California Native Plant Society - Santa Clara Valley Chapter

 
 
 

TIME: 8am
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".

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 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.

 
 
 

Join us to schedule the next several months field trips plus any field trips we may want to have for the rest of the year.

All are welcome to join in the discussion. Registration is required to join zoom meeting.

 
 
 

TIME: 8am
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".

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 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.

 
 
 

THIS TALK IS IN-PERSON. IT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ONLINE. Los Altos Library Orchard Room, 13 S San Antonio Rd, Los Altos, CA

Let’s discuss how planting locally appropriate native plants can save water and provide abundant biological resources for the environment. We’ll cover key design elements and best practices for maximizing environmental resiliency. Most importantly, we’ll cover just how simple, accessible and fun it is to set nature in motion.

Juanita Salisbury is a landscape architect. She addresses all aspects of the landscape design: from grading and drainage issues, coordinating with engineers and architects, lighting design, and designing custom elements. Additionally, her native plant expertise allows her to design ecologically friendly, drought-tolerant plantings. Her native plant palettes create beautiful, productive and abundant habitats that enhance biodiversity.

Directions to the Los Altos Library: From Foothill Expy., travel 1⁄2 mile on San Antonio Rd. towards the Bay, cross Hillview and turn right into the driveway; library is on the left. From El Camino, travel towards the hills on San Antonio Rd., cross Edith and turn left into the unmarked driveway just before Hillview. The sign on San Antonio Rd. reads “Civic Center, Library and History Museum.” Enter through the lobby of the main entrance. The talk is in the Orchard Room.

 
 
 

TIME: 8am
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".

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 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.

 
 
 

Is your garden a ‘bar’ that only offers nectar to adult butterflies but no food for their offspring? Do the birds and bees visiting your garden have everything they need to raise the next generation? Learn how you can create a “Bee, Butterfly and Bird Restaurant” by growing the ‘keystone plants’ that feed your local ecosystem. In the process, you can:

• Attract more bees, butterflies and birds to your garden
• Boost your fruit and vegetable yields
• Help save local species that are in decline
• Engage with neighbors to build back habitat throughout your community

Join us for this lively discussion as we explore opportunities to boost biodiversity in our own gardens and simple ways we can educate and engage others.

Jennifer Dirking has been an organic gardener for over 40 years, but only recently transformed her garden from a food desert to a habitat oasis in her suburban San Carlos neighborhood. Inspired by Doug Tallamy’s book Nature’s Best Hope, she has reached beyond her garden fence to develop partnerships and inspire hundreds of others throughout the Bay Area to begin their own native gardening journey. Her simple tactics involving free wildflower seeds and promotion via social media provide a model for other individuals and organizations that want to reach further into their communities as well. Jennifer is our chapter's Wildflower Ambassador Program Chair.

This talk will be live streamed on Zoom (requires advance registration) and YouTube (registration NOT required).

 
 
 

The CNPS SCV Photo Group meets via zoom on 4th Fridays, 7-8:50pm. 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 at the link below for the next meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsc-iqqzMpGNzp2osMkgoP48j7WucbIPnS
(You may need to copy and paste this link.)

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with a zoom link for the meeting.

If you have pictures to share, sign up for a slot. Share your pictures, techniques, and ideas from your desktop via zoom. Slots are 20 minutes each; plan your photos and discussions accordingly. Presenters receive a 1-minute-remaining alert. Signup for a slot at the link below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f49a9a729aafd0-cnps18
(You may need to copy and paste this link.)

To participate in other Photography Group activities, join the email list:
http://www.cnps-scv.org/index.php/activities/photography-group
(You may need to copy and paste this link.)

 
 
 

TIME: 8am
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".

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 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.

 
 
 

Fountain Thistle Work Party (San Mateo)
Saturday, June 24, 10 am –12:00 pm

Join Don Thomas of the Santa Clara Valley Chapter and members of the Yerba Buena Chapter for our spring fountain thistle habitat restoration work party near the intersection of I-280 and Hwy. 92. Fountain thistle (Cirsium fontinale var. fontinale) is a federally endangered plant species that grows in an unusual specialized habitat, serpentine seeps, and is only found here and in few other nearby locations on the Peninsula. Its recovery here is a restoration success story. Once almost completely displaced by jubata grass, it has largely recovered here, as a result of the work done by CNPS volunteers in a cooperative project of the Santa Clara Valley and Yerba Buena Chapters. However, fountain thistle is still under threat from other non-native plants, such as yellow star-thistle, fennel and wallaby grass (Rhytidosperma caespitosum) and by woody plants trying to convert the area to shrubland or woodland. Also, another rare plant, Lessingia arachnoidea, which grows only here and in the nearby Crystal Springs Watershed, is threatened by invasion of yellow starthistle.

Sturdy gloves are recommended; you might also want to bring sunscreen, water, a hat, layered clothing and wear long sleeves/pants. Tools will be provided.

Directions: We meet at the end of Lessingia Court in San Mateo. If you can’t locate it, contact Don at [masked].

 
 
 

With the onset of Summer, join us for a beginner’s bird and plant identification walk through Lake Cunningham Park. This lake is a major destination for waterfowl and migratory birds and its native garden draws many birds due to its habitat value. On this walk, Vicki Silvas-Young will show you how to identify the common birds of our area, while Arvind Kumar will identify the native plants that they depend on for food and shelter.

The distance is 2 miles round-trip on a level path. Bring a hat, water, your bird and plant lists, and binoculars. Wear comfortable walking shoes.

Directions: Meet at the Marina parking lot at 9am. The Marina parking lot is on the western shore of the lake, next to Raging Waters, at the opposite side of the park from the main entrance on White Road. Parking fee is $6. In Google Maps, search for “Lake Cunningham Marina” [masked] [masked]) to be directed to the Marina.

RSVP is required to join us for the walk. Space is limited. No drop-ins please.

Cosponsored by CNPS, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, and Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority.