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.
May 3
June 7
July 12
August 2
September 6
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.
MAY 2026
COMPOST HAPPENS!
SUNDAY – May 3, 2026. 1:00 – 2:30 pm
FREE! In Person only
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536×3
Learn the basics of backyard composting with Norine Cepernich. Learn why composting matters, how to do it, and how to use the finished “black gold”. Discover the fun of worm composting, known as vermicomposting, using worms, cardboard ,and kitchen scraps. All attendees will be required to sign a UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Agriculture & Natural Resources Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement form.
Norine Cepernich has had a lifetime of being a gardener, starting with her grandfather growing tomatoes in his San Francisco backyard. She became a Master Composter in 2009 and a Master Gardener in 2019. She is a co-lead at the MG Garden Education Center, (GEC) where edibles and cover crops are grown year round. Composting is a huge part of the continued success with impressive harvests.
Location: UC Master Gardener Gardening Education Center (GEC) at the San Mateo Event Center (next to the Jockey Club). 2495 Delaware Street, San Mateo, 94403.
Parking and venue details: Free parking. Use the Delaware Street entrance.
NOTE: If registrations are fully booked, use the Join Waitlist button to join the waitlist and be notified of any cancellations. Registration closes Saturday, May 2 at 12:00 noon PST.
JUNE 2026
HABITAT GARDENING – ATTRACTING BIRDS, BEES AND BUTTERFLIES TO YOUR GARDEN
SUNDAY – June 7, 2026. 1:00 – 2:30 pm
FREE! In Person and via Zoom
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536×3
Would you like to invite birds, bees, and butterflies into your backyard? Have you considered adding pollinator friendly and California native plants to your garden? Not sure where to start?
In this talk, UC Master Gardeners Lynne Trulio and Bobby Nabili will share tips and tricks to help you be successful in your own journey with native plants. A list of essential beginner-friendly natives will be discussed, with special attention given to creating a habitat of native plants that will bring more birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects into your garden.
Presenters: Lynne Trulio and Bobby Nabili
UC Master Gardener Lynne Trulio is a retired professor of environmental studies at San Jose State University and has a Ph.D. in Ecology from UC Davis. Her research focused on protecting biodiversity in California, especially the preservation of the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) and the restoration of tidal wetlands. She is a graduate of the 2024 UC Master Gardener class and has deep interests in native species and vegetable gardening.
UC Master Gardener Bobby Nabili’s passion for nature and the environment led him to become a Master Gardener (’24) to educate the public about sustainable gardening practices. After implementing a successful Habitat Garden with his wife at their Redwood City home, he’s sharing his learnings about creating beautiful and functional gardens using pollinator-friendly and native plants that are hospitable settings for birds, bees, and butterflies to thrive.
NOTE: If the in-person class is booked, register for Zoom to join the waitlist and be notified of any cancellations. Registration closes Saturday, June 6 at 12:00 noon PST.
JULY 2026
RE-THINK YOUR LAWN: CREATING WATER-EFFICIENT & CLIMATE RESILIENT LANDSCAPES
SUNDAY – July 12, 2026. 1:00 – 2:30 pm
FREE! In Person and via Zoom
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536×3
Transform your outdoor space with our class, “Re-Think Your Lawn: Creating Water-efficient & Climate Resilient Landscapes.” Join us to explore innovative landscaping techniques that conserve water and enhance resilience against climate change. Learn how to cultivate beautiful, sustainable gardens that thrive in any weather condition while minimizing your environmental footprint. Perfect for homeowners and gardening enthusiasts looking to make a positive impact. Sign up today and start reimagining your lawn.
Presenter: Frank Niccoli
Frank Niccoli has been a gardener for over 72 years. He was seven when his grandmother taught him the magic in seeds. He has a degree in horticulture having studied at the Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and at the College of San Mateo and also has a degree in Business Psychology and was an instructor in the Environmental Horticulture Dept at Foothill College. He is the past president of the founding chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association and served on the Board for the Association of Professional Landscape Designers.
Sponsored by Bay Area Water Service Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) https://bawsca.org
NOTE: If the in-person class is booked, register for Zoom to join the waitlist and be notified of any cancellations. Registration closes Saturday, July 11 at 12:00 noon PST.
AUGUST 2026
LAUNDRY TO LANDSCAPE
SUNDAY – August 2, 2026. 1:00 – 2:30 pm
FREE! In Person and via Zoom
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536×3
Discover the revolutionary concept of “Laundry to Landscape” in our upcoming class! Learn how to repurpose your greywater from laundry into a resource that nourishes your garden and reduces water waste. This workshop will teach you sustainable practices that enhance your landscape’s health while conserving precious resources. Ideal for eco-conscious homeowners and gardening enthusiasts. Join us and transform your laundry routine into a sustainable landscape solution!
Presenter: Frank Niccoli
Frank Niccoli has been a gardener for over 72 years. He was seven when his grandmother taught him the magic in seeds. He has a degree in horticulture having studied at the Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and at the College of San Mateo and also has a degree in Business Psychology and was an instructor in the Environmental Horticulture Dept at Foothill College. He is the past president of the founding chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association and served on the Board for the Association of Professional Landscape Designers.
Sponsored by Bay Area Water Service Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) https://bawsca.org
NOTE: If the in-person class is booked, register for Zoom to join the waitlist and be notified of any cancellations. Registration closes Saturday, August 1 at 12:00 noon PST.
SEPTEMBER 2026
GROWING ORCHIDS – TIPS FOR SAN FRANCISCO AND THE BAY AREA CLIMATE
SUNDAY – September 6, 2026. 1:00 – 2:30 pm
FREE! In Person and via Zoom
Registration required. Use the buttons below or call 650-579-0536×3
Learn about cool, temperate and tropical zone orchids and which are best for your climate. Get to know cool-growing orchids for San Francisco such as Masdevallia, Cymbidiums as well as everyone’s favorite indoor orchid – the Phaelaenopsis. Discover how to successfully re-pot, water and feed orchids, encourage re-blooming, and deal with common pests and diseases.
Presenter: Lisa Erdos
Lisa Erdos worked in quality for the pharmaceutical industry for 30 years before becoming a Master Gardener in 2009. She enjoys volunteering at the San Francisco Botanical Garden on a “Green Team,” volunteering at Garden for the Environment and helping home gardeners solve plant problems through the Master Gardener Helpline. Growing Masdevallia, Cymbidium, Dendrobium kingianum and Phalaenopsis orchids in San Francisco is a fun hobby and she is continually surprised that they bloom and thrive!
NOTE: If the in-person class is booked, register for Zoom to join the waitlist and be notified of any cancellations. Registration closes Saturday, September 5 at 12:00 noon PST.
