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California Native Plant Society -- Marin Chapter Meetup cover photo

California Native Plant Society -- Marin Chapter Meetup

San Rafael, CA, US

1,172 members · Public group

Organized by David and 1 other

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What we’re about

Want to learn more about Marin native plants? Join us for field trips, lectures, and work parties. Most of our events are free to our members and to the public. For more information, check out our website and subscribe to our newsletter.

For over 50 years, we have been dedicated to the conservation of California native plants and their natural habitats, and to increasing the understanding, appreciation, and horticultural use of native plants. Annual membership donations to the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) support our programs and conservation work. Additional benefits include our quarterly magazine Flora, our twice-yearly scientific journal Artemisia, and discounts at local nurseries.

Please:

Sign the Waiver for Marin Chapter 2025, if you have not done so already.
Practice clean trail etiquette. Pocket Guide – Every Step Counts and Cleanliness Tips for Hikers
Treat everyone with respect.
No dogs at these events.

Upcoming events (4)

Sun, Jul 13, 2025, 9:00 AM PDTChicken Ranch Wetlands
Chicken Ranch Beach, Inverness, CA
Chicken Ranch Beach Wetland Enhancement Project & Tomales Bay Intertidal Walk
Sunday, July 13, 2025, 9 am - noon
Leaders: Tom Gaman & Ann Elliott
Limit: 20
Please sign up for this field trip on Meetup beginning July 1. Registration Link: (Eddie will provide)

Trip description: Chicken Ranch Beach near Inverness is a public beach on Tomales Bay, owned and operated by Marin County Parks. Historical landscape conversion adjacent to the beach has resulted in a loss of wetland and riparian habitat that support rich ecological communities of aquatic, upland, and bird species. The wetland enhancement project will expand and improve habitats for special status species, remove invasive and non-native vegetation and restore native species; remediate elevated bacterial counts, and maintain recreational access to the beach. Planning and approvals are finished for the project with work expected to begin in August.

Tom Gaman, President of Tomales Bay Foundation which is coordinating the project, will show us the “before picture.” He will tell us more about the project, then walk us up the creek a short way looking at the many invasive plants and identifying the native riparian species.

The adjacent salt marsh to the south hosts the rare Pt. Reyes Birds Beak and other species. Enjoying an extreme low tide, we will walk the Tomales Bay intertidal as far as Shell Beach in Tomales Bay State Park. We will explore the plants and animals along the rock shore. The cliffs above the beach are beautiful with interesting flowering and fruiting plants. We can return along neighborhood roads or the beach. Total mileage about 2 uneven miles.

Directions: Meet at Chicken Ranch Beach County Park a mile beyond Inverness. Parking is diagonal and parallel along the road shoulder with additional parking further along on the opposite side.

Bring: Water, snacks/lunch; hiking poles will be very helpful along the rocky shore. It can be chilly early on before warming up, so layers are good.

Rain cancels.

Email Ann with any questions: annonfire@gmail.com
Text for day-of-trip questions or issues: Ann 530-521-4402

If you have not yet done so, please sign the Waiver for Marin Chapter 2025

Links: https://tomalesbayfoundation.org/chicken-ranch-wetland-enhancement/
20 attendees+15
Tue, Jul 15, 2025, 2:30 AM UTCJuly General Meeting
Link visible for attendees
Marin Chapter Meeting
Monday, July 14, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Talk Title: The California Seed Strategy – Development and Implementation
Speaker: Caroline Martorano, coordinator of California Native Seed Strategy

The California Seed Strategy (Strategy) was initiated in June 2022 to improve availability of locally and genetically appropriate native seeds for ecological restoration in California. California Native Plant Society (CNPS) led a steering committee to publish the Strategy in December 2023 and is now in the implementation phase. CNPS is facilitating five new regional working groups with over 200 participants overall to share information and resources across organizational boundaries and within ecological boundaries. A Seed Transfer Advisory Group made up of California plant genetics and seed-based restoration subject matter experts was formed to help develop recommendations to protect local genetic diversity. This talk with discuss:

What is the California Seed Strategy?

