SPRING LUNCH & LEARN

Lunch & Learn: Botanical Beverages for People & Pollinators

Tuesday, April 26, 2026

 Join Peter Wood of The French Paradox Wines & Spirit Shop and Dr Clare Walker who leads Irvine’s Native Plant Team, for this fun and flavorful Lunch and Learn.  Spring blossoms are an important food source for our early emerging spring pollinators, but their delicate floral scents and sweet nectar can also be captured to create delightful beverages.  Join us for an engaging lunch at Irvine where you will taste some local spring wildflowers and blossoms transformed into distinctive spirit-free cocktails.

In this seasonal talk, Clare will highlight native flowering shrubs that can be a wonderful, easy-care addition to your own garden.  Discover the many species of spring bees that these plants support while also acting as hosts to several local butterfly species.  These shrubs grow berries that attract birds from summer through winter providing four seasons of interest.  We will also explore some important spring wildflowers, that may already grow in your yard, that support pollinators and can be harvested for their appealing flavors.  As a keen forager as well as naturalist, Clare will provide information on easy methods to safely harvest and taste some local flowers.

If you attended Pumpkins on the Green or any of Irvine’s Eat Drink and Learn sessions, you may have already tasted some of Peter Wood’s fabulous creations.  As a drink’s connoisseur, he provides a depth of knowledge about blending flavor profiles to create complementary tastes.  Peter will discuss the creation of the drinks for the lunch and learn, as well as some of his favorite spring drinks.

For Adults- 

*Pre-registration required-please register by 5:00 PM on Monday, April 27th*

This event will sell out; please assure your reservation by registering early! 

Time: 12:00 PM -2:00 PM

Location: Irvine Nature Center Fern Rooms

Price: $30 Members (Pacesetter Level or above) / $40 Non-Members