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JOIN / RENEW GIVE About us Newsletter Publications Membership Chapter Governance Activities / Education General Meetings Field Trips Gardening with Natives Wildflower Show Plant Sale Stewardship Other Events Conservation Current Conservation Past Conservation Local Plants Plant Info & ID Online Resources Gardening with Natives Plant checklists Monterey Endemics About us Newsletter Publications Membership Chapter Governance Activities / Education General Meetings Field Trips Gardening with Natives Wildflower Show Plant Sale Stewardship Other Events Conservation Current Conservation Past Conservation Local Plants Plant Info & ID Online Resources Gardening with Natives Plant checklists Monterey Endemics Monterey Bay Chapter California Native Plant Society Join us! Members make a difference Be a member PLANT CLEARANCE SALE Thu., Nov. 5 – Nov. 19, 2020 After a successful Virtual Plant Sale, we have some remaining inventory that we are offering to members and prospective buyers at deep discounts! We have provided a Plant List of remaining inventory, along with some additional resources for discovering more about them. The online store will go active on Thursday, Nov. 5th, and run through Nov. 19, or until we run out of plants! For more information, please visit our Plant Sale 2020 . Plant Sale 2020 Virtual Wildflower Show – NOTICE – ALL FIELD TRIPS, EVENTS, ETC. ARE SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS UNKOWN AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION. PLEASE CHECK ON MEETUP OR OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN OF ANY CANCELLATIONS. To view the latest edition of our newsletter The Wallflower click HERE. See the About us page for more information about the chapter and its activities and links to the chapter’s newsletter. The main areas of the chapter’s activities appear below. The California Native Plant Society (“CNPS”) is a statewide non-profit organization founded in 1965 by people with an interest in California’s native plants, and whose mission is to conserve California native plants and their natural habitats, and increase understanding, appreciation, and horticultural use of native plants. The Monterey Bay chapter of the California Native Plant Society (“MB-CNPS”) was founded in 1966 to further the preservation and conservation of the native flora and plant communities of Monterey and San Benito counties. Our goal is to increase understanding, appreciation, enjoyment, and preservation of California native plants in their natural habitats through scientific activities, education, conservation, horticulture and stewardship. Membership in the chapter is open to anyone interested in native plants. Both members and non-members are welcome to join us in activities such as general meetings with lectures, restoration workdays, and most field trips. Spring 2020 Stewardship CNPS – Monterey Bay Chapter is pleased to feature new volunteer opportunities aimed at the restoration of our native ecology and preserving the integrity of our natural resources. Multiple events will be hosted throughout the Spring 2020 season, suitable for all ages and interest levels. California State Parks, Return of the Natives, and CNPS – Monterey Bay will host several outings to restore native habitat on public lands, from Fort Ord National Monument, Garrapata State Park, Soberanes, and Fort Ord Dunes. We encourage you to explore more about upcoming volunteer events on our Stewardship page. Stewardship Activities & Education These include the general meetings and regular field trips. They also include the annual Wildflower Show (one of the largest of its kind in the world) and the annual Native Plant Sale. It also has an active Gardening with Natives section. Conservation The chapter has since its inception been actively involved in conservation issues including some, particularly those affecting environmentally sensitive areas like Fort Ord and the Del Monte Forest; these have been ongoing for many years and are still active. Local Plants Since its creation, the chapter has been concerned to extend its knowledge of the local plants, and to make that knowledge publicly available through the publication of books, the creation of websites devoted to the local flora, and by various other means. Presentations CNPS Monterey Bay is proud to offer remote presentations, and we have posted our presentations in simple format for our members and guests to review online. We hope you will enjoy the information and we look forward to expanding our presentation library to keep our community educated and engaged. The Wallflower See our current newsletter for details of the next general meeting and upcoming field trips Current Newsletter Bluff Lettuce ( Dudleya farinosa ) Poaching of succulents The summer and fall of 2018 saw large-scale poaching of succulents (especially Bluff Lettuce ( Dudleya farinosa )) from our public lands to be shipped overseas for sale. Please contact the authorities if you see it happening. Click here for more information . The problem is continuing – as can be seen from this article in the Monterey County Herald on 8th February 2019. Spring Wildflower Sightings 2020 With the public health and safety concerns of Spring 2020, the outdoors is still (mostly) open for responsible recreation and conscientious enjoyment. Since our Annual Spring Wildflower Show was moved online , enthusiasts continue to contribute to our chapter postings by bringing more ‘virtual’ bits of nature to us. Here is a collage of the “ Usual Suspects ” seen at Garland Ranch Park, photographed by David Laws on April 16, 2020. 2019 2019 has been spectacular superbloom year. Parts of Southern California such as Antelope Valley enjoyed some extraordinary displays of poppies and the Carrizo Plains has experienced some outstanding displays of Monolopia, Great Valley and other Phacelias, and Owl’s Clover. Monterey County does not have the same great expanses of wildflower locations as areas like the Carrizo Plains, but there have been some fine displays, especially in the southern parts of the county. Some highlights include the following: Fort Hunter Liggett — Goldfields ( Lasthenia sp. ) along the Nascimiento–Fergusson Road, Common Blennosperma ( Blennosperma nanum ) at the Jolon entrance to FHL, Sky Lupine ( Lupinus nanus ) and Pink Owl’s clover ( Castilleja exserta ) Hames Valley (Jolon–Bradley Road) — Baby Blue-eyes ( Nemophila menziesii ), Douglas’ Fiddleneck ( Amsinckia douglasiana ), California Poppies ( Eschscholzia californica ) Highway 25 (north of Highway 198) — Monolopia sp. starting to cover the hillsides and displays of mixed Monolopia and Great Valley Phacelia ( Phacelia ciliata ) along the roadsides Fort Ord — Some of the vernal pools have seen glorious displays of the rare Contra Costa Goldfields ( Lasthenia conjugens ), Hickman’s Popcornflower ( Plagiobothrys chorisianus var. hickmanii ) and Dwarf Brodiaea ( Brodiaea terrestris ) Stay Connected Get updates and action alerts from CNPS Sign Up The California Native Plant Society is dedicated to celebrating California's native plant heritage and preserving it for future generations. 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