2024 Event Calendar

 

JANUARY 2024

1 Monday

FYI:  New Year’s Day (Federal Holiday)

4 Thursday

Conservation: CNPS OC (Elizabeth Wallace) and other organizations provide positive verbal support for the SCAG GreenPrint project in their Energy and Environment Committee meeting. Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks had found a sneaky late change of text by the building industry in the GreenPrint proposal. With FHBP’s quick action and our community support, the GreenPrint proposal passed through the committee without the building industry downgrades. Next comes the final SCAG meeting in February that will hopefully launch the GreenPrint.

Board of Directors Meeting – CNPS OC

6 Saturday

FYI:  Plant Sale at the Fullerton Arboretum, 9am – 3pm. Over 100 varieties of California native and ornamental plants grown at the Arboretum for sale. https://fullertonarboretum.org/sales-events/

15 Monday

FYI:  Martin Luther King Jr Day (Federal Holiday)

18 Thursday

Chapter Public Meeting @ the Murray Center and via Zoom: “The Plants of Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, a CNPS OC and UCI Herbarium Project” with Robert Allen, Rebecca Crowe (UCI), Fred Roberts Jr, Dr. Michael Simpson (SDSU), and Ron Vanderhoff (OCCNPS Plant Science), 

25 Thursday

Conservation: CNPS OC (Elizabeth Wallace) submitted a written comment to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors supporting protections for the Puente-Chino Hills wildlife corridor in the East San Gabriel Valley Area Plan update. Thanks to Friends of Harbors Beaches and Parks for communicating this issue that overlaps the northern section of our chapter-county boundary.  [Update:  The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the update.]

 

FEBRUARY 2024

1 Thursday

Conservation: CNPS OC (Elizabeth Wallace) gave a verbal comment at the SCAG Regional Council in support of launching the Greenprint.  The Council later adopted the project in the meeting.

Board of Directors Meeting – CNPS OC

19 Monday

FYI:  Presidents’ Day (Federal Holiday)

24 Saturday

Outreach:  CNPS Orange County membership day at Tree of Life Nursery

 

MARCH 2024

1 Fri – 3 Sun

CNPS Board of Director Meeting and Chapter Council Meeting, South Coast Chapter

3 Sunday

FYI:  World Wildlife Day (United Nations Observance)

6 Wednesday

Science:  Orange County’s second endemic plant, Dudleya chasmophyta (Santiago Canyon Live Forever) has been confirmed. Our chapter members have had touch points with this plant including crucial assistance with onsite documenting of the species by Ron Vanderhoff and Fred Roberts. For official publication of the announcement see the CA Botanical Society edition of Madroño.

7 Thursday

Board of Directors Meeting – CNPS OC

8 Friday
Conservation:  Regarding the Saddleback Meadows Project, CNPS-OC delivered to the Orange County Board of Supervisors a letter for official record. We requested a new environmental impact report. The previous EIR was completed in 2001. Chapter lead for the letter is Christopher Gort.
Conservation:  Regarding the Orange Heights (Santiago Hills II) Project, CNPS-OC delivered to the City of Orange a letter for official record. We requested a new environmental impact report. The previous supplemental EIR was completed in 2005. Chapter lead for the letter is Christopher Gort.
10 Sunday
FYI:  Daylight Saving Time Begins

FYI:  March-Spring-Vernal Equinox

20 Wednesday
Conservation:  OCTA southern Orange County coast rail line problems listening session. CNPS OC (Liz Taylor) recommended, 1) Nature-based solutions such as coastal dune restoration with native plants; 2) Opposition to their plan to seek exemptions from CEQA and Coastal Act permitting requirements; 3) OCTA commit to relocating the rail line inland by 2035, as is the case in Del Mar problem area. 
21 Thursday
23 Saturday

Science:  Mini BotanyBlitz at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park. (Filled to capacity, registration closed.) [Update:  Two species that have never been documented in the Whiting Ranch area were identified and seven plants known to exist here but never vouchered now have plant samples going to local herbariums.]

