CNPS Panamint Daisy Logo
California Native Plant Society

Santa Clara Valley Chapter

Wildflower Show

Save the date! Our next Wildflower Show will be on April 27, 2024 at West Valley College.

Native garden display


Here's what we did in 2023:

Please join us on Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 10 am - 4 pm for our 47th Wildflower Show at West Valley College. This family-friendly event features hundreds of native wildflowers and plants on display as well as a variety of activities for all ages. The event and parking are all free to the public.

Wildflower Display

The show will feature hundreds of species of wildflowers and native plants from Santa Clara, San Mateo and surrounding counties gathered and identified by our volunteer collectors. In addition to local plants, we will have a section featuring flowers from native plant gardens in our Chapter. 

The theme of our 2023 show is Climate Change - What can I do? 

rooftop MEH

Our keynote speaker this year is Bay Area author Mary Ellen Hannibal, who will talk about the "Big, Little World" of citizen science.  Her talk combines deep personal notes with simple explanations for what you can do to make a difference. She is the author of Citizen Scientist: Searching for Heroes and Hope in an Age of Extinction. 

A selection of native plants and native plant art, t-shirts, books and other related goods will be available for purchase. A SOD (Sudden Oak Death) Blitz Station will be available at the show for people who would like to participate in the 2023 SOD Blitz. More information is available at sodblitz.org

Talks

Talk Time Presenter
SOD Blitz Kickoff 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM Matteo Garbelotto Ph.D., Director U.C. Berkeley Forest Pathology and Mycology Laboratory; Douglas Schmidt, Ph.D.
Discover, Identify, Connect: Technology Tools for Community Science 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM Michael Hawk, host of Nature's Archive podcast and Jumpstart Nature; Dr. Merav Vonshak founder of BioBlitz Club
Rainwater Harvest and Grey Water: Rain barrels, Swales, Grey Water and More 12:30 PM - 1:15 PM Alan Hackler, Bay Maples Wild California Gardens
"Big, Little World" of Citizen Science 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM Mary Ellen Hannibal, author of Citizen Scientist: Searching for Heroes and Hope in an Age of Extinction.
Butterflies and Moths, What Can I do? Building Habitat in your Garden 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM Susan Karsoff, Outreach Chair, Yerba Buena Chapter of CNPS

Workshops and ToursMerav oak tree

Event Time
Wildflower arrangement with Madeline Morrow 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Pruning demonstration with Patricia Evans 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Moon Garden tour with Leticia Gallardo and Molly Schrey 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Vasona Creek tour with Scott Ludwig 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Macrophotography with Steve Rosenthal 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
BioBlitz with Michael Hawk and Merav Vonshak 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Music

Performer Time
Against the Grain 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
West Valley Jazz Ensemble 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Shop!

Information Tables

Volunteer!

The show depends on volunteers - please consider helping if you have time. It's a great way to meet new people while learning more about the plants. Sign up here.

The West Valley College campus is located at 14000 Fruitvale Avenue in Saratoga. The show will be located in the Biology wing of the Science and Math buildings, which parallels Allendale Avenue. Free parking in lots 2 and 3 during the event. 

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