Wildflower Show

The California Native Plant Society- Santa Clara Valley Chapter will showcase the plant biodiversity of Santa Clara, San Mateo, and surrounding counties. The free event will feature a variety of native wildflowers and plant exhibits, lectures, workshops and tours. This year’s show will feature a “Life Among the Oaks” theme. The lecture series and workshops will offer the opportunity to learn about the biodiversity supported by local native oak trees through lectures and workshops focused on the life supported by oak trees, nature journaling, conservation and advocacy, how to document wildlife through photography and local community science projects. Expert botanists, gardeners, biologists, and students will be on site to interact with the public and answer questions. A selection of native plants, native plant art, books, jewelry and other related goods will be available for purchase.

Two keynote speakers will celebrate the CNPS-SCV chapter’s 50^th wildflower show this year. Local Naturalist John Muir Laws will lead a nature journaling workshop showcasing Oak Woodlands. Kate Marianchild, author of Secrets of the Oak Woodland: Plants and Animals Among California Oaks, will present a talk “From Butterflies to Bears: Oaks as Nature’s Most Generous Trees” that will showcase the diversity of relationships found in oak woodlands. The event will also host Jun Bando, executive director of the California Native Plant Society who will discuss the society’s state level advocacy with her talk, “Protecting Native Plants and Nature: Building Common Ground.” 

The event will also showcase two Bioblitzes – community events designed to engage the public in citizen science by documenting biodiversity. Participants will have the opportunity to discover the surprising plants and animals that make West Valley College campus their home! Join Dr. Merav Vonshak, founder of BioBlitz.club, and Michael Hawk, founder of Nature’s Archive for a short BioBlitz where you will learn how to photograph nature observations and how to use iNaturalist to track, identify, and learn more about what you saw - all while contributing to community science! A Sudden Oak Death (SOD) Blitz launch and SOD packet station will also be available for people who would like to participate in the 2024 SOD Blitz.

Participants will also be able to take tours of the Vasona Creek Restoration Project and the native plant gardens. The Vasona Creek tour will showcase the native plants and landscapes and the restoration project of Vasona Creek, which runs through the middle of campus. The WVC Biology Department, co-host of the event, will lead a tour of the native gardens used as outdoor classrooms, showcasing habitat gardening and featuring student intern projects and student interns Donovan Belardes and Eliott Brammer will guide an “Oaks and Insect” walk on campus.

Music at the event will be provided by Bill Walker of Friday Jazz Happy Hour. Children’s activities include a scavenger hunt.

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 lot 2 during the event. See campus map. The event and parking are free to the public.