San Mateo County Rose Society
Our Mission
The Society exists to promote the culture, preservation and appreciation of the Rose, and to improve its standard of excellence for all people, through education and research.
Click here for our President’s Message
Garden Design Basics by John Alexander
Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the San Mateo Garden Center
Come learn the basics of designing beautiful gardens with John this April! You can also browse his nursery’s current rose availability here!
About the Speaker
A North Carolina native, our lead designer John Alexander had a sincere interest in gardening since the age of five, asking his mother for a garden, not just a row in hers, but his very own. First, he learned by trial and error, then he studied horticulture and design at SF City College.
After working for the city of San Francisco as one of two gardeners overseeing 62 acres at Laguna Honda Hospital, John partnered with rare rose cultivator Jai Alltizer to establish Alexander Nurseries and Garden Design. Now, with nursery locations in San Francisco and Sebastopol, the ANGD team services residential and commercial clients as well as providing event and floral design.
*Bio and image taken from Alexander Nurseries & Garden Designs – What's your dream garden?
San Mateo County Fair 2025 Results
Click to see our pictures here:
San Mateo County Fair 2024 Results
The SMCRS won 1st Place in the San Mateo County Fair’s “Balcony” Plant Display competition! See our pictures here:
As always, we are still looking for rose-loving volunteers to:
Represent the San Mateo Rose County Society on social media
Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, etc.
Help with online accounting and financial management
Staff open Sundays (2nd & 4th of each month) at the San Mateo Garden Center from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Duties include:
Holding rose propagation workshops
Managing plant sales
Oversee rose garden pruning
