Rethinking the Pest Free Garden: Letting the Garden Do the Work, Monday, August 6, 7pm-9pm, 1219 Corona (End of Sheridan)

On Monday, August 6, Quimper Grange will present a talk by David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth, award-winning authors of  “What’s Wrong With My Plant?” and “What’s Wrong With My Vegetable Garden?”  Using examples from their books, they will describe how to create a garden that can more easily fend off diseases and pests by emulating natural plant communities, adding species diversity and by cultivating biologically active soil.  David and Kathryn will show how these steps will help avoid pestiferous insects through camouflage, avoid disease by isolation and also provide habitat for beneficial pollinators, predators and parasitoids.

Attendees will walk away with a systematic way to approach garden design that will help reduce time, energy and money using safe, organic solutions. After the talk, the speakers will have some of their books for sale and for signing.


David Deardorff, a botanist and plant pathologist, received his doctorate in botany from the University of Washington.  He was on the faculty of the University of Hawaii in Plant Pathology and also on the faculty of Washington State University Cooperative Extension in Jefferson County, as well as faculty advisor/instructor to the Master Gardener program in Jefferson County.  

Kathryn, a naturalist and photographer, earned her Master’s degree in film-making at the University of New Mexico.  She has led natural history tours around the world from Australia to Alaska and Mexico.  

Both are writers and photographers who travel and speak to audiences across the country. Their books, the award winning “What’s Wrong With My Plant? (And How Do I Fix It?) and “What’s Wrong With My Vegetable Garden?” are both best sellers. Their third book,“What’s Wrong With My Fruit Tree?” will come out next year.  David and Kathryn are also garden coaches and consultants.  Their website is ddandkw.com.

The program starts at 7:30 pm and is preceded by a potluck dessert/fingerfood social half-hour from 7pm to 7:30pm. 

Suggested donation: $5-$10.  For further information contact: Charlotte Goldman at 385-3455