Upcoming CNPS SCV Events and Activities - February 11, 2025

[CNPS-SCV News]

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

[1] Manzanita Walk at Mt. Madonna County Park
Thursday February 13, 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
Location: Mt Madonna County Park
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/305543165/

Join Joe Cernac on a walk from mountain top redwoods, through the rain shadow side chaparral then returning past mixed evergreen forest. Several manzanita species rare to the South Bay are known to occur here, like Arctostaphylos canescens and A. glandulosa. Distance is about four miles. Elevation gain about 500 feet.

Bring lunch, water. Dress in layers. It can be foggy and chilly. Expect about four hours on the trail. For more info, contact Joe Cernac at 408-499-2515 or joecernac @ fastmail.com

RSVP is required to join us for the walk. Space is limited. No drop-ins please.

[2] Dirca Walk at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve
Saturday February 15, 10:00 am - 2:30 pm
Location: Windy Hill Open Space Preserve
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/305185228/

Join Rare Plants Chair Don Thomas for a four mile walk to see the one of the more accessible populations of the endemic western leatherwood (Dirca occidentalis). We may also see some early emerging woodland plants in flower.

There will be some moderate but slow-paced hill climbing, with a stop for lunch. We will take the Hamm’s Gulch trail to see the Dirca near a trailside bench, which will also be our turnaround point. Along the way, we will walk through a variety of plant communities, including meadows, oak woodland, mixed evergreen forest, redwood forest and riparian woodland.

Please bring lunch, snacks and liquid. Heavy rain cancels. RSVP is required to join the hike. No drop-ins please and space is limited.

We will meet at the Portola Valley Town Center, 765 Portola Road. Portola Valley rather than the Windy Hill parking lot because the parking lot is usually full on weekends. For questions or more information, please contact Don Thomas at donethomasd @ gmail.com.

[3] Walk on South Slopes of San Bruno Mountain Park
Sunday February 16, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: San Bruno Mountain

Join Loretta Brooks and Chuck Heimstadt on a field trip to explore the less visited south slopes of San Bruno Mountain. With its bright landscapes of large grassland areas critical to resident endangered butterflies, we expect to see some locally rare plants that are on the Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California, which is maintained by CNPS. (Rare plant ranks are described at: https://www.cnps.org/rare-plants/cnps-inventory-of-rare-plants.

From this watchlist we may see coast iris (Iris longipetala) 4.2, coast rock cress (Arabis blepharophylla) 4.3 and San Francisco wallflower (Erysimum franciscanum) 4.2. We may also see the coast onion, Allium dichlamydeum, and maybe blooming Mission Blue butterfly host plants, silver bush lupine, Lupinus albifrons var collinus, and California golden violets, Viola pedunculata. In addition, we will see Niebla lichen which occurs only in the fog belt of the California coast from Mendocino to Baja.

This area is only for the really adventuresome, as there are only fire roads and weeding trails on this side of the mountain. You will be walking on steep, rocky slopes that can be difficult to traverse, so please be sure to wear sturdy footwear. We expect to have time to stop at the top, so bring a snack or lunch. Restrooms are only available in the parking area. No dogs are allowed in this sensitive area.

RSVP is required to join us for the walk. Space is limited. To check availability and to sign up please email directly Loretta and Chuck at: chuckheimstadt @ yahoo.com.

Details of the meeting location will be sent to participants closer to the day of the hike. Participants will be asked to sign a waiver at the meeting place. Rain cancels.

[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 15, 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/305827260/

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 15, 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/305828588/

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 15, 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/305828598/

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 February 14, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Varies - join the email group to receive weekly notices
https://www.cnps-scv.org/events/calendar/eventdetail/11398/-/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.