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[garnorth at istar.ca]

hardy  Aroids)" <ARISAEMA-L at NIC.SURFNET.NL>
From: Kristl Walek <garnorth at ISTAR.CA>
Organization: Gardens North
Subject: Re: The North Country
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We were badly devastated by the Ice Storm with most of 4 acres of
Hardwoods affected. Not a tree undamaged. Some 100 year+ Maples fell
outright, the remainder suffered seriously. The tree climbers have
been here 2 full days (4 man crew) and will be here again all this
weekend. 15 trees have been deemed unsaveable and cut down, with about
10-20 more to go. The rest we will leave and hope for the best.

Now that the snow is melting fast the ground level rubble is
unbelievable, 2-3 feet high in many places. Tractors have to work on
making walking paths through it, although the birds find the branches
wonderful, hopping inside of them and perching on top.

I really must finally force myself to take slides. Have been unable to
do it before now. Something about not quite being able to face it.
Although insurance has done a reverse of its original position and
will now pay for part of the tree damage and clean up, the overall
costs from this disaster exceed $20,000.00, not including loss of
income while our seed business was not operational for almost 3 weeks.
The question remains: do we save our business or pay the bills. We are
obviously trying to do both, but not very well.

All this having been said, seed sowing was very late this year (early
March) and with 1800 ++ species to grow  (the Arisaema among them) I
had to use space conserving methods. I have been using the bagging
technique for many species for some years now (particularly items that
require multi-cycle time and temperature cycles, or just a long stint
before germination). While I have experimented with various media, I
used vermiculite this year, just because I had it available. Thus far,
germinated and potted up are all the flavums (in 100% rates as I
recall). However, 10 more baggies need to be done today and I will
report later as to what they are.

There appears to be serious molding in a (very) few of the baggies- I
know some are Tony's. More later. Levels of moisture in the
vermiculite was constant throughout, so this may be a seed problem.

15 trays of sikokianums from last years sowing are in their
re-emergence stage and growing happily with just as many amurense,
keeping company with a host of repotted hardy cyclamen and peonies
finally through all their germination phases.

What gives the greatest cheer, however, are 4 huge amurense (I believe
these are ex Berkutenko) in full flower in large pots. The first thing
I see when I enter my seed building for work each morning.

This is when I stop thinking about the devastation outside, and the
worries about finances are put on the back burner for another day. I
repeat this process daily. If the Arisaema can continue flowering
until the Draba start outside I am home free.

Kristl
Gardens North Seeds
N. Gower, Ontario Z4