FYI:  Earth Hour (Worldwide Observance)

24 Sunday

Outreach:  Panhe site Preservation and Culture and Ancestor Festival. Enjoy the festival and visit our table there. – Due to weekend rain forecast, this event will be rescheduled, likely in October.

Field Trip:  Elsinore Peak with Lauren Quon, USFS Botanist (Filled to capacity, Registration closed.)

 

APRIL 2024

Science:  OC Parks has provided an authorization permit for access and collection to a small set of members of the CNPS OC Chapter Science team. This is in recognition of work already performed and ongoing. [Caution: This permit does not apply to members in general! Access to closed areas and/or collection of plant material can result in fines and/or arrest unless specifically identified via the permit structure.]
3 Wednesday
Conservation:  Regarding SCAG 2024 Connect SoCAl Final EIR and Reports – CNPS-OC signed on to a coalition letter written by Friends of Harbors Beaches and Parks that “supports Connect SoCal and its PEIR/PEIS because the loss of agricultural lands and natural lands is considerably less with the Plan in place versus business as usual.” The coalition letter was signed by 26 organizations.  [Update: on April 4th, the Plan and Program EIR were adopted by unanimous vote of the Regional Council.]
4 Thursday

Board of Directors Meeting – CNPS OC
Gardening-Education:  An Acorn Grant was awarded to Orange High School.

6 Sat – 7 Sun

FYI:  CNPS San Diego Chapter Garden Tour

7 Sunday

Field Trip: Hike with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy to Dripping Springs. (Filled to capacity, registration closed.)

13 Saturday – 14 Sunday
17 Wednesday
Conservation:  Dana Point Headlands Preserve operation hours – CNPS OC (Ron Vanderhoff) delivered a comment letter to the City of Dana Point Planning Commission (for meeting of April 22). We support return to previous shorter public access hours to protect rare, endangered, and sensitive species at the location. This direction aligns with issues identified by The Center for Natural Lands Management, the CA Coastal Commission, the CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
18 Thursday

Chapter Public Meeting via Zoom:  “An Introduction to the Natural History of Orange County” by Dr. Peter Bowler, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Irvine

20 Saturday
Science:  Science team Mini Bio Blitz
21 Sunday
Outreach:  Sherman Library and Gardens – California Native Plant Expo. We will have a table and plant gifts for people who renew or sign up membership, two large nurseries will bring plants to sell, other activities too.
22 Monday
FYI:  Earth Day
25 Thu – 28 Sun
28 Sunday

Science:  Science team Mini Bio Blitz

 

MAY 2024

2 Thursday
Board of Directors Meeting – CNPS OC

Gardening-Education:  An Acorn Grant was awarded to Community Roots Academy.

11 Saturday
12 Sunday
FYI:  Mother’s Day
14 Tuesday
Science:  Ron Vanderhoff leads a native plant training class for the Bolsa Chica Conservancy and conservation guests.
16 Thursday

Chapter Public Meeting @ The Duck Club and Zoom:  4 Native Plant Landscape Design companies for a panel discussion.

18 Saturday
Outreach:  Santa Ana Public Works Family Day. We will have a table at this fun city event.
22 Wednesday
FYI:  Biological Diversity Day (United Nations Observance)
27 Monday
FYI:  Memorial Day (Federal Holiday)

30 Thursday

Science:  We are sending two representatives to the El Modena High School – Eco/Science research poster symposium. Good work by students and their teachers/mentors.

Conservation:  This month our chapter (Ron Vanderhoff) sent a letter to the City of Dana Point regarding the need to return to control activities of invasive Hypericum canariense – Santa Maria St John’s Wort.

 

JUNE 2024

5 Wednesday
FYI:  World Environment Day (United Nations Observance)
6 Thursday
Board of Directors Meeting – CNPS OC
7 Fri – 9 Sun
CNPS Quarterly Board of Directors and Chapter Council Meeting @ Kern Chapter
13 Thursday
Chapter Public Meeting @ the Duck Club: University Student Lightning Talks
15 Saturday
FYI:  Juneteenth (California Observance)
16 Sunday
FYI:  Father’s Day
19 Wednesday

FYI:  Juneteenth (Federal Holiday)

20 Thursday

FYI:  June-Summer Solstice

 

JULY 2024

4 Thursday
FYI:  Independence Day (Federal Holiday)
11 Thursday
Board of Directors Meeting – CNPS OC
Gardening-Education:  An Acorn Grant was awarded to Harbor View Elementary School.
13 Saturday

Limited, Members Only Special Event:  Tour of Vera’s Sanctuary in the Trabuco Canyon area.

