Seminars, Workshops & Events
Master Gardener Plant Clinics 2026
The Master Gardeners are 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 on the following Sundays. Come by anytime between noon and 3:00 pm.
|
March 1
April 12 May 3 June 7 |
July 12
August 2 September 6 or 13 (To be confirmed) October 4 November 1 |
Also visit: https://smsf-mastergardeners.ucanr.edu
SEMINAR SCHEDULE
Unless otherwise stated, seminars and workshops are hybrid, offered with a small, in-person group and online using Zoom video conferencing. Online attendees will receive an email with a Zoom link the day before the seminar. In-person attendees will also receive a Zoom link in case they cannot attend at the last minute. Please notify SMAS as soon as possible if you are unable to attend in person. Registration is required for both in-person and video conference attendance. NOTE: If an in-person class is booked, register for Zoom to be notified of any cancellations.
SMAS may take photographs for educational and promotional purposes. Registering for an event implies permission to appear in a photograph. Your privacy is important to us. If you do NOT want to appear, please notify SMAS in writing (email is acceptable) at least two days prior to the event. We will do our best to accommodate your request.
SMAS may take photographs for educational and promotional purposes. Registering for an event implies permission to appear in a photograph. Your privacy is important to us. If you do NOT want to appear, please notify SMAS in writing (email is acceptable) at least two days prior to the event. We will do our best to accommodate your request.
December 2025
HOLIDAY WREATH WORKSHOP
|
SATURDAY - December 6, 2025
11:00 am - 1:00 pm (In Person only) |
SUNDAY - December 7, 2025
11:00 am - 1:00 pm (In Person); 11:00 am - 12:00 noon (Zoom) |
|
Saturday workshop limited to 14 In-Person attendees
Sunday workshop limited to 14 In-Person and 15 Zoom attendees Fee*: San Mateo Arboretum Society Members: $35/wreath; Non-Members: $45/wreath Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536x3 Use your imagination to create a one-of-a-kind beautiful wreath. We will provide a variety of fresh greens from San Mateo Central Park and all the supplies (frame, ribbon, wire & embellishments) you need to create your wreath. All you need to provide is pruning sheers and gloves. Zoom participants will be emailed dates & times when supplies can be picked up at the San Mateo Arboretum Society. *Refunds up to 7 days before the event. Email [email protected] to cancel your reservation. The In-Person workshops are fully booked. To join the waitlist, register for Zoom on December 7. |
|
Registration for Saturday, December 6, 2025:
In-Person Registration
Registration for Sunday, December 7, 2025:
|
In-Person Registration |
Zoom Registration |
January 2026
|
ROSE PRUNING SEMINAR
|
SUNDAY - January 4, 2026
1:00 - 3:00 pm (In Person) & 1:00 - 2:00 pm (Zoom) |
FREE! In Person and via Zoom
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536x3
Master Rosarian, Stuart Dalton, will teach you how to shape your rose bushes to encourage beautiful profuse flowering with winter pruning and winter care.
In-person attendees: Following the talk and demonstration, weather permitting, we will go to the rose garden to prune roses. Bring pruning shears and gloves (preferably long gauntlet type). We will also have a few roses for sale.
Stu is President of the Peninsula Rose Society, an American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian and A UCCE Master Gardener for San Mateo and San Francisco Counties. He has provided pruning demonstrations at nurseries and rose societies for 30 years. Articles, slides, guidelines and youtube videos are available on the Peninsula Rose Society website, www.peninsularosesociety.org.
Registration closes Saturday, January 3 at 12:00 noon PST.
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536x3
Master Rosarian, Stuart Dalton, will teach you how to shape your rose bushes to encourage beautiful profuse flowering with winter pruning and winter care.
In-person attendees: Following the talk and demonstration, weather permitting, we will go to the rose garden to prune roses. Bring pruning shears and gloves (preferably long gauntlet type). We will also have a few roses for sale.
Stu is President of the Peninsula Rose Society, an American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian and A UCCE Master Gardener for San Mateo and San Francisco Counties. He has provided pruning demonstrations at nurseries and rose societies for 30 years. Articles, slides, guidelines and youtube videos are available on the Peninsula Rose Society website, www.peninsularosesociety.org.
Registration closes Saturday, January 3 at 12:00 noon PST.
|
In-Person Registration
|
Zoom Registration |
|
HELP PRUNE CENTRAL PARK'S ROSE GARDEN
|
SATURDAY - January 10, 2026 (Heavy rain postpones)
10:00 am - 12:00 noon |
|
FREE!
Registration requested. Come to learn or share your expertise on how to prune roses. No experience is necessary. Volunteers from the San Mateo Arboretum Society will be on hand to instruct beginners. Light refreshments will be provided. Dress warmly and bring pruning shears and gloves (preferably long gauntlet type). Location: Central Park Rose Garden - meet at the gazebo. Children ages 13 - 17 welcome with accompanying adults. All volunteers are required to sign a City of San Mateo Volunteer Release and Waiver of Liability. |
Registration
February 2026
|
LEARN HOW TO SOIL BLOCK FOR SEED STARTING
|
SUNDAY - February 1, 2026
1:00 - 2:30 pm |
|
FREE! In Person and via Zoom
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536x3 Join UC Master Gardeners Rich Busacker, Susan Houston and Debra Skorupka and get your hands dirty while learning how to make “soil blocks” – a method of starting seeds in cubes of compressed soil. This seed starting method eliminates the use of plastic pots and reduces the disruption of plant roots when transplanting. Why Soil Blocking? ● It’s sustainable – no plastic ● It’s simple—easy to control soil moisture, up-pot, transport, and plant ● Leads to stronger seedlings—better root branching anchors seedlings, roots are air pruned not root bound, matures faster Registration closes Saturday, January 31 at 12:00 noon PST. |
|
In-Person Registration
|
Zoom Registration |
March 2026
|
CAMELLIAS
|
SUNDAY - March 1, 2026
1:00 - 2:30 pm |
FREE! In Person and via Zoom
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536x3
Details to be provided soon.
Registration closes Saturday, February 28 at 12:00 noon PST.
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536x3
Details to be provided soon.
Registration closes Saturday, February 28 at 12:00 noon PST.
|
In-Person Registration
|
Zoom Registration |
April 2026
|
VISIT A WORKING REGENERATIVE FARM IN WOODSIDE
|
SUNDAY - April 12, 2026
1:00 - 2:30 pm |
FREE! In Person only
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536x3
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536x3
|
Come and enjoy a working regenerative farm. Mission Farm is committed to soil health and therefore they use regenerative practices. They keep their soil covered with either living mulch/cover crops or mulch, they keep living roots in the ground around, and they plant a diversity of crops,. Lisa and Kathleen will go through the five principles of regenerative agriculture and do hands-on demonstration on how healthy that makes your soil and hence how healthy your plants are, which makes the nutrient density incredible in these crops.
Mission Farm is run by a team of volunteers that work in the garden and harvest every Monday and Thursday, donating hundreds of pounds of fruits of vegetables to St. Francis Center and Samaritan House. For additional details, see https://ucanr.edu/site/mgsmsf/mission-farm |
Lisa Putnam has a BS in Agricultural Economics from UC Davis and also studied nutrition science at Davis. She is a UC Master Gardener and Master Composter.
Kathleen Putnam is a professional organic vegetable gardener serving the Mid-Peninsula and is an ISA Certified Arborist. Kathleen has a certificate in Environmental Horticulture from City College of San Francisco and is a UC Master Gardener. 
|
Location details will be provided the week before the event. Registration closes Saturday, April 11 at 12:00 noon PST.
Registration
