CNPS OC News for January 2012

If you don’t wish to receive emails from us, please see “unsubscribe” information at bottom.

In this email:

1. CNPS Conservation Conference – PUBLIC DAY, this Saturday, FREE events
2. General Meeting, Thursday, January 19, Peter Bowler
3. Field Trip Schedule for 2012

1. CNPS Conservation Conference – PUBLIC DAY – **This Upcoming Saturday**

FREE Events – Saturday, January 14, 8am – 3pm, Town and Country Resort Hotel, San Diego (parking fee applies, see below)

The free public day events have been announced, and it has turned into a can’t miss event!  If your schedule is free or can be made free, you need to go to San Diego this Saturday!

Students, CNPS members, all interested in California native plants or the environment will find something of interest at the CNPS Conservation Conference. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of this fantastic conference with exhibitors, posters and speakers galore. The conference happens only once every three years and this time we are lucky to have it nearby!

Four sessions of the scientific conference will be open to the public for no charge from 8am to 11:40am: 1.Tribal Conservation and Traditional Use of Native Plants, 2.Horticulture: Part of Conservation is Growing, 3.The Vital Role of Education in the future of Conservation, 4. Student Session: thirteen 20-minute talks by university students.

Five concurrent tracks special to the public from 10am to 3pm with many outstanding speakers and topics: 1.Native Plant Gardening, including speaker Mike Evans, 2.Nature and Children, including speaker John Muir Laws, 3.Children’s Gardens, 4.Native Peoples, 5.Local Projects and Topics.

Detailed schedule and further details of Free Events.  (make sure to scroll down below the chart, too!)

Directions to Town and Country Resort Hotel, 500 HOTEL CIRCLE NORTH, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92108

Interstate 5 North or South: Exit onto Interstate 8 East (El Centro) and exit 2nd Hotel Circle exit, turn left continuing under the overpass.

The Conference Center location is on the far east end of the resort…close to the Union Tribune building, so look for parking in that area.  Register (for free) at the CNPS Registration table, and obtain your CNPS name badge.  Parking charge is discounted to $5.00 with a CNPS name badge ($14.00 without).

2. General Meeting, Thursday, January 19, 2012

…at the Duck Club, Riparian View Way, Irvine  (Directions here).  Doors open at 6:45, Main Program at 7:30 pm. (Help with setup is welcome at 6:30.  Also, feel free to bring a snack for the hospitality table at 6:30)

Speaker: Dr. Peter Bowler, UCI Campus and Marsh restoration

Restoration of degraded lands back to a landscape capable of sustaining the plants and animals that form a balance is a fascinating topic, even more so when one person has been involved in these challenging projects from start to finish. Join us as Dr. Peter Bowler from UC Irvine gives a virtual tour of many of the University’s restoration efforts and mitigation projects. Whether on Campus or on the adjacent UC Natural Reserve System’s San Joaquin Marsh Reserve there have been many accomplishments dating from the early 1990’s, and several current projects continue.

Please click here for more pictures and details of Dr. Bowler’s talk.

Dr. Peter Bowler is a faculty member in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and he is the Director of UCI’s Arboretum and the Faculty Manager of the UC Natural Reserve System’s San Joaquin Marsh Reserve. He has conducted research and implemented restoration efforts at UCI for over two decades and teaches Restoration Ecology, Limnology and Freshwater Biology, Mediterranean Ecosystems, Horticulture, and Field Freshwater Ecology, among other courses.  In his over 33 years at UCI, he has overseen the creation of 55 acres of wetland, six vernal pools, and over a dozen acres of coastal sage scrub habitat on the campus. (Editor’s note: WOW!)

3. Field Trip Schedule for 2012

Our new board member and field trip chair, Ron Vanderhoff, has put together an outstanding schedule of field trips for 2012.  Check out the details here – and make sure you save the dates on your calendar.  Our first field trip of the year will be on Sunday, February 26th, at the UCI Ecological Preserve.

UNSUBSCRIBE INFO: You are receiving this email because you signed up at an event, or through membership. To unsubscribe, please reply to this email, and type “Unsubscribe” in the subject line or body of your message.  For further information contact: California Native Plant Society – Orange County Chapter, P.O. Box 54891, Irvine, CA 92619-4891

Native Plant Chapter meeting – It’s Your Turn! December 15

If you don’t wish to receive emails from us, please see “unsubscribe” information at bottom.

