Coastal Wildflower Day This Saturday

Coastal Wildflower Day celebrates the native plants of the San Mateo coast with activities for all ages, including nature walks, games involving plants, a native plant nursery and demonstration garden, local artists and live music. There will also be opportunities for service in honor of the upcoming Earth Day. Details on the day can be found at coastalwildflowerday.org.

This year the festival has been expanded to the Coastside Trail, which follows the scenic coast the length of Half Moon Bay State Beach. Artists and performers will be featured along the trail, celebrating nature with music, dance, and art. Details can be found at http://bit.ly/CWDArtists2016.

The festival will highlight the contributions of young people with the display of a mural by Ellen Silva’s mural class at the Pilarcitos High School (see photo) and a native plant restoration project undertaken by high school senior Ben Scofield as an Eagle Scout project.

Young people and all who like to color can also participate in a coloring contest, submitting a completed coloring page at the Half Moon Bay Visitor Center on April 16. The page is online and available in both English and Spanish at the Half Moon Bay Library and New Leaf Community Market in Half Moon Bay.

The native wildflowers in the photos are all in bloom in the nursery and gardens at Half Moon Bay State Beach (Francis Beach) and will be on sale in the nursery for a donation to State Parks during the Coastal Wildflower Day festival.