Hi all, My first plant was an African violet. My grandmother was at fault. It was 1979 and I was about 23 years old and in college. I decided I would like to have a house plant and went over to her place to get some pothos cuttings. She grew wonderful looking pothos like nobody I've ever seen since. Anyway she was really thrilled that I was interested in having of houseplant and cut me several good lengths of pothos stems. When we were done with that she took me over to the window and showed me an African violet. She told me that I could take one of those leaves, put it in a glass of water, and that it would grow new plants from the base of the stem. I thought to myself, "no way", but I took a couple of those leaves home, stuck them in a glass of water as she instructed and indeed after couple months little plantlets started to grow from the bottom of the stems. I then planted them in African violet soil and had two plants. I soon took more leaves and started even more African violets. I thought it was such a coup how I was able to produce these "free" plants. Although by the time I bought the pots and soil those plants were not free. lol I then started propagating other plants. I even grew a lemon tree from a lemon seed I had harvested when making lemonade one time. My surprise was that the thing had thorns. Even though I liked my plants I can say that I was really in love with them. That would come later. I graduated from college and married a girl who was in ROTC and went into the army six months later. She was immediately sent to different schools and we traveled around the country to three different places in less than a year. Keeping plants going under those conditions was not very good and I lost a lot of plants, but not my African violets. I wound up in Washington, DC and worked for what was pretty much a white collar "sweat shop". It wasn't uncommon for me to work 60 to 70 hours a week. I needed somewhat of a diversion occasionally though and I found that diversion to be houseplants. I was very lucky to share a corner office with a couple of other people. The sunlight was incredible, and the windows were tinted so that the sun was not too harsh. I bought several starter plants and had them around my desk. To make a long story short I had a spider plant that was just magnificent and I had a Swedish Ivy that was to die for. The Swedish Ivy hung from a 9 foot ceiling and was basically a pillar all the way to the floor. I could not get my arms around the circumference of the plant. Anyway that's when my love of plants really blossomed. I continued to purchase and propagate African violets and had several to give away. My wife, who would eventually become my ex wife, and I moved to Denver. I then became acquainted with other gesneriad cousins of African violets. I went to African violet and gesneriad shows annually and met several people who grew these plants. I love all of my plants but my first love is African violets and their gesneriad cousins. Larry

DeeS I just left you a message on the 5 most wanted brugs threat. Glad you enjoy them also :-) A few years ago I would have freaked out myself. Thanks to here, I learned way to much about gardening. So far I have not had a run in with real dangerous animals here yet. So as long as the Fox keeps running from me...and the skunks not spraying me....the armadillo only loosing up my soil...I am ok with that :-) To all the rest...here I thought I was almost blind lol Lucy

I'm waiting for a ride somewhere so I'll resurrect this thread! In 1993/94 I was working at this plant nursery in Vista, CA called Exotica. It had rare plants from everywhere all over the place (fruits mainly but some kinda unusual ornamentals). At the time I was double majoring in botany and music and I was very interested in ethnobotany. I knew that daturas were complex and used by people around the world so I was kinda intersted in these tree forms (at that time I think we were calling them tree daturas but I dunno if we were just behind the times or what). Anyway, thinking back it is kinda funny because the nursery manager who I was coming in to replace was training me and they had a few kinds -just marked "white", "orange" and this double white "Double White" that no one really thinks is all that these days. Well, back them this was super super rare I guess and she tells me "don't sell the Double Whites for anything less than $60 IF it's a small plant" And I'm all WHAT?! No one has that kinda money to drop on plants. Which is funny cause now I hear of people dropping a couple hundred bucks on rare plants but that was outrageous to me then. I didn't have a place of my own right then (and couldnt afford them even at the super reduced wholesale price of $60) so I'd go to the dessert and check out the jimson weed. I finally got my mom a double white which is still at her house and is quite old now. When they started appearing in home depot it was pretty weird. And when the double white did, it was like the fourth sign of the apocalypse or something. I can't say I am addicted to them per se. Although I do have as many as I can get onto my yard and still be able to walk out there. A lot of people have been pretty helpful. I think Monika Gottschalk the hybridizer from Germany is really helpful with all her info online and her willingness to correspond, post and publish. I've met a few botanists in Germany and the Netherlands who have been helpful as well. And Strybing Arboretum and UC Berk have been helpful with maintaining the species Brugs and making them available. I sitll think I'm sorta a newby though cause everyone else seems to know so much more about the Brugs in particular. I still really suck at virus ID. Well my ride is still not here but I better go!

Hi, Everybody! WOW, what a great group of folks that are planning to come, Melissa! Some old friends, plus a lot of new folks I haven't met yet. I'm so looking forward to that! And I can't wait to give all the "usual suspects" a hug around the neck!! I really wish I had more to share, but I know you all understand what has happened to my yard, and I know I'm not the only one. This still gives us a chance to share what we DO have left unscathed, and just to hang out and enjoy each other, and be inspired by each other. What a great way to spend the day. I'm not the world's best cook (I'm the Designated Eater), but since Kate isn't able to come to this one, how about I bring a trifle? She taught me how to make her favorite version, and it makes a tasty dessert, for those who want more than one. I'll do the lemon/blueberry one, if Publix cooperates. Anything else I can bring, Melissa? Kara, I am taking fresh lion's mane cuttings for you today...hopefully, they will be starting to root by Saturday. This is the first day I've had to think about finding something to share. Looking SO forward to seeing/meeting you all! Marcia