Seminars, Workshops & Events
Master Gardener Plant Clinics 2025
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.
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May 4
June 1 July 13 August 10 |
September 7
October 5, November 2 |
Also visit: http://smsf-mastergardeners.ucanr.edu/plant-clinics/
https://smsf-mastergardeners.ucanr.edu
https://smsf-mastergardeners.ucanr.edu
2025 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.
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.
May
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iPHONE FLOWER PHOTOGRAPHY
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SUNDAY - May 4, 2025
1:00 - 3:30 pm |
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Fee: $10. In Person only
Registration required. Use the button below or call 650-579-0536x3 Presenter: Tom Upton In this iPhone Flowers class I will teach you how to combine your love of flowers and your favorite new addiction – the iPhone! I will address the creative power smart phone photography holds for us in the context of color and composition. I will guide you through a brief history of photographic materials from paper leading up to the CMOS sensor in your iPhone. I will demonstrate the iPhone camera features we all should know about for a solid starting point. As a bonus, there are some hidden features that available with the iPhones that are quite marvelous, and I will demonstrate those as well. Your mileage may vary, iPhones from the 6 through 16 are welcome. |
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As it happens there is a a fabulous garden available to us so after some initial learning indoors, we will venture into the arboretum where I can demonstrate and help you take photos of your own.
Tom Upton is a commercial photographer and one of the Bay area’s top photographer trainers. He believes third-person bios are beyond lame…
So I fired my AI writing bots. 😬
I am committed to enabling students find their own visions through the lens. My from-the-hip teaching style is hands-on, a bit nutty and laser focused on building confidence with today’s bonkers camera technologies. I have read all the manuals so you do not have to. Whether you’re looking to dive into photography for the first time or level-up your skills, my classes offer a fresh take on a time-worn and burnished artform –a supportive environment for growth you will not forget (like those exhausting online videos you never finish) Amen.
Join us today start making musical images today! ~TEU
Learn More about PhotoTrainer (and see what a ridiculous deal this class is) visit
https://phototrainer.com/ and https://tomstudio.com.
Tom Upton is a commercial photographer and one of the Bay area’s top photographer trainers. He believes third-person bios are beyond lame…
So I fired my AI writing bots. 😬
I am committed to enabling students find their own visions through the lens. My from-the-hip teaching style is hands-on, a bit nutty and laser focused on building confidence with today’s bonkers camera technologies. I have read all the manuals so you do not have to. Whether you’re looking to dive into photography for the first time or level-up your skills, my classes offer a fresh take on a time-worn and burnished artform –a supportive environment for growth you will not forget (like those exhausting online videos you never finish) Amen.
Join us today start making musical images today! ~TEU
Learn More about PhotoTrainer (and see what a ridiculous deal this class is) visit
https://phototrainer.com/ and https://tomstudio.com.
Register
June
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SUMMER ROSE CARE FOR BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS
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SUNDAY - June 1, 2025
1:00 - 2:30 pm |
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FREE! In Person and via Zoom
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536x3 With a few simple care techniques, many roses can flower multiple times through the year in the Bay Area. Learn how to care for your roses in the summer months to maximize repeat and profuse blooming. Healthy roses are great performers in the garden and this talk will also cover recognizing and handling pest and disease. Presenter: Archana Singh Archana is a San Mateo Arboretum Society Rose Garden Volunteer and has been growing roses for over 25 years. Her small garden is filled with 75 roses and more than a 150 different types of plants selected to attract birds, butterflies, bees and other pollinators. She believes in a no-nonsense approach to rose gardening and loves to share her passion with anyone willing to listen! |
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In-Person Registration |
Zoom Registration |
July
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GARDENING SAFETY, TOOLS AND TIPS AS WE AGE
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SUNDAY - July 13, 2025
1:00 - 2:30 pm |
FREE! In Person and via Zoom
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536x3
Gardening is a wonderful hobby that can provide mild exercise, stress reduction, and even increase your lifespan, according to recent research. However, gardening can also pose some challenges and risks for older adults, such as risking falls, and present difficulty bending, lifting, digging, kneeling, and getting up and down. If you have special limits talk to your doctor.
In this talk, Stu Dalton will share his experience and suggestions on how to make gardening safer and more pleasurable as we age. Stu has gardened over 60 years, and is a UC Master Gardener and American Rose Society Master Rosarian. He does have two total knee replacements and has had to learn how to deal with the limits in the garden. His Menlo Park garden has over 150 roses, flowers, fruit and vegetables. He will cover topics such as safety, warming up, preventing falls and being aware of hazards, using tools, technology, and tips to make gardening easier and more enjoyable. He will discuss safety, proper clothing and gloves, study shoes, stretch before starting. Not only that, but he will suggest what to do to assess hazards and your needs.
Gardening tools can make your work easier and faster, but they can also cause strain, pain, and fatigue if they are not used correctly or if they are not suitable for your needs. So he will cover how to reach, prune, lift, weed, dig, kneel and reduce falls as well as getting down and back up. The goal is more enjoyment and fewer physical limits.
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536x3
Gardening is a wonderful hobby that can provide mild exercise, stress reduction, and even increase your lifespan, according to recent research. However, gardening can also pose some challenges and risks for older adults, such as risking falls, and present difficulty bending, lifting, digging, kneeling, and getting up and down. If you have special limits talk to your doctor.
In this talk, Stu Dalton will share his experience and suggestions on how to make gardening safer and more pleasurable as we age. Stu has gardened over 60 years, and is a UC Master Gardener and American Rose Society Master Rosarian. He does have two total knee replacements and has had to learn how to deal with the limits in the garden. His Menlo Park garden has over 150 roses, flowers, fruit and vegetables. He will cover topics such as safety, warming up, preventing falls and being aware of hazards, using tools, technology, and tips to make gardening easier and more enjoyable. He will discuss safety, proper clothing and gloves, study shoes, stretch before starting. Not only that, but he will suggest what to do to assess hazards and your needs.
Gardening tools can make your work easier and faster, but they can also cause strain, pain, and fatigue if they are not used correctly or if they are not suitable for your needs. So he will cover how to reach, prune, lift, weed, dig, kneel and reduce falls as well as getting down and back up. The goal is more enjoyment and fewer physical limits.
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Presenter: Stu Dalton
Stu has been a member of the Peninsula Rose Society and American Rose Society (ARS) since 1985. He became a Consulting Rosarian in 1988 and has provided garden visits and education on rose care for decades. He also is a UC Master Gardener and has given numerous presentations on rose care appropriate for various times of the year. He covers equipment, safety in the garden, management of pests and diseases, principles of pruning or deadheading as well as demonstrating rose care techniques. He grows over 200 roses of many types in his Menlo Park home. |
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In-Person Registration |
Zoom Registration |
August
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LEARN THE BENEFITS OF SUMMER PRUNING FRUIT TREES AND SHRUBS
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SUNDAY - August 3, 2025
1:00 - 2:30 pm |
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FREE! In Person and via Zoom
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536x3 In this class, learn how to control the size of your fruit trees by summer pruning. Get better fruit production, less disease and insect problems and make harvesting easier. Additional benefits of summer pruning are improved light exposure, sturdier branch development and control of undesirable growth. |
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Presenters: Lisa Putnam and Kathleen Putnam
Lisa Putnam has a BS in Agricultural Economics from UC Davis and also studied nutrition science at Davis. She currently manages a small sustainable organic farm in Woodside and Portola Valley and is a UC Master Gardener and Master Composter. Lisa’s passion is soil and compost. Along with her sister Kathleen, has been teaching gardening at Lyngso’s, San Mateo County Fair, and Garden Clubs for the last 16 years.
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. Kathleen’s passion is fruit trees and soil. Along with her sister Lisa, has been teaching vegetable gardening and pruning techniques at many venues for the last 16 years.
Lisa Putnam has a BS in Agricultural Economics from UC Davis and also studied nutrition science at Davis. She currently manages a small sustainable organic farm in Woodside and Portola Valley and is a UC Master Gardener and Master Composter. Lisa’s passion is soil and compost. Along with her sister Kathleen, has been teaching gardening at Lyngso’s, San Mateo County Fair, and Garden Clubs for the last 16 years.
