Author talks and book signings

Find out how gardens not only create gardeners but writers too. 

We bring you the latest in garden ideas and inspiration with our author talk program. Join us at Heronswood for an intimate facilitated conversation with authors.

These sessions are limited to 40 people. Find out why our guests are motivated to write and when their passion for plants began. What is the one thing they want other gardeners to understand about their work?

This 90-minute program includes time for your questions, book signings and afternoon tea with our author at our historic Heronswood House. 

Ticket prices are $35.00 per person for our members and $45.00 per person for non-members. This also includes entry to our gardens. 

Grow alongside the story.

Sign up for our newsletter and shop early access to our author's hand-picked plant collections - each one thoughtfully chosen to complement their book. Discover the plants that inspired the pages and bring their world to life in your own garden.

Reserve your spot and book today!

Chloe Foster - The Rookie Gardener

Saturday 13 September, 2025
Education Centre and Heronswood House
3 pm to 4.30 pm

Join Chloe Foster, author of the freshly published book, The Rookie Gardener, in conversation with Indra Kurzeme, Manager Events and Education. Chloe has worked as a horticulturalist at both the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and the Melbourne Zoo and is a presenter on Melbourne’s 3CR’s Gardening Show.

Hear Chloe’s gardening journey and the people who mentored her and how it has influenced her career. Most of all, why Chloe thought it was a good idea to write a book for gardeners with NFI. How she approached the project to equip novice plant parents every success in their first garden.

Connie Cao - Your Asian Veggie Patch

Saturday 4 October, 2025
Education Centre and Heronswood House
3 pm to 4.30 pm

Connie Cao is one of the most positive and generous gardeners we know. Her garden is the embodiment of her Chinese culture, filled with stories about her parents and their search for familiar food plants. More than just a garden that provides her family food all year round, Connie’s vegetable garden was the inspiration for her to write her book Your Asian Veggie Patch.

Find out how family can inspire you to write a book. Connie is a guest presenter on our Growing Food online course, and her enthusiasm is infectious. Join Connie in conversation with Indra Kurzeme, Manager Events and Education.

Sandra Schwarz - Restore: How green spaces support human restoration

Saturday 15 November, 2025
Education Centre and Heronswood House
3 pm to 4.30 pm

In this hyper stimulating world, calming garden spaces offer respite from the madness created by…us. Let Sandra Schwarz share her experience of a deep dive into restorative garden design - drawing from case studies around the world.

How important is it for our wellbeing to be surrounded by green space? Join Indra Kurzeme, Manager Education and Events and find out why did Sandra feel the need to write this book now.