You may have better luck in searching landscape history archives in the US, particularly those relating to his projects that you mention. He doesn't seem to be known here.

Good to hear from you. Yes it is the hardest for my dear sweet Dad. He has not been feeling well...the heat and his blood pressure has been low...it is usually high...taking him for doctors visit and try to get him doing better. He is staying in out of this heat. Glad to hear your violets are doing well. I would love to come out for a visit....wouldn't it be nice if we could spend sometime on the beach....something to think about and maybe plan for next summer!!! Again good to hear from you. Nora

IÂm not sure if the cabbage butterfly caterpillar that you have is the same as the one we have here since there is always some confusion with common names. ItÂs the same with products; IÂve never heard of Derris dust before but do know of Pyrethrum and Rotenone. I wanted to suggest the use of "Bt" that can be purchased in liquid form as a solution for your caterpillar problem. While searching for information on Derris dust, I found this page that also mentions Bt - http://www.organicnz.pl.net/pastissues/janfeb01/pesticidesjanfeb.htm. From that page is this quotation ..."Derris Dust is a restricted material, meaning that it may be used "only in accordance with the principles specified in these Standards", with a reduction each year in the dependence on it, and only until more acceptable materials are available. It is also permitted under Demeter and Agriqual/Certenz standards. Its main use is in home gardening, particularly for controlling the caterpillar of white cabbage butterfly. In commercial horticulture it has largely been replaced by Bt preparations. Bt is the short name for Bacillus thuringiensis"... . There are many different varieties of Bt; maybe your local agricultural agent could give you some direction. Terran Here is a link that might be useful: PARKINSON'S DISEASE, PESTICIDES AND DERRIS DUST

I had a super brief flirtation with growing seedlings, but mostly I only grow things from seed if I can throw the seeds on the ground and they have a chance of coming up. Last year I wrote an angry email to a seed place because I didn’t get a single bloom, and I got a very kind email back explaining that blue flax don’t bloom till the second year. I was MORTIFIED. And not sure whether I might have weeded them all away. This year I have lovely blue flax blooming in several garden beds, though. I should take a photo and send a thank you note to them. They were very kind.