Dr. M’s Life and Legacy
By Roxanne Newton
Larry Mellichamp was a rare species of human—a passionate scientist with many significant contributions in his field; a generous, humble colleague who shared credit freely and collaborated widely; a dedicated academic who made science accessible, practical, and fun for home gardeners and plant enthusiasts; and a uniquely gifted teacher who engaged students, supported their learning, and fostered active, lifelong discovery and environmental responsibility.
Perhaps even more important, Dr. M quietly and persistently devoted his life to living and teaching the highest principles and practices of ecology, helping to restore our planet—one plant and one person at a time.
His work had immense vision
Even before I had the good fortune to meet Dr. Mellichamp, his expansive knowledge and immense vision influenced and enhanced my life in myriad ways. His life’s work not only informed my practice as a gardener, it also brought much joy, learning, and solace to my life—and to the lives of countless others—through his involvement with the creation of the University of North Carolina Charlotte Botanical Gardens. Time spent in Van Landingham Glen and the McMillan Greenhouse lifted my spirits when, as a married mother of young children, I commuted to UNCC for my Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts degree.Years later, as a UNCC employee, I daily sought the wonder and peace of the Botanical Gardens.
Today I continue to marvel at Dr. M’s commitment to creating these essential natural spaces, just one part of his significant legacy to people and plants.
As a member of the Southern Piedmont Chapter of the NC Native Plant Society, I was delighted to have occasions to learn from Dr. M in informal workshops, talks, conversations, and plant sales. After I retired in 2018, I wanted to learn more, so I began taking Native Plant Studies courses. I relished the opportunity to learn from Dr. M, a person I had long admired as a botanist, as an author, and as the architect of the Gardens that meant so much to me.
After my first class with Dr. M, I attended many workshops, talks, and classes that he taught at UNCC, Wing Haven, and the NC Native Plant Society, among others. I bought all his books, even the 1983 out-of-print Practical Botany that he co-authored. I loved to hear him talk about the characteristics of any plant, sharing his wealth of knowledge but also his obvious appreciation for its distinct qualities. I smiled every time that Dr. M would make an important point, pause, and then say, “Write that down.” I was already eagerly writing down everything he said, but as a former teacher, I admired his awareness of this simple but powerful technique.
The best result of his teaching
His unfailing honesty, humor, passion, and expertise as a teacher were exemplary, but Dr. M’s greatest gifts were motivated by his dual commitment to plants and people. He insisted that there were no “dumb questions” and met each person at their level of understanding, making learning possible for all. Even more, Dr. M inspired people to become lifelong students of botany and nature, instilling a boundless capacity for wonder, discovery, and knowledge. What could be a better result of teaching? Dr. M’s lessons will be propagated endlessly as his students grow and share their knowledge with others.
Along with everyone who knew and loved him, I grieve the loss of Dr. M in the world. However, I am grateful for and take comfort in knowing that he nurtured so many plants in so many landscapes and sowed so many seeds in the lives of so many people. If we can care for them properly, these precious seeds of wonder and knowledge will germinate, take root, and thrive. Then, as did our beloved Dr. M, we too can bloom profusely before producing new generations of seeds to drop into the fertile soil of the world, plant by plant and person by person.
Roxanne Newton, Statesville (NCNPS Southern Piedmont Chapter). NCNPS board member-at-large and chair, NCNPS Membership Committee.