OT - a marvelous day

Last Tuesday, Ted and Dorothy Green flew down to 'my island' to visit. Ted is well known among all the nurserymen here, respected and admired. The fact that he would come to visit us was indeed an honor. He said he wanted to see " your weeds".

They spent the day...and Ted and I had a chance to talk 'hoyas' ad nauseum...it was fun. OH, the stories he tells....the gossip, the intrigue of former societies, collecting trips. He has a wonderful sense of humor!!! His wife, Dorothy, is LOVELY...and they are both good company. Just wanted to share this experience with you all.... It made my week IN SPADES. We (get this) 'traded hoyas'. No my head still fits thru the door in the greenhouse!!!

That's Ted (84 and he can out walk, out hike and out story-tell me in spades), me behind the tree and Dorothy on the right. Sorry the photo is so bright.

Carol

I can't believe that guy is 84. He looks like he's in his 60s.

You all look like you're having a good time! What fun! Can you tell us which plants you traded or is it a secret? -joanne

Not a secret at all:

He brought me cuttings: a H. archboldiana X H. macgillivrayi by Michael Miyashiro called Kimuki (or something like that), H. buoti (syn H. halconensis), H. obtusifolia and a couple more (I don't write them down until they are rooted...a karma thingy I have). I have wanted H. obtusifolia ever since Ed gave me a cutting and it has done nothing/zip/zero/zilch in 4 years. Bad DNA I am sure.

I gave him H. odettiae, H. oreogena, H. aff. albiflora, and 5 or 6 others. Sorry...I really don't remember. We just walked around the 'GH pulling plants. Like everyone else, we lose plants and it is so wonderful to find replacements. I also had a chance to get his input on some NOIDS I have been sent from friends - trades they have gotten with questionmarks.

Also, SusanVa sent me a lovely heart shaped H. lacunosa last year which has grown into a beautiful plant...he fell in love with this!!!(BTW - I am really certain it is a clone of H.lacunosa ssp. lacunosa...but on steroids...) Walking around the property, we looked at a piece of H. lacunosa ssp. lacunosa growing all over a tree off our porch...with the same big heart shaped leaves. At first, when he saw the heart shaped leaf, he wouldn't believe it was a H. lacunosa...but on the tree it was obvious. It is amazing...the leaf DOUBLES in size ....one of the marvels of the plant kingdom. Thank you Susan.

Walking out on the road where I have lots of Eriostemmas growing up trees, Ted was a wonderful help IDing some questions I had... and I glowed with pride as he took pictures of H. ciliata and the H. cv. Ruthies and others he has collected in far away exotic places...growing in my yard. Wow...this IS a small world!

I had been 'told' that Ted Green was very different than he REALLY is. Like any normal, rational, sane human being, he admits mistakes, miscalculations....he is humble, knowledgeable and has a great sense of humor. He also has a great sense of pride which does not allow him to speak ill of others no matter the ill others have done to him. I like him.

Later...looked at the other cuttings: there is a H. kastellbergii, a new mindorensis, endauensis, longifolia and some others....

This message was edited Aug 7, 2006 12:17 PM

Wow, Carol......you have certainly validated your position in the Hoya World with that visit!!

Glad to hear you were able to meet, chat, and trade....I know this makes you happy!

I can't wait 'til Susan reads this!! She'll be so flattered!!!

(How exciting that someone with Ted's knowledge, experience, prestige and most of all....collection.......so coveted one of your/her plants!!)

Oh my, Carol, that must have been fun. He certainly DOES look young for his age. Maybe plant collecting keeps you young and healthy. His wife looks marvelous too.
Is that heart shaped lacunosa the same one that Cindy has? (I wonder where SHE went....I haven't seen a post from her in ages). Anyway, I got a small cutting of that a year or so ago from her, and it is just now starting to take off & grow nicely.
Marcy

Marcy, how have you been growing that cutting (i.e. light, water, etc.).
Inquiring minds want to know ;-)
Ann

OH, gosh...it was CINDY that sent it to me...CalicoCat...what a dumbbunny I am for getting them mixed up. I LOVE it....

I'd like to take the credit but I don't believe I was the one who sent it. I always meant to send you a couple, especially a certain dischidia ( I think) that I have long since murdered.

Susan

oh, forgot to mention..Wow! they're hoya royalty. What a lucky person you are living in paradise!!

Susan

hey, where did Carol go?

I'm here...blushing and dealing with stuff. It's the time of the year to pick coffee and since DH did a bad job pruning the trees....they are about 14' tall and a beast to pick!!! Oh well...it could be worse. Then DH was playing with matches and has second degree burns on his hand (the gasoline helped) and won't seek medical advice.."I can do i t myself"... My plate is full. Stop this world, I want to get off!!!!

Carol--Did Bob not just cut himself also????Oh and fresh coffe .....

Your DH is nuts!

A tad self absorbed, perhaps?

so it was another SusanVA who sent it?

Yes...it was Cindy...CalicoCat.

Does anyone else here have that heart shaped lacunosa? Mine is still very tiny, but healthy and growing.
Marcy

Marcy...Ted was convinced it wasn't H. lacunosa until I showed him a H. lacunosa ssp. lacunosa growing on a tree off the porch....part of it was JUST LIKE that very rounded heart shaped hoya..... so....guess it is pretty normal. I love it.