CNPS-San Diego presents four special events each year. People travel from all throughout Southern California to attend these events and the events go far in educating, motivating, and inspiring the public to garden with California native plants.

To find more detailed information about these events and other events held on a monthly basis, check our Upcoming Events section of the website.

The events fall into the four basic categories listed below:

NATIVE GARDEN  TOUR

early april

Held each year during April, the Native Garden Tour is a self-guided walk through private and public gardens in a geographical area of San Diego County. 

•      Self-guided tour of private gardens, with each garden staffed by knowledgeable volunteer docents and homeowners. Additional public and commercial gardens are available as stops on the tour. 

•      All gardens are water-thrifty and contain 60% or more native plants

•      Gardens commonly feature permeable surfaces, rainwater collection, or wildlife habitat

•      Tour gardens use little or no fertilizers and pesticides, thus exercising true source control of stormwater pollutants

•      Tour attendance has grown every year since its inception in 2012 (1200 last year)

•      Visitor surveys indicate high rate of behavioral change, converting conventional gardens and implementing other water-saving measures

CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT WEEK

Third week of april

In 2010, the California State Legislature designated the third week of April to be California Native Plant Week. Our CNPS chapter hosts several events during the week, including special field trips, workshops, and work parties.

NATIVE PLANT GARDENING WORKSHOPS

september or january

Workshops are typically a day of presentations from numerous experts speaking from all angles on a selected theme. Many participants across the county have been inspired to plant or make improvements to a native garden after attending our workshops. Please note, the pandemic has changed our ability to host these workshops.

The workshops

•      Provide a full day of lectures and demonstrations

•      Focus on practical issues of design, installation, and maintenance of California native plant gardens

•      Are held in fall/winter so attendees can learn, plan, and be ready to plant in time for the rainy season and before the rainy season is over

•      Visitor surveys indicate motivation to save water and have environmentally beneficial gardens

•      Qualify as continuing education for California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) and UC Master Gardeners

PLANT SALE

October

Our plant sales are hugely popular. We offer over 250 species of California native plants for purchase in person, with early access grated to our volunteers. California native plant seeds, books, and merchandise are also available.

Banner photo by Barbara Hebel