Every three years, the California Nat
ive Plant Society (CNPS) organizes the largest native plant conference in C
alifornia, uniting the native plant community along with the vario
us disciplines and perspectives that shape it. The sessions encompass a wid
e range of subjects, while special events allow for collaboration, networki
ng, and a celebration of California's wonderfully diverse flora. Historical
ly, the conference has attracted over 1,000 participants, including both pr
ofessional and amateur botanists, biologists, ecologists, conservationists,
architects, landscaping experts, nursery managers, educators, researchers,
outdoor enthusiasts, culture keepers, and many others. This year the
conference will be held at the Riverside Convention Center, f
rom February 5-7, 2026. For further details about the confer
ence, visit:https://conference.cnps.org/
The Santa C
lara Valley Chapter of CNPS is providing several scholarships for eligible
local students to attend the conference. These sc
holarships will cover the registration fee and offer a travel and lodging s
tipend of $750. However, the scholarships do not
include costs for field trips and workshops that occur outside the main co
nference. The scholarships are available to college students who are attend
ing a college in our chapter area (Santa Clara County and southern San Mate
o County). Preference will be given to those students who are presenting a
poster or giving a talk at the conference. The application can be fou
nd at:https://forms.gle/Fj3wqak8XuH7qPTP8. The