Upcoming CNPS SCV Events and Activities - March 12, 2024

[CNPS-SCV News]

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

[1] Easy to Grow Native Plants for the Home Garden, a talk by Patricia Evans
Thursday, March 14, 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/299598302/

Have you been told that native plants are dry and brown, hard to find, hard to grow, fire-prone, or expensive? In this talk, landscape designer Patricia Evans will bust these myths and more. She will explain the many benefits of growing native plants, and show pictures of the best native annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees suited for a home garden. She will also explain how to plant and water to ensure success. There will be a free raffle for door prizes of native plants.

Patricia Evans is a retired garden designer who specializes in native plants and sustainable landscapes. She graduated from the Foothill College Ornamental Horticulture program and served on the boards of directors of Gamble Garden and the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. She also taught "Garden Design for Homeowners" for Palo Alto Adult Education.

Greeters are needed for this talk, please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f49a9a729aafd0-library#/

[2] Native Plant Talks
Monday, March 18 to Thursday, April 4, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: San Mateo County libraries
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events

We are organizing a special series of in-person talks at libraries throughout San Mateo county in March and April. Whether you're curious about native plants, an experienced or aspiring native plant gardener, a professional botanist or beginning naturalist, you will find something to interest and educate you in our offerings.

Here is the full list of libraries where these talks will be held: Woodside Library, Belmont Public Library, Millbrae Library, Brisbane Library, East Palo Alto Library, Half Moon Bay Library and Portola Valley Library. For the full schedule, please visit the Meetup link above.

[3] Greeters needed for library talks
Thursday, March 14 to Thursday, April 4
Location: Various locations in Santa Clara county and San Mateo counties are available.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f49a9a729aafd0-library#/

We need greeters for our ongoing library talks being held at various libraries in Santa Clara county and San Mateo counties. The start time is 6:30 pm for Santa Clara county libraries and 5:30 pm for San Mateo county libraries. Open slots can be viewed via the link above - please sign up if you are able to help.

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.

[4] Edgewood Restoration
Friday, March 15, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
https://www.cnps-scv.org/events/calendar/eventdetail/3290/-/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.

[5] Habitat Restoration at Lake Cunningham
Saturday, March 16, 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/299006340/

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.

[6] Habitat Restoration at Cataldi Park
Saturday, March 16, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Location: Cataldi Park - 2900 Cataldi Dr, San Jose
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/299421761/

Join us to restore habitat in Cataldi Park. We are planting and maintaining native plants in a 1/4 acre area of the park off Bethany Ave. Over 600 plants have been planted so far. Wear a hat and garden shoes and bring plenty of water to stay hydrated. Work gloves will be provided. First-timers: Please 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.

[7] Bird and Plant ID Walk at Lake Cunningham Park
Sunday, March 17, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Lake Cunningham Marina Lot
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/299471563/

With the onset of spring, join us for a beginner's bird and plant identification walk through Lake Cunningham Park. This lake is a major destination for waterfowl and migratory birds and its native garden draws many birds due to its habitat value.

On this walk, Vicki Silvas-Young will show you how to identify the common birds of our area, while Arvind Kumar will identify the native plants that they depend on for food and shelter.

The distance is 2 miles round-trip on a level path. Bring a hat, water, your bird and plant lists, and binoculars. Wear comfortable walking shoes. The parking fee is $6.

RSVP Required. Space is limited. No drop-ins please. Meetup RSVPs will open up one week before the event.

We'll meet at the Marina parking lot at 9:00am. The parking fee is $6.

This event is cosponsored by CNPS, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society and Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority.

[8] Seed and Cutting Exchange + Plant Sale Pickup
Sunday, March 17, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: Peninsula Conservation Center, 3921 E Bayshore Rd, Palo Alto
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/299503707/

This free event provides an opportunity to share and receive both seeds and cuttings of native plants. Browse the diverse offerings, ranging from easy-to-grow to hard-to-find, and go home with seeds and cuttings of new native plants! We will provide coin envelopes for seeds but bring containers to carry cuttings home.

If you have native plant material from your own garden to share, please bring some. Label your cuttings to make them easy to browse – some gardeners attach helpful hints about growing; others display photos of plants in bloom. You may find it convenient to use calscape.org for this – there is a link on each plant's information page to make a printable sign for most native species and cultivars.

If you bring cuttings, keep them cool and moist in a bucket of water. Don't have native plant material to share? No problem, as there is usually enough for all.

Several popular gardening books will be available for sale during the event, including Seed Propagation of Native California Plants (2021 ed.), by Dara E. Emery; California Native Plants for the Garden by Carol Bornstein, David Fross, and Bart O'Brien; and California Native Gardening, A Month-by-Month Guide by Helen Popper. Free seeds and information from the CNPS SCV Wildflower Ambassadors!

12:30 PM - 2:30 PM - Plant pickup from the online sales at CNPS SCV Nursery
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM - Seed and Cutting Exchange

We need help with this event! Sign up for a shift: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F49A9A729AAFD0-48237117-seed#/

[9] Bring Your Garden to Life with California Native Plants, a talk by Vivian Neou
Monday, March 18, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Woodside Library - 3140 Woodside Rd, Woodside
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/299615472/

Is your garden a “bar” that only offers nectar to adult butterflies but no food for their offspring? Do the birds and bees visiting your garden have everything they need to raise the next generation? By growing California native plants that feed your local ecosystem, you can:

- Attract more bees, butterflies, birds and other wildlife to your garden
- Help save local species that are in decline
- Enjoy a lush, low water landscape
- Engage with neighbors to build back habitat throughout your community

Join us for this lively discussion as we explore the best California native plants for boosting biodiversity in our gardens and beyond. Attendees will receive a free packet of California native wildflowers to try out in their own gardens.

Vivian Neou is the Board President of the California Native Plant Society. She became interested in native plants after she retired and became a docent with the Midpeninsula Open Space District. She's the Co-President of the Santa Clara Valley chapter of CNPS and manages the Chapter's nursery. When she's not puttering around her garden, Vivian enjoys leading hikes for Midpeninsula Open Space District, Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve and Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve.

[10] Ten Easy Steps to Creating a Bird Friendly Garden, a talk by Brian Dirking
Wednesday, March 20, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Belmont Public Library - 1110 Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/299608224/

There are few things more rewarding than drawing birds to your garden and providing all the elements they need to survive and raise their young. For many gardeners, just a few simple changes can make all the difference. In this talk, we'll take a look at gardening from a bird's perspective and then delve into the ten elements that can transform your garden into a bird paradise. Attendees will receive a free packet of California native wildflowers that benefit birds that they can try out in their own gardens.

Brian Dirking has loved gardening from an early age, helping his grandmother in her backyard and nurturing her prizewinning African violets. For much of his adult life he dedicated his leisure time to fruit and vegetable gardening, and maintaining a healthy lawn. But in 2020 he realized that he could save time, money and the planet by converting most of his yard to a native habitat garden.

[11] Blazing Star Mailing Party
Tuesday, April 23, 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Location: Peninsula Conservation Center, 3921 E Bayshore Rd, Palo Alto
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F49A9A729AAFD0-46821178-blazing#/

The chapter's newsletter, the Blazing Star, is sent electronically to all its members every two months. These days, the chapter does not usually send out paper copies. But when we do, we need all the help we can get to prepare them for mailing.

Our next paper copy is going to be the May-June 2024 newsletter. Help is required to label and stamp the copies, as well as to set up and clean up the room. No prior experience is necessary. Snacks, drinks and tales of our CNPS adventures will be provided. So, join us for a few hours of doing some easy tasks while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow CNPS folks.

The mailing party will be held at the Raptor suite meeting room downstairs, at the Peninsula Conservation Center.

Please sign up for a task by using the SignupGenius link above. Questions? Contact Priya at: priya4cnps @ gmail.com.

Here are some events from other chapters and organizations:

[12] Grassroots Ecology's Summer 2024 Naturalist Internship is now accepting applications
https://www.grassrootsecology.org/internships

Grassroots Ecology's 9-week Naturalist Internship provides college students and recent graduates an opportunity to explore a career in environmental conservation and to deepen their understanding of California natural history. Through outdoor education and hands-on field training, interns gain local ecological knowledge, habitat restoration skills, a robust professional network, and valuable experience in the environmental field. Interns will earn the California Naturalist certification (a value of $480) as part of the program.

There will also be one last Informational Sessions for prospective interns to meet Grassroots Ecology staff and learn more about the program.

To learn more, please visit the link above. Applications are due by Sunday, March 17th.

[13] The Calochortus of California - by California Horticultural Society
Monday, March 18, 6:15 PM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81973258554?pwd=QVpMMm00dlovTFZnYklNaG13MTNGdz09

The Bay Area is the center of diversity for the genus Calochortus, and California is home to the lion's share of species is this group of 'beautiful grasses'. These members of the lily tribe grow throughout the state, from alpine meadows to seaside bluffs and from the desert to the temperate rain forest. We'll begin by orienting Calochortus in the larger scheme of plant taxonomy and then discuss the biogeography of the genus. With origins established, we'll embark on a phototour of species starting with Bay Area taxa and moving north, east, and south, based on my photos and observations from years of calochovorting about the state in search of these entrancing beauties. Not limiting ourselves to political boundaries, we'll then discuss more far-flung members of the genus outside California and the US. We'll conclude with a discussion of the cultivation of this genus, many of whose members are surprisingly easy to grow.

Register for the Zoom meeting at the link provided above. Attending this meeting  requires Cal Hort membership, but most meetings are recorded and available on their YouTube channel after the meeting.

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.