Plant Doctor Visits The Pacific Palisades Garden Club

About 100 people were in attendance at the Pacific Palisades Women’s Club for the monthly meeting of the Pacific Palisades Garden Club.  Barbara Wold, president of garden club, opened the meeting by discussing the upcoming club garden tour on April 17.  The tour showcases six unique Palisades gardens.      

The group listened to an informative talk from guest speaker Jim Downer.  Downer is a sought after Ph.D. Plant Pathologist and Farm Advisor for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources in Ventura. Downer tries to teach people how to be a problem solver for potential plant diseases, he said. 

“The objective is to fine tune how you see the plant world and catch a problem before your plant dies,” said Downer.

Downer offers these important tips to successfully observe your plants: 

1. Photograph your plant or garden, which gives you a record to refer to.
2. Identify the plant and its needs by asking the nursery.
3. Know the history of the plant. This important especially for trees.

Air plants, also known as Tillandsia, don’t require soil to grow, only moderate light and a good soak every week. They are very low maintenance plants and are beautiful as modern home decor, in terrariums or as incredibly unique and affordable housewarming or all-occasion gifts.

The Aloe Ciliaras is a beautiful orange and green succulent.  It is a drought-tolerant plant.  Once it’s established, natural rain is a sufficient water source.

Nastursiams are colorful and need very little water.  You can find them growing wild along the lower trails in Temescal Canyon.  The only problem with this beautiful flowering plant is that it tends to attract aphids, which are tiny black bugs.  The solution is to spray with soap and water, when the bugs appear.

If you would like to plant vegetables such as tomatoes or cabbage, just beware of  worms that love to eat the veggies before you do.  Downer recommends a bio-rational pesticide, which you can buy at your local nursery.

Another point Downer made is that too many of the same plants in one area can spell trouble. If one of the plants gets a disease or fungus, that alement will spread to all the plants.  Downer grass as an example; if part of the grass dies, usually the rest will follow unless you find the problem and correct it.  Maybe the grass isn't getting enough water, maybe not enough fertilizer.  

After the meeting, Patch had a chance to ask members what they liked best about the PPGC. 

“I love the meetings, the people, the great outings, the garden questions and the Garden Tour,”  Palisades resident Carolyn Gillespie added. 

For resident Bill Kendall, it's all about the activities and working on community projects like the Temescal Canyon Beautifying Project.

"Ten years ago the city planted it and then left it," said Kendall. "We’re rebuilding the site.”

The next Pacific Palisades Garden Club meeting is on April 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Palisades Women’s Club.

For more information on the garden tour call 310.459.4084