Welcome to the San Mateo Arboretum SocietySMAS is a “member and volunteer powered” organization dedicated to the preservation of San Mateo’s rich horticultural heritage. Our headquarters and most of our activities are focused around the Kohl Pump House area in Central Park.
Our mission is to enhance the community by connecting people and plants through horticultural education with an emphasis on sustainability.
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Help Fund the Rose Garden Arbors
The Arboretum Society is adding two beautiful arbors for climbing roses on either side of the gazebo in the Rose Garden. Please help fund this effort if you can. We hope to complete the project by late summer. More details available at the Rose Arbor Funding page.
EVENT IS THIS SATURDAY! HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
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Saturday
MAY 20 Noon to 4:00 |
At the San Mateo Arboretum Society
San Mateo’s Central Park
101 9th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94401
San Mateo’s Central Park
101 9th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94401
Download the file belowfor the flyer to the event!

2023smasopenhouse.pdf | |
File Size: | 466 kb |
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Central Park Centennial Exhibit
Central Park was founded in 1922. The commemorate to the park's 100th anniversary, can be found on the Centennial Exhibit page.
2023 INFORMATION ON THE CLASSES & EVENTS PAGE
SUNDAY - JUNE 04, 2023
NATIVE PLANTS
with Master Gardener Leslie Muennemann |
SEMINARS ARE ON ZOOM and SMALL IN-PERSON GROUPS!
The San Mateo Arboretum Society (SMAS) is in full swing with their seminars and workshops. The Small In-Person Groups are depending on Covid. You can sign-up on this website. For those viewing on Zoom, a day before an event you will receive an E-mail with the link and meeting ID..
SMAS is now presenting the recordings from the ZOOM Seminars and Workshops. Click Here to go the page where you will find the links to the recordings.
Go to the Newsletter Page and read about what has been going on!
If you are interested in learning what SMAS has planned,
sign-up for our monthly E-Mail Blast.
Click Here to get to signup for the E-Mail blast.
Tribute Bricks

Celebrate a special occasion or memory of a loved one among the flowers and heritage trees of San Mateo's Central Park.
Purchase engraved, personalized bricks for permanent placement along the pathway in the Butterfly-Hummingbird Garden has now been expanded to the Rose Garden.
All bricks will be installed at different phases. SMAS cannot guarantee the exact location of the brick(s) andor time of installation. Donors will be notified when installation is complete. Cancellation fees may apply. Your purchase is fully deductable.
Questions: Call 650-579-0536 x0
Did you miss out on the FUN?
A group of VERY talented people joined the Rose Pruning event in the Central Park Rose Garden.on January 21st. The weather cooperated giving all a beautiful day to tend to the roses.
THANKS to all who attended and supported the San Mateo Arboretum to help make the Rose Garden ready for another spectacular display this year!
THANKS for the addition of new photos from the Rose Pruning event!
NEWS FROM THE GREENHOUSE
Our very creative and talented volunteers are at it again. They are busy planning the next creative items for sale... more news soon!
If you haven't been to the park or our Greenhouses recently, you are missing out on the wonderful plants for sale and the beauty of the Butterfly Hummingbird Garden... enjoy the photos and come to see us and the gardens soon!
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NURSERY SALE HOURS
Saturday & Sunday noon - 3:00pm
Saturday & Sunday noon - 3:00pm
Access: Access to the Nursery/Greenhouse is through the North Gate (5th Avenue side of the property).
SMAS accepts donations of plants and pots.
However, SMAS no longer accepts chemicals such as synthetic fertilizers or pest insecticides. SMAS has been using organic materials for a few years. You can take to these items to the San Mateo County Toxic Waste Drop Off, 32 Tower Road. You must have an appointment. They are open Thursday, Friday, Saturday only.
However, SMAS no longer accepts chemicals such as synthetic fertilizers or pest insecticides. SMAS has been using organic materials for a few years. You can take to these items to the San Mateo County Toxic Waste Drop Off, 32 Tower Road. You must have an appointment. They are open Thursday, Friday, Saturday only.
