2022 Talks

Our talks are held at the nursery in our demonstration gardens and are always FREE!

Join us – RAIN OR SHINE!

2022 Talks

DATESPEAKER
Sun, Jan, 15th,11am -12:00pmEileen Jackson Masters Guide To Rose Pruning!
Eileen Jackson is a 20 plus year member of the American Rose Society and the North Bay Rose Society, Consulting Rosarian, Master Rosarian and Accredited Horticultural Judge for the American Rose Society. She grows over 60 roses of various types, down from 140 a few years ago.
Join Eileen in the Nursery THIS SATURDAY to learn all about rose pruning.
 
WHEN: Sun Jan. 15th. 11:00 AM
WHERE: Annie’s Annuals Retail Nursery – 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA
ADMISSION: FREE!!!
Sat, Jan, 21th,10am -1:00pmNature Journaling Workshop! With MJ Broadbent & Kate Rutter
 
Bring your love for plants to a whole new level! Nature journaling is the act of putting pen (or pencil) to paper to observe aspects of nature with curiosity and attention. At this in-person workshop you’ll learn about establishing (or enhancing) your nature journaling practice among the beautiful demonstration gardens and nursery plants at Annie’s Annuals & Perennials Nursery in Richmond CA. Note – Annie’s Annuals is the venue host for this paid workshop with instructors MJ Broadbent & Kate Rutter. Tickets and registration for this event is via their Eventbrite listing https://www.eventbrite.com/…/workshop-nature-journaling.
 
WHEN: Saturday, January 21, 2023 from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM PST
COST: $45 – $65
WHERE: Annie’s Annuals & Perennials Nursery, 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA
January 28th 11am – 12pm (rain or shine)Bare Root Boot Camp! with Ed Laivo

Join Ed Laivo, author of Backyard Orchard Culture, for an exciting and FREE talk about growing bare root fruit trees! Ed has spent years amending and refining his growing and pruning techniques, both on his own and while working at Dave Wilson Nursery and the Urban Tree Farm in Santa Rosa. He will share his lessons learned and best practices with you to help ensure your fruit tree growing success. Bring your pictures and questions for Ed! Annie’s Annuals has also just received our shipment of bare root fruit trees for the season so our nursery is stocked with over 60 varieties to choose from listed on our website.

