From Jerzy

[ruskinPalms]

I never knew Ania personally, but her firey passion for palms, people and life will live on in the hearts of all who have had contact with her either through this forum or in person. She will not be forgotten. Please accept my condolences.

[Gaston in Argentina]

Hello Jerzy

Just recently i know about this.- Sad new. Im so sorry to hear about Ania passed.-

I will always remember her messages and yet my computer keep a picture of her, you

and a nice Brahea armata planted in the middle of the battle vs. that horrible disease as the cancer

its.

My prayers will be with she.-

Now, wellcome you Jerzy as new member of the palm forum, is good to know that will be many

palms to plants in Ania`s memory.-

from Cordoba, Argentina

Gaston Torres Vera

[freakypalmguy]

I remember that thread Gaston. I did a little search and found the pics you spoke of. Here they are.

[freakypalmguy]

Here is another. Maybe the palm you all could plant in memory of Ania could be a Brahea armata.

[BS Man about Palms]

(freakypalmguy @ Mar. 26 2008,14:15)

QUOTE

Here is another. Maybe the palm you all could plant in memory of Ania could be a Brahea armata.

I have a nice Armata, that sounds like a great idea.

[weldertom]

I am saddened to hear of Ania's passing.

I pray all will go as well as can be expected and that this board brings some comfort to you and yours.

[PalmSpringsDavid]

I am so sorry to read about Ania's passing. I have come to appreciate everyone on the forum, even though I post very infrequently. The loss of one affects al of us.   David

[cfkingfish]

I too am deeply sorry to hear of Ania's passing. She was nice enough to give me a Pritchardia pacifica a few years back before I had started my nursery. I fished up the pictures from the archives, these are dated July 15, 2005

After a year or so in a pot, I realized it needed to go in the ground, so I picked a nice place up front in my walkway for it. It was damaged a bit this year, but is doing fine regardless. This picture was taken this morning.

This was planted as a reminder of palm kindness, especially Ania's.  

[Zac in NC]

I'm teary reading this. I never got to meet her, but I enjoyed talking on here with her. My thoughts are with you guys.

Zac

[Jeff in St Pete]

I'm teary-eyed too reading all these messages.  All I can say is she will really be missed.

[DoomsDave]

I STILL cry . . .

[jenks]

So sorry to hear about this. Thoughts and prayers to you and your family.

[steve 9atx]

All

Since I didn't know everything Mercer Arboretum had in its collection, I solicited a selection from Linda Gay at Mercer on Anna's behalf.   Here is the gist of the email she sent me:

Hello all,

March Mart was a wonderful success.  Steve, I think I have one seedling that has survived.  

I love the sabal mauritiformis; I think that would be a great addition to the garden.

Sincerely,

Linda Gay

So, I'm putting out a call for S. mauritiiformis.  Please let me know size, cost, shipping details, etc. so we can take up a collection and figure out a way to get it to Linda.  I am willing to take delivery and haul the palm up to Mercer.  I'll contact Linda about arranging for a dedication plaque also - suggested wording would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Steve

[Tad]

I have the 5 gallon maurittiformis , free of charge.

[steve 9atx]

Ok, Tad.  If you have the palm, I'll see about the plaque - the rest of us can chip in for that.  Let's go up there together next time you're in town so you can see the palm garden.

Thanks,

Steve

[steve 9atx]

Tad, Keith, Steve and everyone else. Go to: http://www.hcp4.net/mercer/memorials.htm to see what Mercer has available by way of memorials. To be honest, I don't care for the tree identifier they have illustrated on the website. Linda Gay told me, however, that if we would get her some text, she would have her plaque making person lay something out for our approval and for pricing. I'm thinking something fairly substantial that goes in the ground at the base of the tree like most of the existing ones in the garden. So, please help me with a few brief words expressive of our sentiment towards Anna, and I'll forward them to Linda.

Thanks,

Steve

p.s. Tad, please let me know if you did not get my PM with questions from Linda re: the tree.

[bubba]

Steve,I would like to contribute.

[AJQ]

My condolences to Jerzy and the family

I have only just found out, as I have not been as frequent on this board as in the past.

I too enjoyed reading her posts and debating the various palms we all love.

Please ensure Ania's Brahea armata continues to thrive.

Dzie kuje & do widzenia Ania.

Kind regards Andy.

[steve 9atx]

All

I check in with Linda at Mercer periodically about the progress of the plaque for Ania.

I'll let you know when it gets done and post a photo.

Steve

[bubba]

Steve,Thank you for the update and keep us posted.It is good to see someone stick on a matter like this and push it to conclusion.Would you consider political office?

[steve 9atx]

Way too many skeletons, my friend...........

[steve 9atx]

All

Lord willing, we'll get Ania's palm and memorial tag in the ground soon. Here's the text of an email from Linda Gay at Mercer

Arboretum from Friday:

Hello Guys,

I wanted to get back with you and let you know what has been going on. Tornadoes spurned by Ike deforested the Forest Floor.

Anna’s sabal will be planted out this month with a memorial tag next to the palm. I will send you a form to fill out so we have a

record of this Memorial Palm, source, etc.

I do not know if any of the Hyphaneas have survived. Squirrels got two of them and we had one left. I need to check on that.

We have been playing catchup for so long, I am very pleased I never delete anything from my computer.

Thanks guys,

Linda Gay

[bgl]

Steve,

That's great! Keep us posted, please!

Bo-Göran

[steve 9atx]

Latest from Linda:

Hi Steve,

I have been re-landscaping our Humble Road and Bridge facility for the last two weeks. I am ready to settle down at Mercer for a few days. I gave Shearon Millar (She is our “Director of First Impressions” and manages, the Visitor Center and the Memorials among many others. Thank you for being understanding with us..

Go ahead and post on Palmtalk and send me the link please. I will personally plant Anna’s palm this week and get the sign on it. I will also take a photo of it and mail it to you.

Will get back later…

Linda Gay

Looks like we're getting closer. At the risk of being accused of being a stalker, I tracked down Jerzy's work address in Newark to make sure he and the kids get word from the arboretum that Ania's tree is planted out and her plaque is set up.

Steve

[steve 9atx]

All

Just got this confirmation (finally) that Ania's palm (S. mauritiiformis) is planted out and signed:

Dear Steve:

Linda asked me to update you. The garden area where Anna’ memorial grows is very beautiful, as is the palm that you provided for Anna. The stainless steel memorial plaque placed in front of the palm states:

In Memory of Anna Pepera

A Lover of Palms

A Lover of Life

We are in the process of reviewing our entire collection memorial trees and upgrading the memorial plaque signage to enhance the visibility of the plaques for each memorial tree. We plan to upgrade stainless steel memorial signs to lovely gold plastic signs with black text over the next several months, on a case by case basis. Most of the signs will be placed on sign holders, as in Anna’s palm’s situation, such that the plaque is raised and thus is more visible from the edge of the beds.

Anna’s palm is more or less centered in the large bed adjacent to the largest lawn area beyond the visitor center. The stainless steel tag centered in front of the palm. We will be very happy to show you where it is during your next visit to Mercer.

Sincerely,

Anita

Anita Tiller, Botanist

Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens

22306 Aldine Westfield Rd.

Humble, Tx 77338-1071

phone: 281-443-8731

fax: 281-209-9767

atiller@hcp4.net

http://www.hcp4.net/mercer/