I've been interested in carnivorous plants since I encountered _S.
purpurea_ and _D. rotundifolia_ in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, where I
grew up. I remember being greatly impressed by the sundews growing in
railroad tie crevices in the "lakewall" near the swimming beach at Bamber
Lake, but I especially remember the incredible pitcher plants in the
boglands. A chance remark from a clerk in a botanical bookstore a
few years ago led me to rekindle the memories, buy Schnell's book, and
visit California Carnivores in Forestville. Suddenly I went from owning
one K-mart flytrap to being the steward of all of the NA pitchers, several
sundew species, _N. maxima_ and _N. alata_, lots of flytraps, and a couple
of butterworts. The pitchers (except for _Darlingtonia_) and flytraps I
have growing on the southern-exposed patio in nearly all-day sun in the
central valley of California, and all are doing really well--this year I
got seed from most of them for the first time. I'll see how it does after
stratification. The _Nepenthes_ are hanging in my living rooom with a
filtered southern exposure, and both are doing well but no pitchers yet.
I gather they prefer more humidity, which is OK because I'm in the midst
of building a greenhouse next to the patio. Much seed each year for the
past three from flytraps, _D. rotundifolia_, _filiformis (tracyi_), and
especially _capensis_. Next year I'm expecting some from _D. binata_.
I've had no trouble germinating rotundifolia and capensis seed, and in
fact they grow rather like weeds in neighboring pots.
I've written a bit more than I had intended--I've already learned a lot
from this group, and I'm looking forward to more. My main future
interests are in _Cepahalotus_, more _Nepenthes_, keeping butterworts
alive, and in acquiring Lloyd's book. Thanks.
Sean Barry