Our talks are held at the nursery in our demonstration gardens and are always FREE!
Join us – RAIN OR SHINE!
2023 Talks
| DATE | SPEAKERS |
| DATE SPEAKERS | |
| January 2024 | |
| Jan. 13th | Bareroot Trees! A Free Talk with Ed Lavio Join Ed Lavio, 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. Over his career, Ed has developed a philosophy and techniques to control fruit tree size in the home garden. He literally wrote the book about it, ‘Backyard Orchard Culture’. Come learn how to get more fruit out of less space and over a longer period of time all while decreasing your maintenance chores. Bring your pictures and questions for Ed! Annie’s Annuals is expecting our first shipment of bare root fruit trees for the season in early January, 2024.so our nursery will be stocked with over 60 varieties to choose from. WHEN: Saturday, January 13th, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ADMISSION: FREE |
| Jan. 20th | Pruning Roses! A Free Talk With Eileen Jackson Learn how and when to properly prune your roses from the masters! Master Rosarians, Eileen Jackson and Mike Myrick will discuss techniques, tools, timing and more to help you learn how to take care of your roses at home. Proper pruning is essential to keeping your roses healthy and blooming bountifully for the upcoming season and for years thereafter. 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 currently grows over 60 roses of various types but has experience with hundreds more. WHEN: Saturday, January 20th, from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm ADMISSION: FREE |
| Jan. 27th | Prepping your Garden for Spring! A Free Talk With Lori Caldwell One of the many benefits of our temperate winter climate is being able to garden year-round. Lori will discuss techniques on how to make the best use of your garden in winter and how to transition and get it ready for spring!. Lori will discuss, cool weather edible crops, rebuilding your soil, bare root crops, sheet mulching & planting natives. Learn more about The CompostGal on Lori’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LoriCaldwellConsultingEducation WHEN: Saturday, January 27th, from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm ADMISSION: FREE |
| DECEMBER 2023 | |
| Dec. 2nd | Making Sustainable Evergreen Garlands & Wreaths with Jill Sowards of Violetear Studio Learn how to make a sustainable evergreen garland to decorate your home for the winter season! Jill will discuss how to select and gather materials, and demonstrate the construction of a garland and wreath. Following the traditions of evergreen decoration celebrated across the world we’ll use materials gathered from the garden to make a piece that can be enjoyed and then composted at the end of the season. Jill is an ecological gardener in the East Bay and teaches on a range of gardening subjects. WHEN: Saturday, December 2nd, from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm ADMISSION: FREE Learn more about Violetear Studio and check out Jill on Instagram @violetear_studio. |
| NOVEMBER 2023 | |
| Nov. 4th | Fruit Tree Planting! Proper Selection & Planting with Ed Lavio Interested in growing fruit trees for your own backyard orchard but concerned about space and what varieties to choose? Join tree expert and author, Ed Lavio, at Annie’s Annuals nursery to learn how. The need for size control of fruit trees in the home garden is without question. The idea that a Semi-Dwarf rootstock will keep most fruit trees to a reasonable height is a myth. Over his career, Ed has developed a philosophy and techniques to control fruit tree size in the home garden. He literally wrote the book about it, ‘Backyard Orchard Culture’. Come learn how to get more fruit out of less space and over a longer period of time all while decreasing your maintenance chores. WHEN: Saturday, November 4th, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am ADMISSION: FREE WHERE: Annie’s Annuals & Perennials Nursery, 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA |
| Sat. Nov 11th | Building Healthy Soil with Lori Caldwell – the CompostGal Healthy soil is the foundation for every successful garden, the benefits are SO MANY!! Join Lori, Caldwell the CompostGal in the nursery to learn all about the best techniques for making your soil healthier so it can work more efficiently in your garden! Topics will include: cover crops, composting (basic and worm), using compost, planting perennials and sheet mulching. WHEN: Saturday, November 11th, from 10:00 am – 11:30 am ADMISSION: FREE Learn more about Lori https://www.facebook.com/LoriCaldwellConsultingEducation |
| Sat. Nov. 18th | CA Native Plant Extravaganza A portion of all CA native plant purchases on Sat. Nov 18th will go to support the Bay Area’s Bringing Back the Natives Tour. https://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/ |
| Sat Nov 18th | Create Your Own Wildlife Sanctuary with California Natives! Native plants offer a multitude of benefits to the garden. Not only are they easier to care for, use less water, and often have fewer pests, they can also help to restore ecosystems and support native wildlife. In this FREE TALK, Charlotte Canner of “Our Water Our World” will share how native plants benefit our gardens and beyond and how to support helpful insects, pollinators, birds, and more to maintain a healthy ecosystem. Our Water Our World is a clean water program that educates the public on eco-friendly pest management and using less toxic products, with an emphasis on healthy gardening practices. Charlotte Canner is an Integrated Pest Management Advocate and is especially passionate about compost and soil health. WHEN: Saturday, November 18th, from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm ADMISSION: FREE WHERE: Annie’s Annuals & Perennials Nursery, 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA See Annie’s complete schedule of FREE talks and events online here. |
| Sat Nov 18th | Harvesting the Rain! A FREE Talk with James Ryder of Hillside Earth Arts Lab (HEAL) Wise use of water, from the sky and the tap, is deeply doable! Many low-tech, no-cost and low-cost means exist, but adopting any single one makes a difference—your water bill goes down, run off pollution to the bay/ocean diminishes, and delightfully, a natural vitality returns to your garden. Join us Saturday Nov. 18th and Learn to slow-spread-sink the flow, grow your water wisdom, and gather in community! WHEN: Saturday, November 18th, from 12:30 pm – 1:30 am ADMISSION: FREE WHERE: Annie’s Annuals & Perennials Nursery, 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA Learn more about HEAL; Instagram @earthartslab |
