Redbud Chapter - California Native Plant Society

03/31/2026

Find the right California native plants for your landscape on Saturday, April 11th, at Redbud’s spring plant sale, with plant pickup in Grass Valley on Sunday, April 19th.

The online store will open when the sale begins at: https://cnps-redbud.square.site/. Members get early access via an emailed access code to shop 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the store will open 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. for the general public (no code needed).

Find full details and tips on the Redbud Plant Sale page https://chapters.cnps.org/redbud/plant-sale-spring/

📸 1: Dicentra formosa- western bleeding heart with California dogface butterfly by Nancy Gilbert

📸2: Styrax redivivus- snowdrop bush with pipevine swallowtail butterflies by Nancy Gilbert

02/27/2026

Got plans tomorrow? Why not join Redbud’s first field trip of the year? It’s a fun local hike and will give you the chance to tune in to your senses and do some nature journaling!

Join Lora Piscitelli (Redbud Chapter CNPS member) and Missa Cade (educator) for a fun Nature Journaling Field Trip. You will get to explore, sketch and jot down your outdoor adventure at Hirschman’s Pond in Nevada City.

Getting to Hirschman’s Pond: Take Hwy 49 west from Auburn or Grass Valley. (Just north of Nevada City, you will turn left in order to remain on Hwy 49, headed toward Downieville.) Turn right onto Cement Hill Road, then quick left at 115 Cement Hill Road. Park in parking lot.

Bring: Journal (hard cover), pencils/pens, something to sit on, water, snack, layers to accommodate the weather, sturdy hiking boots or shoes.

Registration: Open to 15 people. Please register online to reserve your spot

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nature-journaling-hike-tickets-1979095406637?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Participants must sign the online waiver.

https://app.waiversign.com/e/605434825bd9a600198d4bcc/doc/605436925bd9a600198d4c79?eventName=Redbud%20Nature%20Journaling%20Hike&eventDate=2026-02-28T23:59:59.999Z

No pets, please.

Saturday, Feb. 28, 10 a.m.

02/24/2026

Did you know that Redbud has a grant program?

The Redbud Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) is dedicated to advancing public knowledge of native plants, supporting research on restoration of native plant communities, identifying and protecting threatened species, and adding native plants to cultivated landscapes. Through our grant program, we aim to promote these goals by increasing public knowledge and awareness of native plants and their critical role in preserving diversity and our ecosystems.

Education grants will be offered to local schools, non-profit organizations, and individuals working with neighborhood associations, for advancing student and public knowledge of native plants. Research grants will be offered to institutions and individuals engaged in scientific research projects related to California native plants, including threatened species or newly identified species.

We are now accepting applications for our 2026 grant awards through March 16th. To learn more and apply, please visit https://chapters.cnps.org/redbud/get-involved/redbud-grants/



📸: Local wildflowers currently in bloom, by

02/21/2026

Did you know that our upcoming winter picnic will feature an in person plant sale? If you’d like the chance to shop in person for some great native plants for your home garden, make sure you’re registered for our winter picnic on Wednesday, February 25th. The plant sale is from 3-5PM. The event will be at General Gomez Arts in Auburn.

Winter is still a good time to plant native plants. Many of our local natives have lost their leaves, so this sale will focus on perennial evergreen plants that keep their leaves year-round. We’ll have a variety of trees, shrubs, perennial herbaceous plants, iris and a few grasses. Come early for the best selection. Cash or check only, please!

More information for the plant sale can be found at: https://chapters.cnps.org/redbud/2026/01/25/plant-sale-at-winter-picnic-february-25-2026/

Register to attend the winer picnic at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/winter-picnic-plant-sale-talk-fantastic-fungal-relationships-tickets-1977526787856

Hope to see you there!

02/17/2026

Let's hear it for our local pine hill flannelbush, and for their mutually beneficial adaptations and support with pollinators!

LOVE IS IN THE AIR! In honor of Valentine's Day, we're highlighting the special relationships between plants and insects, particularly the Pine Hill Flannelbush (Fremontodendron decumbens), a G1-Critically Imperiled & federally endangered narrow endemic in western El Dorado County, California.

