In the Weaverville Community Center
[60 Lakeshore Drive, Albert Weaver Room]

Does the above plant have variagated leaves? Or does it have a virus?

To learn more about this, please join us for a presentation on integrated pest management in the garden offered by horticulturalist, garden designer, ornamental nursery owner, and farmer Skyler Keeney.

The most important part of IPM is the word “integrated,” and to Skyler that means “balanced and well-informed.” And while IPM comprises management of mites, weeds, mammals, and pathogens, Skyler’s presentation will focus on the most common plant pathogenic viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Her goal is to build enthusiasm for IPM and encourage home gardeners to pursue a balanced and well-informed approach to managing garden diseases.

Skyler earned a bachelor’s degree in horticulture, focusing on ornamental horticulture. She has experience in several branches of the green industry, including in public gardens, greenhouses, wholesale and retail nurseries, and residential landscaping. And managing plant diseases has been crucial in all positions.

She started her business, Sky Gardens in 2022 as a garden designer in Atlanta. Not long after, Western North Carolina captured her and her husband’s hearts, and they chose to buy their first home here in 2023. Since then, she has been growing her business to include more areas of horticulture, including a greenhouse, vegetable garden, orchard, and vineyard. One day, she’d like to continue her education and pursue her passion for plant pathology more deeply. But now in the private gardener branch of her business, she mostly enjoys pruning, as well as educating clients about IPM. A day covered in dirt is always a good day!

All are welcome to attend. The garden club will not provide refreshments this month, but feel free to bring your own lunch, snack, or beverages to enjoy immediately following the program, if you’d like. The business meeting will begin soon thereafter.

Club of Weaverville is a co-ed, non-profit organization open to everyone. For more information on what we do, becoming a member, or supporting the club, visit our website.