The Depression is over!



Story # 111, O. T.

The Depression is over!

            The Depression that has been going on since 2008 is over.  Economists, who get quoted, never could agree that the recession should be called a Depression.

            Now the Economists can’t agree that the recession is over, so I can just declare it over and move on.

            My proof ----- the roads.  Just try it drive anywhere near a city or be brave enough to get on Interstate 95.  There are too many cars.  Driven by people trying to get somewhere to do something.

            Sure there are workers unemployed, underemployed and unhappy with their jobs.  That’s always been true.

            If you‘re in a tough economic situation, do your best to get out of it.  It’s not the economy.

The trade show report

Streptocarpus 'Yellow Purple Cap' from Green Fuse

Story # 110,


The trade show report



      The largest horticultural trade show in the United States had many interesting trends going on last week in Columbus, Ohio.


      Well, trends that I care about anyway.  Miniature Gardens – up, Succulents – up, New plants – always, People that care about the plant industry – always.


      From Green Fuse, the only national importer/promoter of Streptocarpus, there are two new bicolor varieties.  Selected from Dibley’s Greenhouse, the world’s leading hybridizer of Streptocarpus, they are more interesting than the previous introductions.  The names are bazaar—‘Yellow Purple Cap’ and ‘Yellow Pink Cap’ but the plants will sell once we get them this winter.


      Although I’ve only recently looked for succulents, the category is expanding with an infinite variety of shapes, colors and forms.  Off-shore farms are producing these by the millions to help supply the demand for these care-free plants.


      The Miniature Garden segment (Lloyd Traven says it’s been going on too long to be called a trend) has some new players and all vendors said they increased over last year.  The accessories (trinkets) are infinitely more varied.  For example, a water- feature with moving water (electric pump).


      Mark, a new vendor for compact houseplants showed for the first time and was basically overwhelmed with interest.  He has 100 potential plants from years of selective plant collecting.  I hope to get some of them.


      I found a new Nematanthus that has creamy variegation that has never been seen before.  There will be a future story once more details are known.

I've changed my mind

Sinningia 'An's Nyx' with potential

Story # 109,


I’ve changed my mind


“It will be lucky to be a collector’s plant” ----- November 16, 2012

“It will not be a commercial plant “----- June 18, 2013

“It should be produced commercially and see what happens”----- NOW

        Sinningia ‘An’s Nyx’ has very striking yellow/cream flowers which hang down, but they are held out far enough for all to see.   We always knew that---- it was the initial attraction.  The problem was the plant appeared weak and there were not enough flowers at once.


      My one plant appears to have overcome these faults.  The second flowering from stronger growth off the tuber has produced several flowers at once with buds waiting.  Multiple flowers can be achieved with multiple shoots from either pinching or planting 2-3 plants per pot.


      The double calyx novelty (flower petals form where the calyx normally grows) ensures that the flowers will not fall off.  Of course, this means that flowers gone past will have to be cut off --- you can’t have it both ways.


      Commercial plants only survive if they are pretty.  Collector plants survive if they are interesting.


      Sinningia ‘An’s Nyx’ could be both.

100 Years old.

Story # 108,


100 Years old.


      My Mother would have been 100 years old today.  Ida Ferne (Irey) Hunter was born July 1, 1913.  Her parents were George and Ora Irey.  She lived to be 94 years and 10 days.


      Mom was a Farmer’s wife and raised my sister, Joan, and me on a 200 acre farm in Washington County, Pennsylvania.  We joke now that we were poor, we just never knew it.  But we always had everything we needed.  Dad was tied to the farm with twice a day milking and field work.   It was Mom who found a way to get us to activities like 4-H, Little League Baseball, Vacation Bible School or Cub Scouts.


      After Dad died young, Mom had to survive on her own for half of her life.  Somehow she was able to go to Commercial College to make her more qualified as an office clerk at the feed store and later at the Washington Hospital.


       In retirement she was always busy with local activities and volunteering at the hospital or Bethel Church.   As she got older with health issues, somehow she would always bounce back.  She was tough because she had to be.


      We miss her.

It's better this time around

Sinningia 'An's Nyx' - Second flowering

 Story # 107,


It’s better this time around.


      Sinningia ‘An’s Nyx’ is very interesting in that it’s the first yellow double calyx flower that I’ve seen.


      I was happy to get to see it by paying a lot of money in the Gesneriad auction last year.  It did not perform well in the first flowering after surviving a shaky start.


      This second flowering is stronger with several buds showing.  The flowers are nice ---- Yellow is always a good color to have.


        It will not be a commercial plant but every Sinningia lover will want to have one.



Bad jobs

...Workers don't take them.

Story # 105, O. T.


Bad Jobs,


           “The economy always creates bad jobs, but in a strong labor market, workers don’t take them.”

  Dean Baker, Center for Economic and Policy Research

        I could not pass up this quote by an economist that best describes the United States employment outlook.


      There are unemployed, underemployed and people who hate their jobs.


      There has never been a better time to create something on your own.  Seth Godin has been preaching this continuously to get you to do your ‘Art’ and be happy.


      But to create your own work or change jobs in uncertain times will be seen as foolhardy or reckless and require tremendous courage.


      Also, but --- it is foolish to spend a lifetime whining about your job and the lack of opportunity.  If you are willing to move, there is a job for everyone who wants one.


      Bad jobs --- When “workers don’t take them…”, wages go up.


      Is this a great country or what?

A talented man has died.

Sinningia 'Arkansas Empress' - Hybrid by Dr Jon T. Lindstom

A talented man has died.

      Can you have a friend that you have never met?

      Dr Jon T. Lindstrom, Associate Professor of Horticulture, University of Arkansas, has died from the deadly cancer, melanoma.   He was in the prime of his life and this is very sad news.

      I had a professional relationship with Jon.  We conducted business by e-mail and never had the chance to meet in person.

      It started when I became aware of the new Sinningia hybrids that Jon was releasing from his Sinningia breeding program at the University of Arkansas.  Mary Schaeffer and I were trying to collect new Gesneriads for the sales room at the 2011 national convention of the Gesneriad Society in Philadelphia. 

       Through that exchange I learned that he had a tissue culture lab that he was using to propagate some of his Sinningias.  Jon agreed to propagate several Sinningias selected by me for possible commercial sales.

      Jon was very accommodating and through trial and error we produced thousands of plants that were previously not available in commercial numbers.  The biggest successes were S. ‘Prudence Risley’ and S. ‘Li’l Georgie’.

      I constantly studied his Sinningia work through his pictures on Flickr and looked for potential commercial plants.  Jon was systematically crossing Sinningia species and selecting what interested him.  Occasionally, I thought that I would call him, but then decide that it might break the spell of the perfect arrangement.

      When he told me that he was sick --- our last e-mails, it was the end of our great business friendship.  He was incapacitated by his treatment and could not continue his work. 

      In the Gesneriad hobby world, his legacy will be the several Sinningia hybrids that were released through the University of Arkansas.

      Business-wise, we proved that S. ‘Li’l Georgie’ can be produced by tissue culture and will become a commercial plant for Miniature Gardens.

      It is very sad that he is gone.

Sinnigia 'Li'l Georgie' grown by Jon Lindstrom