Life Among the Oaks
Please join us on Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 9:30 am - 4 pm for our 50th 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.
Our keynote speakers this year are John Muir Laws and Kate Marianchild.
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.
Talks
| Talk | Time | Presenter |
| SOD Blitz Kickoff | 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM | Douglas Schmidt, Ph.D. |
| 11:00 AM - 11:45 PM | John Muir Laws | |
| 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM | Jun Bando | |
| 1:00 PM –1:45 PM | Kate Marianchild |
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.
Workshops and Tours
| Event | Time |
| Wildflower arrangement | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM |
| Oak and Insect walk with interns Donovan Belardes & Eliott Brammer | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Native 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 |
| BioBlitz and Photography with Merav Vonshak and Michael Hawk | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Music
| Performer | Time |
| Bill Walker, Jazz Keyboardist | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Shop!
Nurseries
- CNPS SCV Nursery
- Grassroots Ecology (limited plant sale)
- Down by the Bay Nursery
Other Vendors
- CNPS SCV: Used and new books, t-shirts & posters
- Coyote Brush Studios
- CANativeSeeds (California Native Seeds)
- Emily Chin Pressed Flower Jewelry
- Poppy and Quail
- Simple Wealth - Jewelry from recycled copper pipe and broken brass drum cymbals
- Food is available from 9:00am - 1:00pm at the Saratoga Farmer's market
Information Tables
- Midpeninsula Open Space District
- SOD Blitz
- San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory
- Santa Clara County Parks
- Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
- Sequoia Audubon Society
- CNPS SCV Wildflower Ambassadors
- Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley
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.