In this email:

1. General Meeting, Thursday, December 15 – It’s Your Turn +
2. ByLaws and Chapter Elections
3. CNPS Conservation Conference, January 10-14, 2012
   
4. Give the Gift of CNPS membership
   

1. General Meeting, Thursday, December 15 – It’s Your Turn +

…at the Duck Club, Riparian View Way, Irvine  (Directions here).  Doors open at 6:45, Main Program at 7:30 pm

OC Natives: Common sandaster (Corethrogyne filiginifolia) and Skipper Butterfly

Please join us for a light-hearted and relaxing evening.  The board members will provide a festive spread on the hospitality table. If you have a special holiday recipe you would like to share, feel free to bring it along.

To open our program, Thea Gavin will present “The Brilliant North Rim: Poems and Images from a Barefoot Artist-in Residence.” Thea was selected as an Artist-in-Residence at Grand Canyon’s North Rim by the National Park Service and spent three weeks there in June. Not just a poetry reading or slide show, “The Brilliant North Rim” combines spoken word, written word, and photos in a vivid, accessible, and sometimes funny presentation of what Thea found compelling during her miles of wandering North Rim and Inner Canyon trails—barefoot.

After Thea’s presentation, everyone is invited to share some favorite photos of native plants, wildlife, habitats, or gardens—local, California, or anywhere in the world. As a reminder, each presenter will be limited to 5 minutes to make sure that everyone gets a turn.

Please click HERE on our chapter website for more information on Thea Gavin and on the format for your photo submissions.  We really hope you will participate!

2. ByLaws and Chapter Elections

Our chapter bylaws currently provide for a total of 7 to 9 board members. At the December meeting, we will vote on a minor change to the bylaws to allow a total of 7 to 12 board members.

AND… we will have elections for the upcoming year. The chapter board has approved the following nominees for election:

Board Member, 2012 term:  Cathie Field and Mike Field

Board Member, 2012-13 term: Ron Vanderhoff, Rob Moore, Sarah Jayne, Dan Songster and Rich Schilk

More on our new and continuing board members HERE at our website.

3. CNPS Conservation Conference in San Diego, January 10-14, 2012

This time next month, the Conservation Conference will be in full swing! Visit cnps.org for a full schedule of events, workshops, banquets and more!

There is still time to register, and if you can’t attend the entire conference, Save the Date for the Public Engagement Day free events on Saturday, January 14th.  Details will be forthcoming.

4. CNPS Membership is a great gift!

We are heading to the holiday season, and why not consider the gift of membership in CNPS?  It’s easy to visit here, fill out the information and click on the box at the bottom – “I wish to give a gift of membership”.

Please remember the society in your year end donation plans, too!

UNSUBSCRIBE INFO: You are receiving this email because you signed up at an event, or through membership. To unsubscribe, please reply to this email, and type “Unsubscribe” in the subject line or body of your message.  For further information contact: California Native Plant Society – Orange County Chapter, P.O. Box 54891, Irvine, CA 92619-4891

Native Plant Society – Fall season begins!

If you don’t wish to receive emails from us, please see “unsubscribe” information at bottom.

In this email:

1. General Meeting, Thursday, September 15, 2011 – Lili Singer speaks!
2. Plant Sale at Tree of Life Nursery – October 8, 2011
3. CNPS Conservation Conference

1. General Meeting, Thursday, September 15 –

Speaker: Lili Singer …  Natives that will work in your garden!

Chinese houses

…at the Duck Club, Riparian View Way, Irvine  (Directions here).  Doors open at 6:45, Main Program at 7:30 pm.

We all know about the good things that come with planting natives: Great colors and fragrances, wonderful habitat value, lower water bills, and a sense of place with seasons related to our southern California region. There is not any better time to plant natives than in the months coming up. Buy the plants that will work in your landscape at our chapter plant sale at Tree of Life Nursery on October 8.

Of course, when deciding which plants to get for our gardens there are always practical questions that come to mind. What plants are the best for the specific situations I have in MY garden? More about the talk here on our website.

Lili Singer is a horticulturist, educator and garden writer, and Director of Special Projects and Adult Education for the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers & Native Plants in Sun Valley, CA.

We hope to see you there this Thursday night.

