Upcoming CNPS SCV Events and Activities - April 29, 2025

[CNPS-SCV News]

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

[1] Get Inspired! Install Native Plants, a talk by Stephanie Morris
Thursday May 8, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: Cupertino Library Program Room (2nd floor) - 10800 Torre Ave, Cupertino
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/307381534/

Note: This talk is in-person only and will not be available online.

If you've wanted to learn how to install native plants, this talk is for you! Come get inspired and learn how to do it yourself, including an overview of the process, lawn removal options, sheet mulching, and step-by-step photos of planting California natives. Information on types of drip irrigation will also be presented along with photo examples of project installations.

This is Talk #2 in a 3-part series. Talk #3 on July 24 will cover native plant garden maintenance: pruning and garden cleanup. Talk #1 on native plant design basics was previously presented in March and will be available in the future on the chapter's YouTube channel.

Stephanie Morris has been designing California native plant gardens since 1999 in the Bay Area. Her goal is to design creative, beautiful landscapes that are ecologically oriented and practical.

[2] Greeters needed for Chapter talks
Thursday May 8, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: Cupertino Library Program Room (2nd floor) - 10800 Torre Ave, Cupertino
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f49a9a729aafd0-library#/

We need greeters for our ongoing talks. Open slots can be viewed via the link above - please sign up if you are able to help.

This is a great opportunity to learn about what our chapter does. 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] 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.

[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 May 3, 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/307268593/

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 May 3, 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/307269950/

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 May 3, 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/307190348/

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 May 2, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Varies - join the email group to receive weekly notices
https://www.cnps-scv.org/events/calendar/eventdetail/11409/-/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.

Here are some events from other chapters and organizations:

[5] Spring Wildflowers Hikes at Edgewood Natural Preserve - by Friends of Edgewood
April and May, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve, Redwood City
https://friendsofedgewood.org/calendar

The Friends of Edgewood (FoE) will kick off the 2025 spring wildflower season with a series of docent-led hikes. The hikes will be offered weekly on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through the end of May. FoE's expert wildlflower docents share insights about Edgewood's extraordinary biodiversity and help visitors spot some of the dozens of different species that bloom throughout the season. Register in advance on Eventbrite at friendsofedgewood.eventbrite.com. If you have questions about the hikes, email info @ friendsofedgewood.org.

[6] Flowers and Fancy - by Open Space Authority
Thursday May 1, 10:30 am - 1:30 pm
Location: Skyline Ridge Preserve
https://www.openspace.org/events/guided-activities/flowers-and-fancy-0

The allure of spring flowers; the love of literature; the delight of whimsy. Celebrate May Day by ambling the Sunny Jim and Ipiwa trails with Docent Naturalists Bobbie Riedel and Jumana Latif in search of wildflowers. You'll learn some of their names and wonder about literary allusions that celebrate these symbols of spring. This is a moderately-paced hike with several stops, including lunch at Alpine Pond.

[7] Spring Wildflower Walk at Rancho Canada Del Oro - by Midpen
Saturday May 3, 9:30 am - 4 pm
Location: 4289 Casa Loma Road, Morgan Hill
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spring-wildflower-walk-at-rancho-canada-del-oro-tickets-1325390561849

Rancho Canada del Oro is one of the top spots to see native California wildflowers in the spring. Because of the varied habitats, dozens of different wildflowers bloom along the Mayfair Ranch and Longwall Canyon trails. Open Space Authority docents will show you the ones in bloom and also identify many other plants to let you know when they may bloom. The 5-mile round trip hike will have a gentle 700-foot gain and a lunch stop midway through.

[8] Latino Outdoors and Semillitas Outdoors - by Midpen
Sunday May 4, 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Location: Russian Ridge Preserve
https://www.openspace.org/events/latino-outdoors-semillitas-outdoors

Join Midpen partner Latino Outdoors for a scenic hike at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve. This preserve is especially busy this time year because in the spring this preserve explodes with color as the native wildflowers – primarily poppies and lupine – put on a showy display. By May and June, gumweed, mules ears, farewell-to-spring, and brodiaea bloom.