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- 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.
- 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.
- Beginners Walk to Franklin Point, part of Año Nuevo State Park, Hwy 1North Whitehouse Creek Trail, Pescadero, CA
Please join co-leaders Toni Gregorio-Bunch and Vicki Silvas-Young on a short beginners walk to botanize and picnic at Franklin Point, located in the northern part of the Ano Nuevo State Park on the San Mateo County coast. We will be exploring the surroundings as we walk to Franklin Point which is the most botanically interesting area of Ano Nuevo State Park. Some of the Coastal Prairie flora we expect to see includes Silver Bur Ragweed (Ambrosia chamissonis), California Goldenbush (Ericameria ericoides), Coastal Sagewort (Artemisia pycnocephala), and Argentina Anserina (Potentilla anserina). Expected Dune flora includes Yellow Sand Verbena (Abronia latifolia), Pink Sand Verbena (Abronia umbellata), and American Dunegrass (Eleymus mollis). In the Coastal Scrub community expected species are Bee Plant (Scrophularia californica), Coast Buckwheat (Eriogonum latifolium), maybe Sea Cliff Bluff Lettuce (Dudleya farinosa) and Fleshy Jaumea (Jaumea carnosa).
We will be walking on sand dunes for short stretches of this 3 mile hike. Bring your choice of optics and layers of clothing for variable coastal conditions including wind, sun, precipitation and fog.
For dining on the beach bring a lunch or snacks and water or something to drink.
Note that there are no bathrooms at Franklin Point, however flush toilets are located at the main parking lot of Ano Nuevo State Park, which will require payment to enter to use the facilities.
Directions from the South (Santa Cruz side)
Pass the main entrance to Año Nuevo State Park and continue on about 2.8 miles. You will pass Whitehouse Canyon Rd on your right. Immediately across from Rossi Rd, you will see a turnout for North Whitehouse Creek Trailhead on the left side of the road. You may park at the trailhead or along Hwy 1.Directions from the North (Half Moon Bay / Pescadero side)
Pass Gazos Creek State Beach on your right and continue about 1.5 miles. The road widens. Just before the road narrows again, you will see the turnout for North Whitehouse Creek Trailhead on the right side of the road. You may park at the trailhead or along Hwy 1.Before signing up, please read the Ano Nuevo State Park Welcome page at www.parks.ca.gov/?page_idd=523 Space is limited so please reserve your spot by going to our Chapter's Meetup page to sign up. https://www.meetup.com/California-Native-Plant-Society-Santa-Clara-Valley-Chapter/
For more information, please contact Toni at 408-373-4497 or Vicki at mrnngwrblr@gmail.com