| October 2023 | |
| Oct. 15th | Bulbs! – A FREE Talk with Jill Sowards of Violetear Studio Join Jill Sowards of Violetear Studio THIS WEEKEND to learn all about fall planting of spring and summer bulbs! Jill will discuss fall-planted bulbs, corms, and rhizomes; how to make your selections; layer your planting for months of flowers; and individual care to encourage your flowers to return year after year. Get ready for an incredible spring display! Jill is an ecological gardener in the East Bay and teaches on a range of gardening subjects. Checkout Violetear Studio: https://www.violetearstudio.com/ @violetear_studio WHEN: Sunday, October 15th, 2023 from 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM PST ADMISSION: FREE WHERE: Annie’s Annuals & Perennials Nursery, 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA |
| Oct. 21 | Fall Planting! A Free Talk with Earl Nickel Horticulturists all agree; fall is the best time to plant trees, shrubs and perennials. Join Earl, Nickel, the Curious Plantsman, for this FREE talk about the reasons and advantages of fall planting, in addition to planting suggestions for some of the best, most interesting perennials available to add to your garden now, be it a native garden, one focused on sun-loving, drought tolerant plants, or plants employed to liven up shady beds. WHEN: Sunday, October 21th, 2023 from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PST ADMISSION: FREE WHERE: Annie’s Annuals & Perennials Nursery, 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA |
| Oct. 28th -29th 10am – 2pm | HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR! Join us for some spooktacular fun in the Nursery! It will be fun for all ages. SATURDAY 10/28 SCHEDULE: Free Talks 10:30am: Garden Magic! – Learn Your Garden’s Secrets with Mary Te Selle of Quite Contrary Gardens 12:30am: Pumpkin Succulent Centerpiece Workshop! with Jill Sowards Food ~ Rostilotes grill and Gigi’s One Bite Wonder Free Raffles & Giveaways – all day 12:00pm: Annie’s Super Market Sweep: One lucky Halloween guest will win 15 Minutes of free shopping in the Nursery! Kid’s Trick or Treating ~ 10am – 2pm in the nursery SUNDAY EVENTS: (10/29) 10am Creepy Crawlers & Slimers! Special kid’s presentation all about BUGS with live touchable insects from The Insect Discovery Lab. (seating limited) Kid’s Trick or Treating ~ 10am – 2pm in nursery Kid’s Crafts 11am – 1pm: Free Kid’s Pumpkin decorating! (with pumpkin purchase!) Kid’s Trick or Treating ~ in the nursery Face painting ~ 12pm – 2pm Free Raffles & Giveaways ~ all day 12pm Annie’s Super Market Sweep – One lucky Halloween guest will win 15 Minutes of free shopping in the Nursery! Food ~ Rostilotes grill and Gigi’s One Bite Wonder |
| SEPTEMBER 2023 | |
| Sat, Oct. 7th | Dining Gloriously from your Small Space Food Garden! A free Talk with Pam Peirce Author of Golden Gate Gardening. Join Pam Peirce, renowned author of the Bay Area gardening classic Golden Gate Gardening, and learn how to grow and get delicious meals from your small “kitchen” food garden – including the best crops, ideal planting seasons, plus useful recipes. Afterwards, Please enjoy some free refreshments PLUS Pam will be signing the latest, 30th Anniversary, 4th Edition copies of her he book. WHEN: Sat, October 7th at 10 am WHERE: 740 Market Ave, Richmond, CA 94801 ADMISSION: FREE |
| Sat, Sept. 30th | Beyond Pollinator Gardens – How to Support Regional Biodiversity! A Free talk with Sarah Sutton, author of Kiss Your Grass Goodbye Invite nature into your garden and help support vital biodiversity in our communities! Nature needs our help! And the good news is, by planting in our gardens many of the key native plants that our local birds, native bees, beneficial insects, and more, have co-evolved with, we can support our diverse local and regional food web, and increase wildlife resilience. Sarah Sutton, ASLA, APLD, RQP, will introduce key urban biodiversity challenges and how to select and include beautiful native plants in your gardens and landscapes for maximum wildlife benefits. Truly, plant them and they will come! WHEN: Sat, Sept, 30th at 11am -12pm ADMISSION: FREE |
| Sun. Sept. 24th | Growing Edibles for Shade and Part Shade! A Free talk with Ellyn Shea Edibles for Shade and Part Shade Blurb 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 the shorter, darker days of fall and winter to plan your edible garden for 2024! WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 24th at 11:30am ADMISSION: FREE!!! |
| Sept. 23rd-24th | Annie’s Fall Planting Festival & Natives Extravaganza! Fall is Planting Time! Come learn why fall is the best time to plant, what to plant now plus tips and tricks for making sure your spring garden is spectacular! The festivities will include gardening talks, CA Native wreath- making demos, kid’s crafts, food vendors, art, face painting and of course FREE RAFFLES and the return of Annie’s SUPERMARKET SWEEP! CA Native Plant Extravaganza (9/23) – A portion of all CA native plant purchases on Sat. 9/23 will go to support the Bay Area’s Bringing Back the Natives Tour. See list of speakers and full schedule of events online: https://www.anniesannuals.com/parties/ ADMISSION – FREE all ages welcome Saturday 9/23 10am – 3pm Sunday, 9/24 10am – 3pm Annie’s Annuals Nursery: 740 Market Ave, Richmond, CA |
| Sat, Sept, 16th | WHAT WE SOW: The Personal, Ecological & Cultural Significance of Seeds – An in-person reading and book signing with Jennifer Jewell Jennifer Jewell, host of the national award-winning weekly public radio program and podcast Cultivating Place will be discussing her newest book and her personal observations regarding the natural history of seeds and their role in our current world. Jewell’s greatest passion is elevating the way we think and talk about gardening, the empowerment of gardeners, and the possibility inherent in the intersection between places, environments, cultures, individuals and the gardens that bring them together beautifully – for the better of all the lives on this generous planet. cultivatingplace.com; Instagram @cultivating_place; Facebook @cultivatingplace.NSPR. WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 16th ADMISSION: FREE!!! |
