Brenda Butner Memorial Lecture: Wildflower Mimicry
a talk by Barnali Ghosh, Immigrant Artist and Landscape Architect

Beginning as a pandemic project, Berkeley-based designer Barnali Ghosh started taking photographs of herself dressed as California native flowers, centering the brown body and showcasing South Asian fabrics and dance forms. The images took the native plant world by storm. Ghosh will share her inspirational backstory of these viral images and how the project helped her find herself in the native plant community and beyond.

Barnali Ghosh is an immigrant artist, landscape architect, and co-founder of the award-winning Berkeley South Asian Radical History Walking Tour.  Her work attempts to bridge homes and homelands and create spaces for belonging.  She’s featured in an article in the Summer 2021 issue of Flora.  You can find more about Barnali on Instagram at @berkeleywali and www.barnalighosh.art.

Potluck Logistics!

The evening begins at 6pm with our annual potluck. Bring your favorite dish, whether it be a salad, main dish, dessert or beverage; it always works out that we have just the right amount of everything! A label identifying your dish will be helpful. Be sure to bring a plate, drinking glass, and eating utensils for yourself, as well as a bag in which to take home unwashed dishes.

If you can help with setup, please arrive at 5pm to set up chairs and tables. The potluck feast will begin at 6pm, followed by the program at 7pm. We appreciate your help with cleanup at the end of the program.

We will have a selection of used books for sale which have been donated by our long-time Chapter members. We will also have a silent auction of high-quality books and other items which will help raise funds for the Chapter. If you have books or other items to donate, please contact Judy Fenerty at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before Wednesday, November 1 to arrange pickup/dropoff..

CNPS general meetings are free and open to the public. For more information, contact us at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or the Chapter phone at (650) 260-3450.

Directions: From I-280: take the El Monte exit east. Turn left (north) on University Ave., just before Foothill Expy. The Garden House is 0.6 mile ahead on the left (west) side of the street. From Hwy. 101: take the San Antonio exit west/south. Go 3.5 miles. At the 3rd stoplight after crossing El Camino Real (Edith/Main), bear right on to Main St. (not sharp right into Edith). Continue on Main until it crosses Foothill Expy. and turn left immediately onto University Ave. Bear right; the Garden House is 300 feet ahead on the right.