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. Kathleen’s passion is fruit trees and soil. Along with her sister Lisa, has been teaching vegetable gardening and pruning techniques at many venues for the last 16 years.
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In-Person Registration |
Zoom Registration |
September
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BEGONIAS - PERFECT FOR THE SAN MATEO CLIMATE
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SUNDAY - September 7, 2025
1:00 - 2:30 pm |
FREE! In Person and via Zoom
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536x3
There is a begonia to fit almost any partially shaded spot in your home or garden. The forms range from indoor houseplants to outdoor ground covers, shrubs, and flower beds, all with exceptional leaves and flowers. Members of the SF Begonia chapter will give an overview the various classifications, their diversity, and cultural requirements. See https://sfbegonia.org for further chapter and cultural information.
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536x3
There is a begonia to fit almost any partially shaded spot in your home or garden. The forms range from indoor houseplants to outdoor ground covers, shrubs, and flower beds, all with exceptional leaves and flowers. Members of the SF Begonia chapter will give an overview the various classifications, their diversity, and cultural requirements. See https://sfbegonia.org for further chapter and cultural information.
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Presenters: Tereza Flaxman and Pam Keagy
Tereza is a member of the San Francisco Begonia Society, and a Judge for the American Begonia Society. She will give a presentation on "How to Grow and Care for several types of non-tuberous Begonias. Her presentation will show the various classifications and their diversity. How to watch for pests and diseases, and how to get rid of them. Pam is a retired research scientist and member of the San Francisco Begonia Society. She was the lead volunteer for the tuberous begonia beds at the Gardens at Lake Merritt and specializes in growing and propagating the large flowered tuber-hybrida varieties. She will give an overview of the tuberous varieties and their unique cultural requirements. |
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In-Person Registration |
Zoom Registration |
October
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SUCCULENT TOPPED PUMPKIN WORKSHOP
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SUNDAY - October 5, 2025
1:00 - 3:00 pm (In Person); 1:00 - 2:00 pm (Zoom) |
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Limited to 20 In-Person and 10 Zoom attendees
Fee: San Mateo Arboretum Society Members: $30/pumpkin; Non-Members: $40/pumpkin Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536x3 Arboretum volunteers will show you how to make a unique decoration to celebrate the Fall Season. You purchase a 6-8 inch wide pumpkin, and we will supply you with all the materials you need to decorate your pumpkin. Those viewing on Zoom will be emailed dates and times when kits can be picked up at the San Mateo Arboretum Society. |
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In-Person Registration |
Zoom Registration |
November
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RAIN WATER HARVESTING AND RAIN GARDENS
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SUNDAY - November 2, 2025
1:00 - 2:30 pm |
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FREE! In Person and via Zoom
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536x3 Curious about rain gardens? These stunning, eco-friendly landscapes do more than enhance your property—they actively support water conservation and climate resilience. Learn how rain gardens: √ Manage stormwater runoff and prevent erosion √ Reduce flood risks while filtering pollutants √ Recharge groundwater and protect water resources Join guest presenter Shelkie Tao as she shares expert insights on designing biodiverse, water- efficient gardens that benefit both your home and the environment. Don’t miss this chance to turn rain into a resource! |
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Shelkie Tao is a landscape designer and founder of WaterEfficientGardens.com, an online landscape design business specializing in creating beautiful and sustainable gardens using primarily low-water native plants. With over a decade of experience in Silicon Valley's high-tech industry, Shelkie brings a unique perspective to her work, focusing on developing innovative, water-saving, and ecosystem-friendly solutions. She holds a Certificate of Achievement in Environmental Horticulture and Design from Foothill College and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
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In-Person Registration |
Zoom Registration |
December
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HOLIDAY WREATH WORKSHOP
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SUNDAY - December 7, 2025
11:00 am - 1:00 pm (In Person); 11:00 am - 12:00 noon (Zoom) |
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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. |
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In-Person Registration |
Zoom Registration |