ADMISSION – FREE
WHERE: Annie’s Annuals & Perennials Nursery, 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA
WHEN: January 28th 11am – 12pm (rain or shine)
Sat, Jan, 7th,10am -11:30amPrepping for Spring with Lori Caldwell, Join Lori Caldwell, the CompostGal, at Annie’s on Jan. 7th to learn about prepping your garden for spring! One of the many benefits of our temperate winter climate is being able to garden year-round. Lori will discuss techniques on how to transition to your winter garden: cool-weather edible crops, rebuilding your soil, bare root crops, sheet mulching & planting natives.
WHEN: Saturday Jan. 7th. 10:00 AM
WHERE: Annie’s Annuals Retail Nursery – 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA
ADMISSION: FREE!!!
Nov. 26th 11am – 12pmClimate Friendly Cooking with Suzanne Jones & Leslie Louie Sat. Did you know that the global food system is responsible for about one-third of the world’s greenhouse-gas emissions? Join cookbook authors Suzanne Jones and Leslie Louie—two scientists who love to cook—to understand why food contributes so significantly to climate change, and enjoy wonderful samples from their new cookbook Climate Friendly Cooking: 111 Recipes to Help Save the Planet.
Sun. Nov.27th 12:00 pm – 1 pmLive Music with Melne Twf, Enjoy the sounds of solo “a-COO-stic” lite-rock & jazz guitarist
and self-described plant-a-holic, as you stroll the nursery.
Sat. Dec. 3rd
11am-12pm		Gardening All Year: Prepping Your Garden for Winter- Make a plan to come to the Nursery on Saturday Dec 3rd when Lori Caldwell, the CompostGal. One of the many benefits of our climate is being able to garden year-round!! Winter is still a great time to garden. This class will go over some great techniques on how to transition to your Winter Garden: cool-weather edible crops, rebuilding your soil, bare root crops, sheet mulching & planting natives.
Sat. Nov. 19th
11am-12pm		Harvest Wreath Demo Jill Sowards, Sat. Nov. 19th 11 am – 12pm. Join Jill Sowards of Violetear Studio to learn how to make a beautiful seasonal wreath using dried and foraged materials. Jill will talk about drying plants and foraging, and then will demonstrate how to construct a wreath. She’ll also share some of her favorite flowers to include in your garden for drying next season.
Sun. Dec. 4th 10 am – 2pmHolidays makers Mart. Enjoy sweet confections, pottery, beauty products, and gardening goodies from the following vendors: Soja Urbana (Botanical Candles), Brooke Birch Tea (Herbal Tea), Elissa Callen (Botanical Ink Art Work ), Winter Badger (Beauty and the Beast: California Wildflowers and Climate Change), Rachel Perls (Dahlia Paintings ), sacredgardenroots (Botanical Bath Products), Oh Yami Yami (Candy From Fruit and Botanicals ), Petite LaFleur (Candy ), Dream Farm Mushrooms (Mushroom Beauty Products), PaperCutPottery (Pottery – Plant pots and small ceramic gifts), Smunchies Co. (Hair Accessories).
Sun, Nov 13th 11am – 12pmEdible Plants for Shade and Part Shade with Ellyn Shea. Do you dream of growing edible plants but are frustrated by the lack of sun in your garden? Join Ellyn Shea, horticultural consultant, as she shares her knowledge about growing shaded edible gardens. Learn the different types of shade, and which one you have in your garden! You’ll go home with a list of edible plants to explore, and some design ideas to make the most of the light that you do have. Use these shorter, darker days to plan your edible garden for 2023!
Sat. Nov. 5th
11am-12pm		Gardening for life! – A talk with author Toni Gattone, about accessible gardening from 11 am – 12 pm
Sat. Oct. 29Halloween Festivities in the Nursery!
Pumpkin Succulent Centerpiece Demo with Jill Swards from 11 am – 12pm,
Kids pumpkin painting from 1pm – 3pm. *Art supplies will be provided with purchase of pumpkin*
10/30/22 (Sun)
11am-12pm		 
Plant Adaptations to Mediterranean Climate – Advice from the UC Master Gardeners from 11 am – 12 pm
Sat. Oct. 22
11am-12pm		Fall Gardening with Pollinators in Mind from 11 am- 12 pm-  Jill Sowards of Violeteer Studios
Sat. Oct. 15
11am – 12pm		Urban Herbalism – How to choose, grow, harvest & use medicinal herbs in your garden. – Sarah Sutton from 11 am – 12 pm
Sat. Oct. 1
10am – 2pm		Water-Wise Weekend!
Learn how to grow a beautiful water-wise Garden!
Lawn To Garden Conversion – 10am – 10:30am EBMUD
Water-Wise Landscape Design – 11am-11:30am The Urban Farmer Store
Drip Irrigation Systems – 12:00pm – 12:30pm CCWD
Pesticide Mgt. For Cleaner Water – 1:00pm – 1:30pm Our Water Our World
ADMISSION: FREE!!!
Sat, September 24, 2022
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Growing Food in the Secret Season
Need a nudge to get your kitchen garden producing food through the entire year? Join us for this FREE Nursery talk and inspiring visual presentation by author, Pam Peirce. You’ll learn what you can plant now and what you can do to use our often neglected “Secret Season,” in January to March, to produce delicious harvests long before summer crops are ready. Learn the best crops and varieties for winter, unusual but delicious crops to try, pest management tips, and more.
ADMISSION: FREE!!!
Sunday, Sept 18th from 10 am – 11 amWine From Flowers? Yes!
Making wine from flowers (no grapes) is an ancient art that is being revived by Aaliyah Nitoto, owner of Free Range Flower Winery in Livermore. Come join Aaliyah in the Nursery for a fascinating presentation about flower wine making and how she has parlayed her knowledge of flowers and plants, and background in biology, herbalism and nutrition education, into the science and art of winemaking, using California-grown lavender, marigold, hibiscus and rose.
ADMISSION: FREE!!!
Saturday Sept. 10th 11amLearn to Prune Like a Pro with Ellyn Shea
Learn how to prune like a pro with certified arborist Ellyn Shea (owner, Garden Guidance LLC)! Ellyn is also a garden coach with a background in horticulture, urban forestry and garden education. She’ll cover basic tree biology and growth, best pruning practices (including how to know when to stop pruning) for perennials and shrubs, plus proper use and care of pruning tools.
ADMISSION: FREE!!!
Saturday,
August 27th
11am		Douglass Kent – Firescaping

