By Laura Domingo
I cannot recall how it came to fruition but sometime after meeting Larry (Dr. M) we decided that it would be a great partnership to have the Southern Piedmont Chapter of the Native Plant Society meet at Reedy Creek Nature Center. We had recently built the James M. Matthews Center for Biodiversity Studies as an addition to the Nature Center. It included an herbarium where we added a desk for Larry as he retired from the University of North Carolina Charlotte (UNCC).
The Reason Why Our Chapter Grew
I remember those first meetings in the classroom where we would average 15 participants. I think as folks started to learn that Larry was there, and as he began to give more and more walks and talks, we grew and grew and grew. We got to the point of needing a larger space and our one-hour meetings always stretched into two+ hour meetings as folks would line up to be able to ask Larry a question.
We could always count on him bringing an incredible number of plants from his gardens for our raffle, and what a delight to think of all the “Larry plants” out there in Charlotte and beyond! His expertise, character, and overall zeal for native plants was and always will be such a blessing for those of us who got to sit in on the meetings or be present at a walk.
Although we are feeling the sadness and void of his loss at this time, it is hard not to be grateful for the gift we were all blessed with in having him in our chapter.
We had two occasions this past year to have the “Dr. Ms” come together, once for an NCNPS Southern Piedmont chapter meeting and once for an occasion to honor the pressing of our 50,000th herbarium sheet. Dr. Matthews was Larry’s first teacher and vice versa, Dr. Mellichamp was Dr. Jim Matthews’ first student. It was a joy to watch these two reminisce about their lives’ work and true to this work, to share it with others.
He Encouraged Others
These meetings were a testament to their characters, as always, bringing folks together in the name of native plants, sharing their immense knowledge so freely, and encouraging others to join in the work.
I had the blessed opportunity to share some alone time with Larry after one of the last chapter meetings he was at. We did not tiptoe around the elephant in the room but instead embraced the moment to say goodbye. On a personal note, the experience is impossible to translate into words. I am so glad that I got the chance to look him in the eyes, embrace him and say thank you. One of the things we talked about that day was the chapter meeting during which he said, “You all are doing such great work.” He talked of our growth and of passing the torch. He understood that it was his time and he expressed feeling good about all we are doing. “Keep it up,” he said.
And so our task now is to continue this great work, to pass on the wisdom of this great man and to carry his torch and his love of native plants.
Laura Domingo, Concord (NCNPS Southern Piedmont Chapter). NCNPS Southern Piedmont Chapter co-chair.