Native Plant Sale, Ellington Films Today

Sunday

Another annual event happening only this weekend is the  at . This delightful exhibition is one of the first events I attended after moving to this area 15 years ago; here's what the organizers tell us about the 2012 show and sale, both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.:

Over 200 California Native plants and wildflowers will be displayed along with identifications.  If you've wondered what that little yellow flower or that familiar tree was, now you can find out. This is one of the finest displays in the state!  In addition, we have an excellent selection of hard-to-find native plants for sale that are ready for your Spring garden. Experts will be on hand to answer your questions.  Sponsored by the Napa Chapter of the California Native Plant Society. All proceeds benefit the maintenance, improvement, and educational programs of the Martha Walker California Native Habitat Garden in Skyline Park.

Here's another free event for flower fans:  is back at , where you can see these beautifully hand-painted natural blooms daily through early May.

And for jazz lovers, Napan Bruce Hopewell has a special treat for us before Sunday afternoon's Napa Valley Jazz Society concert at : Early films of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, from Hopewell's personal collection.

Arrive by 3 p.m. to enjoy the sights and sounds of the American jazz master and his fabled big band, and stay on for the 4 p.m concert by vocalist Ed Reed, with Leo Cavanagh opening. Tickets are $20 for members of the Napa and Sonoma Valley jazz societies, $40 for non-members at the door or (707) 224-JAZZ(5299).

And of course, the half-price pre-auction sale of gift shop merchandise at Copia is scheduled to conclude at 5 p.m. Sunday.

Earlier:

Art lovers, take note: The latest exhibition at the Brown Street Gallery opens Friday with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Featured artists are Sharon Backarich, Ian Stornetta, Shaun Corey and Michael Sutton and the gallery is at 2225 Brown St.

If you're reading this before about 10 p.m. Friday, there's still time to get down to the at at Pearl and West streets downtown. All kinds of music and performance art are welcome at this all-ages, non-commercial free evening of expression, which gets going at 7:30 p.m.; sign up with m.c. Julio Soriano for a three-song, 15-minute slot on the stage.

This weekend's marquee event is the Hoops to Stop Youth Violence game between teams from the city police and fire departments at the  gym, Saturday at 6 p.m.

According to the ,

The game will begin at 6 pm with the event introduction, event history, introduction of the Police and teams and the presentation of an AED to Napa High School by the . Tip Off will be at 6:30 pm. The Napa High Dance Team will perform the Halftime show. The proceeds from this event are donated to youth programs in the Napa Community such as the and DARE. 

Additional festivities will include a barbeque and resource fair starting at 5 PM. Raffle tickets will be on sale with chances to win fabulous Gift Baskets, a Money Tree and more. Tickets for the event are $5.

Thanks go out this week to Julio Soriano and Slack Collective for Open Mic, John L. Poole for Calla Lily Alley, Ian Stanley and the Napa Police Department for Hoops Against Violence, Henni Cohen and Kendra Baumgartner of the California Native Plant Society for the Wildflower Show and Native Plant Sale and Richard Danne and Bruce Hopewell for the Napa Valley Jazz Society concert and film screening.

Do you have an event that isn't yet listed in our calendar? Add it instantly and with ease at napa.patch.com/events/new!