Now Booking for 2013/2014
Jan 3, 2013 Gabriola Island Garden Club
Jan 8, 2013 Qualicum Beach Garden Club
February 23 Northwest Garden Flower Show in Seattle
March 13, 2013 Matrix Solutions Inc. Staff Meeting, Calgary
April 11, 2013 Discovery Ridge Members Association, Calgary
April 13, 2013 Calgary Horticulture Society (at Spruce Meadows)
April 17, 2013 Canmore Community Gardening Fundraiser
May 12 , 2013 Christ Church Cafe
DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A TALK? DO YOU NEED AN EXCITING SPEAKER for your conference or group? Donna makes her goal simple: I help gardeners grow!
Book DONNA BALZER 1-403-827-6390
E-mail: donna@gardenguru.net
RECENT
April 27, 2012: VILNA, Alberta
April 28: Edmonton, Alberta; Strathcona Chapters store (free!)
May 1: Calgary, Private Client Function:ScotiaMcleod Strategic Wealth Management
May 4: Camrose, Alberta
May 5: Rimbey, Alberta
May 5: Stettler Alberta
May 10: Regina, Saskatchewan : Fundraiser for Regina Cancer Society (see blog post)
May 12: Edmonton Alberta: Proven Winner's extravaganza
May 13: Edmonton, westside Chapters (free!)
May 17: Calgary, Alberta; Community Natural Foods Store on 10th Ave SW
May 24: Hillcrest, Alberta; Springbreak Garden Centre
May 27: Fort St. John, B.C.; North Peace Horticultural Society
June 4, 2012: Feedlot Studios in Gabriola Island.
September 22, 2012
I am honoured to accept a speaking gig with Word On the Street in Lethbridge Alberta. More Details to follow.
September 30, 2012
And for those left-out west coasters I will be attending and signing books at the September 30, 2012 Word on the Street in the great big city of Vancouver!
COMMENTS FROM PREVIOUS TALKS:
May 1, 2012
Just had to drop you a note to say how very much we enjoyed you and your presentation on Monday evening at the Glencoe.Brilliant idea!!Honestly, I know you take your act on the road but not only are you full of incredible. practical information but you are hilarious, warm, approachable ,friendly and loads of fun. I’d like to have dinner around your table some evening.Thanks again for a fantastic evening. If you can get me excited and motivated about gardening you have reached the top!!!Sincerely,Sandy (& Don too)
JULY 6, 2011 KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA
What a delight. I could have listened to (DONNA) for twice as long--and I don't grow vegetables! She was so happily enthusiastic about what she does.
JUNE 18, 2011 HILLCREST, ALBERTA
"You have a wonderful, relaxed, engaging presentation style. It was a pleasure to hear you in Hillcrest last weekend. As a presenter for over forty years, I recognize the good ones!"
March 17, 2011 CANADA BLOOMS, TORONTO, ONTARIO
Donna and Steven, you gave (Toronto) Blooms an amazing show this morning!
It was everything that you promised: full of useful info wrapped in humour and a stage show. Working as a team as you do is extremely difficult. Usually one ends up the leader but the vibes were right and the personalities were strong enough to allow each of you to hold your own. It was worth being there just to watch you 'dance'. No flips or one ups.
The audience loved you! And we are going to enjoy ... and continue to buy ... your book...
Good luck with further shows and further books.
Joyce McKeough, Toronto
March 3, 2011
"I only wish we could have kept you longer!" Ellis C. Calgary.
SUGGESTED TALKS
Magic in the Garden
Soil gets eaten by microbes, morels appear suddenly in spring and cougars roll in your perennials. Maybe it's true: there is magic in the garden. Follow Donna's story as she explains all the ways there is magic and find out why poorly planted trees wiggle, carrots get hairy and asters get yellow (even when they should be pink, or red). This fun exploration of the garden will delight gardeners and bring relevant information to everyone interested in hearing tall tales and terrific ideas from gardens across the zones.
No Guff Vegetable Gardening
On a balcony or in the ground, anyone can grow vegetables. New to gardening? Start with a guff-free approach and discover what’s practical, what’s needed, and where to start. Already gardening? You’ll find out if that over-the-fence advice really makes sense. If you’ve always wondered whether to test your soil or how to make raised beds, this talk is for you.
Edibles in the Landscape
The days of veggiephobia are over. Now you can have a visually stunning garden and eat it too. Front yard or back, you can incorporate edibles into your existing garden beds if you don't have space for a stand-alone vegetable garden. If you have thought of a front yard veggie garden but weren’t sure how to start, or want to find out how to incorporate a few tomato plants with your perennials, this talk is for you.
Crops that Wow
If your veggie garden space is limited, why grow the green beans you can easily buy. Instead, paint the supper table with a surprising array of coloured veg including red okra, purple beans, yellow carrots, rainbow chard, and golden beets. Then add an exotic touch with intercultural crops such as bitter melon or Malabar spinach, treats that are hard to find at the supermarket. If you grow veg or want to grow veg, but want to be a bit different, this talk is for you.
Kids in the Garden
Get your kids stoked about gardening. It’s a great way for them to learn to love eating vegetables, to introduces them to nature—and to give yourself an opportunity to work in the garden. Whether they’re poking seeds into the ground, peering at purple flowers, or giggling at a wriggling worm, kids thrive in the garden. If you’ve wanted to get your kids gardening but didn’t know how to start—or if you want some new ideas for gardening with kids—this talk is for you.
