CNPS Executive Director Jun Bando Visits San Diego Chapter Projects

CNPS Executive Director Jun Bando Visits San Diego Chapter Projects

On August 15, while in San Diego for the 30×30 Symposium at the San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat), CNPS Executive Director Jun Bando spent the day connecting with our chapter members and exploring some of the special native plant projects in our region.

Jun joined members Lee Gordon, Vince Scheidt, Sherry Ashbaugh, Kevin Celniker, Holly McMillan, and Jim Chute to visit a rare population of Monardella viminea (Willowy Mint), a federally listed endangered species found only in San Diego County. This unique opportunity highlighted the chapter’s ongoing commitment to native plant conservation and habitat protection.

Afterward, Jun and CNPS Senior Director, Public Affairs Liv O’Keeffe, toured Balboa Park’s Adopt-A-Plot native garden at Bird Park, installed and lovingly maintained by the San Diego Chapter Garden

Committee. Committee member Christine Hoey and Forever Balboa Park Horticulture Chair, Lucy Warren shared the garden’s history and the exciting vision for its future. Plans are underway to expand the site into a “Learning Garden,” designed to serve as an educational hub where the public can explore native plants, pollinator habitats, and sustainable gardening practices.

Jun and Liv enjoyed meeting our chapter members, hearing about current conservation and gardening initiatives, and seeing firsthand how volunteers are building connections between people and native plants. Their visit was an energizing reminder of the impact our chapter makes both locally and statewide.

Photos: Patrick Manley