16 Tuesday

Conservation:  Our chapter signed onto a letter to Request an environmental review of the Coastal Rail Resiliency Study Initial Assessment. The letter was sent to OCTA (Orange County Transportation Authority) with CC: to the California Coastal Commission and the State Lands Commission. This is about existing environmental problems causing disruptions with the rail line next to the shore along San Clemente State Beach and adjacent properties. A solution to keeping rail viable is important, so public disclosures and feedback, as well as assessing long term environmental changes are needed. Surfrider Foundation was the lead signer with seven additional non-profit organizations joining.
20 Saturday

Outreach:  Sherman Gardens Plant-O-Rama. We will be there selling plants! 

 

AUGUST 2024

1 Thursday
Board of Directors Meeting – CNPS OC
3 Saturday

Outreach:  Festival of the Butterflies at Los Rios Park, 31791 Los Rios St, San Juan Capistrano. We will have a table here. Come say hello. 10am – 4pm.

17 Saturday
Garden Tour:  Tour of Irby Park and its new native plants. Meet Amanda Herring, the driving force behind Irby Park’s transformation, on this guided tour of the Huntington Beach park. For more information and registration, visit the event page on EventBright.

 

SEPTEMBER 2024

2 Monday
FYI:  Labor Day (Federal Holiday)
5 Thursday
Board of Directors Meeting – CNPS OC
6 Fri – 8 Sun
CNPS Quarterly Board of Directors and Chapter Council Meetings @ TBD
15 Sunday
Field Trip:  Kayak tour with the Newport Bay Conservancy
19 Thursday
21 Saturday
22 Sunday

FYI:  September-Autumn Equinox

 

OCTOBER 2024

1 Tuesday
3 Thursday
Board of Directors Meeting – CNPS OC
13 Sunday
Outreach:  PANHE event at San Onofre Park. This is the new date that was rescheduled from spring due to weather. We will have a booth – come say hi.
13 Sunday
          Field Trip:  Kayak tour with the Newport Bay Conservancy
14 Monday
FYI:  Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Majority of states. Columbus Day – Federal Holiday)

17 Thursday

Outreach:  H20 for HOA’s – A Free Education and Networking Event for HOA Board Members, Property Managers, and Landscapers, hosted by the Moulton Niguel Water District. We will be there.

Chapter Public Meeting via Zoom:  Online tools Calflora and iNaturalist presented by key representatives of each organization. 

23 Wed – 25 Fri

FYI:  Cal-IPC Symposium Online

26 Saturday

Outreach:  CNPS membership day and Fall Plant Sale at Tree of Life Nursery.

31 Thursday

FYI:  Halloween

 

NOVEMBER 2024

2 Saturday
3 Sunday
FYI:  Daylight Saving Time Ends
5 Tuesday
FYI:  Election Day
7 Thursday
Board of Directors Meeting – CNPS OC
11 Monday
FYI:  Veterans Day (Federal Holiday)
21 Thursday
Chapter Public Meeting @ the Duck Club: From the Field to the Genetics Lab: The Remarkable Flora of Santa Catalina Island with Matt Guilliams Ph.D. (Tucker Plant Systematist and Curator of the Clifton Smith Herbarium at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, www.sbbg.org). Evening starts with CNPS OC Hats for sale, free books, and free hummingbird sage from the Irvine Ranch Conservancy.
28 Thursday

FYI:  Thanksgiving (Federal Holiday)

 

DECEMBER 2024

3 Tuesday
FYI:  Giving Tuesday
5 Thursday
Board of Directors Meeting – CNPS OC
6 Fri – 8 Sun
CNPS Quarterly Board of Directors and Chapter Council Meetings @ Sacramento HQ
12 Thursday
21  Saturday
FYI:  December-Winter Solstice