Upcoming CNPS SCV Events and Activities - May 16, 2023

[CNPS-SCV News]

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

[1] Habitat Restoration at Lake Cunningham
Saturday, May 20, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/hmbqwsyfchbbc/

VENUE: Native Garden Parking Lot
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".

We follow City of San Jose guidelines for volunteering during the pandemic: face covering and social distancing. Bring your own bucket and a weeding hoe (and knee pad, if you prefer that). Wear a face covering, hat, gloves, 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.

Here are some events from other chapters and organizations:

[2] Explorer Hike: Two Ponds and a View - by Midpen
Wednesday, May 17, 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM
https://www.openspace.org/events/guided-activities/explorer-hike-two-ponds-and-view-0
Location: Skyline Ridge Preserve

Join Docent Naturalists Mary Brunkhorst, Kate Bauer, and Dennis Smith as you explore this preserve. You'll enjoy the views along the Ipiwa Trail on this leisurely-paced hike through mixed woodland and chaparral habitats on your way to a lunch stop at Alpine Pond. You'll return along the Sunny Jim and Ridge Trails, including a stop at Horseshoe Lake.

[3] Understanding, Appreciating, and Protecting our Native Bee Populations in California: A Community Science Perspective with Krystle Hickman
Wednesday, May 17, 7:10 PM - 8:45 PM
https://www.cnps.org/event/understanding-appreciating-and-protecting-our-native-bee-populations-in-california-a-community-science-perspective-with-krystle-hickman

California is home to over 1,600 species of native bees, and they are a vital part of the ecosystem. Join Krystle Hickman for this online class on native bees, their relationships with native plants, and community science engagement. Through Krystle's stunning, macro photography, get to know some of our important neighbors and pollinators, what makes them so special. Krystal's presentation at the 2022 CNPS Conference was a highlight of the three day event, and a recent LA Times article put a spotlight on her efforts to increase awareness of the decline in native bee species as well as highlight their biodiverse ecosystems.

[4] Grass: The Miraculous Plant - by Midpen
Thursday, May 18, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
https://www.openspace.org/events/guided-activities/grass-miraculous-plant
Location: Sierra Azul Preserve

What do dinosaurs and grasslands have in common? Visit Mt. Umunhum with Docent Naturalists Bobbie Riedel, Kate Bauer, and Marie-Anne Neimat to find the answer. You'll ramble through a mosaic of habitats at a leisurely pace, and learn how the emergence of grasslands drove animal adaptations. You'll discover native California grasses and hear how they help mitigate climate change. You'll also find out why David Attenborough calls grass “this miraculous plant.”

[5] National River Cleanup Day! - by Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful
Saturday, May 20, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/national-river-cleanup-day-registration-610259270907

Spend a few hours to help Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful and Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society work together for a healthy creek while we beautify the Coyote Creek trail and the creek through a community cleanup. Come celebrate the Earth by improving the environment and enjoying nature!

Each group of 25 people will be directed to different areas of the park to maintain the safety of all volunteers. To help with social distancing and to ensure that everyone who attends is registered, the location will be provided after registration is complete.

[6] Championing the Chaparral - by Midpen
Sunday, May 21, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
https://www.openspace.org/events/guided-activities/championing-chaparral
Location: St. Joseph's Hill Preserve

Tag along with Docent Naturalists Michael Mansour, Ben Jackson, and Nick Yatsko to explore the chaparral plant community, distinguished for its warm weather, dry soil, and hard-leaved plants. Not to be overlooked, these challenging landscapes for life create a chance to see unique tricks nature executes for survival. You'll ascend to the Manzanita Trail, a serpentine-rich ridge.

Questions about any of the events? 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, Instagram, and Twitter.