Goodbye Grandma

This blog is about orchids, so it is in that context that I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to my grandmother, Patti.  She died at home the other morning after a mercifully quick encounter with metastatic breast cancer.  She was just shy of 90 years old.

My wonderful Grandma and some beautiful Cattleya hybrids

Like me, she was captivated by the beauty and elegance of these exotic flowers, and also like me, she was introduced to them by my grandfather.  After his death years ago, she kept a small part of his collection around the house.  She was genuinely excited when I began to follow in his footsteps and collect my own orchids.

We would go out to breakfast on a weekend and then meander over to a local nursery to pick out something new.  Those were really great times.

Grandma and a young MadOrchidist shopping

She was also probably my biggest supporter when I decided to go back to UCSB and finish my biology degree.  Even back then she would say, "I don't know if I'll be around to see you graduate."  Well, around she was, and I was proud to have her at my graduation, when I finally took my B.S. in Zoology.

Grandma and I at Graduation

So, it is with a heavy heart that I am reconciling the loss of one of my biggest fans.  Her support has helped me to be the orchidist and person that I am today, and I will miss her dearly.  Goodbye Grandma.