we remove invasives throughout the park. Meeting place may change from one week to the next. First timers: please follow directions in this meetup to get to the native garden. It is a very large park (200 acres) with two entrances. You want to head to the Google map pin for "Lake Cunningham Native Garden".

Wear a hat, gloves, and sturdy garden shoes. Bring plenty of fluids and hydrate often. We start with a 5-minute orientation, then walk to the site, so please be on time. First-timers: Bring a signed waiver form available at https://lakecunninghamnativegarden.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/2021-volunteer-service-agreement-adoptapark-version.pdf

Workdays are sometimes rescheduled or canceled. Always RSVP to confirm, and check the latest updates Friday night. If you can't make it, please change your RSVP so we know and wait-listers get a chance.

[5] Photo Group Meeting
Friday May 24, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/300834094/

The CNPS SCV Photo Group meets via zoom on 4th Fridays, 7-9 PM. 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.

Register at the link below for the next meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsdemsqjwvGtBT0xqAWOyK5G7zu-6MZWel

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with a Zoom link for the meeting.

If you have pictures to share, sign up for a slot. Share your pictures, techniques, and ideas from your desktop via zoom. Slots are 20 minutes each; plan your photos and discussions accordingly. Presenters receive a 1-minute-remaining alert. Signup for a slot at the link below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f49a9a729aafd0-cnps18

To participate in other Photography Group activities, join the email list: https://cnps-scv.org/activities/photography-group

Here are some events from other chapters and organizations:

[6] Habitat Restoration: Thistle Removal - by Midpen
Thursday May 16, 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location: Mt. Umunhum Trail, Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve
https://volunteer.openspace.org/need/detail/?need_id=924828

Join Midpen staff for a fun workday removing invasive Italian and malta thistles on the Mt. Umunhum Trail in Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. Staff will provide training on plant identification, removal techniques, and information about why we want to remove these plants from our local landscape. This project is an excellent opportunity for first-time volunteers!

[7] Volunteer at Shoreline at Mountain View - by Grassroots Ecology
Saturday May 18, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location - Shoreline Park, Mountain View
https://www.grassrootsecology.org/event-calendar/2024/5/18/volunteer-outdoors-in-mountain-view-shoreline-marsh-habitat-restoration-registration-gatm41-yylad-8zggp-zxz34

Volunteer to restore upland marsh transition zone habitat for local wildlife. Expect to learn about the ecology of our local baylands and participate in various ways of taking care of our public lands. During the workday, we will be removing invasive plants and sheet mulching!

[8] National River Cleanup Day - by Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful
Saturday May 18, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Selma Olinder Park - 1132 Woodborough Drive San Jose
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/national-river-cleanup-day-registration-865968955457

Join Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful and Friends for a community cleanup and beautification event. Meet new people; improve a neighborhood park; watch the springtime wildlife; build community around a shared sense of service.

[9] Maximizing Your Charitable Impact - by CNPS
Tuesday, May 21, 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Location: Online
https://www.cnps.org/event/maximizing-your-charitable-impact

Are you wondering how to make a lasting difference in the causes you care about? Join us for a members-only webinar on optimizing your charitable giving and growing the impact of your philanthropy. Representatives from Dawson Wealth Management Group, UBS and Fidelity Charitable will share actionable insights and practical tips to help you amplify your charitable giving efforts.

Topics will include:

• Understanding charitable giving – Empower yourself by gaining valuable knowledge about types of planned gifts and their advantages
• Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) – Learn how DAFs can simplify your charitable contributions while maximizing tax benefits
• Strategic philanthropy – Learn how strategic giving can benefit both you and the California Native Plant Society 
  

This workshop is designed for any CNPS member looking to make a difference with their donations, whether you're a seasoned philanthropist or just beginning to explore the possibilities of charitable giving.

Questions?  Do not reply to this email - instead, please direct your questions to: info @ cnps-scv.org.

For more information about chapter activities, be sure to check the latest Blazing Star and our chapter website - cnps-scv.org. We also recommend joining our Meetup group to receive a notification when we schedule new activities, including field trips.  Not a member of CNPS yet? Join here.

California Native Plant Society, Santa Clara Valley Chapter
Find us on the web at cnps-scv.org, and follow us on Facebook, Meetup, and Instagram.