Native Plant Extravaganzas 2026 (rain or shine!)
Be sure to include our own, local keystone plants in your garden; they are the best for wildlife, and include:
Best plants for sunny areas: Oak, holly leaf cherry, California lilac, lupine, manzanitas, sages, sunflower, native strawberry, buckwheat, aster, coyote brush, and penstemon.
Best plants for shady areas: currant, huckleberry, wild rose, thimbleberry, ocean spray, woodland strawberry, goldenrod, aster, honeysuckle.
Shop in-person
Saturday November 14, 10:00-4:00
Native-Plant Themed Market—Held at the Down by the Bay Native Plant Nursery at 38255 Blacow Road, Fremont
Shop at the Down by the Bay Native Plant Nursery to purchase plants that will help restore nature in your spaces, big or small, using genetically local plants grown lovingly from seed. Sample Josh Rubietta’s homemade pear butter, which is frankly unassailably tasty and beyond reproach. In addition to the native plants, browse Down by the Bay’s extensive merch offerings, which can be gift-wrapped for your gift-distributing convenience—and don’t miss the new toddler sizes and long-sleeve editions of their super-cute shirts.
Browse the extensive collection of wildflower seeds (and imagine all of your wildflower dreams coming true in your own garden!) at the California Native Seeds display. This local native seed company is owned by Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour hosts Danny Galindo and Eugene Shabalyanau, who collect these California native wildflower seeds from their own Castro Valley garden.
Chat with the Bee Highways team and find out how you can get involved in creating a pollinator pathway, and come meet members of the California Native Plant Pros, a collective of local landscape professionals.
Start your holiday shopping early with Coyote Brush Studios‘ beautiful bird and wildflower prints, artistic posters, fun and attractive greeting cards, and more. Bring your knives and tools to be sharpened by Fremont Sharpening.
All Day Purchase delicious tacos (with handmade tortillas!!!)—so come hungry
11:00-12:30 Don’t miss Mike and Will from the Radioactives, who will be performing crowd-pleasing favorites and some special eco-themed songs.
East Bay Wilds, 2777 Foothill, Oakland (the entrance is on 28thstreet)
12:00 “How to create a beautiful, thriving native plant garden: Clear easy steps” by Pete Veilleux, owner of East Bay Wilds
See East Bay Wild’s plant list here and see photos of gardens that Pete has designed and planted with natives here. While at the nursery check out the eclectic collection of garden art Pete has for sale! If you are interested in a consult, design, installation or maintenance for a California native landscape, email Pete at pete@eastbaywilds.com or call (510) 409-5858.
The Watershed Nursery Cooperative, 601 A Canal Blvd. Richmond
1:00 “Fall Pruning Workshop” led by Nick Crawford
Oaktown Native Plant Nursery, 702 Channing Way, Berkeley
Talks in the Nursery
2:00 “Come hear about how an exciting butterfly garden at a public school in downtown Berkeley was created (Spoiler: it has captured the attention of the kids and teachers alike!)”
Rebecca Atwell of Little Habitats Gardens designs public space gardens around the Bay Area.
Check out Oaktown’s PlantFinder to find the best plants for your home garden or restoration project. Oaktown’s staff are committed to bringing you the best quality plants for your project!
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Shop online at these participating businesses on the week-end of October 17 and 18, and a percentage of your purchases will go to support the Tour
Green Thumb Works is owned by native plant landscape designer Sandra Nevala-Lee. Now available from Green Thumb are Hummingbird Hangout and Beneficial Insect Haven plant bundles, consisting of hardy, beneficial one-gallon plants for full sun to part-sunny areas. Browse Green Thumb’s online list of available plants here.
Down by the Bay, owned by garden tour host Josh Rubietta-Cheng, carries native plants that are genetically local to the East Bay—these are the best plants for wildlife: check out Down by the Bay’s plant list online.
California Native Seeds is owned by garden tour hosts Danny Galindo and Eugene Shabalyanu; check out the incredible variety of native seeds they sell. These seeds are collected from their own Castro Valley garden, which you can visit this spring on the 2026 Tour.