In This Issue
Auxiliary Report
Happy Halloween! Fall feels like it has been here since August, but it is definitely closer with trees changing color and slightly cooler temperatures, especially in the morning. Ghosts and goblins are soon to be here, with Thanksgiving and Christmas lurking around the corner.
The Chapter Picnic on September 13 at Cuesta Park in Mountain View was a wonderful event. We had a nice attendance of 46 people on a slightly breezy but eventually warm Sunday. Thank you to our Picnic Committee (Rick and Marina Camin, Alice Domine, Vicky Parrott, Cindy Singletary, Charlene Ott, Jackie Marsey, Dominic Bryan and Girvin and Lesley Peters) for organizing the event and for lots of assistance with set-up and clean-up on Sunday. It is a huge effort by a lot of people to make the picnic a success. Thank you also to Rebecca Schoenenberger of California Nativescapes for sharing the bounty from your garden. Everything was a hit! A full report of all of the happenings at the picnic is elsewhere in this newsletter. Again, thank you everyone for your help and contributions.
The last Auxiliary meeting of 2026 will be Wednesday, October 14 at 6 p.m. at Vina Enoteca at the historic Stanford Barn in Palo Alto. Built between 1886-1888 as a winery for the surrounding vineyards, the Stanford Barn currently houses the restaurant, which serves fresh made pasta, pizza, modern Italian cuisine and craft cocktails, bringing the rustic charm of old Italy to Silicon Valley. This meeting is paid for by the Chapter and hosted by Chapter President Jackie Marsey. A Paperless Post invitation has gone out with the details. Please RSVP to me by October 9. I look forward to welcoming a few new members to the Auxiliary in the coming year.
Save the date of Saturday, December 12 at 5 p.m. for the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Holiday Party at the San Mateo Elks Lodge. We will be finalizing the details of this event at our October meeting and a Constant Contact invitation will go out in early November. Enjoy the festive holiday mood with your CLCA friends and family. The 49ers play the next day, Sunday December 13 so I know all you football fans will be available! Ha Ha! This was just a test to see if you are reading all the way to the end! I do hope to see everyone at the final Chapter event of the year.
Have a great October. Don’t let anyone play too many tricks on you this Halloween.
Lesley Peters
Garden Designer (retired now!)
650-444-4580
gpland@sbcglobal.net
2026 Chapter Picnic
A fun filled day with family, friends, great food and activities!
Our annual Chapter Picnic was held at Cuesta Park in Mountain View with a nice group of 46 attendees on a warm beautiful sunny day held on September 13th.
It was nice to catch up with dear friends and meet new people in a very relaxing park setting. This year’s BBQ menu included tasty sausages, hot dogs, chicken, tri-tip and salmon for a wide variety of eats to go along with delicious avocado salad, garlic bread and award-winning chili. This year’s big winner of the chili contest went to perennial champion Alice Domine with Dominic Bryan taking second place. Alice wasn’t finished taking top honors as she won the cookie contest too. Congratulations Alice!
The Domine domination carried over to the horseshoe tournament as defending two-time champions Joe and Alex Domine kept their perpetual horseshoe trophy but only after an incredible comeback in the final game roaring back to win after being down 10-4 at one point to Brian Bost and Thomas Dias representing Paradise Garden and Landscape. It was almost a Cinderella story but Joe and Alex dug deep to win and extend their dynasty streak to three years straight. Congratulations Joe and Alex!
It was another fun filled day enjoyed by all. I want to give special thanks to the picnic committee for all their tremendous contributions to making the Chapter Picnic a great success every year, including Girvin and Lesley Peters, Vicky Parrot, Charlene Ott and Alice Domine. And a huge thank you to my wife Marina and son John for taking on the grill again, the salmon was superb!
Thank you all for coming and we look forward to seeing you next year!
Rick Camin
2026 Chapter Picnic Chairperson
2026 New market opportunities for landscape professionals across all property types
Landscapers can play a pivotal role in helping public agencies prepare for California’s new turf requirements. Beginning in 2027, Assembly Bill (AB) 1572 will prohibit the use of potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf, or lawns that serve no recreational or community purpose. Public agencies and educational institutions will be among the first required to comply. This timeline creates an immediate opportunity for landscape professionals to guide clients through assessing, planning, and converting turf to low-water landscapes, instead of merely leaving lawns brown.