2. Native Plant Sale at Tree of Life Nursery – October 8, 2011

Fall Planting Season is here!  Please plan to join us at the plant sale, from 9am-4pm.  This year we’re featuring special member benefits – 10% off on all plant purchases, and a free plant to all members.  Join or renew onsite!

Whether you are a member or not, you can take advantage of the informational talks planned throughout the day. Here’s the schedule:

10 am – Plants for Slopes and How to Plant Them (Dan Songster)

11 am – Green and Lush Plantings for Low Water (Brad Jenkins)

12 pm – Plants for Hummingbird Gardens (Rama Nayeri)

1 pm – Plants for Butterfly Gardens (Bob Allen)

2 pm – Accent Plants that say “California” (Rob Moore)

Volunteers are needed.  Please contact Diane Wollenberg or Jennifer Mabley if you can spare the morning or afternoon to help out. Volunteers receive a free 1-gallon plant. Jobs will be available for those with native plant knowledge to share, and for those without!

We have a flyer to advertise the plant sale.  Print it out and post it at will!!  Invite your friends!  High-res version.  Low-res version.

3. CNPS Conservation Conference-January 2012

Time to start making your plans for attending this great conference, which is scheduled for January 10-14, 2012 right in our backyard, at the Town and Country Resort and Conference Center in San Diego.  Early registration is now open.

Sponsors are still being sought.  If you or your company would benefit or if you just want to help the cause of native plants, here is the explanation of all the details and benefits.  Thank you to our sponsors so far.

The Orange County chapter is sponsoring student attendance at the conference.  We would love to see students from Orange County in attendance!  Students, please check out the opportunities on this link.

UNSUBSCRIBE INFO: You are receiving this email because you signed up at an event, or through membership. To unsubscribe, please reply to this email, and type “Unsubscribe” in the subject line or body of your message.  For further information contact: California Native Plant Society – Orange County Chapter, P.O. Box 54891, Irvine, CA 92619-4891

Fascinating Galls – CNPS OC talk this Thursday

General Meeting – California Native Plant Galls

Speaker: Dr. Peter Bryant

Please join us this Thursday night, February 17, 2011 at the Duck Club, Riparian View Way, Irvine  (NEW Directions here).  If you can help with setup of hospitality or with a contribution of food, please contact Sarah Jayne at sbjayne@cox.net. Also, help with setup of tables and chairs is welcomed starting at 6:15 pm.:

• 6:45 PM –  Doors Open for Food, Fellowship
• 7:00 PM – Interest Centers (including expanded plant sales with wildflowers and more)
• 7:30 PM- Main Program:  California Native Plant Galls with speaker Dr. Peter Bryant

Galls can be easy to overlook, but these plant growths are an important and surprisingly common feature of the natural world. And what a fascinating subject for native plant lovers and entomologists alike.

In a recent issue of Natural History magazine, Ron Russo marveled at the diversity of the growths, called galls, which are induced on various plants by insects and sometimes by other organisms. In our area, galls can be found on Scrub Oak, Live Oak, Willow, Coyote Bush, and White and Black Sage. After a female of the inducing species deposits an egg on the host plant, as an apparent defensive reaction the plant responds by encapsulating the egg or larva in a tumor-like growth called a gall. In the process the plant produces a nutritious environment that supports growth of the inducer larva. But that is only the beginning of the story. A miniature ecosystem often develops inside the gall as the gall itself is invaded by parasitoids (insects that kill and feed on the inducer) and inquilines (insects that feed on the gall tissue without attacking the inducer).

What this means is that if you get curious about galls and keep them in containers, what eventually emerges can be the inducer species, and/or one or a collection of parasitoids and inquilines. Amazing!

Dr. Bryant has some great photos and information to share with us, you won’t want to miss these and more:

Galls from Crystalline Gall Wasp

Disholcaspis female emerging from beaked twig gall

Spiny Gall

SAVE THE DATE: Next OC-CNPS General Meeting March 17, 2011 — Book signing and talk: “Wild and Beautiful: A Natural History of the Open Spaces in Orange County” by Dr Allan A. Schoenherr  (Laguna Wilderness Press)

UNSUBSCRIBE INFO: You are receiving this email because you signed up at an event, or through membership. To unsubscribe, please reply to this email, and type “Unsubscribe” in the subject line or body of your message.  For further information contact: California Native Plant Society – Orange County Chapter, P.O. Box 54891, Irvine, CA 92619-4891

