About us
This group is for anyone interested in California native plants. We have activities for everyone -- whether you enjoy hiking, gardening, photography or in other ways learning about California native plants, this is the group for you. We have volunteer and restoration projects opportunities in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Please join us!
The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of California's native plants and how to conserve them and their natural habitats through education, science, advocacy, horticulture, and land stewardship. The Santa Clara Valley Chapter of CNPS covers Santa Clara County and southern San Mateo County. For more information about our organization visit www.cnps-scv.org. If you're not a current member of the California Native Plant Society, please consider joining: https://www.cnps.org/membership
Upcoming events
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CANCELLED - Wildflower Hike at Pinnacles National Park (Paicines)
Bear Gulch Day Use Area, Paicines, CA, USCANCELLED DUE TO PARKING SITUATION
Per the park rangers, the parking lots are filling up at 8 am due to spring break.
Pinnacles National Park protects beautiful rock formations, cliffs and canyons, and hosts a profusion of wildflowers. Join Nabeel Al-Shamma on a wildflower hike. We hope to see shooting stars, phacelia, goldfields, paintbrush, golden yarrow, cobwebby thistle, dudleya, buckbrush and maybe even blazing star.
We'll head out from the Bear Gulch Day Use Area and go up the High Peaks Trail. We'll take our time going up the steep part. At the top we'll have lunch and enjoy the views. Afterwards we'll return back to the start.
This is a long and strenuous day. The hike will be 4 miles but with 1500 ft of elevation change. Plus, it can take a good two hours or more to drive there.
Wear sturdy shoes or hiking boots. Hiking poles are recommended. Bring snacks, a sack lunch, and liquids for the day. Dress in layers. Consider binoculars for condor sightings. Heavy rain cancels.
There may be an optional non-CNPS hike afterwards that will be focused on adding a few miles vs observing.
Directions: Meet at the Bear Gulch Parking Area on the east side of the Park. If the lot is full, we'll park at the Peaks View Parking Area. Note that phones will not work at the trailhead. Please carpool, parking is tight.
National Park Entrance Fee: $30/car (or bring your pass if you have one).
CNPS Members only. RSVP is required. For more information contact Nabeel Al-Shamma at nabeel4cnps@gmail.com.
1 attendee
Habitat Restoration at Lake Cunningham
Lake Cunningham Native Garden, 2305 S White Road, San Jose, CA, USTIME: 8-10 am
VENUE: Native Garden Parking LotJoin us to restore habitat (weeding and mulching) in the Native Garden at Lake Cunningham Park, San Jose. During the winter months, we plant, water, weed, and mulch.
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.
1 attendee
Community Work Day at the Native Plant Garden in Kirk Park
Briarwood Drive & Wawona Drive, San Jose, CA, USTIME: 9am
VENUE: Kirk Park Native GardenVolunteers meet at the garden on Saturdays from 9 AM to 11 AM, weather permitting, for weeding, watering and other maintenance activities. Occasionally there will be other tasks such as mulching and planting. Community volunteers, including families with children over 6, are always welcome! First-time volunteers will need to fill out a form from the City of San Jose available at https://lakecunninghamnativegarden.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/2021-volunteer-service-agreement-adoptapark-version.pdf
Wear a hat, gloves, and sturdy garden shoes. Bring plenty of fluids and hydrate often.
Address: Briarwood Drive at Wawona Drive, San Jose (click the address to show it on a map).
Directions: From Meridian Avenue, go east on Foxworthy Avenue. Turn left on Briarwood Drive and go about a block. The park is on your left. Park along Briarwood Drive. The garden is along the cement walkway that parallels the north edge of the park.
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.
1 attendee
Habitat Restoration at Cataldi Park
1797 Bethany Ave, San Jose, CA, USJoin 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
Wear a hat and garden shoes and bring plenty of water to stay hydrated. Work gloves will be provided.
First-timers: Please 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.
1 attendee
Past events
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