NOVA: the first flower
James Waddick (Wed, 18 Apr 2007 06:17:13 PDT)

Dear All,
Yes I got to watch the program too and was a bit frustrated
by the two themes not very well combined - the fossil history of
angiosperms (flowering plants) and the modern plant exploration in
China. Each could have been a separate program.

Yes, I've been at or near all those spots and yes, this is
not that uncommon to come across amazing batches of road side 'weeds.
One spot in Yunnan had some 80 sp of Rhodies from ground cover to
trees. And although I have sort of come to 'expect' these things
sometimes there are amazing days - like stopping at a road side to
crawl around under 30 ft rhodies to check out iris, primula,
podophyllum (dysosma), and much more. And a hillside of thousands of
tree peonies in full bloom. Wow.

Yes Paige and I are still doing this although we have taken
this spring off. Paige has been working on a lily centered tour for a
while. We'll be doing peonies again next spring, but probably not in
China although I'd sure rather be in the Sichuan Mtns this spring
than facing the disastrous freeze damage here in Kansas City.

Jim S- 20 years younger? - last year we had a participant of
82 in the group and he did fine. And a few others in their 70s. Are
you over 100 yo?

Best Jim W.

--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +