By Khalida Sarwari
The plant biodiversity of Santa Clara, San Mateo and surrounding counties will be showcased at West Valley College on April 23 at the California Native Plant Society’s 42nd Wildflower Show.
Coinciding with the Northern California wildflower bloom, the event will feature a variety of species of native wildflowers and plants. This will be an opportunity to view native plant displays, become familiar with them and learn where they can be found locally.
To help attendees make sense of what they’re looking at, expert botanists, gardeners and biology students will be on site to describe different samples and answer questions.
The day will also include lectures on wildflower identification, pollinator relationships with flowers, habitat gardening and wildflower photography.
And when folks need a break from that, they can join tours of the college campus that will showcase the native landscapes and the restoration project of Vasona Creek, which runs through the middle of campus. This will be an opportunity to learn how the riparian corridor of the creek is being restored with native, drought tolerant plants and innovative stormwater management techniques.
The college’s biology department will also give tours showcasing its teaching murals, refurbished greenhouse and the planned science garden.
The program will be co-hosted by the biology department and the Santa Clara Valley chapter of the California Native Plant Society.
The event is free and takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the biology wing of the science and math buildings at 14000 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga. Free parking will be available in lot 2 during the event.
For more information, visit cnps-scv.org or contact the California Native Plant Society atcnps_scv@yahoo.com or 650.260.3450.
