Seasonal News, from Rob Sacilotto

Last Update: March 2, 2008.

We are no longer accepting retail mail orders.

The weather here is still well below freezing much of the time, especially at night. Once warmer weather settles in, we'll begin sorting and processing dormant plants for wholesale shipments. Plants shipped early in the season will have no top growth yet, as they are just about to break dormancy. The Sarracenia grade available during this early period are "Grade #1-Dormant" .

For those of you following the effort to establish a non-profit entity here, progress is being made. I've been meeting with a lot of different people for multiple reasons, all related to forming a botanical garden with pitcher plant preservation as a main feature. One goal is to establish the huge plant gene pool, found here, in a more permanent and public facility. Another goal is to provide research and preservation assistance for botanical projects. Education will be a big component, as the best way to raise public awareness is through teaching, using the "hands-on" learning methods that a botanical garden can provide. Currently, the details regarding the non-profit, 501(c)(3), corporation are being worked out and board of directors candidates are being chosen. This is a big task, requiring a tremendous amount of discussion and consideration. There are two potential sites in the area, but nothing is certain yet. Once the non-profit entity is up and running, I'll put a link from this web site to it.

Older news follows:

While I'm trying to sell off most of our "extra" plants, I am retaining (for now, at least) a huge stock collection with all the significant plants being held for a possible transfer, should a non-profit botanical garden get established near Charlottesville, Virginia. We hope to eventually have a large botanical garden which can serve as a domestic gene pool, housing populations of species in a protected environment where visitors can learn about and enjoy a most fascinating group of plants. Many of these plants are found only in the Botanique nursery and include some of the most beautiful Pitcher Plants in the world. For over thirty years, many tens of thousands of Sarracenia were bred, evaluated and selected for various reasons. Many have fantastic pitchers in gold with red veins, black-red or bright chartreuse. Some are colorful giants. One has rose colored flowers in the shape of a heart, with a gold spot in the cleft. Another has a crackled-glass pattern with a lid shaped like a butterfly. A large number were selected for flower colors ranging from dark satin red to white. The number of different Nepenthes is also amazing. Combined with endangered species, plants from demolished sites and donations from around the world, there are all the makings of a world-class pitcher plant display. Interest is growing for the idea and anyone interested in reading a rough draft of the proposal should contact me.

Visitors (wholesale or retail) must make an appointment in order to pick up plants or see the nursery. By appointment, retail sales are being made, here at the nursery. We are no longer accepting credit cards due to the expense. Checks, cash and open accounts will be accepted. Open accounts are only available to established customers. A wholesale .pdf document is available for retailers. If you are interested in buying large quantities of mature Sarracenia for a fair price, contact me. Ultimately, my goal is to shut down the nursery here, so supplies will eventually disappear. Since spam has been flooding my e-mail box, I'm using images to give out my address. You will need to type the e-mail address; do not copy/paste it because it is an image, not text.

Check out this information page to see some of what we're doing and some research topics on the clip board. If you are considering becoming a future supporter and/or want to see the nursery in person, you can e-mail me (see above) and arrange a visit. We need grant writers, volunteers and funding to continue expanding research, preservation and education activities.

Many brilliant people, familiar with our operation, have suggested that Botanique launch a non-profit organization. This, if successful, would prevent a major tragedy. There is no place on earth like this nursery; it is truly amazing. When the National Geographic photographer came to take pictures for the May 1992 issue, even he was surprised. If you are interested, keep checking this web site. I will begin collecting potential donor information immediately. Persons potentially interested as donors should e-mail me (see above) Please put the word "donor" in the subject line.

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