VOM Garden Club explores mushrooms on June 1

Are we having fungi yet?|

Ever wonder what fungi in your garden soil have to do with healthy plants?

And these are not merely mushrooms. The unseen members of the garden community may be the most important in terms of garden success, according to area gardeners.

On Thursday, June 1, Valley of the Moon Garden Club hosts speaker Karen Guma to speak and show photos describing the biology of fungi in the soil with the do’s and don’ts of promoting beneficial microbes in the garden. Soil restoration involves fungal and bacterial growth to assist plant roots to absorb nutrients. The study of fungi and the soil microbiome also has implications for large agriculture.

Guma’s interest in soil biology began with habitat restoration, working with the Sierra Club, the Nature Conservancy, and local groups. This work restores and protects land for native plants and habitat for animals.

Her Petaluma garden was recently featured in the Eco Garden Tour sponsored by the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership, the Milo Baker Chapter of the Native Plant Society and Daily Acts.

The meeting will be held at the Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Building at 126 First St. W. Meet-and-greet begins at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting at 7 p.m.

Refreshments and a plant raffle will follow the presentation.

Members are free; guests pay $5, which goes towards the $20 club membership, if desired. Call 935-8986 for information.

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