🐝 Pine Hill Flannelbush cannot self-pollinate, but instead has a fascinating relationship with three native bee species. 🐝

The bees are attracted to high levels of ultraviolet light the flowers reflect. The flowers’ nectar absorbs UV light, appearing darker to the bees, and then reflects some of it in visible wavelengths with the brightness proportional to the amount of nectar present. This allows the foraging bees to determine from a distance whether another pollinator has recently visited a flower!

This clever adaptation increases the chance that bees will visit flowers that have not yet been pollinated, ensuring they spread the love around! ❤️

Spread the love today and help secure funding for the conservation of Pine Hill Flannelbush with a Plant Sponsorship!

Ready to learn more?

🔗 Visit: Saveplants.org/plant-sponsorship

📷 Photo Credit: Christian Schwarz, iNaturalist
Image Description: Pine Hill flannelbush, a critically imperiled and federally threatened species found in Western El Dorado County, California.

02/09/2026

Welcome Spring!

02/06/2026

Great conference in progress!

01/28/2026

Have you registered for our winter picnic?

On February 25, we hope you can join us for a cozy and festive winter picnic at General Gomez Arts in Auburn!

The picnic will feature a fun fungus program “Fantastic Fungal Relationships” by mycologist Thea Cheney, appetizers and refreshments, a plant sale and election of Redbud officers (short and sweet!).

This will be a great chance to mingle with other native plant enthusiasts and Redbud volunteers and deepen your connection with native plants.

When: February 25, 3-6:30 PM

Where: General Gomez Arts, 808 Lincoln Way, Auburn

Registration is required. Please register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/member-community-winter-picnic-talk-fantastic-fungal-relationships-tickets-1977526787856

We look forward to seeing you all there!

01/27/2026

Have you read our recent newsletter? We just published our latest, and it’s full of great information and inspiration! In this issue you will find:

🌱 An article about good native trees and shrubs to add vibrance, beauty and wildlife to your garden in winter

🌱 A winter picnic to mingle with other native plant enthusiasts, with a plant sale and mycology talk (look for more posts about this soon!)

🌱 A nature journaling field trip

🌱 Information on Redbud grant applications

🌱 An update on a native plant restoration project

🌱 And good byes to some long serving, dedicated volunteers

Check your inboxes, or head to our website to sign up for our newsletter, and read our latest and past issues.

chapters.cnps.org/redbud/



📸 : Various early wildflowers seen recently along our local trails, by Lindsey Rich

01/20/2026

Happy New Year from all of us at CNPS Redbud Chapter! We have some great programs planned for 2026, and we’re excited to kick things off with the first in our series of six workshops on plant identification on January 31st!

In these workshops you will be guided by professor Emerita Shawna Martinez to identify common native plant families and observe botanical relationships. These workshops are given in partnership with the Sierra College Natural History Museum. These workshops can be enjoyed as a whole or individually. Registration is currently open for the first two workshops. We will keep you updated as registration opens for each future workshop. Mark your calendars now!

January 31st- Identifying Tress and Shrubs, Part 1

March 28th- Identifying Trees and Shrubs, Part 2

May 30th- Perennial Herbs, Part 1

July 25th- Perennial Herbs, Part 2

September 26th- Grasses and Deciduous Trees

October 31st- Ground Cover and Vines

All workshops run 9AM to 1PM and are held at Sierra College Natural History Museum on the Rocklin campus.

Registration is required, and can be done through the Sierra College Natural History Museum website, https://scnhm.sierracollege.edu/e/plant-identification-workshop-january-31-2026-identifying-trees-shrubs-part-1. You can also link to this page from our Events page on our CNPS Redbud Chapter site.

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

11/03/2025

Interested in learning about what happens to plants and ecosystems in winter? Ever wonder what’s going beneath the blanket of snow or the ice covering your local pond?

On November 13th CNPS Redbud Chapter is excited to host Professor Joe Madeiros who is presenting a program all about winter ecology where you can learn the answer to these questions.

And even better, TONIGHT, you can get a teaser of the fun to come if you tune into the Garden Forum on KVMR 89.5FM & 105.1FM ! Listen in between 6-7PM to hear botanist and Redbud member Monica Finn give a little sneak peak of this fun and informative program!

Then come get the full experience of Joe’s enlightening and entertaining presentation in person on November 13th at General Gomez Arts in Auburn. There will be a native plant sale before the presentation. Plant sale starts at 5PM, program starts at 6PM. Please register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/winter-ecology-with-joe-medeiros-and-plant-sale-tickets-1717168379849