Upcoming CNPS SCV Events and Activities - July 29, 2025

[CNPS-SCV News]

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

[1] Online Plant Sale
Monday Aug 4
Location: Online
https://www.cnps-scv.org/events/calendar/eventdetail/11720/-/online-plant-sale

The CNPS SCV Nursery will conduct an online plant sale (california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter.square.site) starting Monday, August 4. You can shop from the comfort of your home and your plants will be ready for you at the Seed and Cutting Exchange on August 9th in Palo Alto. The store will close when either the pickup capacity is reached or at the end of the day on August 4 – whichever occurs first.

The mud planting technique (www.cnps-scv.org/mud-planting) outlined by Krzysztof Kozminski is a method that is effective throughout the year, but it is particularly beneficial for ensuring successful planting during the summer season.

[2] Conservation Committee Meeting
Monday, August 4, 7:00 PM
Location: Zoom
https://www.cnps-scv.org/events/calendar/eventdetail/11612/-/conservation-committee

This committee covers many issues affecting native plants: conservation, advocacy, legislation, habitat restoration and rare plants. The committee meets once a month to provide information and support for these conservation issues and efforts. Members of our committee work on projects throughout the Chapter area, coordinating with our state CNPS program staff and other conservation organizations.

Please join us in our important work! For questions, comments or concerns, contact Committee Chair Carolyn Dorsch at cdorsch @ cnps-scv.org, or Conservation Chair Judy Fenerty at judy @ finery.com. If you are interested in joining our committee meetings on Zoom, please email Carolyn for the link.

  

[3] Transgenerational Justice for Native Plants, a talk by Christopher Telomen
Thursday Aug 7, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: Online
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/309195805/

Native plants, animals and people deserve to live their lives with dignity and health on the land where they belong, with familiar care and in transgenerational community. Focusing on straight-species, locally-native plants and material support for indigenous people, we will explore how each/all of us can take accountability for the history of native plants, animals and people in so-called California, and build on our current conditions to create more opportunities for habitat and community in the future. Throughout the talk, photos and lessons will be drawn from recently-installed native gardens and projects. We will end with a walkthrough of how to design, install and maintain your own beginner-friendly, locally-native, straight-species habitat garden.

Christopher Telomen (they/any) is a white, queer, trans/NB, chronically ill, and ADHD California native habitat care worker. They design, install and maintain native gardens around the so-called San Francisco Bay Area on stolen indigenous land. Their work is necessarily intersectional, incorporating frameworks of pollinator relationships, sustainable material sourcing, invasive plant management, white supremacy, disability, settler-colonialism, land back, climate change, immigration and poverty. They center indigenous people, plants, and animals in their work and they provide sliding scale services for people who need them.

This talk will be live-streamed on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@CNPSSantaClaraValley - registration not required) and on Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/xDjvJX4lRDWxG01mtklJVQ - registration required).

[4] Chapter Restoration Activities

RSVP is required for all Chapter restoration activities, along with signed waiver forms. Please see the individual Meetup listings for details.
 

[a] Habitat Restoration at Lake Cunningham Park
Saturday Aug 2, 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/310214329/

Join us to restore habitat (weeding and mulching) in the Native Garden at Lake Cunningham Park. During the summer months, we water, weed, and mulch.

 
[b] Habitat Restoration at Cataldi Park
Saturday Aug 2, 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/310215996/

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 planted more than 100 native plants last winter! Activities in the summer include weeding, sheet mulching, watering, irrigation setup and general maintenance.
 
[c] Community Work Day at the Native Plant Garden in Kirk Park
Saturday, Aug 2, 9:00 am - 11:00 pm
Location: Kirk Park Native Garden - Briarwood Drive at Wawona Drive, San Jose
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/310216910/

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, Aug 1, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Varies - join the email group to receive weekly notices
https://www.cnps-scv.org/events/calendar/eventdetail/11422/-/edgewood-restoration

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-warriors-coord @ friendsofedgewood.org.

[e] Habitat Restoration at Alum Rock Park
Wednesday July 30, and Monday Aug 04 at 8:30 am
Location: Alum Rock Park, San Jose
https://www.cnps-scv.org/events/calendar/eventdetail/11732/-/alum-rock-park-restoration

Join the Alum Rock Park Trail Crew to help 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 ultratoddh @ gmail.com for more information and instructions on where to park.

 

Here is an event from Saved by Nature:

[5] Ridgeway’s Rails & Marshlands: Protecting Wetlands in a Warming World - by Saved by Nature

Saturday, Aug 2, 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
Location: Ravenswood Preserve: 2100 Bay Rd East Palo Alto
https://savedbynature.networkforgood.com/events/89654-ridgeway-s-rails-marshlands-protecting-wetlands-in-a-warming-world

Join Saved By Nature for a Day of Discovery at Ravenswood Preserve! Step into nature with us for a free, family-friendly educational program celebrating the beauty and resilience of our local wetlands. Through a guided hike, a wetlands habitat game, and an art project honoring the endangered Ridgway’s Rail, participants will explore the powerful connection between environmental stewardship and community. Enjoy a relaxing lunch, nature journaling, and hands-on experiences designed to deepen your connection with the land, the wildlife, and each other. All ages welcome. Gear and supplies are available to borrow—just bring your curiosity and a water bottle!