IDS

Brian Humphrey

I correspond with English plantsman Brian Humphrey (VMH). In his most recent email he inquired:

"Are you a member of the IDS (International Dendrology Society)? I think it is something you should consider. They are gradually developing a good website based on Bean [Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles] and New Trees [Grimshaw and Bayton] with additional information from specialists on a given genera or species. Plus an opportunity for members to submit additional material. It's fairly early days so hard to be sure how it will eventually work out but hopefully it will be the major source of information on woody plants. The Yearbook [IDS] is also packed with interesting information."

Yes, I am a member of the IDS, and have been so since 2006. I always thought I would find time to accompany other members on their very interesting world tours but never found the time. The Yearbook is worth the price of admission alone, and is the type of publication that you never throw away.

Arboretum Trompenburg

Years ago I was visiting JRP van Hoey Smith of Arboretum Trompenburg in Rotterdam and he encouraged me to become a member. After all he was one of the founders of the Society. To join, one must have two members "recommend" you, and since he had an application form at his home he signed it and instructed one to have another member sign it too. That was no problem because I was friends with plantsman Don Howse of Oregon, and I knew because he had been on an IDS trip.

Two weeks later I received a rejection letter because the "rules" are that the two members must be from your home country. How petty I thought, and I wrote back a letter which I should have copied but didn't. It was something snarky, asking if I wanted to join a church and one member signed for me and the other signee was Jesus Christ, then that wouldn't be good enough? Maybe I don't want to pay to join your society. I don't know if Headquarters at Hergest Estate Office ever contacted van Hoey Smith, but two weeks later I received a packet with the Yearbook and other stuff, so I considered it a minor victory.

JRP van Hoey Smith

An interesting story about van Hoey Smith is that my wife and I were eating an elk dinner at his home, an elk which he shot himself from his hunting club, a situation where members pay to shoot, and no doubt someone else deals with the details. The meal was wonderful but poor Haruko was pale and not looking happy. It turns out that she was pregnant but we didn't know at the time, and the smell of the meat practically made her vomit.

Flora Farm

I also corresponded – the old fashioned way with written letters – with the late vHS, and a year later I informed him that I had just purchased an additional 60 acres, "so now I finally have room for my oaks." He had visited the nursery three or four times previous and I guess he considered me valid. He wrote back congratulating me: "I don't remember your wife's name, but that doesn't matter; what's important is that you have room for your trees." To this day I tease Haruko that I don't remember your name, that only my trees are important.