Chapter Events

Eight months per year, a special speaker or program is planned in keeping with the CNPS-SLO mission. Chapter meetings are generally held the first Thursday of the month at the San Luis Obispo Vets Hall on Grande Ave near the corner of Monterey Street. We do not schedule a meeting in July, August, September, and January. Come at 7:00 to socialize, enjoy refreshments, and browse the book table. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. with some  brief announcements before the program begins.

We have a very active chapter membership who love to get together to explore old special spots and discover new favorites. Generally, everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend! Many of our field trips are loosely organized – just show up at the noted time and location. There are a few field trips, however, that are by reservation only so please read each description carefully. All upcoming Field Trips are shown on our calendar.

Sudden Oak Death (SOD), a serious exotic disease, is threatening the survival of tanoak and several oak species in California. As of 2013, SOD is found in 14 coastal California counties, from Monterey to Humboldt.

Researchers have discovered that Phytophthora ramorum, the pathogen that causes SOD, spreads most often on infected California bay laurel leaves. Some management options are available, but they are effective only if implemented before oaks and tanoaks are infected; hence, timely detection of the disease on bay laurel leaves is essential for a successful proactive attempt to slow down the SOD epidemic.

CNPS-SLO Annual SOD Blitz

The SOD Blitz informs and educates the community about the disease and its effects, gets locals involved in detecting the disease, and produces detailed local maps of disease distribution. The map can then be used to identify those areas where the infestation may be mild enough to justify proactive management.

• A community meeting/training session held on a Friday evening in May, followed by collection of leaf samples by volunteers on Saturday and Sunday.
• Samples and accompanying forms are then turned in at a central location Saturday and Sunday afternoon/evenings.
• We provide a list of recommended areas for sampling at the meeting and divide into groups.

Results of 2013 SOD Blitz

We participate in fairs, markets, and shows in the county that have an ecological, environmental or plant focus, including the Cambria Wildflower Show, events at the Botannical Garden, and the collaborative Morro Coast Audubon Society and CNPS picnic at Santa Margarita Lake to name a few. And we occasionally have a booth at the SLO Farmer’s Market thursday nights — look for us there! All upcoming Community Events are shown on our calendar.