CNPS Orange County News – November 2010

In this eNews:

1. General Meeting, Flora of Bahia de San Quintin, Speaker: Sula Vanderplank, Thursday, November 18, 2010
2. California Native Plant Week, April 17-23, 2011
3. Flutterby Mason Park, November 20, 2010, 10am-2pm

1. General Meeting: “Flora of Bahia de San Quintín ” with Sula Vanderplank

Please join us on Thursday, November 18, 2010 at the Duck Club, Riparian View Way, Irvine. The New Route should be opened, but have the Old Route directions handy just in case.  Both New and Old directions can be found here.

• 6:45 pm – Doors Open, Hospitality
• 7:00 pm – Interest Centers: Research, Grow, Explore and Protect OC.
• 7:30 pm – Main Program – Flora of Bahia de San Quintín

Hospitality and Setup: Please contact Sarah Jayne at sbjayne@cox.net if you can help with a beverage or a snack item, and bring it to the Duck Club at 6:30.  If you would like to get your exercise moving a few tables and chairs, we would welcome help with room setup starting at 6:15 pm.

Interest Centers: Plant identification is just the beginning as we share four informational tables: Research OC (Plant Science, Education and Rare Plants), Grow OC (Native Gardening & Horticulture), Protect OC (Conservation) and Explore OC (Field Trips, Outdoor Activities & Fun).  We welcome your interaction with our expert volunteers as we explore together the different aspects of California Native Plants.

Main Program – Flora of Bahia de San Quintín with Sula Vanderplank:

Photos courtesy of Sula Vanderplank

Join us on a trip to explore the flora of Baja California’s Bahia de San Quintín region. This diverse and relatively unspoiled area of the Pacific Coast south of Ensenada, includes one of the most pristine wetland environments in the world, and eleven volcanic systems with elevations up to 260 m. San Quintín itself is one of a series of rapidly expanding agricultural towns along the carreterra intrapeninsular in northwestern Baja California, currently home to an estimated 50,000 people. Due in part to changing land use patterns in a rapidly developing coastal zone, this region is in need of conservation tools to drive and inform conservation efforts.

In order to provide such a tool for conservation and stewardship efforts in this region, a floristic inventory of the area has been initiated. Sula is involved with this project, which aims to produce a vouchered checklist of the area. Preliminary results of the ‘Conservation Area Plan for San Quintín’ (data unpublished) from The Nature Conservancy, Baja California, have identified seven distinct habitats in need of conservation, four of which are terrestrial: Salt Marshes; Dunes and Beaches; Rivers and Riparian areas; and Coastal Rosette Matorral.

Sula Vanderplank is a doctoral student at UC Riverside studying with Dr. Exequiel Ezcurra, Director of UC MEXUS and professor of Plant Ecology. Her PhD research will focus on phytogeography in Baja California, particularly in the northwest. She is currently working part–‐time at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden where she was previously the Herbarium Administrative Curator. She recently graduated with a Master’s degree in Botany from Claremont Graduate University, her thesis being the flora of San Quintin including research on San Martín Island (more information on this study can be accessed at: http://www.rsabg.org/english–‐version/san–‐martin–‐island).

2. California Native Plant Week, April 17-23, 2011

The California State Assembly and Senate have approved Resolution ACR 173 (Evans) establishing California Native Plant Week, beginning April 17-23, 2011. This measure proclaims the 3rd week of April, each year, as California Native Plant Week and encourages community groups, schools, and citizens to undertake appropriate activities to promote the conservation, restoration, and appreciation of California’s native plants.  More information about this resolution here.

Dichelostemma capitatum . . . how about a "Pick a common name" contest?

April is an ideal time to celebrate native plants, and the Orange County chapter is looking for ideas and participation from you, our members and friends.  We have a great opportunity to promote native plants, and statewide activities will be planned and coordinated and publicized.  What activities will already be occurring that week in Orange County that celebrate our native habitats?  Can you or your organization plan a talk, a hike, a garden party, or any activity, that will help spread the word to the general public?

We would like to see multiple activities happening all over the county throughout the week.  Everyone can help!  Nancy Heuler will be collecting suggestions and info, so that we can gather them together and publicize them on our website and to the press.  Let’s get creative!  Please contact Nancy at nheuler@cox.net, and let her know of your interests and your thoughts.