How it was developed

Update on implementation progress

Caroline Martorano is the Stewardship Specialist for the California Native Plant Society and is a coordinator for the California Native Seed Strategy. She began collecting native seeds in the tall grass prairie in Illinois in 2011. After graduating from University of Illinois, she held three consecutive Conservation and Land Management internships with the Bureau of Land Management in Oregon and California, which included participating in the Seeds of Success program. Martorano spent three years managing stewardship projects for the Quinault Indian Nation on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington. While there, she developed the use of native plant materials following invasive species removal for salmon habitat restoration projects. She learned the process and challenges of bulk seed grow-out and the importance of collaborating with other land management agencies within your watershed. Other forms of stewardship that Martorano specializes in is invasive species removal and prescribed fire/fuels and is passionate about the relationship between community health and ecological stewardship. She received her master’s degree from Cal Poly Humboldt and currently resides in Humboldt County, California. Outside of working with plants, she is an adventure mom, surfing and biking with friends and family.
1 attendee
Wed, Jul 23, 2025, 8:30 AM PDTMount Burdell Work Party
Mt Burdell Trailhead, Novato, CA
Mt Burdell Habitat Restoration Work Party!

Wednesday, July 23, 8:30am to 10:30am

Leader: Stacey Pogorzelski

Join a community of habitat restorers!

Marin CNPS has begun a partnership with Marin County Open Space District staff to clear yellow star thistle and Italian thistle from the grassland near serpentine at Mt. Burdell in Novato. We will also remove pennyroyal, himalayan blackberry, and thistle from a nearby streambed that hosts narrow-leaf milkweed. Located at the northern edge of Novato, Mt. Burdell has serpentine grasslands with rare plants, an incredible array of oaks, and seasonal streams that support milkweed- the critical host for Monarch butterflies.

We start early to beat the heat and would love for you to join us for an hour or two!

Marin County staff will provide tools and snacks. The location is close to and a bit upslope from the San Carlos trailhead.

Bring water, sun and wind protection, long pants and work/garden gloves (gloves provided if you don’t have them).

Rain Cancels.

Email: marincnpsvolteers@gmail.com with questions.

Directions: Meet at the San Carlos Way trailhead north of San Marin Drive, where San Carlos Way meets Mt. Burdell OSP. Near 488 San Carlos Way.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/A74nosMCMqWSyPDU9

Limit: 8 people.

Please:

Sign the Waiver for Marin Chapter 2025, if you have not done so already.

Practice clean trail etiquette. Pocket Guide – Every Step Counts and Cleanliness Tips for Hikers

Sorry, no dogs on this trip.
7 attendees+2
Fri, Jul 25, 2025, 10:00 AM PDTRedwood Forest Summer Stroll
Samuel P Taylor State Park, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Lagunitas, CA 94938, Lagunitas, CA
Redwood Forest Summer Stroll at Samuel P. Taylor State Park
Friday, July 25, 10 am to 2 pm
Leader: Stacey Pogorzelski

Enjoy the beauty and bounty of summer in the cool redwood forest. In summer, we will see berries, other plants setting seed, and perhaps even some flowers. The park hosts at least 14 fern species! We’ll get to know some of them. And, of course, we will admire the glorious redwoods.

We plan to walk about 3 miles total on the Pioneer Tree Trail; the trail has about 250 feet elevation gain. However, trail conditions and weather may change our planned route. If it’s hot, we may dip our toes in the creek.

Directions: Meet at Samuel P. Taylor State Park day use parking lot (first lot after you pass through the payment kiosk). 8889 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Lagunitas.
Parking Fee: $8 ($7 senior). You may check out a FREE State Park Pass from any public library in Marin County.

Bring: Water, lunch, layers and sun protection. Heavy rain or extreme heat cancels.

Email marincnpsvolunteers@gmail.com with any questions.

Limit: 10 people

Please:

Sign the Waiver for Marin Chapter 2025, if you have not done so already.

Practice clean trail etiquette. Pocket Guide – Every Step Counts and Cleanliness Tips for Hikers

Sorry, no dogs on this trip.
7 attendees+2

Past events (149)

Sun, Jul 6, 2025, 10:00 AM PDTBull Point
This event has passed
15 attendees+10

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