Join author/horticulturalist Douglas Kent as he shares his Firescaping strategies and teaches you about how to strategically use plants to help protect your family, property and community from the danger of fire.  Kent will be focusing structures, defensible space, and the role of plants in fire protection. Kent is the author of the best-selling book on fire protection, teaches at a variety of colleges, and has been working to create fire-protected properties since 1994. His presentations are as professional and impassioned as they are dynamic and educational.

WHEN: Saturday August 27th 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

WHERE: Annie’s Annuals Retail Nursery – 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA

ADMISSION: FREE!!!
Sunday,
July 31st
11am		Container Gardening with Violetear Studio’s Jill Sowards

Learn how to create beautiful container gardens from gardenista, podcaster and blogger, Jill Sowards of Violetear Studio. Join us in the Nursery on Sunday, July 31st at 11am for this FREE TALK when Jill will demonstrate the fundamentals of making beautiful potted displays and including container and plant selection.
This in-person talk is FREE!

Where: Annie’s Annuals & Perennials Nursery – 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA

There are no advanced seating reservations for this talk. Seating is limited and first come, first served. However, there will be plenty of standing space for all.
Saturday, July 23rd
10am		Drought Strategies – Changing to a Native Plant Landscape

With water restrictions ramping up and no end in sight to the drought, there’s no time like now to change your traditional landscape into a native garden. Converting to a native garden is one of the best ways to make a difference, both for you and your water bill, but also for the native birds, bees, butterflies and other insects and animals that call Northern California home. Join us at Annie’s Annuals & Perennials Nursery for a FREE talk with Ann-Marie Benz, Horticultural Programs Manager for the California Native Plant Society (CNPS). She’ll discuss some of the best ways to plan to take out your lawn, key next steps, and how to choose native plants according to your specific garden goals, area and style.
This in-person talk is FREE!

Where: Annie’s Annuals & Perennials Nursery – 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA

There are no advanced seating reservations for this talk. Seating is limited and first come, first served. However, there will be plenty of standing space for all.

More about Ann-Marie. As the Horticulture Programs Manager for CNPS, Anne-Marie gets to spend her days supporting native plant communities and their people. She has spent a decade and a half serving landscapes and watersheds with nonprofits in California and Arizona. She holds a deep passion for plants and landscapes, having served as the Executive Director of ReScape California (formerly Bay-Friendly Landscaping and Gardening Coalition), a nonprofit educating the large-scale landscape industry throughout Northern California on planning, constructing, and maintaining sustainable landscape. Prior to that she was with Prescott Creeks doing watershed planning and riparian restoration in Northern Arizona.
Saturday July 9th 11 AMComposting with The CompostGal

Come to Annie’s Nursery to learn about all things compost from Lori Caldwell, The CompostGal! Learn her tips and tricks for composting at home to create your own “black gold” for your garden.

