Theodore Payne: Annual Garden Tours

[Posted by Chuck Almdale]

Springtime swiftly approaches. Some of our local birds seem to think it’s already here (I’m looking at you, mockingbirds). Perhaps it’s time to spruce up your native plant garden or plant a new bush or two to replace those beaten into submission by our recent hail storms. What? You don’t have any native plants? As Native Plant Representative to the SMBAS board Margaret Huffman always (yes, always) said:

Native plants attract native insects which attract native birds.

18th Annual Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour Join us for an interactive at-home experience of California native plant gardens and landscapes through the seasons. Expanding from spring to an entire year of transformation, TPF’s 18th Annual Garden Tour will take you on an adventure through a select group of gardens with HD video and 360-degree views. Together, we’ll become immersed in the urban ecosystem and the native plant community which makes it thrive. Join us for stunning garden footage, landscape designer and homeowner interviews, expert panel discussions, live music, photo contests, native plant beer tasting, and a keynote address from Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home. The 18th annual Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour takes place from Friday, April 16th through Sunday, April 18th. The event will take place over Zoom.  Friday, April 16, 6-9pm Panel Discussion — A Vision for Los Angeles Landscapes. Happy Hour — featuring a live tasting of Local Source (native plant beer created by Eagle Rock Brewery in collaboration with Theodore Payne Foundation) and live music from Daniel Riera. Saturday, April 17, 10am-2pm  Live narrated Garden footage (spring and winter), featuring private and public gardens. Roundtable — Designing for the environment. Sunday, April 18, 10am-2pm Roundtable — Plant care through the seasons. Live narrated Garden footage (spring and winter), featuring private and public gardens. Keynote Address — Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home. Tickets are available at https://www.nativeplantgardentour.org/ along with detailed information about the tour, and associated offerings. Images available on request. GET TICKETS Be a part of the tour! We want to see your visions of nature in California. From March 1st – April 9th, share your favorite photos of California native plants and enter to win our 2021 Spring Photo Contest. PRIZES: A $100 gift certificate will be awarded to the winner of each of the following categories: SPRING VIBES: Photo that evokes the season of spring HABITAT: Photo that captures the interactions between plants, people, winged or legged creatures PLANTS IN POTS: Photo of a thriving container garden HOW TO ENTER: To submit a photo, use hashtags #NativePlantGardenTour and #TPFSpring21 on Instagram or Facebook or email photos to gardentour@theodorepayne.org with subject: Garden Tour Photo Contest. ​ DEADLINE: The contest is open from March 1st through April 9th. The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 9th at 11:59 pm PST. Winning photographs will be announced and featured LIVE during the 2021 Native Plant Garden Tour. Good Luck! ​   THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS