Our 3rd Annual Picnic, Plant Giveaway, Seed and Cutting Exchange, and Resource Fair, which took place at Kennedy Grove in El Sobrante on Sunday, September 20, was so much fun! Thank you to all of the volunteers who made it possible.
Everyone took home multiple, free native plants. Talented landscape designer Kelly Marshall, owner of Kelly Marshall Garden Design, was on hand all day to help people make good choices. (Thank you, Kelly.)The many door prizes ranged from amazing bird houses and Niger seed packs to native Clarkia and poppy “seed carnivals” – 8 packs of seed sets donated by California Native Seeds – thank you, Eugene and Danny!) to the wonderful book, “Gardening with Native Plants” by Carol Bornstein et al.
Free cuttings, seeds, advice, and resources on native plant seeds and propagation were available at the Exchange.
Friendly, knowledgeable Native Plant Ambassadors were on hand to answer questions about gardening with native plants.
Resource tables provided information on how to create Pollinator Pathways, and a variety of tables were set up with experts who were on hand to talk about fire scaping, invasive weed control, native street trees, and more. If you are interested in what native trees can be used as street trees, or in parks or other landscaped areas, see this list Native Trees for Bayside & Inland Areas 2-22-26
Guests picnicked and chatted at tables set up to help them meet neighbors…
and the potluck was enlivened by this gorgeous and delicious acorn-currant torte (recipe is here), which was adorned with elderberries and currant leaves and made by garden tour host Nora Trentacoste. Kennedy Grove Park Supervisor Chris Newey lead a tour of the impressive native plant garden that was planted during the pandemic. This garden needs some volunteer weeders, if you can help out, please email Chris at cnewey@ebparks.org.
We hope to see you at next year’s Picnic!
Warmly,
Kathy Kramer and the many volunteers who made this event possible.
PS – Did anyone leave a black metal folding chair or a blue lunch box at the picnic? If so, please email Kathy@KathyKramerConsulting.net.
Photos
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