Member’s Gallery

By Jose Donayre

Harry Sperling, born in New Jersey, has been a Floridian since 1953 after two years in Korea. Retired from Amtrak in 1991, time on his hands, he became a super collector  of all Florida could offer. He joined the Society in the 80’s “when  Polly Pascalwas President” he remembers. Had a 7 year lapse, but came back in the early 90’s. He was our Recording Secretary in 2005-2006.

His garden shows an eclectic mix of  several types of plants

generally in complex settings where color and form are the

selecting factors. Some, above, are in the ground as on the left and many are also placed  to climb trees as on the right.

 

Another climber on the right probably Neo. ‘Sheeba’, covers already a large portion  of a palm  tree.

 

 

Among  all his plants, he has a clear

preference for bromeliads as seen in the picture at left. A blooming Ae. Chantinii finds company with a large Ae. Blanchetiana in the back, some colorful Aechmeas and Neos on the side and  two Albomarginated Canistrum Lindenii in the front at left.

 

With such  a variety of plants to see in his collection one obvious question is what plants are his second favorites. The answer is the Ripsalis, of which he has many beautiful varieties.