Assembly Bill 1572 applies to all public, commercial, industrial, and institutional properties. Government-owned or maintained sites such as libraries, courthouses, police and fire stations, public utilities, streetscapes, schools, universities, and parks, must meet the new requirements by Jan. 1, 2027. After that date, irrigating nonfunctional turf with drinking water may result in civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day, making early action essential.
Landscape professionals can help clients move beyond basic compliance by connecting them with Valley Water’s Landscape Rebate Program, which offers up to $100,000 per site for replacing high-water-use landscapes and upgrading irrigation systems. Visit WaterSavings.org to explore available rebates, confirm eligibility, and begin an application. For official guidance on AB 1572 and nonfunctional turf regulations, visit NonfunctionalturfCA.org and contact the local municipality.
Landscape managers can benefit from our Large Landscape Program, administered by Waterfluence. This free irrigation management platform offers tools and resources to improve water-use efficiency. Thousands of public properties are already enrolled, giving landscape managers access to irrigation budgets, controller maps, leak alerts, and water-use data. Visit Waterfluence.com and use the “Find Your Site” map to check whether a client’s property is enrolled and request access to support irrigation assessments and water-wise improvements.
Landscape professionals are essential partners in helping public agencies adapt to California’s new turf requirements. By leveraging Valley Water rebates and tools like Waterfluence, contractors can expand their business while supporting water conservation and creating more sustainable public landscapes. As agencies prepare for the 2027 deadline, Valley Water is ready to help landscape professionals lead the transition to a more water-efficient future.
Upcoming Events
ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
October 20th, 2026
Spring Valley Golf Course
3441 Calaveras Rd.
Milpitas
Join us for our golf, dinner and fun!
Registration: 11:30AM – 12:30PM
Lunch: 12:00 Noon
Putting Contest: 11:30AM – 12:30PM
In Your Carts: 12:45PM
Shot Gun Tee Off: 1:00PM
Cocktails/Drinks: 5:00PM – 6:00PM
Dinner: 6:30PM
Prizes – Winners
Cost
Individual Entry Fee before 9/19 $125 after 9/19 $150
Foursome Entry Fee before 9/19 $450 after 9/19 $600
Dinner only $55.00
Sponsorship Opportunities $350
Closest to the Hole
Longest Drive
Putting Contest
Hole Sponsorships
Contact Golf Committee Members: Jackie Marsey, Beth Valdez
Registration required by October 9th.
SFBA Chapter Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, October 29th @ 5pm
Peninsula Building Materials – Mountain View
CLCA Members are welcome to attend
Contact Jackie Marsey jackie@paradiselg.com
General Membership Meeting & Installation Dinner
Thursday, November 12th 5-8pm
Michaels Restaurant
General Membership Meeting
5pm-6pm
no cost to attend but registration is required
Installation Dinner
6pm-8pm
CLCA Member $65
Life Members and Students $32.50
Non Member $80
REGISTER
How landscape professionals can help schools prepare for AB 1572
California schools are preparing for new water-use requirements under Assembly Bill (AB) 1572. Beginning January 1, 2027, public schools and universities may no longer use potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf, with private schools and universities following on January 1, 2028. Nonfunctional turf is a lawn that is primarily decorative and not regularly used by students or the community for recreation or gatherings.
For schools, this doesn’t mean all turf has to go. Athletic fields, play areas, and other turf used for sports, recreation, or community events are not subject to the irrigation prohibition. Landscape professionals can help schools identify which areas are affected and determine where converting nonfunctional lawn to water-wise landscaping makes sense. Options can include native and drought-tolerant plants, pollinator gardens, teaching gardens, and outdoor learning spaces that conserve water while enhancing the campus.
The AB 1572 deadline presents an opportunity for projects to go beyond compliance. Landscape professionals can help schools build attractive campuses that support their communities while still reducing water use and meeting compliance. Valley Water is assisting in the conservation effort through the Landscape Rebate Program. Commercial and institutional sites, including schools, may qualify for up to $100,000 per site for eligible landscape improvements. To explore rebates, attend virtual office hours, or start an application with Valley Water, visit WaterSavings.org.
To help schools understand AB 1572, Valley Water has partnered with ReScape and other Bay Area water districts to host a free, one-hour discussion for school administrators, facility staff, and landscape managers, including AB 1572 timeline and requirements, funding and design resources, and green schoolyard examples.
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Time: 10:00–11:00 AM
To learn more about AB 1572, find resources on project examples, see how trees will be impacted, and get tips for identifying nonfunctional turf, visit NonfunctionalturfCA.org.
Partner Spotlight
The Month’s Partner Spotlight is SiteOne
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