Hi all. I was a member of the NGA way back in the early 1980's or 90's, but that was before Forum's existed. I know it was before I started with AOL! I still have some of the paperback booklet Vegetable guides published back then-and might still be in print. I have not checked.
I have been gardening since High School. First was vegetable gardening. I was a big aquarium hobbyist back then and even then bought and grew aquatic plants. I especially love Cryptocoryne plants. I have a 3 gallon Nano tank that is growing an emersed Crypt. wendtii. I get flowers from time to time. Here is a photo taken May 4, 2023 when the plant was growing in a one gallon round jar before I started the Nano tank.
My main interests now are Carnivorous Plants I can overwinter in cold conditions: mainly Sarracenia and VFT. I have a pot of Utricularia gibba under lights that right now has a bloom. Cacti and Succulents divided into three winter categories: winter warmth under lights, cold and dry outdoors in my garage down to neg 10F, near freezing and dry in an unheated greenhouse.
I have three obligatory African Violets that date back to one of my children's Kindergarten class where I provided leaves for the teacher to get her students to grow them. That could be over 30 years ago by now. I forget which child it was.
I'm retired now.
Jerry Smith
Bloomingdale, NJ