WHERE: Retail Nursery – 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA
ADMISSION: FREE!!! There are no advanced seating reservations for this talk. Seating is limited and first come, first served. However, there will be plenty of standing space for all.

Learn more about The CompostGal on Lori’s Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/LoriCaldwellConsultingEducation
SUNDAY June 26th 11:00 AMQuick Pickling with Elizabeth Vecchiarelli of “Preserved

Got more veggies than you can eat? Learn how to preserve your garden abundance with local educator Elizabeth Vecchiarelli, owner of Preserved in Oakland. In this fun talk, at Annie’s Annuals Nursery, she’ll demonstrate the basics of quick vinegar pickling and how to create delicious pickles at home with no special equipment. Elizabeth will demonstrate how to make the iconic cucumber pickle as well as a mixed pickle composed of other seasonal veggies! Elizabeth, has over 15 years of experience with local, sustainable and handmade food. Explore the flavors and health benefits of traditionally-preserved foods. Preserved’s mission is to nourish and enrich our community through traditionally preserved foods and flavors; to share in the nostalgia of these ancient traditions, and enjoy their healthful benefits.

There are no advanced seating reservations for this talk. Seating is limited and first come, first served. However there will be plenty of standing space.
SUNDAY
May 29th
10 AM		Let’s Talk Tomatoes with Jeff

Join our tomato expert Jeff Bridge, for a garden presentation all about everyone’s favorite berry, THE TOMATO!

Explore the history of tomatoes. Learn how to grow the best tomatoes you can in your specific micro-climate. Discover the differences between hybrid, heirloom and commercial varieties. Bugs or disease on your tomatoes got you down? Get strategies and solutions to pest and disease problems. Jeff Bridge is Annie’s wholesale manager and a fanatic garden enthusiast who brings over 25 year’s experience working in the nurseries of the California Bay Area. His favorite subjects are food sovereignty, edible gardening and integrated pest management.

Note -There are no advanced seating reservations for this talk. Seating is first come, first served.
FRIDAY May 13th 1 pmCA Wild Flowers & Climate Change “Beauty & the Beast”
Author Talk with Rob Badger & Nita Winter

This talk will focus on California native plants and conservation, and the making of their award-winning book, “Beauty and the Beast”, that chronicles, with breathtaking imagery, their 27-year journey photographing wildflowers throughout California and the West. Rob and Nita capture powerful images that create awareness, support land conservation, and inspire positive change. Their keen eye, and attention to detail transforms the way we see landscapes and wildflowers, into the story of humanity’s impact on the planet. This talk will be fun and inspirational for all plant enthusiasts and offer some great photo tips too!

Admission: FREE – Advance ticket reservation required for seated area, but if that fills up we still have plenty of standing room space and drop ins are welcome.
GET TICKETS – Sign-up on Eventbrite

Covid-19 Advisory:  All guests will be required to wear face coverings during the talk for although this event will take place outdoors, due to space limitations, we are not able to offer socially distant seating.
SUNDAY
April 10
10 am		Backyard Pollinator Ecology with Tora Rocha of the Pollinator Posse! Learn the gardening equivalent of pollinator “best practices.”  No matter what size your garden, subtle changes in how we garden and what we plant can often make a big impact on the birds, bees, butterflies and insects around us. Although many of us gardeners choose plants that please our eyes or tickle our senses, it isn’t that difficult to shift perspective and make the garden an all-inclusive love fest for loads of beneficial insects and animals! Having a better understanding of our garden’s ecology – the interdependence between people and nature, and more specifically the pollinators essential for food production and sustaining biodiversity, is vitally important for all of our wellbeing in our changing world. Creating a sanctuary for pollinators and other beneficial creatures in your own backyard is sure to boost your own gardening karma so we hope to see you here.

Admission: Sold Out!

Covid-19 Advisory:  All guests will be required to wear face coverings during the talk for although this event will take place outdoors, due to space limitations, we are not able to offer socially distant seating.