| Sat, Sept, 9th | Planting A Bird Garden! – with Earl Nickel Learn how to plant the perfect bird garden with Earl Nickel, the Curious Plantsman. In this talk, you will learn how to pick out the perfect trees, shrubs, perennials, and grasses to create your very own bird oasis that will keep our flying friends happy with flowers, seeds, berries and shelter all year round. Earl is an Oakland-based horticulturist, photographer, and writer. He writes regularly for the San Francisco Chronicle, has written feature articles for Pacific Horticulture magazine, contributes to the Annie’s Annuals blog, and writes his weekly gardening blog; all while maintaining an amazing ‘one-of-everything’ garden. WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 9th at 10:00 AM WHERE: Annie’s Annuals Retail Nursery – 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA ADMISSION: FREE!!! |
| AUGUST 2023 | |
| Sun, Aug 27th | Tomato Preserving! A Free event with Elizabeth Verichiarelli of Preserved Got more tomatoes than you can eat? Learn how to preserve your garden’s abundance with local educator Elizabeth Vecchiarelli, owner of Preserved in Oakland. In this fun talk, at Annie’s Annuals Nursery, you’ll learn how to water-bath can your summer tomatoes so you can enjoy them all winter long! Elizabeth Vecchiarelli of Preserved (a canning and fermentation shop in Oakland) will demonstrate how to prepare and can tomatoes safely and efficiently. Build your confidence making your own preserves! WHEN: Sunday August 27th. 11:00 AM WHERE: Annie’s Annuals Retail Nursery – 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA ADMISSION: FREE!!! |
| Sat, Aug 26th | Succession Planting In The Garden! A FREE talk with Mary Te Selle Learn how to create year-round interest and excitement in your garden using succession planting techniques. Landscape designer Mary Te Selle will teach you how to use all the paints in the gardener’s paint box (annuals, biennials, perennials, roses, shrubs, trees, vines, self-seeders, bulbs, the works!) to create gardens that are endlessly delightful for both humans and all the other garden inhabitants, as well. Come join in the fun! Award-winning garden designer Mary Te Selle of Quite Contrary Garden Design has been creating garden paradises in the Bay Area since 1997. She is passionate about spaces full of scent, texture, color, form, and habitats. All beautiful gardens begin with enchanting surprises including unique water elements, hardscape designs and details structures, lighting effects, and always all kinds of wonderful plants. WHEN: Saturday August 26th. 11:00 AM WHERE: Annie’s Annuals Retail Nursery – 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA ADMISSION: FREE!!! |
| Sat, Aug, 19th 10am | DAHLIAS! Growing & Care- A Free Talk with, Jill Sowards of Violetear Studio Learn how to grow beautiful dahlias and care for them even in the off season so they will come back and look bigger and better each year. Dahlias are one of the most generous and rewarding flowers in the garden. Jill Sowards of Violetear Studio will discuss all you need to know about planting and caring for your flowers — including how to grow dahlias in the ground, in pots, or a raised bed — so that you can enjoy them for years to come. She’ll also discuss fall and winter care, how to best cut your blooms to enjoy in the home, and go over favorite varietals. WHEN: Saturday August 19th, 10:00 AM ADMISSION: FREE!!! |
| Sat, Aug, 12th 11am | Urban Farming & Integrating Edibles Into Your Garden – A Free talk with Donna Bodine of BeeLand Farms Learn about urban farming with Donna Bodine, owner of BeeLand Farms. Donna will discuss considerations for designing an urban farm for long term success, and key concepts and practices including planting seasons and timing, soil quality, pollination requirements, crop rotation, and companion planting. Get tips for the best edibles to plant and harvest through the fall and winter seasons. NOW is the time to start your fall vegetable garden! Donna is the owner of BeeLand Farms, a garden design company that specializes in California native plants and urban farming. Donna is also a garden coach who enjoys working with passionate gardeners who want to grow their own food organically and garden for habitat. She loves growing edibles amongst native plants, watching native bees, and exploring all the wonders that Bay Area gardening provides. Donna completed the Alameda County Master Gardener Program in 2005 and is a Rescape CA Qualified Professional landscape designer. Check out BeeLand Farms HERE: https://www.beelandfarms.com/ |
| Sat, Aug, 5th | Sun Printing! – A Free Talk with, Jill Sowards of Violetear Studio |
| JULY 2023 | |
| Sat, Jul 29, 2023, 10:00 AM | The Fine Art of Paper Flowers! – A FREE Talk with botanical sculptor and paper artist, Tiffanie Turner Take a tour of the flower filled mind of master paper artist and botanical sculptor Tiffanie Turner! Local artist and instructor Tiffanie Turner will give a visual presentation and talk about her work creating botanical sculptures of flowers all from crepe paper. She’ll discuss her small scale paper sculpture techniques and also her large-scale conceptual sculptures, including a sneak peek at her exhibit which opens this fall in San Francisco. The flowers from Annie’s have been a great inspiration to her, and she will show how she uses these real specimens as models for her work at both scales. Tiffanie’s work has been exhibited at the de Young Museum and is currently on exhibit at the Eleanor Harwood Gallery in San Francisco. She has also been featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Gardens Illustrated. Turner is also the author of “The Fine Art of Paper Flowers”, of which there will be a limited number available for purchase after the event. WHEN: Sat, Jul 29, 2023, 10:00 AM WHERE: Annie’s Annuals Retail Nursery – 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA ADMISSION: FREE!!! Learn more about Tiffanie Turner Here |
