Let's see what we can find out about this American sempervivum hybridizer.

I live just about 4 minutes from Helen Payne's farm. We move here in 1999, but I didn't know about Helen Payne until about 2001 or 02. At that time she was in a nursing home and not doing well. I so wanted to go visit her and meet her, but she passed away soon after I realized she was close by. I often went by the farm to see if I could catch some one home, but never have found anyone there.

Cultivars from 1962 to 1985

Author of the book: Sempervivum and Sedum plans, jewels of the high country

Breeder of S. 'Lavender and Old Lace' in 1975 received a gold medal.

Let's see what else we can find out about her life with sempervivum. Maybe even a list of the semps she hybridized?

Here is her obituary from the Polk County Itemizer-Observer
Helen Elizabeth Payne

Jan. 22, 1910 - Feb. 18, 2004

Helen Elizabeth Payne of Dallas died on Feb. 18 in Dallas. She was 94.
She was born to Albert and Eva Dabney Thomas in Newport.
She graduated from Newport High School.
She moved to Dallas in about 1960.
Private services were held.
Arrangements were handled by Bollman Funeral Home in Dallas.

Here is a wonderful link that CDsSister found: http://dangergarden.blogspot.c...

Lynn,
I like the way this is going. Naming great people in the world of Sempervivum. It is so depressing when something like this happens. Just wish we could turn the hands of time back. Hope some one replys with knowage about who took over her collection or can tell us some stories.

I am going to try going back to her house to see if some one is living there now. Hopefully it will be family so we can learn what happened to her collection.

Or maybe rescue semps left out in an overgrown field!!!!