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 “Our Relationship with Wildflowers” theme. The lecture series and workshops will offer the opportunity to learn about our relationship with native wildflowers, how we view them culturally and how we can support their biodiversity, through lectures and workshops focused on local flora and fauna, habitat gardening, and a campus BioBlitz. Students will present posters and 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.

The keynote speaker this year is Kat Anderson, author of "Tending the Wild" who will share stories of our past and present relationships with native wildflowers, contrasting colonial and Indigenous people's use and stewardship and what we can learn from the past to enhance our relationship with wildflowers today.

The event will also showcase student poster presentations, student led nature walk, and a Bioblitz – 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 podcast, for a BioBlitz where you will learn how to make nature observations with your phone or camera to track, identify, and learn more about what you saw - all while contributing to community science!

Participants will also be able to take tours of the Vasona Creek, a student led campus nature walk, and the Arthur Wang and Christina Qu Science Garden. The Vasona Creek tour will showcase the landscapes and restoration project of Vasona Creek, which runs through the middle of campus.  Biology interns will lead a nature walk through campus oak woodlands where participants will learn about urban wildlife. The WVC Biology Department, co-host of the event, will lead a tour of the native plant gardens around the Science and Math complex, showcasing their habitat gardens used as outdoor classrooms.

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.