Upcoming CNPS SCV Events and Activities - Feb 24, 2026
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CNPS-SCV News
Feb 24, 2026, 10:40:50 PM (5 days ago) Feb 24
to CNPS-SCV News
Dear Friends,
Learn about our chapter's upcoming events below.
[1] Near-Future Events
(a) Dirca Walk at Eaton Park
Saturday, Feb 28 · 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Eaton Park, 3000 Eaton Avenue · San Carlos
Join Rare Plants Chair Don Thomas on a visit to Eaton Park in San Carlos, where we hope to re-discover a population of Dirca occidentalis, Western leatherwood, last seen by us on a field trip in 2015. Along the way, we will walk up the trail for some great views. (There are some steep sections.)We should be finished by about lunch time, but it is suggested that participants bring lunch and water. RSVP is required to join the hike.Space is limited. No drop-ins please.
[2] Chapter Meetings
(a) Photo Group Meeting
Friday, Feb 27, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
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 and, if interested, sign up for slots to show your photos via the meetup link above.
(b) Native Plant ID - Manzanitas - HAPPENING NOW
Tuesday, Feb 24, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM PST
Location: Peninsula Conservation Center, 3921 E Bayshore Rd · Palo Alto
At our Tuesday, February 24 session we will cover the genus Arctostaphylos (manzanitas) and hopefully schedule a field trip to look at some Arctostaphylos in the field. Any species (preferably not hybrid) Arctostaphylos samples will be appreciated for that session.Native Plant ID (formerly Keying with Natives) is a Chapter group that works together to learn plant identification using botanical keys and other resources. Join us as we look at plant samples collected from local gardens and practice methods of identifying the native plants of our region. Bring in plant samples if you have some from property where you have permission to collect or just come and work with the materials provided. We use the current edition of The Jepson Manual as well as other plant guides, and we have copies to share. If you have them, bring your own favorite guide and a hand lens. Microscopes will also be available.The group meets at 7:00pm on the fourth Tuesday of each month
[3] Volunteers Needed
CNPS SCV is a volunteer-run organization. Please consider if you have time to keep events running smoothly by filling these roles.
(a) Docents and Greeters for the 2026 Growing Natives Garden Tour
Saturday and Sunday, April 18 and 19, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm or 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
GNGT 2026 needs volunteers to help bring this inspiring event to life. Join us to share your passion, learn from fellow gardeners, and celebrate the beauty of native landscapes. This year, the tour is showcasing nearly 60 gardens, most of them on Saturday, in the southern portion of the tour. Each day has two shifts to choose from. We need to fill about 160 shifts on Saturday and 80 on Sunday.You can sign up for a Greeter or Docent role at the link above. The details of what is involved in each role can be found at https://gngt.org/GNGT/Greeters.php and https://gngt.org/GNGT/Docents.php.
(b) Wildflower Show Hospitality Team Members
Help keep everyone happy and well fed at the Wildflower Show. Kim Vrijen will be leading the effort and we are looking for people to join her in keeping the food and beverages well stocked throughout the day. If you are interested in joining this team effort, please email Kim at kim.v...@gmail.com.
[4] Chapter Restoration Activities
RSVP is required for all Chapter restoration activities, along with signed waiver forms. Please see the individual listings for details.
(a) Special Weeding Event at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
Saturday, Feb 28, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: Happy Valley Park and Zoo, San Jose
*** Special event!!! ***
Some weeding and native plant experience required!
Help us remove large weeds in Monarch Meadow, a relatively new native plant pollinator garden just outside the pay gate at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, not far from Downtown San Jose. This is a 1/3 acre garden in a prime, very public location with beautiful signage that introduces the public to pollinator gardens. Once the garden is completely established, it has the potential to be spectacular, but right now, it has a bit of a weed problem. The garden is on a slope, and volunteers will need to be able to weed between establishing native plants and irrigation lines.
A limited number of spaces are available and RSVPs are required. Email KirkPar...@gmail.com to get a parking pass and more information as to where to meet. Please bring your own garden gloves and water to drink.
(b) Habitat Restoration at Alum Rock Park
Wednesday, Feb 25 and Monday, Mar 2, 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.
(c) Friday Edgewood Restoration
Friday Feb 27, 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.
(d) Habitat Restoration at Cataldi Park
Saturday, Feb 28, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: Cataldi Park — 1797 Bethany Ave, San Jose
Join us to restore habitat in Cataldi Park, San Jose, and to prepare it for the 2026 Growing Natives Garden Tour. We are planting and maintaining native plants in a 1/2-acre area of the park off Bethany Ave. Activities include planting, pruning, sheet mulching, irrigation setup and general maintenance.
(e) Habitat Restoration at Cunningham Park
Saturday, Feb 28, 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Location: Native Garden Parking Lot, Lake Cunningham — 2305 S. White Road, San Jose
Join us to restore habitat in the Native Garden at Lake Cunningham Park. During the winter months, we plant, water, weed, and mulch. See the Meetup link for detailed information about the location.
[5] Other Chapters & Organizations
(a) The Amazing Nature of Animal Senses with Ed Yong - POST
Tuesday Mar 3, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: online (in person is sold out)
Join POST for a special evening with Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer Ed Yong, author of the New York Times bestseller An Immense World. In this captivating lecture, Ed explores the extraordinary sensory worlds of animals—from the echolocation of bats to the magnetic navigation of sea turtles—revealing the hidden dimensions of reality that surround us but remain beyond human perception.With wit, humor, and stunning visuals, Ed will share the amazing ways in which animals perceive aspects of the world that we are oblivious to, and how understanding these diverse sensory experiences can deepen our empathy for other creatures and transform our perspective on the natural world. Drawing from the latest scientific discoveries, Ed brings to life the fascinating biology of animal senses and what they reveal about perception and our shared planet.
(b) Georeferencing Museum Specimens: Beginner's Course
Thursday Feb 26, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: online
This free, beginner-friendly online workshop introduces georeferencing, the process of turning written place descriptions into map coordinates like latitude and longitude. Participants will learn how this skill helps scientists use museum specimens - many collected before GPS existed—to make maps and study biodiversity. The three-hour session includes an hour of easy-to-follow instruction and hands-on activities to practice what you learn. Activities will focus on plant specimens from California, and no prior experience with maps or California geography is required - just curiosity and an interest in helping science.
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