In early June, Philip (Phil) Johnson donated a large set of valuable plants to MEMBG from the Brentwood estate of Victoria Padilla, who died in 1986. A close friend of the Padilla family since World War II, Phil was left the estate in 1994 and since that time has maintained and kept Victoria's excellent plant collection intact. Phil, whose true passion is classical music--an interest he shared with the Padillas--accompanied Victoria on collecting trips to Mexico in search of bromeliads and other plants for cultivation, and was greatly influenced by her.
Victoria Padilla co-founded the Bromeliad Society in 1950 and later edited its journal for many years. Her book Bromeliads (1973) is considered the first professional compendium on the family Bromeliaceae; a nicely illustrated volume, it has provided growers and collections with a taxonomic treatment to identify species in cultivation and standardize their scientific names. Victoria also wrote and edited many other important bromeliad publications.
In addition to her enormous contributions to the study and cultivation of bromeliads, Victoria had deep roots in the Southern California Horticultural Society. She served as executive secretary of the group from 1956 to 1971, and was an expert on the history of horticulture in Southern California [Southern California Gardens. 1961. University of California Press].
In Southern California's horticultural circles, Victoria Padilla and Mildred Mathias were contemporaries, both outstanding leaders. It is not surprising, therefore, that after Victoria died, Mildred Mathias published glowing tributes to this accomplished plantswoman and author. Mildred wrote, "Victoria's high standards resulted in a journal of quality that helped to establish bromeliads as a major cultivated plant group" [Pacific Horticulture 48(2): 22].
The 116 plants accepted by MEMBG from Victoria's private collection included nineteen cycads, seventy-seven bromeliads, sixteen orchids, and four aroids. We are very pleased to have been chosen as the recipient of these materials, which will enhance our outdoor displays. In particular, the cycads will replace the ten specimen plants that were stolen from our collection in October 1984.
The estate will be put on the market soon, and we expect to receive a second donation from large specimen beds of bromeliads. These plants will find a new home near the Padilla Bench in the bromeliad section at MEMBG.
Rand Plewak, Garden Manager