Upcoming CNPS SCV Events and Activities - May 10, 2022

[CNPS-SCV News]

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

[1] California Ethnobotany for Learners of All Ages, a talk by Jane Rieder
Wednesday, May 11, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
https://www.meetup.com/California-Native-Plant-Society-Santa-Clara-Valley-Chapter/events/285569436/

California has a wealth of diverse ecosystems for plant and animal communities, which gives our beautiful state a variety of habitats for people and other creatures. The native people of California have practiced sophisticated ecosystem engineering for thousands of years, using plants to meet human needs for food, shelter, tools, decorations, medicine and fiber. In this talk, we’ll learn about the discipline of ethnobotany and explore some of the traditional human uses of California native plants. This talk is suitable for kids as well as adults.

When Jane Rieder was two years old, her parents called her the Baby Botanist, so she thinks it’s fair to say that she’s a lifelong lover of plants. As an adult, she uses her knowledge and interest in plants in her roles as a high school botany teacher, a parent, a gardener, a hiker, an amateur scientist and a cook. She loves teaching other people about the amazing world of botany!

Jane will be preceded by Michael Hahn, the recipient of the CNPS SCV Undergraduate Research Scholarship. Michael's research is focused on Abies bracteata, the Santa Lucia fir, which is the rarest species of fir in North America. In a series of backcountry expeditions, Michael will be conducting surveys of Santa Lucia fir stands that burned at varying severity levels in the Soberanes and Dolan fires. The goal of this project is to inform the literature on the Santa Lucia fir’s postfire regenerative habits, specifically focusing on changes in stand composition, individual survivorship and seedling recruitment. Michael hopes that the results of this research will inform conservation strategies for this sensitive species in the context of a changing climate.

View talks on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/c/CNPSSantaClaraValley
or register to view on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpd-yrpjwsE9RBrp9E47s8eZOIiiKP9eyu

[2] Eastern Sierra Nevada, Owens Valley (Inyo County) (CNPS MEMBERS ONLY)
Friday - Monday, May 13 - 16

Join Joe Cernac and Ken Himes on our away trip to the east side of the Sierra Nevada and Owens Valley Desert. We hope to catch the wild flowers as we go up to higher elevations. Owens Valley starts at 3,000 feet in elevation so the spring starts late here. We will be car-camping throughout the trip, but local lodging can be found as well.

This trip is for CNPS members only (please ensure your membership is up to date or join). Space is limited. No drop-ins please.

For further trip information and email registration contact Joe Cernac at joecernac @ sbcglobal.net. Detailed trip information will be emailed to registered participants closer to the time.

[3] Habitat Restoration at Lake Cunningham
Saturday, May 14, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
https://www.meetup.com/California-Native-Plant-Society-Santa-Clara-Valley-Chapter/events/qvfrpsydchbsb/

VENUE: Native Garden Parking Lot

Join us to restore habitat (weeding and mulching) in the Native Garden at Lake Cunningham Park, San Jose.

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 10-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/2020/05/2020-volunteer-status-and-waiver-of-liability.pdf

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".

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.

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.