| Sat, July 22nd. 10 am | Grow! A free Talk with horticulturist, floral designer and, now, children’s book author, Riz Reyes Annie’s welcomes back horticulturist, floral designer and now children’s book author, Riz Reyes, for a family friendly talk about growing and gardening as a fun family activity. Riz’s book “GROW: A Family Guide to Plants and How to Grow Them” shares fun facts about some of the most well-known plants in our gardens. He will talk about gardening with kids, learning about plant families; how different plants are used all around the world and discover why plants are actually superheroes! Riz will lead participants in a demonstration of a few easy, hands-on, garden projects you can do at home with your younger gardeners and he will have copies of “Grow: A Family Guide to Plants and How to Grow Them” (illustrated by Sara Boccaccini Meadows) for sale after his presentation. ADMISSION: FREE!!! – Gardeners of all ages welcome. WHEN: Saturday July 22nd at 10am WHERE: Annie’s Annuals Retail Nursery – 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA |
| Sun, Jul 9, 2023, 11AM | Gardening on a Slope with Ellyn Shea– Whether your slope is dry or irrigated, sunny or shady, selecting the right plants can help control erosion, save water and maintain them as an attractive part of your garden’s overall landscape. Join us on Sunday July 9th at 11 am when horticulturalist and certified arborist Ellyn Shea will talk about strategies for gardening on slopes. She will address the key issues facing hillside gardeners and share her best tips and techniques for assessing your situation including evaluating exposure, irrigation best practices, design techniques, and, of course, plant selection, so you too can enjoy a beautiful and productive garden without wasting water or losing soil!! Bring your questions, Ellyn has answers! ADMISSION: FREE!!! WHEN: Sunday July 9th. 11:00 AM WHERE: Retail Nursery – 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA Ellyn is the owner of Garden Guidance LLC, a local tree and garden consulting company. Learn more about her work here |
| June 2023 | |
| Sat, Jun 17, 2023, 10AM | Kiss Your Grass Goodbye! Explore how to convert your lawn to a beautiful garden with Sarah Sutton, author of “The New American Front Yard” Join us as Sarah Sutton, Landscape Architect and author of the award winning book, The New American Front Yard: Kiss Your Grass Goodbye!, returns to Annie’s to share new insights, creative approaches and a step-by-step process to successfully transition your water thirsty lawn into a beautiful, low water, easy to maintain garden. Learn how to create a sanctuary for native birds, bees and butterflies…and more! She will also introduce you to some of her favorite Annie’s plants. Copies of her book and companion workbook will be available for sale. ADMISSION: FREE WHEN: Saturday, June 17th 10 am – 11 am WHERE: Annie’s Annuals & Perennials, 740 Market Ave., Richmond, CA |
| Saturday June 10 11am | ADAPTING TO WILDFIRE – Strategies for Modifying Your Landscape with Wildfire in Mind with Toni Gattone Knowing how to adapt your landscape to fire is one of the best things you can do to help keep your home safer in light of our changing climate and the threat of wildfire. Come learn strategies and techniques that will help enhance your home’s defensible space at this free talk with adaptive gardening expert, Toni Gattone. Toni Gattone is a nationally recognized author and adaptive gardening expert & inspirational change-agent. Her mission is mission to empower gardeners with practical, how-to information enabling them to keep gardening for life, in comfort and with ease. While gardeners of all ages and abilities appreciate her work, she especially enjoys working with seniors and modern elders who want to live bolder lives. ADMISSION: FREE Learn more about Toni Gattone |
| Saturday June 3 10am | PLANTS TO ‘DYE’ FOR – Plant-based Natural Fabric Dyeing Learn how to dye fabrics using plants you can grow at home! Join Rebecca Burgess and Grace Harris of Fibershed for a presentation and natural dyeing demonstration that will inspire you to garden for color, and texture. You will learn how doing this work in our own backyards can extend the life of our clothing, and generate a new culture of land-based fashion that this more earth friendly and that we can all greatly benefit from. Learn more about Fibershed here ADMISSION: FREE |
| MAY 2023 | |
| Saturday May 27th 10am | Create Your Own Customized Plant List Using CalScape, WUCOLS, and other resources. If you tried to figure out a planting palette and been frustrated by inconsistent information and seemingly conflicting advice, this talk is for you. With all the sources of information available, developing a planting palette for your garden that is well considered is no small feat. This talk is a bit different from our usual in that we will be discussing one approach to developing a plant list that’s customized for your site. All those various sources haven’t studied your garden. You know your project better, and you can do this. We will start with reviewing how to take a plant inventory of your property and observe certain conditions there. With that in mind, we’ll look at using CalScape and WUCOLS to start a plant list in excel, then refine the options down including deciding what plants should stay or go from a technical standpoint rather than an aesthetic one. Solving for the technical issues first empowers you to design with confidence. This talk is most suitable for studious do-it-yourselfers, garden designers, and other landscape professionals. We will be discussing a process of working rather than giving plant recommendations. Join us and let’s take a deeper dive toward making better plant selections. Jennifer DrGraaf is a California licensed Landscape Architect and educator with over 20 years professional experience. Her qualifications include being a LEED Accredited Professional, ReScape CA Qualified Professional and Rater, and Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper. She earned her BLA in Landscape Architecture from Oklahoma State University. www.degraafassoc.com |