3. Flutterby Mason Park, November 20, 10am-2pm

Mason Regional Park is celebrating the completion of its “open-air” butterfly habitat.  Our chapter will be there to sell native plants attractive to butterflies, and to interact with the public.  More information, directions, etc. Bring your family and friends to the festivities.

Can you help man our booth for an hour or two, to sell plants, help children play ball-toss, or just talk native plant talk?  If you live in Irvine this is just in your neighborhood.  Drop by the booth and we will put you to work!  Contact Jennifer Mabley at jenpod@gmail.com if you have questions.

CNPS Orange County News – April 2010

In this eNews:

1. General Meeting, WILDFLOWERS, Thursday, April 15, 2010
2. Outreach!  Green Scene April 17-18, SC Plaza April 22-25
3. Garden Tour, May 8, 2010
4. Chapter Celebration – Auction and Raffle, June 17, 2010

1.  General Meeting –

Celebrate tax day the right way and join us this Thursday night, April 15, 2010 at the Duck Club, Riparian View Way, Irvine  (see http://occnps.org/ for directions):

• 6:45 PM doors open, hospitality
• 7:00 PM Plant ID Table – Wildflowers!  Bring your spring flower samples or pictures for ID help or to share at the table.  (As you all know, please do not remove wildflowers from protected wild areas without permission.)
• 7:30 PM Main Program: Wildflower Hotspots of Orange County, Bob Allen

Mountain blue curls, Trichostema parishii, Photo: Bob Allen

Our county may be known for Disneyland, shopping malls and freeways, but thankfully we also have some of the loveliest wildflower spots in southern California! With these rains what a year this should be! Let’s get away from it all and take a tour of some of Orange County’s wildflower hotspots (some popular and some more “secret”) to see what is in bloom. And who better to lead us on this virtual field trip than Bob Allen who has spent countless hours documenting and photographing our local flora! Whatever you’re level of interest and knowledge, with Bob we always learn something new. Throw in that special dash of Bob Allen humor and it will be an enjoyable night for all.

Bob Allen is a nature photographer, author, instructor, and consulting biologist. Raised in San Juan Capistrano, he studied insects from a very early age. In high school, he was introduced to plants, became hooked, and bought his first copy of Philip Munz’s Flora of Southern California at age 15. He is currently preparing his eagerly awaited second book, A Field Guide to Wildflowers of Orange County and the Santa Ana Mountains.

2.  Outreach Events –

We will be out in the community at the Green Scene, Fullerton Arboretum, April 17 and 18, and at the Southern California Spring Garden Show at South Coast Plaza on April 22-25. At both events we will be selling plants and books and working to make more of the public aware of the benefits of California native plant gardening and how to accomplish it.

We are looking for volunteers to help man our booths at both events. Please contact Laura Camp by replying to this email if you can devote a couple of hours. It’s fun and easy, and new volunteers are welcome. As an added bonus, the Green Scene admission fee will be covered for all volunteers.

The South Coast Plaza event has a sustainability theme this year, and several speakers will be focused on that theme, including Gene Ratcliffe representing our chapter and Tree of Life Nursery. Gene’s talk is on Friday morning, but make sure to check out the full schedule and to visit us at our booth.

3.  Garden Tour –

Out chapter-sponsored native plant Garden Tour is coming up fast, on Saturday, May 8th. We hope you are planning to attend with a friend or two. This tour will feature almost a dozen outstanding gardens, and is free to all participants. Similar tours throughout the state can cost $20 or more. Look for an email with complete details and registration information within the next few days.

Volunteers are always needed! This year we’d like to have a few docents to assist in each garden, for a couple of hours in the morning or afternoon. Please reply to this email and let us know if you can help.

4.  Chapter Celebration –

Sarah Jayne and Elizabeth Songster help prepare the June 2009 auction table

Silent Auction and Raffle items are needed for our June 17th Chapter Celebration. Do you have a nice native plant in a pot? Or just the pot itself? A gift certificate or vacation rental? A book or gift  or artwork related in any way to nature, native plants or gardening? Do you have ideas, or a few hours to assist with calling potential donors, or to help with planning or setting up the evening of the event? Please contact our Silent Auction Chair, Kathy Glendinning at ktglnd@netscape.net or just “reply” to this email.

