the plants that go into retail very carefully by growing and testing them ourselves.” From seedlings all new plants are grown through winter and summer, tested in sun, in shade, with and without water all to know if they are good plants, according to Hayes. If a plant does make the cut, which she said is maybe one out of one hundred, she puts them into production to be sold at her nursery, her catalog, or sold wholesale to nurseries all over California and a few out of state. “It’s a long process. Sometimes it may take two to three years just to get the plant to size to even germinate. Unfortunately many plants in the nursery trade today are just thrown into the market place by breeders who just want to move a product, no testing is done,” she reviled. “So, the home gardener gets these plants home and then they die. It’s often because no one really trialed them in California.” From her website and catalog to the nursery its self, it is clear that Annie’s Annuals and Perennials is so much more than a business for Hayes and her employees. “It’s a labor of love. We’re not just business people, we’re goofy flower floozies and we just love plants,” laughed Hayes. Through fun and informative web videos, extensive information in the catalog and many talks the nursery hosts through out every year, Hayes is always finding new ways to share her passion and knowledge of gardening with whoever wants to take it. “We do the free talks at the nursery about every other weekend and they have become very popular,” she said. “We have experts of all areas of gardening talking about everything from fruit trees to how to have a bee garden—they just run the gamut of all gardening subjects.” Through all these years Hayes admitted her only goal was to have a really great place to work with really nice people. A goal that she feels she has achieved. “I just want to keep this nursery as cool as it is now and to just enjoy the ride.” “A kid once said to me that gardening is the last magic in the world that you can do, and it really is,” she shared. “To get your hands dirty and create something beautiful that changes every day is a very rewarding and fascinating experience.” Annie’s Annuals and Perennials 740 Market Ave., Richmond. (510) 215-3301. For mail order (888) 266- 4370. Anniesannuals.com
Contra Costa Marketplace - July 2015
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