| Saturday May 20th 10am – 3pm | BUTTERFLY SUMMIT! – Come for a day of education and fun for all things butterflies Hooray! Annie’s Butterfly Summit is back! Come learn from some of the Bay Area’s leading experts about native butterflies and what you can do to help them thrive. Learn about planting and gardening to help attract and sustain butterflies in your area – and how to plant a seasonal succession of blooms so different butterfly species have food sources year round. The day will also include butterfly exhibits, kid’s crafts, music and food vendors. Open to all ages! For even more details about the speakers click anniesannuals.com/ButterflySummit Schedule of Speakers 10am “HOW TO ATTRACT POLLINATORS & KEEP THEM COMING BACK” Pollinator Posse Founders Tora Rocha & Terry Smith (https://pollinatorposse.org ) 11am “POLLINATOR MEADOWS” Andrea Hurd – Owner, Mariposa Gardening & Design 12:30pm “ORNAMENTAL PLANTS & POLLINATORS” Emily Erickson – Postdoctoral Researcher Dept of Evolution and Ecology, UC Davis 2pm “MILKWEEDS & MONARCHS” Isis Howard – The Xerces Society & Sarah Gomes – Monarch Joint Venture 10am – 3pm Stop buy one of our butterfly information tables. Bring the kids for butterfly arts & crafts. Grab lunch or a snack from our pop-up food vendors who will be joining us at the Butterfly Summit. |
| Sat. & Sun. May 13-14 9am-5pm | MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND CELEBRATION Celebrate Mother’s Day with an outing to Annie’s Nursery where ALL MOMS & GRANDMOMS RECEIVE 1 FREE PLANT with purchase!* Plus, enter our drawing for a chance to WIN A $100 ANNIE’S SHOPPING SPREE. Also on Saturday: – Free talk: Growing Your Own Big Beautiful Bouquets, with Jill Sowards at 10am – Kid’s craft to make a Mother’s Day card (11am – 2pm) – Yami Yami will be here with her delicious hand-made, Pate de Fruit confections. * Free plants are “yellow tag” only. Limit one free plant. Need not be present at drawing to win. |
| Saturday May 13th 10am | Growing Your Own Big Beautiful Bouquets Join instructor Jill Sowards of Violetear Studio to learn about growing your own floral arrangements. She’ll discuss a general planting scheme based on building bountiful bouquets that will keep you in flowers all season long including examples of how to combine CA natives with other pollinator-friendly plants. Learn the best ways to create a dedicated cutting garden or how to add “bouquet flowers” into your existing beds. Jill will also discuss the sustainable tools and tips that will help you easily create arrangements of any size, and keep them looking fresh for longer. Admission – FREE Learn more about Jill Sowards of Violetear Studio here. |
| Saturday May 6th 10am | Healthy Soil for a Healthy Garden! Join Charlotte Canner on May 6th, and learn about soil health! Healthy soil is the literal and figurative foundation of a beautiful, pest-free garden. In this in-person workshop, Charlotte Canner of “Our Water Our World” will discuss why healthy soil is beneficial for plant growth, pest reduction, water efficiency in the garden, and how it can even help in the fight against climate change! She will also teach how to build and maintain nutrient-rich soil, whether starting with a bare lot or a mature garden. This class is for all levels of gardeners. Charlotte Canner is an Integrated Pest Management Advocate with the Our Water Our World program in the Bay Area. The program partners with retailers to educate consumers on less-toxic pest management and keeping toxic chemicals out of our waterways. Charlotte is also a soil & compost enthusiast and has taught composting at various gardens and retailers in the Bay Area. She lives in San Francisco with her partner, rescue super-mutt, and her few thousand composting worms. WHEN: Saturday May 6th 10:00 AM WHERE: Annie’s Annuals Retail Nursery – 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA ADMISSION: FREE!!! See Annie’s Annuals & Perennials full schedule of upcoming talks and events on our website Learn more about Our Water Our World Here |
| APRIL 2023 | |
| Saturday, Apr 29, 2023, 11:00 AM | Gardening for Native Bees! A FREE Talk with the Researchers from the UC Berkeley Urban Bee Lab Learn from the folks who make bees their business every day. Join Sarah Caso and Amanda Niemela, from the UC Berkeley Urban Bee Lab, for there talk about how to create sanctuary gardens for bees and other native pollinators. Their talk will include information on the native bees of California, pollinator ecology and how to design gardens to best support pollinator populations. The Urban Bee Lab has been studying CA native bees since 1987 and was founded by UC Berkeley Professor Emeritus, Dr. Gordon Frankie. After the talk, Dr. Gordon Frankie, will also be on hand for a Q&A. ADMISSION – FREE WHEN: Saturday, April 29th at 11am WHERE: Annie’s Annuals & Perennials Nursery, 740 Market Ave., Richmond, CA Sarah Caso is a fourth year student at UC Berkeley majoring in Environmental Science and History. She has been involved in research at the Urban Bee Lab for three years, and is conducting her senior thesis on the impact of urbanization on the reproductive health of blue mason bees in Sacramento and Davis. Amanda Niemela is a fourth year student at UC Berkeley majoring in Plant Genetics and Biology. She has been doing research with the Urban Bee Lab for two years, and has taken over the role as taxonomist, working to identify the thousands of bee species collected through the lab’s fieldwork. Dr. Gordon Frankie is a professor emeritus and research entomologist in the department of Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management at UC Berkeley. He specializes in the behavioral ecology of solitary bees in California and Costa Rica. He founded the UC Berkeley Urban Bee Lab in 1987, and has been working to document the species of California native bees since. See our full schedule of upcoming talks and events online: https://anniesannuals.wordpress.com/2023-talks/ Learn more about the work of the Urban Bee Lab at helpabee.org, or on instagram @berkeleybeelab |
| Sunday April 30th 10am | Grow Big Beautiful Zinnias! – with Author & Breeder Tiffany Jones Learn how Tiffany’s Zinnia journey got started and how yours can too. Zinnias are fun, easy to grow and provide great color for the garden and bouquets! Tiffany will share her techniques and the growing secrets she has learned from her years of breeding Zinnias. You’ll also be able to apply these principles to other blooming plants such as your favorite tomato and other vegetables. Get inspired to experience the joy of watching something unique that you created and grew, open and bloom for the first time like a delightful, surprising gift! Tiffany Jones studied Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Architecture in college and started a small suburban farm in the very crowded Southern California market. She will also have copies of her book, “The Zinnia Breeder’s Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for Farmers, Gardeners and Enthusiasts” available. |
