Growing Natives Garden Tour 2024
Volunteer Registration Form

The Tour

The array of gardens on the Growing Natives Garden Tour ranges from established collector's gardens to those that are newly installed, and from acre lots to townhome gardens. A few gardens will contain mostly local native plants, others the horticulturally available suite of natives from throughout California, and the rest a mixture of natives and Mediterranean plants. Some gardens have been designed and installed by owners, the others by professionals.

What's special about California native plants? They are adapted to our soil and climate, and are easy to care for. A large number of native plants are naturally drought tolerant. They are unmatched in habitat value, attracting native birds, butterflies, and other forms of wildlife. And, as the gardens on the tour show, California native plants are beautiful; the gardens on the tour display a sense of place that is uniquely Californian.

Gardens on this tour were selected because they:

  • Feature native plants
  • Are pesticide-free
  • Reduce waste by composting, mulching, and selecting appropriate plants
  • Conserve water
  • Provide habitat for wildlife
Volunteer Participation

Tour volunteers must:

  • Enjoy public education and interaction
  • Be able to commit to either the 9:45AM-1:15PM shift, or the 12:45PM-4:15PM shift. (Volunteers may use the balance of the time to tour gardens.)

You can be a Greeter or a Docent:

Greeters welcome guests and make sure that they sign in. They direct the flow of traffic into the garden. They encourage guests to add comments to the sign-in sheet.

Docents (after orientation) help answer questions about the homeowner's garden.

All Volunteers will receive an E-mail package that includes details about the agreed-upon garden assignment, a host gardener plant list, and other related materials.

To volunteer for the 2024 Tour, please complete the form below.

CREDITS: Special thanks to Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour and Kathy Kramer for assistance with tour planning and permission to adapt their materials.

Volunteer Registration Form

Growing Natives Garden Tour
Saturday, April 13, 2024 (northern area gardens: Los Altos, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Mateo, Sunnyvale)
Sunday, April 14, 2024 (southern area gardens: Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill, San Jose, Santa Clara)
10 am – 4 pm

Please answer all questions. This information will not be distributed; it will only be used to facilitate tour planning and communication.

Last Name

First Name

Street Address

City

 Zip

Day phone

Evening phone

Email

Confirm Email address

I prefer to be a

Greeter Docent

I prefer the

Morning shift (9:45AM-1:15PM) Afternoon shift (12:45PM-4:15PM) Both Morning and Afternoon No preference

You can choose a garden or a geographic area where you would prefer to volunteer. Enter the garden names and/or cities below.
I have no garden preference, please have Tour staff assign my garden.

#1 choice:

#2 choice:

#3 choice:

Where did you hear that volunteers are needed?
I think I can help find additional volunteers. Please email me a short volunteer solicitation I can forward to others.
I can distribute Garden Tour Flyers. (We will email you a URL when the flyers are ready for distribution.)

Desired T-shirt size (also please specify 'Unisex' or 'Ladies')

Note: if you have already a T-shirt from one of the past years and would like to re-use it this year, please enter 'NONE' as the size.
We also have some T-shirts from the past years available, mostly in larger sizes, but also a couple of smaller ones. If you would like one of these soon-to-be-collector-item T-shirts, please indicate your choice(s) in the comments below. The past-years' T-shirts will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The following designs are available, primarily in L and XL sizes:
- Salvia
- Matilija poppy
- Dogulas iris
- Showy milkweed
If your choice(s) run out, you will receive this year's design (California Poppy).

On which day do you want to volunteer? Do you have any comments?

We use the Groups.io 'gngtVolunteers' group to communicate with volunteers about tour activities and to invite them to garden previews. Please check the box below if you would like to subscribe to this Group.
Yes! Please subscribe me to the gngtVolunteers group.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District, a major sponsor of the Growing Natives Garden Tour, has asked us to make sure all participants (including volunteers) accept the following waiver. Please indicate your acceptance of the liability waiver by checking the box below.

WAIVER OF LIABILITY (required): In consideration for being allowed to participate in the Growing Natives Garden Tour, I agree to hold harmless and indemnify the Santa Clara Valley Water District and its retailers and each member of their Boards of Directors and their officers, agents and employees, all other sponsors and supporters, Growing Natives Garden Tour and its organizers, garden owners, volunteers, docents, and sponsors from any and all claims, demands, damages, expenses, and any other liability for injury, death, damage, loss or liability of any kind arising out of or resulting from participation in the tour excepting claims arising out of willful misconduct or gross negligence.

Please submit your completed volunteer registration by clicking on the Submit button below. Your registration has not been submitted until the Submit button has been pressed.