Occidental College biologist Gretchen North studies the ecology of arid-land plant species. Before participating in a panel on water’s deadly force, she offered her thoughts on L.A.’s most underrated and overrated flora—as well as the one or two things grass is good for—in the Zócalo green room.
What’s the most underrated plant in Los Angeles?
Ribes viburnifolium. It grows under live oaks. It’s a huge problem in L.A., where people have grass and live oak. They have to preserve the oak, but if they water the grass, the oak rots. It’s just an example of a native plant—drought-tolerant, shade-tolerant drought covers—they’re really needed to take the place of grass. It’s the first example I thought of.
How about the most overrated?
Well, palms of course.
What book have you re-read the most?
Probably Ulysses. By choice.
It’s your final meal. What’s on the menu?
Carrots. That’s assuming I have teeth. They would have to be cooked carrots. Just a great salad.
Who was the last person to leave you a voicemail?
My son!
Are you a good gardener?
No, not really. It’s sad.
What tips do you have for someone with a black thumb?
I have suggestions; I just can’t follow through myself very well. My tips are that you’ve got to first get rid of the sprinklers, and once you get rid of the sprinklers, you have to get rid of the lawn. There’s a ton of great little shrubs that look so good, and you can control where the water goes, limit it. The only thing it’s not so great for is kids. Kids don’t like to run over shrubs. There’s one good reason for grass, and it’s kids running around, and that’s about it. Well I guess there’s golf courses …
Who or what do you root for?
I root for the Dodgers, it’s a very sad thing.
Who taught you how to swim and when did you learn?
I think they sent me to day camp. It was like a Y camp or something like that, and I was 5.
What’s your favorite thing about teaching undergrads?
They get so excited. They really do. They haven’t gotten jaded yet, or directed, or channeled. So they get kind of randomly excited.