| Saturday April 1 10am – 3pm | BEE BASH – Come for a day of education and fun for all things bees. We’ve gathered a swarm of bee experts for an educational and fun filled day at our first ever BEE BASH. Come learn from some of the Bay Area’s leading experts about native bees and what you can do to help them, including preserving habitat, and planting and gardening with bees in mind. Find out which plants are most likely to attract and sustain bees in your area – and how to plant a seasonal succession of blooms so they have food sources year round. The day will also include demo hives and bee expert booths plus kid’s crafts, music and food vendors. Open to all ages! For even more details about the speakers click anniesannuals.com/BeeBash Schedule of Speakers 10am Jennifer Jewell: “Invitations From and To the Garden: Cultivating Places & People” 11am John Whittlesey: “Bumble Bees – Natural History & Designing Gardens to Support Them” 12:30pm Tora Rocha & Angela Laws: “Maintaining Native Bee Habitats” 1:30pm Gordon Frankie: “Characteristics of Pollinator Habitat Gardens” 10am – 3pm Stop buy one of our bee information tables, arts & craft area, grab a snack or pick up some cool merch from one of the bee-related vendors who will be joining us at the Bee Bash. |
| Saturday April 8th 10am | All Things Tomatoes – A FREE Talk with Matthew Sylvester, owner of Happy Acre Farm Come prepared with all your questions and get ready to learn the secrets of successful tomato growing from Oakland born and raised tomato farmer Matthew Sylvester. Matthew will discuss his favorite tomatoes, based on microclimate, space, soil, usage, and other things to consider when deciding which tomato varieties to plant. ADMISSION – FREE WHEN: Saturday, April 8th at 10am WHERE: 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA Happy Acre Farm’s produce is used by many area restaurants and they are a member of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) which offers subscription-based veggie and flower boxes to consumers. He will also be bringing along some of his locally grown and pressed olive oils. Learn more about Happy Acre Farm https://www.happyacrefarm.com/ |
| Saturday April 15th 10am – 1pm | Nature Journaling Workshop! An Event By MJ Broadbent & Kate Rutter Back by popular demand – Nature Journaling!! 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. The focus is on experiencing and visually expressing our curiosity about plants, not about making detailed botanical art. In this practice, “art” is the experience you have while you’re doing it. After a brief orientation and warm-up learning activities—led by MJ Broadbent and Kate Rutter—you will have hands-on observation and drawing time in the nursery. Using words, pictures, and numbers you will capture the forms, shapes, and textures of the plants of your choice. You will practice foundational techniques such as basic drawing, annotation, and a variety of observations that prompt both deeper questions and a deeper connections to the plants. Your facilitators will be available for questions and individual instruction during the nursery journaling time. The group will reconvene toward the close of the workshop to talk about our experiences and learn from each other. All skill levels welcome; no prior experience necessary. 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… COST: $45 – $65 |
| Sunday April 16th 10:00am – 11am | Lets Talk Dahlias! – A FREE Talk With Jill Sowards Come to Annie’s Nursery for a FREE talk about how to grow beautiful dahlias, one of the most generous and rewarding flowers in the garden. Jill Sowards, gardenista, podcaster, blogger, and owner of Violetear Studio will discuss planting and caring for your flowers — including how to grow dahlias in the ground, in pots, or a raised bed — so that you can enjoy them for years to come. She’ll also discuss how best to cut your blooms to enjoy in the home, and go over favorite varietals. |
| Saturday April 22nd 10am | Gray Water Reuse & Climate Change Celebrate Earth Day by learning how you can help make a difference for the climate by using grey water! Shreya Ramachandran, founder of The Grey Water Project, will be speaking about how you can easily implement a grey water reuse system in our home and how these actions can help reduce water shortages and water pollution all while being beneficial for your garden and the planet. Shreya Ramachandran is a sophomore at Stanford University and founder of The Grey Water Project which promotes the safe reuse of grey water and water conservation as a way to battle droughts and climate change. (Grey water is lightly used water that makes up 60% of the used water in our homes). The foundation works to educate the public and provides a free school curriculum for children. She is also working to push policymakers to give rebates for installing grey-water systems in existing homes, and in new construction. “My goal is to have grey water reuse become like paper and plastic recycling – something everyone does,” Shreya says. She is the City of Fremont’s only Youth Sustainability Commissioner and has won several National and International research awards including Intel ISEF, The Google Science Fair, BioGENEius and The International Children’s Climate Prize. Learn more: Instagram: thegreywaterproject Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/thegreywaterproject LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegreywaterproject/ |