This event is one of our two major fundraisers for the year, and all proceeds will be devoted to the Chapter’s grant programs, to fund school gardens or worthy research projects. With your support we can make this fun event a big winner for native plants and education. You can truly make a difference!

UNSUBSCRIBE INFO: You are receiving this email because you signed up at an event, or through membership. To unsubscribe, please reply to this email, and type “Unsubscribe” in the subject line or body of your message.  For further information contact: California Native Plant Society – Orange County Chapter, P.O. Box 54891, Irvine, CA 92619-4891

CNPS-Orange County News, February 2010

In this eNews:

1. General Meeting, Thursday, February 18, 2010
2. Nature Walks

1.  General Meeting – Native Trees for Urban Gardens, with Lili Singer

The weather has cleared, and our meeting place has re-opened! Please join us this Thursday night, February 18, 2010 at the Duck Club, Riparian View Way, Irvine  (see http://occnps.org/ for directions):

6:45 PM Doors Open, Hospitality, Book Sales

7:00 PM Native Plant ID and Garden tour signups – see below for details

7:30 PM Main Program: Lili Singer, Native Trees for Urban Gardens

Trees are the heart of the landscape, and there’s a native tree for every size garden. In addition to beauty, shade, and color, trees provide habitat for native wildlife. Learn which tree species are right for your garden, how to plant and keep them healthy, and how to select companion plants. This illustrated lecture will include helpful handouts.

Lili Singer is a horticulturist, educator and garden writer (most recently for the LA Times), and the special projects coordinator for the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers & Native Plants in Sun Valley, CA. She published and edited two award-winning periodicals, The Southern California Gardener andThe Gardener’s Companion, and for more than a decade hosted “The Garden Show,” a live call-in radio program on KCRW-FM. A southern California native herself, this engaging and knowledgeable speaker lives and gardens on one-third acre of tree-shaded land in Van Nuys.

Elderberry tree in the Sarkissian Garden, photo by Nancy Heuler

Prior to the main program, please join us for hospitality, book sales and snacks.  We will have an identification table with native plant samples, or bring your own identification questions or samples to share.  Another table will feature our May 8, 2010 garden tour and volunteer sign ups.

2.  Nature Walks

Pre-register for the nature hike via email Rich Schilk, birdguy@naturalista.net.  Rich will provide directions and answer any questions.

New this year, our nature walks are designed as an introduction to common plants in our area, and their relationship to the rest of our natural environment. Leaders are members of the California Native Plant Society or sister organizations.  These walks are ideal for new members and friends who are just beginning their appreciation for our native habitats.  Rain within 24 hours cancels the event.

Saturday, February 20, 9:00 AM: Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park, San Juan Capistrano

From the park website: [this] “8,000 acre protected wilderness preserve [is] nestled among the river terraces and sandstone canyons of the western coastal Santa Ana Mountains.” Stroll with us through groves of native Coast Live Oak and California Sycamore. Prepare to get your feet wet if streams are still running. In addition to plant identification, you will learn about the history and ecology of the area. The park admission fee is $5.00 per vehicle.

Saturday, March 6, 10:00 AM: San Mateo Marsh at Trestles, San Clemente

This fresh-water marsh is a now-rare habitat at the mouth of one of Southern California’s very few remaining free-running watersheds. We will amble around the marsh’s perimeter on mostly-level trail (some along the beach), looking at the riparian, estuarine and other vegetation types, as well as early wildflowers. We’ll probably take a snack/lunch break along the way.

**Please Note:  The Trout Journey part I trip on February 6th was cancelled due to rain, and therefore the follow-up trips on February 27 and March 27 have also been cancelled.

UNSUBSCRIBE INFO: You are receiving this email because you signed up at an event, or through membership. To unsubscribe, please reply to this email, and type “Unsubscribe” in the subject line or body of your message.  For further information contact: California Native Plant Society – Orange County Chapter, P.O. Box 54891, Irvine, CA 92619-4891

CNPS Orange County News – September ’09

In this Bulletin:

1.  General Meeting, Thursday, September 17, 2009

2.  Seeking Neighbor-Friendly Native Plants – Survey

3.  Fall Benefit Plant Sale, Saturday, October 24, 2009

1.  GENERAL MEETING, Thursday, September 17, 2009

Duck Club, Riparian View Way, Irvine

(see http://occnps.org/ for directions)

