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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Upcoming Events
SUNDAY - MAY 4, 2025. 1:00 - 3:30 pm
iPHONE FLOWER PHOTOGRAPHY
In this iPhone Flowers class, you will learn how to combine your love of flowers and your favorite new addiction – the iPhone!
The class will cover a brief history of photographic materials from paper leading up to the CMOS sensor in your iPhone. It will address the creative power smart phone photography holds for us in the context of color and composition. The iPhone camera features we all should know about will be demonstrated and as a bonus some hidden features that available with the iPhones will be discussed as well. After an initial learning indoors, the class will head outside to the gardens to put their new-found knowledge into practice and take their own photos. iPhones from the 6 through 16 are welcome.
For additional information and event registration links, see the Classes page.
In this iPhone Flowers class, you will learn how to combine your love of flowers and your favorite new addiction – the iPhone!
The class will cover a brief history of photographic materials from paper leading up to the CMOS sensor in your iPhone. It will address the creative power smart phone photography holds for us in the context of color and composition. The iPhone camera features we all should know about will be demonstrated and as a bonus some hidden features that available with the iPhones will be discussed as well. After an initial learning indoors, the class will head outside to the gardens to put their new-found knowledge into practice and take their own photos. iPhones from the 6 through 16 are welcome.
For additional information and event registration links, see the Classes page.
SUNDAY - MAY 4, 2025
MASTER GARDENER PLANT CLINIC
The Master Gardeners will be available to answer your questions from general information to advice about specific problems. 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. At the Kohl Pumphouse. Come by anytime between noon and 3:00pm.
See the Classes page for details and additional Plant Clinic dates.
The Master Gardeners will be available to answer your questions from general information to advice about specific problems. 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. At the Kohl Pumphouse. Come by anytime between noon and 3:00pm.
See the Classes page for details and additional Plant Clinic dates.
Interested in learning what SMAS has planned? Click Here to sign up for our monthly E-Mail Blast.
Find us on Social Media:
Tribute Bricks
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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) and/or time of installation. Donors will be notified when installation is complete. Cancellation fees may apply. Your purchase is fully tax-deductible. We make every effort to install tribute bricks quickly. But the typical time to process and install a tribute brick is approximately 3 months as we depend on an outside vendor to create them. Questions: Call 650-579-0536 x0 |
Pumphouse Rental
PLANT SALES
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... Come see us and the gardens soon!
SALE HOURS
Saturday & Sunday Noon - 3:00pm (weather permitting)
Access to the Nursery/Greenhouse is through the North Gate (5th Avenue side of the property).
Payment forms are credit, debit cards, or Apple Pay - NO CASH OR CHECKS
SALE HOURS
Saturday & Sunday Noon - 3:00pm (weather permitting)
Access to the Nursery/Greenhouse is through the North Gate (5th Avenue side of the property).
Payment forms are credit, debit cards, or Apple Pay - NO CASH OR CHECKS
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SMAS accepts donations of plants, divisions, cuttings, pots and garden ornaments
The best times to drop off donations are weekday mornings 10am-12:30pm during volunteer work hours or during sale hours on weekends noon-3pm. If these times don't work, Contact us to arrange another time. If you do NOT want a donation receipt, you may simply leave your donations at any time outside our main gate (entrance to the Pumphouse and Victorian Garden) or the north gate (entrance to the nursery).
SMAS does not accept chemicals such as fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides or insecticides. Refer to the San Mateo County Health website: www.smchealth.org/hhw
SMAS does not accept chemicals such as fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides or insecticides. Refer to the San Mateo County Health website: www.smchealth.org/hhw
COME GROW WITH US
SMAS is always looking for volunteers with every type of skill you can imagine! Whether you love playing in the dirt, teaching our youth, have a talent for making plants thrive, handy around the house, creative.
Come and show off your talents!
Come and show off your talents!
As a fully “member and volunteer powered” organization, we invite you to participate in our ongoing efforts, as follows:
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Become a Member
Annual membership dues help to fund the excellent educational functions provided to the public. Volunteer
Volunteers provide the work for all our activities and functions. Expert skill level is not required – simply a desire to contribute to the Arboretum Society’s objectives. |
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OUR THANKS
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For their ongoing support of the San Mateo Arboretum Society, we give special thanks to:
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NEW at SMAS
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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! |
Summer in the SMAS Central Park Rose Garden
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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. |
