It is with great sadness that I pass along from Joy Stack of Ashburton, New Zealand, news that her friend and a widely known and well-loved rock gardener Betty Clark, died on Sunday April 9th. Her funeral was yesterday, the 12th and attended by very many people from the alpine world and elsewhere.
Betty was 95 years old and had grown alpine plants and miniature bulbs which had been her special love for a great many years at her Ashburton home. She was much encouraged in this love by her close friend Mary Evans who, though not so well known to present day gardeners, was revered among local growers for her friendships with great names such as Polunin, Paul Furse and others. Mary went on several plant hunting trips with the latter and had correspondence with him over a long period of time, introducing many of his "new" species to this part of the world. Betty was a beneficiary of this bounty and many of us, as young rock gardeners were thus able to share in these early plant collections, made available through Betty's generosity and willingness to share what she had.
I last visited Betty perhaps two years ago and on that occasion as on every other, a glass of dry white wine was put in my hand even before the invitation to come and see what was in flower. Over the years I had many bulbs and other plants from her as I believe every one did, who knew her.
Perhaps the finest rock garden plant introduction from New Zealand to the wider world, has been the lovely cushion campanula called 'Maie Blyth.' A very fine seedling from this plant was named 'Betty Mae' and is in honour of Betty Clark. Though not widely grown at present, it deserves to be and I hope our alpine plant community will work to make it more available than it currently is. Betty herself was known and loved by many and I'm sure will not be forgotten. She will be missed and mentioned whenever we meet together.