| Saturday, April 29th 10am | Gardening for Native Bees – UC Berkeley Urban Bee Lab Sarah Caso and Amanda Niemela from the UC Berkeley Urban Bee Lab will be presenting on how to create sanctuary gardens for pollinators. Their talk will include information on the native bees of California, pollinator ecology and how to design gardens to best support pollinator populations. After the talk, Dr. Gordon Frankie, the Bee Lab’s founder, will also be on hand for a Q&A. Learn more about the work of the Urban Bee Lab at helpabee.org, or on instagram @berkeleybeelab ADMISSION – FREE Speaker Bios Sarah Caso is a fourth year student at UC Berkeley majoring in Environmental Science and History. She has been involved in research at the Urban Bee Lab for three years, and is conducting her senior thesis on the impact of urbanization on the reproductive health of blue mason bees in Sacramento and Davis. Amanda Niemela is a fourth year student at UC Berkeley majoring in Plant Genetics and Biology. She has been doing research with the Urban Bee Lab for two years, and has taken over the role as taxonomist, working to identify the thousands of bee species collected through the lab’s fieldwork. Dr. Gordon Frankie is a professor emeritus and research entomologist in the department of Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management at UC Berkeley. He specializes in the behavioral ecology of solitary bees in California and Costa Rica. He founded the UC Berkeley Urban Bee Lab in 1987, and has been working to document the species of California native bees since. |
| Saturday, April 29th 9am – 5pm | Native Plant Extravaganza Day #3 – Supporting the Bringing Back the Natives Tour 2023 Shop at Annie’s all day on Saturday, April 29th and a percentage of your CA Native plant purchases will go to support the Bay Area’s 19th annual Bringing Back the Natives Tour. Now is the perfect time to plant natives, especially early blooming annuals, which will not only make your garden look beautiful, but will help the native pollinators and the environment too. Annie’s grows over 250 different varieties of CA native plants. See the latest list here Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour and Green Home Features Showcase Information Join the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour and Green Home Features Showcase this spring. Two days of online inspiration on April 15 and 16 will be followed by the opportunity to visit more than fifty beautiful bird- and butterfly-friendly gardens that will be open at various locations throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties on Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7. Learn how to: Select and care for California native plants, Attract birds, bees, and butterflies to your garden, Garden without pesticides (and protect your children and pets!), Lower your water bill ALL EVENTS ARE FREE BUT DONATIONS WELCOME – REGISTRATION REQUIRED Online garden tour: Sat & Sun., April 15 & 16 from 10:00-3:00, Keynote by Doug Tallamy In-person Garden Tour: Sat.& Sun., May 6 & 7 from 10:00-3:00 To register, and for more information, visit: BringingBacktheNatives.net |
| Saturday April 30th 10am | Grow Big Beautiful Zinnias! – with Author & Breeder Tiffany Jones Learn how Tiffany’s Zinnia journey got started and how yours can too. Zinnias are fun, easy to grow and provide great color for the garden and bouquets! Tiffany will share her techniques and the growing secrets she has learned from her years of breeding Zinnias. You’ll also be able to apply these principles to other blooming plants such as your favorite tomato and other vegetables. Get inspired to experience the joy of watching something unique that you created and grew, open and bloom for the first time like a delightful, surprising gift! Tiffany Jones studied Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Architecture in college and started a small suburban farm in the very crowded Southern California market. She will also have copies of her book, “The Zinnia Breeder’s Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for Farmers, Gardeners and Enthusiasts” available. |
| MARCH 2023 | |
| Saturday March 4 10am | Making Meaningful Message Posy Bouquets Using the Language of Flowers Join Teresa on a floral adventure through history and time as she shares her expertise on planting and growing a Victorian Posy Garden that will reward you with flowers for cutting, arranging, enjoying and gifting. Learn how to incorporate the historical language of flowers to convey meaning when creating modern-day Posy floral arrangements. What exactly is a Posy and how do you create one and select flowers, and herbs to convey the sentiments you desire? One lucky attendee will win a Posy Bouquet. Teresa Sabankaya is a floral designer, floriographist, and author of The Posy Book. She has been providing professional floral design services for elegant lifestyles in the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Area for over thirty years, designing florals for daily enjoyment, weddings, and other milestones. She is most notably known for the creation of her modern-day posies. Her work has been featured in Victoria, Country Gardens, Elle and Sunset Magazines. She has been a participant in many flower shows, including the prestigious Bouquets-to-Art, DeYoung Museum, Golden Gate Park, and Monterey Museum of Art. ADMISSION: FREE |
| Saturday March 11 10am | Jill Sowards – Growing Hardy Hellebores and Shade Plants Hellebores, or Lenten Roses, are one of the showiest, hardiest, long blooming plants you can grow in a shady garden. They’re winter blooming and drought tolerant too. Join Jill Sowards, gardenista, podcaster, blogger, and owner of Violetear Studio, as she talks about the different types of Hellebores, how to grow them, and the best shade-loving gems to partner with them to turn up the volume and pizazz in your shade garden. ADMISSION: FREE |
| Saturday March 18 11am – 12pm | Ikebana From Your Garden – Join, Sahshah “Ko-Sen”, master Sogetsu Ikebana artist during this talk and live demonstration of Ikebana, the art of Japanese floral arrangement. Modern Sogetsu Ikebana differs from traditional Ikebana in its emphasis on individual expression and the use of both natural and unconventional manmade materials in unexpected combinations. Sahshah will discuss the history of Ikebana and Sogetsu, materials selection and basic technique all while creating both a large and small scale sculpture. Sahshah “Ko Sen” began studying Sogetsu ikebana at the age of 7 and throughout her life has continued to study and incorporate Ikebana into her work in floral design. She holds a first grade “Komon” certificate from the Sogetsu School and currently serves as the Floral Designer for the San Francisco Landscape and Garden Show in Sacramento. Her artistic philosophy is that “We need to connect with plants and flowers. They speak a calm and delicate language, that if you listen will tell you where they want to be in an arrangement. We do not want to duplicate nature, but drive to advance it with our imagination and creative thought. Hopefully, the skills we have learned, and the insight we have gained into the verity of the materials, allow us to achieve our vision and express our art.” ADMISSION: FREE Learn more about the Sogetsu San Francisco Bay Area Branch https://www.sogetsusanfrancisco.com/ https://www.facebook.com/SogetsuSanFranciscoBayAreaBranch |
