Designing Beautiful Gardens in San Francisco’s Unique Conditions

San Francisco gardens come with their own set of challenges—shade from neighboring buildings, compact urban lots and persistent wind. In this talk, we’ll explore how to create thoughtful, resilient and inspiring garden spaces no matter the constraints. We’ll begin by grounding ourselves in core landscape design principles—color, texture, scale and layout—and how these can be adapted to small or shaded environments. From there, we’ll dive into plants that truly thrive in San Francisco’s microclimates, and discuss how to tailor plant selections and design strategies to meet the specific needs of shade gardens, small backyards, patios and apartment balconies. Whether you’re working with a courtyard, a shared outdoor space or a single sunny window, this session will give you practical, creative tools to design a garden that feels lush, intentional and distinctly San Francisco.

UC Master Gardener Presenter Rebecca Flato: Rebecca is a seasoned design director with extensive experience in fashion retail and a growing focus on landscape design. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rebecca pursued her long-standing interest in gardening and landscapes. She has since cultivated her expertise, becoming a certified California Native Plant Landscaper and a UC Master Naturalist. Her landscape design approach integrates a deep understanding of native California ecology, blending aesthetics with sustainability. She is committed to bringing an ecology-focused perspective to landscape design, with an emphasis on restoring native habitats and promoting biodiversity.

Registration is not required. 

Photo credit: Dacotah Swett, UC Master Gardener