Onions and Inspiration

"The mediocre teacher tells.
 The good teacher explains. 
The superior teacher demonstrates. 
The great teacher inspires."
 William Arthur Ward

Allium unifolium 'Wayne Roderick'
Much has been written about Wayne Roderick, if you don't know who he was then you should google it. I won't repeat the many accolades here but I wanted to nod to the inspiration he provided many, including myself. I never met him, but I followed his work intently, I've been to Tilden Park many times and I have a passion for many of the Fine California Native plants he championed. I was thinking about how many of these legendary, plantsfolk are fading away as the "greatest generation" have hit the golden years and gone beyond. I wonder who will fill there shoes, who will spread the botanical knowledge and interest in the information age. I will always think of Jack Poff, the aged gardener for Rae Selling Berry who taught me so many propagation tips and tricks that you can't learn from a book. I hope I can spread some of that knowledge around. Because at the end of it all, you may or may not be remembered for things you did. You may have a statute built for you, or you may even have a plant named for you. But many of these things can fade or find the bulldozer or be lost to antiquity. But as long as people pass the knowledge on, that is a legacy that will hold forever.

Camassia  cusickii 

This was my seed collection from the Wallowa Mt's many years ago now. It's been such a good doer you'll likely see it on the catalog list this year. I know the color is a little pale, and some might say washed out, but those tall, sweet foxtail like flower spikes are really quite resplendent. 

Headed for 80 degree weather this weekend, I caught two bee swarms this week, and I'm getting a new motor put on my boat! If this isn't the Dolce Vita, I don't know what is?

Cheers, 

Mark