My First CP Mentor: Richard Wuydts

Some of you may have read about how I got started taking care of carnivorous plants. While all of the co-owners of the shop were extremely helpful to me, teaching me about all the little things I needed to know about growing these plants, (the late) Richard Wuydts was responsible for teaching me quite a few specific basic skills, like pollinating flowers with a paintbrush. He always invited me to see the plants in the greenhouse located behind the shop, and he had tons and tons of plants that were not for sale. One of the first times I visited, he picked up a clump of something that was in what looked like a large compost pile and told me to plant it in peat, water it, cover with plastic wrap, and wait to see what happens. So, I did exactly what he told me to do and Drosera binata grew from that little clump! He especially loved to talk about his young granddaughter, and told me a lot of interesting stories about his life. I'm really grateful to have known him.