Doors open at 7:00 pm, Main Program at 7:30 pm

Welcome Back!  We have all had a hot and relaxing summer since our last eNewsletter back in June, and we’re ready to kick off the upcoming planting season with two months of programs about native plant gardening.  First, for the month of September:

Replace Your Lawn: The Native Alternative

Speakers: Debbie Evans and Gene Ratcliffe, Tree of Life Nursery

If you want to take the bold and ecologically responsible step of replacing your lawn, consider featuring water-smart and habitat friendly California native plants! Fall is here, so now is a good time to plot the demise of your lawn and the creation of your new native garden.

Two dynamic and engaging speakers from Tree of Life Nursery will combine aspects of the nursery’s popular three-part series—the “Replace Your Lawn” workshops—and will cover the basics of tearing out the lawn, planning a native landscape and choosing plants appropriate for your site and conditions.

For those who already have native gardens, this is a great opportunity to bring along a friend or neighbor who might be leaning in that direction. From neat groundcovers to riotous color to gorgeous shrubs, native plants will be on hand to illustrate their many uses in the garden. Everyone can pick up new ideas! Let’s all start out the year focusing on making “Water-Less” native gardens a reality all over Orange County.

Debbie Evans is a graduate of UC San Diego in Linguistics, and as much as anyone in this state literally grew up with native plants. She now promotes replacing lawns and many other topics as the Marketing Coordinator at Tree of Life Nursery.

Gene Ratcliffe is a graduate of UCLA with a degree in geology, and of Cornell University with a masters in ethnobotany. She is an experienced, articulate and engaging teacher, whom one of her students recently dubbed “an awesome powerhouse of information!”

Gene Ratcliffe teaching at Tree of Life Nursery

2.  SEEKING NEIGHBOR-FRIENDLY NATIVE PLANTS…..

This 2009-2010 growing year we are focusing on water saving plants appropriate for the general public. Help us share your knowledge. What plants do you find neighbor friendly?

• Evergreen (or spectacular deciduous tree);
• Easy to grow;
• Low water use, but also water tolerant;
• Fits well in small to medium sized yards.

Coffeeberry is a good example. What would you add to the list? Please send your suggestions to Dan Songster (Songster@cox.net) or tell us at the September Chapter meeting. Your input will be compiled for use in brochures, presentations, and outreach events.  Thank You!

3.  FALL BENEFIT PLANT SALE – SAVE THE DATE!

See below for information about our important benefit plant sale for Fall 2009.  Can you volunteer your assistance for part of the day? Please contact Diane Wollenberg for details at Yosemitegirl@cox.net.

UNSUBSCRIBE INFO: You are receiving this email because you signed up at an event, or through membership. To unsubscribe, please reply to this email, and type “Unsubscribe” in the subject line or body of your message.  For further information contact: California Native Plant Society – Orange County Chapter, P.O. Box 54891, Irvine, CA 92619-4891

CNPS Orange County News – May ’09

In this Email:

1. General Meeting, May 14, 2009

2. June Chapter Celebration Preview

3. Special Membership Offer 

1. General Meeting, Thursday, May 21, 2009

Duck Club, Riparian View Way, Irvine

(see http://occnps.org/ for directions)

Doors open at 7:00 pm

Main program at 7:30 pm

Wildflower Photography Tips & Tricks – or “Take a hike, but don’t forget your camera!”

Speaker: Bob Allen

Join us as the energetic Bob Allen takes us to different Orange County locations to discuss and illustrate tips for photographing our local wildflowers-All while we relax in the comfort of the Duck club!

This unique presentation will appeal to many; those just starting out photographing in nature will certainly learn more than enough to point them in the right direction, while those who have been snapping away for years will pick up those “tricks of the trade” that will make their images just that much better.

Those of you who have taken Bob’s photography class know he has a deep knowledge of nature photography and a knack for making it all understandable. Besides the photography tips and tricks he will also show us where in Orange County to go for great wildflower shots, the importance of timing your trips, and ‘specialties’ (the rare and unusual) to add to your life list of must have photos.

Of course, like all Bob’s talks we should expect a dash of humor and we will likely learn several things about our wildflowers we did not know, so it will be an enjoyable night for all.

