What we’re about
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 (4+)
See all- Native Plant ID - SalviasPeninsula Conservation Center, Palo Alto, CA
This session will focus on Salvias. If you have any Salvia samples, please bring them to the meeting.
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
Location: Raptor Suite, Peninsula Conservation Center (PCC), 3921 E. Bayshore Road in Palo Alto. For more information please contact Janet Hoffmann at janet@cnps-scv.org.
Directions to the PCC: From Hwy. 101 take the San Antonio Rd. exit and head north. Take the next left onto East Bayshore, which will curve left then right. Take the next right onto Corporation Way. The entrance to the PCC parking lot is the first driveway on the left. The conference rooms are on the first floor.
- Habitat Restoration at Lake CunninghamLake Cunningham Native Garden, San Jose, CA
TIME: 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 weed, mulch, and plant.
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.
- Community Work Day at the Native Plant Garden in Kirk ParkBriarwood Drive & Wawona Drive, San Jose, CA
TIME: 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.
- Habitat Restoration at Cataldi Park1797 Bethany Ave, San Jose, CA
Join us to restore habitat in Cataldi Park, San Jose. We are planting and maintaining native plants in a section of the park off Bethany Ave.
We planted more than 100 native plants this winter. Activities in the spring will include weeding, sheet mulching to control weeds, watering, irrigation set up and general maintenance.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.
