Upcoming CNPS SCV Events and Activities - July 28, 2026
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CNPS-SCV News
Jul 28, 2026, 5:15:00 PM (11 days ago) Jul 28
to CNPS-SCV News
Dear Friends,
Check out our chapter's upcoming events:
[1] Announcements
Volunteers are working hard to restore the CNPS Santa Clara Valley Chapter website. In the meantime, the recent issues of The Blazing Star are temporarily hosted on the Growing Natives Garden Tour (GNGT) website: https://gngt.org/BlazingStar/. The most recent issue is available directly here: https://gngt.org/BlazingStar/blazing-star-jul-aug-2026.pdf
[2] Chapter Meetings
(a) Photo Group Meeting
Friday, July 31, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Location: Zoom (see Meetup for the registration link)
The CNPS SCV Photo Group meets via zoom on 4th Fridays, 7-9pm. 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 Meetup link; presenters can sign up for a 20-minute slot (see SignupGenius linked from the event).
[3] Advance Announcements
(a) Kirk Park: An Inspiring Native Plant Pollinator Garden, a talk by Kathy Kleinsteiber, Michelle Deandrea and Stephanie Morris
Sunday, Aug 16 · 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Location: Los Gatos Library, 100 Villa Ave, Los Gatos
Are you hoping to attract more pollinators to your garden? Would you like to see California native plants in your local park? Start planning now so you are ready to plant this fall. Come be inspired by the thriving plants at Kirk Park in San Jose and the volunteers behind this local habitat gem. We will share photos and stories of the garden as we take you behind the scenes to explain the garden’s origins and how it has evolved into the monarch butterfly and pollinator hub it is today, with plants supporting pollinators through all seasons of the year. Learn also how this neighborhood park continues to expand and how local volunteers plant, prune and maintain the garden.Kathy Kleinsteiber founded the Kirk Park Native Plant Pollinator Garden with the goal of improving biodiversity in her neighborhood and beyond. Her passion for nature and deep respect for the environmental sciences led her to her role creating, and assisting others to create, pollinator gardens in public parks.Michelle Deandrea is a regular volunteer at the Kirk Park Native Plant Pollinator Garden. She is passionate about the incorporation and artistic pruning of native plants in landscaped gardens to both beautify and boost community ecosystems.Stephanie Morris is a landscape architect who designs creative, functional and ecological pollinator gardens with California Native Plants. She enjoys giving presentations about special native plant gardens in our area, such as this one at Kirk Park.
(b) Informal Social Hour
Sunday, Aug 16 · 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Location: Civic Center Lawn, 100 Villa Ave, Los Gatos
After the library talk, continue the fun with fellow CNPS members at an informal social gathering at Los Gatos Music in the Park. Miko Marks will perform on the Civic Center Lawn, directly in front of the library, from 5:00–7:00 pm. Bring an appetizer or beverage to share (alcoholic beverages are permitted in the park), and we will walk over together after the talk. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy live music and connect with fellow native plant enthusiasts!
[4] Volunteers Needed
(a) Greeters needed for Library Talk
Sunday, Aug 16, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Location: Los Gatos Library Technology Room, 100 Villa Ave, Los Gatos
We need volunteers to welcome attendees, staff the welcome table and answer questions about our chapter.
[5] Chapter Restoration Activities
RSVP is required for all Chapter restoration activities, along with signed waiver forms. Please see the individual listings for details.
(a) Habitat Restoration at Alum Rock Park
Wednesday, July 29 and Monday, Aug 3, both at 8:30 am
Location: Alum Rock Park, San Jose (meeting spot varies; email contact provided on page)
Come help us weed non-native, invasive plants at this natural gem of San Jose. Our habitat restoration efforts allow the native plants to “come to light.” Forms and reservations are required to volunteer. For the Monday/Wednesday workdays, the meeting spot varies, so please contact Todd Hayes at ultra...@gmail.com for more information and instructions on where to park.
(b) Edgewood Restoration
Wednesday July 29, 5:30 pm
Friday July 31, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve (Redwood City)
Help restore habitat at Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve, known for fabulous wildflowers and amazing diversity. Weeders see far more than weeds: we get to be up close to the native plants, some of which are seen only by weeders. To participate, join the email list and sign the electronic volunteer agreement, by sending an email to weed-warr...@friendsofedgewood.org.
(c) Habitat Restoration at Cataldi Park
Saturday, Aug 1, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: Cataldi Park, 1797 Bethany Ave, San Jose
Join us to restore habitat in Cataldi Park, San Jose. We are planting and maintaining native plants in a 1/2-acre section of the park off Bethany Ave. We have planted more than 200 native plants over the last couple of years.Activities depend on the season. We start planting in late fall after the first rain and continue into the winter months as needed. Spring is the time for controlling weeds and taking care of the young saplings. During the summer and early fall, we irrigate/ water the plants, prune established plants and sheet mulch adjacent areas in preparation for planting.
(d) Habitat Restoration at Cunningham Park
Saturday, August 1, 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Location: Native Garden Parking Lot, Lake Cunningham, 2305 S. White Road, San Jose
Join us to restore habitat (weeding and mulching) in the Native Garden at Lake Cunningham Park. During the summer months, we water and mulch. See the Meetup link for detailed information about the location.
[6] Other Chapters & Organizations
(a) Busy Bees at Bol Park: Gather Data for CNPS' New BUG Project! (Grassroots Ecology)
Saturday, Aug 1 · 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Location: Bol Park Native Garden, 935 Bol Park Bike Path, Palo Alto
Come join a bioblitz - a gathering of people who love nature and who all work together to find and identify as many different species found in a certain location. This bioblitz will contribute to the California Native Plant Society’s BUG (Biodiversity in Urban Gardens) Project, which seeks to quantify the impact of native plants on wildlife biodiversity in urban areas.Participants will be using the iNaturalist app (for iPhone / for Android) to photograph and identify the wildlife they find in the garden. With guidance from experts, participants can learn to catch insects using aerial nets and snap cap vials to get a closer look at their finds.
(b) Sunset at Mindego Hill (Midpen)
Friday July 31, 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: Russian Ridge Preserve, Redwood City
The view of the sunset from Mindego Hill is not to be missed! Join Docent Naturalists Olga and Tony Bright and Catherine Xun for a leisurely-paced hike along the shady Ancient Oaks Trail to immerse yourself in the magic of the oak woodlands. After this exploration, you’ll enjoy a peaceful sunset on Mindego Hill. What colors will the sky turn as the sun dips into the Pacific Ocean? Will any twilight-loving animals be about, aside from us hikers? How are the local plants looking come late July? Bring a snack to eat as the sun sets.
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