NEWS FROM THE MASTER GARDENERS
Master Gardener Plant Clinics will be at SMAS
May 07, June 04, July 09, August 06, September 10, October 01, & November 05, 2023
Come by anytime between noon and 3:00pm
The Master Gardeners will be available to answer your questions from general information to advice about specific problems. You bring samples of your problem plants for better diagnosis. If you suspect insect damage, try to include some of the insects so they can be correctly identified.
http://smsf-mastergardeners.ucanr.edu/plant-clinics/
Their website is: https://smsf-mastergardeners.ucanr.edu
http://smsf-mastergardeners.ucanr.edu/plant-clinics/
Their website is: https://smsf-mastergardeners.ucanr.edu
The link to subscribe to the MG Newsletter: https://smsf-mastergardeners.ucanr.edu/newsletter/
Thank you to MC, professional graphic designer (and fun loving gardener) for sharing her talent with us on our volunteer flyer. Creativity and a green thumb, how can you go wrong? Contact number is 650-596-0596
Speaking of our volunteers... the nursery hosted volunteers from Backblaze for work party in October as part of their wellness initiative. They did a fantastic job of cleaning and tidying the nursery to prepare for the winter rains. Backblaze is a cloud storage company located in downtown San Mateo. We are lucky to have them so close as they are great supporters of SMAS.
MOVING FORWARD...
The Pumphouse Renovation has been completed! Through our fundraising SMAS was able to refresh the building with new floors, fresh paint, complete modern kitchen, functional window coverings, ceiling fans and lighting, an AV System, and more. This was a labor of love for the organization and commitment to the City of San Mateo, in particular the Parks and Rec Department.
As we move forward, our fundraising goal is to "refresh" the SMAS Greenhouses. Our volunteers are providing amazing plants and show them in 60+ year old buildings. Just imagine what could be possible with updated watering, allocation of space, and more.
We are also going to be fundraising for two new entry arbors in the Rose Garden. There will be more to come on this fundraising as we receive more details.
Check back to learn about our plans and how you might help.
As we move forward, our fundraising goal is to "refresh" the SMAS Greenhouses. Our volunteers are providing amazing plants and show them in 60+ year old buildings. Just imagine what could be possible with updated watering, allocation of space, and more.
We are also going to be fundraising for two new entry arbors in the Rose Garden. There will be more to come on this fundraising as we receive more details.
Check back to learn about our plans and how you might help.
NEW at SMAS
A portion of the gardens around the historic Kohl Pumphouse are being renovated by several of our amazing volunteers! The area just south of the greenhouses is being renovated and will hold a Demo Shade Garden. The volunteers will propagate the plants and will make them available in the nursery for sale.
The two Demo Gardens, Sun and Shade, provide visitors with visual ideas for their own gardens. Be sure to visit this summer! |
COVID 19 UPDATE, 2022
The SMAS Board has re-evaluated access days to the Greenhouse and Nursery.
Still with the dynamic nature of the situation, the change to the SMAS policy is:
The SMAS Board is following guidelines suggested by the City of San Mateo.
Still with the dynamic nature of the situation, the change to the SMAS policy is:
- The nursery is open on Saturdays and Sundays,
noon-3 pm, weather permitting - The houseplant and orchid greenhouses are open. HOWEVER access to the greenhouses may be limited to reduce congestion inside
- Payment forms are credit, debit cards, or Apple Pay - NO CASH OR CHECKS
The SMAS Board is following guidelines suggested by the City of San Mateo.
Host Your Event at the Arboretum
New policies are listed on the Venue Rental page.
Booking for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday should be done 120 days in advance.to ensure availability.
For more information about booking and availability, visit the Venue Rental page. |
Summer in the SMAS Central Park Rose Garden
Winter in the SMAS Central Park was busy! The trained Rose Volunteers prune all of the rose bushes, and add compost and mulch to all the garden beds. Now the Rose Volunteers are busy weeding and deadheading the 100+ roses.
This tedious work that the SMAS Rose Volunteers provide that make for a beautiful spot in SM Central Park for the community and visitors to enjoy! The roses are in full bloom and offer GREAT photo opportunities as well as a peaceful place to sit and enjoy nature. |
Grow with Us
As a fully “member and volunteer powered” organization, we invite you to participate in our ongoing efforts, as follows:
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Nursery/Greenhouse Plant Sales
ACCESS: Access to the Nursery/Greenhouse is through the North Gate (5th Avenue side of the property).
REGULAR HOURS
RAIN Due to rain the open times may occasionally need to be different than above, so don’t hesitate to call us before coming.
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