A personal note, Sir Peter Smithers' amazing contributions to culture, politics and plants has been a constant inspiration for me. His book, ADVENTURES OF A GARDENER sits on my desk at this very moment. It has continued to inspire me to try to master breeding Nerine sarniensis, (no luck yet) and to try to obtain many of the plants which he wrote about. He sent many of us on a fascinating journey of discovery which enriched many of our lives. I remember when I fist found his book at a used book store at Brown University, I had just returned from visiting Mr. Nakamura in Japan, seeing his collections of Vico Yellow and it's many offspring which many of us now share. I realized the connection that Mr. Smithers has mad throughout the plant world, and the people he had touched. Connections are an amazing thing. I had always wanted to meet him in person. Matt Mattus Worcester, Massachusetts Zone 5 Where I spent the rainy day in the greenhouse, repotting many of Vico Yellow and Vico Gold's offspring. On 6/9/06 8:10 PM, "Lee Poulsen" <wpoulsen@pacbell.net> wrote: > Because I know some of you knew him both in person or from the old IBS > list, I'm forwarding this news. I only interacted with him a little via > email, but loved the decades of plant knowledge and stories he shared > during those few years when he was actively involved on the list. I > also purchased his book which I loved and I managed to get one of the > cloned Vico Yellow Clivias that he originated, back when yellow Clivia > were few and expensive and hard to get. I think he was a wonderful man. > Mary Sue and others actually got to meet him. > > --Lee Poulsen > Pasadena, California, USDA Zone 10a > =========================================== > >> From: "Alan Meerow" <prez@bulbsociety.org> >> Date: June 9, 2006 1:43:22 PM PDT >> >> The bulb world is a lesser place this week. From another IBS member I >> received this news: >> >> I am sorry to report that this morning (June 8) Sir Peter Smithers >> died peacefully at his home in Vico Morcote, Switzerland. He was 92 >> years old. >> >> Correspondence can always be sent to either Colonel (Ret) Denny Lane >> (magaloff@aol.com), his step-son, or to his daughter Amelia >> (asmithers@bluewin.com). In both instances the address remains: In di >> Pradon 19, CH-6921 Vico Morcote, Switzerland. >> >> Alan >> > > =========================================== > >> From: "Robert M. Turley" <Robert@TurleyUSA.Com> >> Date: June 9, 2006 2:04:29 PM PDT >> >> Alan, this comes as no surprise as Sir Peter Smithers¹ will to live >> ended on January 3, 2006 of this year. Truly, a great friend and >> patron of horticulture has passed on. Below is the last message I >> received from him. We from time to time sent each other salutations. >> >> __________________________________________________ >> >> From: Sir Peter Smithers [ps@vicogarden.com] >> Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 8:21 AM >> To: Robert M. Turley >> Subject: Re: Bonne Annee - Happy New Year !!! >> >> At 20:58 02/01/2006, you wrote: >>> >>> Happy New Year >>> Wishing you & Lady Smithers the Best for the coming year !!! >>> >>> Robert & Sandra >>> The Turley Family >>> Louisiana - USA >> >> >> Dear Robert, >> >> thank you for your kind message. But Dojean died suddenly >> last thursday after 62 years and six months of very happy marriage and >> was cremated after a truly beautiful service in our beautiful parish >> church, packed to the doors and with three rows of people standing at >> the back. In a very long and happy life this was the worst day of >> all but a great triumph for Dojean who gave me such a precious gift. >> >> Peter >> >> : >> >> Sir Peter Smithers >> In di Pradon 19 >> CH-6921 Vico Morcote >> ps@vicogarden.com > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php