Upcoming CNPS SCV Events and Activities - August 8, 2023

[CNPS-SCV News]

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

[1] Habitat Restoration at Lake Cunningham
Saturday, August 12, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
https://www.meetup.com/california-native-plant-society-santa-clara-valley-chapter/events/294988041/

VENUE: Native Garden Parking Lot

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.

[2] Year-Round Color with Native Plants, a talk by Madeline Morrow
Tuesday, August 29, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
(link coming soon)
Location: Los Altos Library Orchard Room, 13 S San Antonio Rd, Los Altos

THIS TALK IS IN-PERSON. IT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ONLINE.

Enhancing biodiversity can be beautiful. Learn how to select and group plants with varying bloom times so your garden is never without color. See how to choose different plant forms and include beautiful bark, berry, and seed producing species for maximum interest all year long. You'll enjoy your garden in every season and so will the bees, butterflies and other insects, lizards, and birds!

Madeline Morrow is a past President for the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of California Native Plant Society, and a current board member. A former computer programmer, she now volunteers in her community and works extensively on her native garden.

[3] Greeters needed for the talk at Los Altos Library
Tuesday, August 29, 6:30 PM - 8:45 PM
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f49a9a729aafd0-draft#/
Location: Los Altos Library Orchard Room, 13 S San Antonio Rd, Los Altos

Madeline Morrow will be speaking at the Los Altos library on "Year-Round Color with Native Plants". We need two greeters for this event. 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.

Here are some events from other chapters and organizations:

[4] Habitat Restoration: Yellow star thistle Removal - by Midpen
Thursday, August 10, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
https://volunteer.openspace.org/need/detail/?need_id=822269
Location: Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve

Join Midpen staff for a fun workday removing invasive Yellowstar Thistle at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve. Staff will provide training on plant identification, removal techniques, and information about why we want to remove this plant from our local landscape. This project is an excellent opportunity for first-time volunteers!

[5] Volunteer Land Stewards Dittricha-struction! - by Open Space Authority
Saturday, August 12, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/volunteer-land-stewards-dittricha-struction-tickets-672716191237

Join us in-person to pull dittrichia (aka stinkwort) from the Spreckels Hill wetland. Stinkwort is an invasive plant that replaces habitat for native plants with monocultures, degrades habitat for native insects and animals, and is toxic to grazers. Removing stinkwort will help restore this landscape and prevent its spread along the interior of this important wildlife habitat.

[6] Habitat Restoration: Yellow star thistle Removal - by Midpen
Saturday, August 12, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
https://volunteer.openspace.org/need/detail/?need_id=822269
Location: El Sereno Open Space Preserve - Overlook Trail

Join Midpen staff for a fun workday of removing invasive yellow star thistle on the Overlook trail in El Sereno Open Space Preserve. Staff will provide training on plant identification, removal techniques, and education about why we want to remove this species from our local landscape. This project is an excellent opportunity for first-time volunteers!

[7] Habitat Restoration: Thistle and Teasel Removal - by Midpen
Saturday, August 12, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
https://volunteer.openspace.org/need/detail/?need_id=822274
Location: SR Tree Farm

Join Midpen staff for a fun workday removing invasive thistles and teasel at the former Christmas tree farm in Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve. Staff will provide training on plant identification, removal techniques, and information about why we want to remove these plants from our local landscape. This project is an excellent opportunity for first-time volunteers!

[8] Plop Plop, Fizz Fizz, Oh, what a Cleanup it is! - by Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful
Sunday, August 13, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/plop-plop-fizz-fizz-oh-what-a-cleanup-it-is-registration-677926375037
Location: Tully Ballfields, 880 Tully Rd, San Jose

Spend a few hours to help Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful work together for a healthy creek while we beautify the Coyote Creek trail and the creek through a community cleanup. Come celebrate the Earth by improving the environment and enjoying nature!

Each group of 25 people will be directed to different areas of the park to maintain the safety of all volunteers.

[9] Native Plants of the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex and Wildlife Benefits Webinar
Monday, August 14, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
https://www.cnps.org/event/native-plants-of-the-san-luis-national-wildlife-refuge-complex-and-wildlife-benefits

Join us to learn about native plants of the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge and their benefits to wildlife!

San Luis National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) encompasses over 26,800 acres of wetlands, riparian woodlands, native grasslands, and vernal pools. Located in California's San Joaquin Valley, the refuge is a major wintering ground and migratory stopover point for large concentrations of waterfowl, shorebirds, and other waterbirds.

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, Instagram, and Twitter.