Carson Whitlow is very well known in the world of orchids. His business, Cyp Haven, is one of the most unique operations that I have ever came across, and Carson is one of the most personable horticulturalists you will ever meet.

Carson became interested in orchids in 1958 when he was a sophomore in college. He began working weekends and summers repotting orchids for a firm in Springfield, Illinois. After graduating, Carson went to Santa Ana, California, to work for the prestigious firm of B.O. Bracey and Company. A year later, he changed his direction and entered upon a career in government service with the Orange County (California) Health Department. Career-wise, he has remained in public administration. But after leaving Bracey, he established his own collection of orchids, mostly blue cattleyas, which he undertook hybridizing in association with Fred A. Stewart, Orchids, in San Gabriel, California. From 1964 thru 1969, he produced in excess of 60 blue cattleya hybrids, many of which are still in collections, arising from the original seedlings or as mericlones. Many are used as basic parents in today's blue cattleya breeding. In 1973, Carson changed direction and began working with the hardy terrestrial orchids, primarily those of the genera Cypripedium, which includes the lady's-slippers, and Calopogon. His work resulted in the first registered artificial Cypripedium hybrid in 1987 and the first Calopogon hybrid in 1991.

Carson continues to hybridize these genera and has built Cyp Haven as a retail outlet for his work. He has published over 30 articles in U.S. and European journals and has given presentations throughout the United States for over 25 years on his breeding and propagation. In 1993 he presented a paper at the 14th World Orchid Congress in Scotland. He is truly a world-class hybridizer, author and speaker.

Carson has several programs that he regularly presents to orchid, rock garden and other interested groups, usually in exchange for travel expenses. His talks normally center on the cypripediums ("The World of Cypripediums", "Judge's Primer for Judging Cypripediums"), however he also speaks on the "History of Blue Cattleya Breeding" and has a brief program on calopogon breeding. Though he can often schedule on short notice, it is best to contact him well in advance of your expected program date. He is willing to stay with members of the groups to whom he is speaking to help defray expenses. His wife and partner, Lorna, often accompanies him on his trips.

You can contact Carson at:

Carson E. Whitlow
2291 - 280th Street
Adel, IA 50003

Phone: (515) 993-4841
Email: GL593@kanga.ins.cwru.edu
Home page: http://www.orchidmall.com/cyp.haven/

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Duncan is working with over 1,000 of the world's finest botanic gardens and arboreta, helping them raise desperately needed funds by contracting them to harvest seeds from their rarest and most unusual plants. The seeds arrive in bulk and Duncan repackages them for sale at very reasonable prices to gardeners all over the world. His prices are a fraction of what you would expect to pay commercial seed companies. And, the personal service you receive is priceless--just listening to Duncan's Scottish brogue is a pleasure.

Visit the Seed Guild's home page for more information.

Dr. Carol LaBranche

Once described as a modern day Indiana Jones, Chicago resident and retired classical archeology professor Dr. Carol LaBranche has spent the last four years of her life researching dark flowered plants. It all started when Carol read about famous English gardener, Vita Sackville-West. Her "Moon Garden" was an all-white garden. Carol figured if Vita Sackville-West could create a garden with all white flowers, then why not one with all black flowers? And so the concept of the "Midnight Garden" was born.

Being an able computer jockey, Carol has compiled many pages of references to dark colored flowers. She has broken the plants down into several catagories:

1. Red/black--those flowers that have red as the basic underlying color.
2. Brown flowers.
3. Purple/black--those flowers with a purple underlayment of color.
4. Blue/black--those flowers with a blue underlayment of color.
5. Black Orchids.

   There is also a list of black-flowered plants that are of yet undocumented. Any information on these plants will be of great help to Carol in writing her forthcoming book, The Midnight Garden. Carol will be glad to send you this list if you are interested in helping her track down information. She is also seeking any slides of black or dark flowers, both closeups and in garden settings, for use of the book. Of course any help will be acknowledged in the credits.

   Carol is a people-person and loves to share information, she would be pleased to hear from any Cyber-Plantsman readers. Until she gets her modem hooked up, you can reach her via snail-mail at:

   Carol LaBranche
   1947 W. Schiller
   Chicago IL 60622
   

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