Save the date! Our next Wildflower Show will be on April 27, 2024 at West Valley College.
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.
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?
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 Tours
| 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!
- CNPS SCV: Used and new books, t-shirts & posters
- CNPS SCV Nursery
- Coyote Brush Studios
- CANativeSeeds (California Native Seeds)
- Emily Chin Pressed Flower Jewelry and more
- Grassroots Ecology Nursery
- Simple Wealth - Jewelry from recycled copper pipe and broken brass drum cymbals
Information Tables
- Bryophyte Chapter, California Native Plant Society
- Canopy
- Friends of Edgewood - Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve
- Growing Natives Garden Tour
- Midpeninsula Open Space District
- Open Space Authority
- SOD Blitz
- San Jose State & Sharsmith Herbarium
- Santa Clara County Parks
- Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
- Sequoia Audubon Society
- CNPS SCV Wildflower Ambassadors
- Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley
- Yerba Buena Chapter, California Native Plant Society
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.
