ABOUT THE FEATURED PICTURE
It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the passing of both Nate and Dorothy. We will leave this page here as a tribute to them. We will all miss you both....
This picture is, "HONEY DEW" a hybrid by George French, a long time member of the San Diego Epiphyllum Society and a resident of Point Loma, California.The cross is, ANNIE P. WILLIAMS X KING MIDAS. The results of this cross produced many more hybrids such as Coral Reef, Ring-O-Fire, Solana Rose, and Yosemite Rose all registered with ESA.
Both Nate and Dorothy became involved in a Society project promoted by the late Howard Jones of Escondido, CA. Howard suggested that the Society provide materials and labor which would result in an Epiphyllum plant display at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. The Ogdons worked on the first lath house, that was destroyed in a winter storm only to be rebuilt again by the Society. The collection at the Wild Animal Park quickly outgrew the new lath house, about as fast as the Odgon's own collection was growing, so the members built a much larger one by using drill pipe from oil fields. Nate and Dorothy eagerly participated in the construction project as well.
Early on, Nate tried his hand at hybridizing but became discouraged as he felt the winters in Bonita (southeast of San diego) might be too cold for seedlings. He and Dorothy maintained and continued to add new hybrids to their collection so they would almost always have flowers to share at meetings or to just enjoy at home. Their flowers were always presented at meeting as having been grown at "honey do ranch", a name that became associated with the Ogdons over the years.
Several years ago, George French invited Nate and Dorothy to his gardens for the explicit purpose of selecting one of his new hybrids to be named "Honey Dew" in honor of the Ogdons. This is the flower, registered with Epiphyllum Society of America, that we are now showing on our home page.
About three years ago, Nate decided to give hybridizing another try. As a result, the Ogdons have any number of new seedlings growing, some of which they hope to see flower this year. Perhaps Nate is searching for that elusive BLUE flower that has never been seen except for one occasion when Nate brought a large flat of blossoms to one of the Society meetings. Tucked away in the middle of the flat was a magnificent BLUE flower, spotted by all as Nate entered the room. Upon closer examination however, the BLUE flower turned out to be an IRIS and not the much sought after BLUE Epiphyllum.
Members like Nate and Dorothy Ogdon have contributed much to the success of the San Diego Epiphyllum Society over the years and we consider ourselves fortunate to have been able to associate with such enthusiastic, energetic and loyal individuals.
