| AECPhotos |
| PERSONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY REPRODUCTIONS--FIFTYONE |
CLICK TO RETURN TO PAGE 2 OF LIST OF PAPERS CLICK TO RETURN TO PAGE 1 OF LIST OF PAPERS CLICK TO RETURN TO PAGE 3 OF LIST OF PAPERS 57. KRULIK, GERALD, Are You A Bromeliad Stamp Collector?, PUP TALK (Saddleback Valley Bromeliad Society), 16(1), p. 7-8 , January, 2009 Are You A Bromeliad Stamp Collector or a Bromeliad Grower? By Jerry Krulik Stamp collecting and Bromeliad collecting are two different hobbies, but they have lots in common. I like to think that Bromeliad cultivation is the higher of the two pursuits. Here are some of the similarities. Stamp collectors often start with a general stamp album, with all countries just showing blank pictures of the stamps to be filled in with real stamps. Bromeliad collectors usually start with an uncluttered garden landscape, maybe filled with weeds such as cacti or orchids, in which they initially put a plant of every Bromeliad they see and can acquire. When I was young, I tried to get at least one stamp from every recognized country. Some collectors try to get at least one of every Bromeliad genus. Stamp collectors pour over their catalogs of world stamps and of specialized catalogs such as US stamps. Bromeliad collectors study the tomes such as Rauh’s encyclopediac book, Bromeliads, and specialized ones such as Bromeliaceae of Venezuela. Stamp collectors have conventions, buy stamps at auctions and on-line and from catalogs. Bromeliad collectors, ditto. Stamp collectors often specialize in some topic, such as flowers on stamps, or animals or landscapes or famous people. Bromeliad collectors often do the same, collecting say grey-leaved Tillandsias or Vriesia hybrids or Neo cultivars. Stamp collectors often try to amass first day covers—ie, stamps are issued in certain cities, and they want letters with a special postmark for that stamp on the issuing day in that city. Bromeliad collectors may try to collect cuts from the type specimen or from the type locality. Of course, there are several differences. Stamp collections take up little space. Bromeliad collections take up all space available. Stamp collections do not take any special care, just lock them up. Bromeliad collections are unendingly needy of care. Stamp collections are static. If you stop collecting, ten years from now the stamps will still be the same as when you put them away. Bromeliad collections are dynamic. Next month’s collection will not be the same as this month’s. No matter how much you prune or fuss, you WILL have more biomass next month. Stamp collection is basically solitary. You buy stamps, you look at them, you put them away. Occasionally you let someone else admire them. Bromeliad collecting is a much more lively pursuit. Anyone who passes by, can see the superior and skilled gardening abilities of the Bromeliad collector. Flowers come and go, birds and bugs and stray dogs check out the plants, and unwary visitors leave laden with excess cuttings. Stamp collectors sometimes amass much specialized knowledge of their favorite stamps, such as the catalog value of errors, imperforate stamps, rarity of certain items, etc. This may give a certain pleasure, but has little direct effect on the collection. The depth of the pocketbook has the most primary effect on the mass of stamps amassed. Bromeliad collectors, like it or not, acquire much practical specialized knowledge. Even if you think that you don’t really know much about them, you do know quite a bit about potting, flowering, placement in sun or shade, pruning, watering, fertilizing, and how to take cuttings. If you don’t believe this, trust your collection to someone who also grows plants, but not Bromeliads, while you go on a much –needed long vacation. I did, using an experienced orchid collector, and was amazed at how many dead plants there were after a month away. Most of us get much pleasure in showing off a particularly well-grown specimen to our peers at Bromeliad meetings, and basking in their appreciation and envy. This is one hobby where money can get you started, but you need skill to really succeed at it! Successful growers are also generous. Few amateurs have a retail outlet available for disposal of their excess plants. Almost without exception, every gardener I have known is eager to promote their hobby, and secondarily to free up some space for more plants. They are free with advice and encouragement, and most rivalries are pretty friendly. Surely there is no better hobby than to be a Bromeliad Grower? ****************************************** 58. KRULIK, GERALD, (Jerry Krulik) Ask Jerry: Conundrums Clarified for the Courteous Chlorophyllophile (Gardener) Part 7, PUP TALK (Saddleback Valley Bromeliad Society), 16(1), p. 4, January, 2009. Dear Dr Spanish Moss, I noted that our clumps were really messed up by the recent rains and wind -- lots of self pruning. What is the best way to handle the new clumps: 1. Add them to the existing clump, or 2. let the existing clumps refill in and use the new clumps to start new ones? Flummoxed in Fallbrook ************** Dear Flummoxed I believe in spreading the cheer around. If pieces fell off, the clumps needed thinning anyway. I have been experimenting with the growth of T. usneoides on portable growing platforms, i.e., on my chin and my increasingly large forehead. The top growth benefits from exposure to rain, wind, and the reflected light from underneath. The chin growth is much faster, as it absorbs water from the soup and miscellaneous nutrients from the dinner crumbs, though sometimes the ants remove them if I fall asleep on the couch. But I have not mentioned the best benefit. As you may have noticed, my wife is somewhat of a fashion designer while I am more of a Spanish Moss covered couch potato. She has seized on the opportunity presented by these random clumps of Spanish Moss, to dress me to fit her styles. Not only does she dye living clumps of T. usneoides with attractive colors, she uses these to mix and match with her clothing. So, I may look like Santa Claus when she dresses in while, and Lucifer when she is in red. (I have not asked her if she is just matching my mood) Plus, some days I have a neat goatee and / or mustache, while other times if my shirt is bulging, she fits me with a long wide beard (Beardeliad? Beardandsia?). Double sticky tape holds the dyed Spanish Moss fast, and then I freshen my wardrobe by sticking the taped pieces up on our porch. She is continually refining her techniques. Recently I found that she was dying the finest, thinnest form of T.usneoides for my hair and the coarsest, thickest form for my face. Then I happened to notice that she began using the curly form of Spanish Moss, which I think blends in better with the remnants of my original hair. Bet you thought I couldn't find any more growing space at my house! Jerry |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
