By Lisa Tompkins
I knew of Larry long before I ever met him. First, as a faculty spouse and UNCC alumna and then as a horticulture technology student at Central Piedmont Community College. I “heard tell” of this professor who was director of UNCC Botanical Gardens and had something to do with early land conservation efforts in Mecklenburg County (the beginnings of the Catawba Lands Conservancy). His field botany course was legendary. It was discontinued before I had the chance to take it – a regret I carry with me. It was only after I became a member of the North Carolina Native Plant Society and, in time, the chair of the Southern Piedmont Chapter that I came to know him better.
Knowing him through the NC Native Plant Society meant following him on many a hike and trying to catch up when one of his teaching moments occurred. Or, scrambling behind him off trail while he was on the hunt for some rare/interesting/unusual plant that might occur there. It was riding with him (eek!) and sitting through long, faraway meetings. It was listening to him pitch “must have” native plants and trying not to spend too much or buy too many (this never worked). It was coming to the defense of some poor plant that he’d declared garden unworthy (Larry!).
After his retirement from the University of North Carolina Charlotte, our local Southern Piedmont Chapter of NCNPS benefited greatly from the time he so freely shared. He could always be counted on to provide a program or lead a hike. More often than not, he brought lots of native plants that he’d propagated to give away to lucky meeting participants.
He taught us to cultivate and identify, explained plant fertilization and shared interesting factoids. Told bad plant jokes. And, some good ones. He set spores on fire! In other words, Larry made learning about native plants interesting, accessible, and fun. It was plain to see that he loved it all. A love that was contagious.
The worlds of native plants and gardening don’t come together very often but they did in Larry. The friendships that occur in that place are special for those of us who live there. And, they leave a special kind of legacy. Right now, I have a tray of plants that he gave me last spring, yet to be planted. Others have made it into the ground and are thriving. Or, not. Or, too soon to tell. One of the latest additions to my garden is Mellichamp’s Skullcap, named after Larry’s South Carolina, French Huguenot, botanist ancestor. I’m hoping it’s a thriver. I even have the last plant that he talked me into buying, which appeared to have died before I even arrived home. Will it come back next spring? We’ll see. Larry! I miss him already.
Lisa Tompkins, Waxhaw (NCNPS Southern Piedmont Chapter). Former co-chair, NCNPS Southern Piedmont Chapter.