| Saturday March 25th 10am | Native Caterpillars – recognize the “good guys” before they’re butterflies Do you know how to spot your favorite butterflies in their often colorful caterpillar clothes? Pollinator enthusiast Earl Nickel will shine a light on some of our more intriguing California native caterpillars. He’ll explain why these leaf munching guys are important to our local ecology and reveal some of the fascinating defense mechanisms they employ to keep predators at bay in your garden and how you can help ensure their success. Earl is an Oakland-based horticulturist, photographer, and writer. He writes regularly for the San Francisco Chronicle, has written feature articles for Pacific Horticulture magazine, contributes to the Annie’s Annuals blog, and writes his weekly gardening blog; all while maintaining an amazing ‘one-of-everything’ garden. ADMISSION: FREE!!! |
| Saturday, March 25th 9am-5pm | Native Plant Extravaganza Day! – Supporting the Bringing Back the Natives Tour 2023 Shop at Annie’s all day on Saturday, March 25th and a percentage of your CA Native plant purchases will go to support the Bay Area’s 19th annual Bringing Back the Natives Tour. Now is the perfect time to plant natives, especially early blooming annuals, which will not only make your garden look beautiful, but will help the native pollinators and the environment too. Annie’s grows over 250 different varieties of CA native plants. See the latest list here For more information about Bringing Back the Natives and the in-person tour happening May 6th & 7th visit their website. Listen to a podcast interview of Tour creator, Kathy Kramer, on Cultivating Place the award winning Public Radio podcast hosted by Jennifer Jewell |
| FEBRUARY 2023 | |
| Saturday February 11, 10am– 11am | Creating Low-Water High Biodiversity Gardens! with Ann-Marie Benz Imagine a beautiful yard that requires little to no water or maintenance. What if it also supported birds, butterflies, and biodiversity. Come learn how to make that vision a reality at this free talk with Ann-Marie Benz from the California Native Plant Society. She will teach you how to create a more biodiverse habitat garden in your yard that will not only look beautiful but will help the planet too! ADMISSION – FREE WHERE: Annie’s Annuals & Perennials Nursery, 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA WHEN: Saturday, February 11th 10am – 11am (rain or shine) |
| Saturday, February 11th All Day – 9am – 5pm | Native Plant Extravaganza Day! – Supporting the Bringing Back the Natives Tour 2023 Shop at Annie’s all day on Saturday, Feb. 11th and a percentage of your CA Native plant purchases will go to support the Bay Area’s 19th annual Bringing Back the Natives Tour. Now is the perfect time to plant natives, especially early blooming annuals, which will not only make your garden look beautiful, but will help the native pollinators and the environment too. Annie’s grows over 250 different varieties of CA native plants. See the latest list here Extravaganza Days are happening three Saturdays in spring: Feb 11, Mar. 25 and April 29 For more information about Bringing Back the Natives and the in-person tour happening May 6th & 7th visit their website. |
| Saturday, February 18th 10am – 11am | Growing Drought Tolerant Cottage-Style Gardens! An exciting free talk with landscape designer Galen Fultz Join landscape designer Galen Fultz as he discusses the science and art of creating the water wise cottage garden. A cottage garden is generally defined as an informal and individualistic planting of ornamental and edible plants including annuals, perennials, roses, shrubs, vines, small trees, herbs, and vegetables. Done thoughtfully, colorful cottage gardens can be created that are simultaneously water-wise and even provide habitat for birds and pollinators. He will cover soil preparation, watering and plant selection (including California natives). Galen Fultz has been designing plant-focused landscapes in Northern California for over 40 years and is the owner of Avant Garden, a Marin County landscape design company. He has been cited in numerous publications and showcased in Better Homes and Gardens, California Home and Design, the Ross Garden Tour, and the HGTV Channel. He also founded the Marin Garden School in 1996 and has taught landscape design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. |
| Saturday February 25th 10am | Container Gardening with Jill Sowards Learn how to create beautiful container gardens with Jill Sowards of Violetear Studio. Join us in the Nursery for this FREE TALK where Jill will demonstrate the fundamentals of making beautiful potted displays, including container and plant selection. Planting in containers is a great way to bring living beauty to whatever large or small space you have while having fun experimenting with mixing and arranging different containers and flower types together. She will show you how to combine multiple different plants in a single container as seasonal “living bouquets” and also how to group long-living plants growing alone in their containers. Jill will also discuss seasonal care, and recycling your plants into the garden or repotting for continued displays. ADMISSION – FREE WHERE: Annie’s Annuals & Perennials Nursery, 740 Market Ave., Richmond CA WHEN: Saturday, February 25th, 10am – 11am (rain or shine) |
| JANUARY 2023 TALKS | |
| Sun, Jan, 15th,11am -12:00pm | Eileen 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 -1:00pm | Nature 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. |
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