Many Pasadena-area gardens feature native plants purchased at California Native Plant Society’s annual fall sale, shown here. Co-President Jennifer LaPlante is second from left, back row.
The mission of the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) is to protect California’s native plants and their natural habitats, today and into the future, through science, education, stewardship, gardening, and advocacy. Its programs, field trips, workshops, plant walks, and outreach events help our community understand the importance of native flora in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
A 2024 PCF Capital Grant will help the San Gabriel Mountains Chapter of CNPS further its mission by providing funding to purchase several different kinds of microscopes to teach plant identification and purchase new sound amplification and video equipment for field trips and online meetings.
“ I am so thrilled we will be able to offer access to new technology and expand our workshops to teach keying plants and IDing seeds thanks to PCF’s funding. The Chapter can now offer richer learning experiences and deepen the community’s appreciation and knowledge of our spectacular native flora.”
~ Jennifer LaPlante, CNPS Chapter Co-President
The statewide organization began in the mid-1960s in the Bay Area, and within a decade, volunteers had established 15 chapters up and down the state. Now standing at 35 chapters, the organization has created and contributed to legislation, thousands of authoritative articles, floras, reports, workshops, court cases, and databases as the primary and enduring voice for California’s native flora and places. Our local San Gabriel Mountains Chapter hosts numerous plant walks and educational events at Eaton Canyon Nature Center.
This year, PCF funded several nonprofits in our focus area of the Environment and Animal Welfare. Their programs are invaluable in helping our community better understand the critical importance of land connectivity, wildlife, and biodiversity, and their combined impact on the health of our local ecosystems. Read more about our 2024 grants to Eaton Canyon Nature Center Associates, Cougar Conservancy, and Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy.