Horticulture expert Nels Christianson will share half a century’s worth of gardening knowledge at the Malibu Garden Club’s meeting on Wednesday, November 6th at the Point Dume Clubhouse.
Christianson’s 7 p.m. presentation will center on growing succulents—native plants that store water in their leaves, branches or trunks—in drought-tolerant conditions.
A Santa Monica resident and gardener for 50 years, Christianson said a drought-tolerant garden has well-drained soil. Planting succulents at the top of a small hill ensures the soil is dried out between weekly summer waterings.
“Malibu and the coast areas of Southern California are excellent places to have a succulent garden because they nearly duplicate the natural conditions of regions rich in succulents such as South Africa, Chile, coastal Peru, the Canary Islands, Morocco and much of Mexico,” said Christianson, who has studied plant life in 14 different countries. “In addition, because our coastal evenings tend to be cool, many high altitude plants of the tropics do well here. Most succulents do well in pot culture.”
Malibu-based succulents such as coastal prickly pear, chalk lettuce, bigroot and the Spanish bayonet can be successfully grown at a depth of two feet, Christianson said.
During the meeting, Christianson will show scenic garden and greenery photos from his travels to Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Portugal and Spain. Christianson will also show pictures of plant life from the southwestern United States and his personal garden of more than 500 succulents.
Birute Anne Vileisis, the Garden Club’s program director, said the club’s monthly meetings help members learn about growing plants in Malibu and growing different plants.
“I think one of the reasons people move to Malibu is that they want to be closer to nature, and we believe not everyone has gardeners to do their gardening,” said Vileisis, who moved to Malibu 27 years ago. “There are people who love and have a passion for growing and nurturing plants.”
The meetings are free to attend. They feature a speaker as well as the popular “Sharing Table,” a display for meeting guests to share or take home fruits, vegetables, cuttings, pots, baskets and other items.
Over the years the group has held meetings to discuss a myriad of different gardening topics including sustainable gardens, the importance of bees, how to care for roses, gardens in other countries and growing orchids outdoors.
Vileisis said they have even held discussions on plants that can help with fire prevention.
“Those types of plants are important to us,” she said.
Christianson, who enjoys growing the dyckia, a South American plant, said keys to a successful gardening include a passion for plants, patience, creativity, being physically fit and a willingness to try new species.
Vileisis grows roses, orchids, succulents and other plants. She calls her garden a “gardener’s garden.” Gardening is about nurturing plants and appreciating their beauty, she said.
“Most of the time it involves the joy of seeing a flower open,” she said. “Flowers are transient. They don’t last a long time, but for me I feel like I’m creating a little corner of Eden here. That’s what I love.”
The Garden Club is open to new members.
“If you love plants and gardening it is a great way to meet other people,” she said. “It is a great resource for this community.”
