Got garden questions? We’ve got answers. garden gab logo

Curious about pests, pruning, soil, irrigation, or landscape design—all in one spot? Join us at the Inspiration Garden and chat with local gardening experts. Get personalized advice from the City of Roseville’s Water Efficiency team and Placer County Master Gardeners—and sign up to stay in the loop for future events, workshops, and water-saving tips.

When: Thursday, April 30 & Saturday, May 2, 2026
Time: 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Where: Inspiration Garden | 1501 Pleasant Grove Blvd.

Sign up to stay in the loop for reminders for Garden Gab events coming up, to get updates on other workshops, or to get tips and tricks on gardening/water saving. 

2026 experts

Cheryl B

Cheryl Buckwalter

Cheryl is obsessed with transforming underused, outdated, and resource-guzzling landscapes into resilient, watershed-friendly, functional habitats that work in harmony with nature and conserve one of our most precious resources – water. She loves to share tried and true practices with residents and landscape professionals through teaching opportunities, creating demonstration gardens, and by consulting with water providers to help develop incentive programs and resources.

Qualifications

  • Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper & Instructor (QWEL)
  • Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA)
  • ReScape Resilient Regenerative Firescaping Qualified
  • Associate of Science: Environmental Horticulture
Justin Black

Justin Black

Justin is a seasoned professional in landscape, agriculture, water distribution, and irrigation technology, holding a B.S. in Agricultural Sciences, Landscape Contractors license and industry certifications such as an Irrigation Auditor.
Aaron M

Aaron Madsen

Aaron Madsen’s career began with a simple but powerful foundation: design matters. After earning his degree in Architecture from the University of Nebraska, he stepped into the landscape design and construction industry with a designer’s mindset and a builder’s work ethic. What followed has been more than 20 years of hands-on experience learning how great projects move from paper to performance.

Over the years, Aaron discovered that irrigation—often overlooked when done well—is one of the most critical systems in any landscape. A thoughtfully designed irrigation system protects the integrity of the design, preserves resources, and determines long-term success. That realization shaped the path that led him to Hunter Industries.

Today, as Specification Manager for the Sacramento Valley and Northern Nevada markets, Aaron works alongside architects, designers, municipalities, and public agencies to ensure irrigation systems are not only specified correctly, but thoughtfully integrated. Representing a global leader in residential, commercial, and golf irrigation solutions, he serves as both technical resource and trusted advisor. Aaron is especially passionate about education.

Whether guiding a designer through system layout, helping troubleshoot field challenges, or discussing best management practices, he brings clarity and practical insight to every conversation. His approach blends architectural perspective, field experience, and a commitment to water stewardship—helping communities implement solutions that are efficient, sustainable, and built to last.
Sunny Rhekop. Water Efficiency employee. Woman standing in front of garage door.

Sunny Rehkop

Sunny is a Water Conservation Worker II for the City of Roseville with over twenty years of experience in the landscaping industry. 

Her work has included residential landscape design, construction, installation, maintenance, and plant nursery work.  She also worked as a Consulting Utility Arborist for PG&E’s vegetation management program, where she received her Arborist certification.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science with a concentration in Natural Resource Conservation and is certified as a Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper as well as a Water Use Efficiency Practitioner.

She spends most of her spare time in the garden, composting, growing veggies, herbs, and flowers. 
Don Smith. Smiling man in hat and glasses.

Don Smith

Don has over 40 years’ experience in the field of irrigation water efficiency and education. He owned and operated a landscape business installing, maintaining, and updating irrigation systems, and is an irrigation educator leading workshops and seminars for homeowners and professionals.

He retired from the City of Folsom where he served as the Water Conservation Coordinator, evaluating irrigation systems and advising customers on better ways to use water more efficiently.

Don helped found the Green Gardener qualification program for professionals and the Green Gardener at Home program for homeowners.
Steve Zien. Man with beard wearing a hat and glasses.

Steve Zien

Steven has 50 years’ experience in organic horticulture as a retail nursery manager, landscape maintenance provider, researcher, and educator who has given presentations on related topics across the country. He has won numerous environmental awards for his work in the field and his educational contributions about healthy soils and least toxic/organic pest management.

Qualifications

  • Retired, President of Living Resources Company
  • Executive Director of Biological Urban Gardening Services (BUGS) (newsletter publisher)
  • Integrated Pest Management Advocate with Our Water Our World
Carole Gan. Woman in front of trees.

Carole Gan

Carole is a long-time gardener with experience and training in fruit trees and shade trees, who serves as a community forester with the Roseville Urban Forest Foundation.
Julie B

Julie Barbour

Julie is a Placer County Master Gardener and an IPM advocate with Our Water our World. Using University of California information.

Julie gives answers that you can use right away to improve your yard and garden on topics like irrigation, insects, and disease. She can help answer questions like: won't that thing fruit, and why do I have weeds?
Marcia Scott. Woman posing with pink flowers.

Marcia Scott

Marcia has been in the landscaping trade for 40 years: first physically installing and maintaining landscapes, then 25 years designing and consulting in landscapes. For the past 14 years, she has also maintained an arborist certification. Learn more about Marcia at her website mjsland.com
Soleil T

Soleil Tranquilli

Soleil loves to unify home and garden while honoring our natural environment. She is deeply committed to watershed wise values and inviting folks back into the garden. She specializes in low water use, unlawning, habitat, and edible gardens for humans to share.

Qualifications

  • A.S. Horticulture: Landscape Design & Nursery Industry
  • Advanced certificate California School of Landscape Design
  • Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL)
  • G3 Certified Watershed Wise Landscape Pro

Lani H

Lani Houck

Lani is a retired Sierra College Instructor in Environmental Horticulture and Agriculture. She serves as arborist and board member for the Roseville Urban Forest Foundation.
Green Acres

Green Acres

Locally owned nursery chain supplying plants, gardening products. A representative will be available to assist with gardening needs that can be purchased at Green Acres.
Master Gardeners logo in front of a garden

UC Master Gardeners of Placer County

The Master Gardeners of Placer County are UC-trained volunteers offering accurate, impartial, science-based information to home gardeners in Placer County.