Bob Allen is a nature photographer, author, instructor, and consulting biologist. Raised in San Juan Capistrano, he studied insects from a very early age. In high school, he was introduced to plants, became hooked, and bought his first copy of Philip Munz’s Flora of Southern California at age 15. He is currently preparing his eagerly awaited second book, A Field Guide to Wildflowers of Orange County and the Santa Ana Mountains.

 2. June General Meeting – Preview

June 18, 2009 is our special celebration meeting, in which we honor past achievements and thank our members. There will be delicious refreshments, some exciting and unique items up for bidding in a silent auction, and a raffle drawing. We need your help!  In fact, if you bring an item to the raffle table, you will receive 5 free raffle tickets.  Please contact Sarah Jayne sbjayne@cox.net or Dan Songster songster@cox.net  with ideas or questions about making donations to the silent auction or raffle, or if you might have time to contact a favorite store/activity/hotel/restaurant to arrange a donation for a good cause.

Celia Kutcher is putting together a “slide show” of this year’s OCCNPS activities, to be on view during our end-of-year bash on June 18.  We’d like to include as many as possible of the images we’ve seen all of you taking all year.  Email your best images, as .jpgs of approximately 500K, to celia552@cox.net by June 1.  Please include location, date, and names of people and/or plants in each.  And join us on June 18 to see the show!

3. Your Membership Helps Preserve and Protect California Native Plants and Their Habitats

For more than 40 years CNPS has been a leader in habitat protection, conservation, and promoting the use of native plants in landscaping and home gardens.

As a member of CNPS, you play a key role in our ability to promote the conservation of native plants through science, education, advocacy, horticulture and land stewardship. So much of what we do depends on the strength and commitment of our members!

On the local level, your membership and involvement contributes to strong chapters that provide regular educational programs through monthly meetings and field trips, as well as support for local conservation efforts.

If you are a member of CNPS, we value you more than you can know – thank you!  If you have been thinking about joining, now is a good time. For a limited time, CNPS is offering a special incentive to new members! Join online at the $45.00 member or higher levels and you’ll receive one of three beautiful wildflower posters: Wildflowers of the Desert, Wildflowers of the Coast, or Wildflowers of the Redwood Forest.

To unsubscribe, please reply to this email, leave the subject line as is, and type “Unsubscribe” in the body of your message.

December General Meeting – It’s Your Turn!

In this Email:

1. General Meeting, December 18, 2008
2. Conservation Conference, Sacramento,  January 17-19, 2009
3. Photo Workshop, January 24 or 31, 2009

1.  General Meeting, December 18, 2008

LOCATION and TIME of meeting:

Duck Club, Riparian View Way, Irvine, (see http://occnps.org/ for directions)

Doors open at 7:00 pm, Main program at 7:30 pm 

Wildflowers follow fire at Del Dios Hwy, San Diego County

We hope you’ll take some time from your holiday preparations to join us for our annual focus on you – the member.

Share some of your favorite photos of native plants—in the wild or in the garden, local or anywhere in the world. Bring ten to fifteen, or twenty if they’re spectacular. These could be a plant you’d like to have identified (no guarantees), one you’ve seen out of its known range, an interesting plant/bird/insect relationship, good field trip shots, just a lovely picture, or a slide that makes you laugh! We’ll have equipment for both the slide and digital formats. Digital photos can be brought on a flash drive, CD, or DVD. (Please let us know if you need special equipment.)

If you don’t have pictures you’d like to share, come and enjoy the variety and surprises. There will be new books and other items for last minute gifts.

New chapter t-shirts will be available!  Pick up your pre-orders, or just buy on site.

Your board and other members will be providing a festive spread on the hospitality table. If you would like to add a special cookie or two, feel free (and include the recipe)! Come join us for a light-hearted and relaxing evening.

2. CNPS Conservation Conference

Read all about this conference here:

http://cnps.org/cnps/conservation/conference/2009/

It will be held in Sacramento on January 17-19, 2009.  Featuring great speakers, exhibitors, and plenty of interest for the professional or the general public.  If you have been thinking about getting jump-started on your commitment to conservation, this is the perfect opportunity.  A large contingent will be representing Orange County CNPS, so please join us!

3. Photo Workshop

Limited spaces available!  January 24 OR 31, 2009 at Tree of Life Nursery.  Click on the images below for a larger flyer.  Sign up now or at the general meeting: