Thanks to James Nicholas

 

James Nicholas had been invited to give a talk to the International Oleander Society in Galveston.

I asked him spontaneously whether it would be a good idea to join him and to travel to Galveston also – actually an idea I had been entertaining for quite some time.  James was immediately on fire with enthusiasm and began right away to prepare and organize. 

 

So, James Nicholas was actually the initiator of the idea and thus, accompanied by him, I was able to visit the “Oleander City” and get to know the ladies of the Society; in fact I was even able to convey several greetings from overseas and give a presentation.  It’s also thanks to him that I was able to bring a large number of classic and new American cultivars back to Austria. 

 

Thank you, Jim!

 

Wilhelm Hufnagl, Oleander Haus, May 2015.


Oleander ‘Dr. Ragioneri’

Oleander ‘Dr. Ragioneri’


 

Thanks to Robert Newding

 

Robert Newding – a friend of James Nicholas, also a member of the Society, and a native "Galvestoner" – took it upon himself to spend two whole days showing us around Galveston.  We learned much about the history of Galveston, visited a museum, took a ferry ride to an island, and quite a bit more. It was impressive;  this city is truly the “Oleander City"  - Oleanders in every color, wherever one looks.


In addition to that, some new varieties have come into being at Robert’s hands, e.g. the cultivar which he named for his mother:  Harriet Newding.  In connection with this, there is the touching story: “The Long Way Home".

 

I got my “Harriet Newding" in 2011 and it was certainly already two years old at that time. 

 

Thank you, Bob!

 

Wilhelm Hufnagl, Oleander Haus, May 2015.

 

Oleander ‘Harriet Newding’

Oleander ‘Harriet Newding’


 

Thanks  to Elisabeth Head, Lydia Miller and Carolyn Sayre of the Society.

 

I came to Galveston and to the Oleander Society with Jim Nicholas as a special guest. The occasion was the Oleander Festival 2015. After being personally picked up from the airport in Houston, after a warmhearted welcome and the Springtime Luncheon with lectures and presentation, it was clear – I have found new, dear “oleander friends” here.


But that was by no means all. They drove us around the city to see special oleanders and we visited the Oleander Garden Park.  It was wonderful that we also had the opportunity to take cuttings of oleanders. For me, that was quite a special experience, as I possess only very few American varieties; in addition, there are new cultivars which I am bringing home for the first time from the USA. I will be taking great care with those cuttings!


I got the ‘Mrs. Roeding’ pictured here four years ago as a little standard.

  

Thank you, Betty,  thank you, Lydia, thank you, Carolyn – for the invitation, for the Festival, for the cuttings, and above all for the new “oleander friendships”.  


Wilhelm Hufnagl, Oleander Haus, May 2015.

 

Oleander “Mrs. Roeding’

Oleander “Mrs. Roeding’