job. But David Zeller, a Huntsville horticulturist, needed a way to landscape the city. As an employee of the Parks Department in the 70s, he had little budget to purchase plants. Instead, he asked people for a few canna lilies and daylilies from their gardens. From this, he met others and started swapping plants. to share the wealth, David explains. These freely growing, old-fashioned plants are super hardy and exactly what they need, especially when water conservation and a maintainable landscape are a concern. The work is often trial-and-error. If certain plants don't succeed, then enthusiasts try to reintroduce them. Sometimes, they are forced to back off, scratch their heads, and try again at another place or time. at an 1850s homestead. Years ago, Huntsville city officials decided to build a new post office on the site of an old plantation. Before the 1850s-style Greek- revival house was moved, David and fellow plant-swapper, James Patton, gained permission to scout the site. Behind the back of the house, David spied a shrub, covered and smothered by an invasive honeysuckle. Pulling the honeysuckle away revealed a suffering and unidentifiable old rose. He dug it up, brought it back, gave it a little TLC, and it ended up being the most beautiful China rose. the States in the 1850s. "Somehow," he says, "this old China rose made its way to Huntsville, Texas, and it had been flowering at the back of the house for who- knows-how-many years, just waiting to be rediscovered." He planted the rose, named Huntsville Old Blush, in his yard, and, when it thrived, he passed it to his plant-swap partners. He's been passing it on to friends for years, and they've planted it all over town. "It illustrates how wonderful old plants can be and how fun it is to find them," he emphasizes. Old Blush is hardy and "profusely blooms all year and doesn't have the fungus and insect pests like modern roses." group with a mission to seek, find, and identify neglected vintage roses, growing at old house-sites and cemeteries. In fact, their founding and still current member, Mike Shoup, owns the lovely Rose Emporium in Independence, Texas. He would be the first to say the Rustlers provide rose-enthusiasts with information and opportunities to get involved in their own floral quests. people aren't afraid to get their hands dirty Come enjoy your room overlooking downtown Huntsville at a family heritage site and see her influence within our family of Texas pioneers, artists and collectors. Come enjoy your room overlooking downtown Huntsville at a family heritage site and see her influence within our family of Texas pioneers, artists and collectors. |