Passing of Jurgen Menzel and Karel Knize

[mdpillet]

I am not certain if it's been announced on this forum, but Jurgen Menzel passed away a couple weeks ago in California. I never got to meet him in person, but did do some trading with him. A very kind, knowledgeable man.

Karel Knize apparently passed away this week. He'd been in poor health for a while now.

[DaveW]

Those of us in the hobby long enough can remember KK plants being imported by some English cactus nurserymen pre CITES. Some are probably still in collections. I believe he happened to be in Chile on a collecting trip when Russia invaded his country so never went back. I found these views of KK's nursery and another on Wikipedia, you can use Google Translate or similar to translate the limited text of these links.

http://www.nordiskkaktusselskab.dk/inde ... ry/5-knize

https://translate.google.co.uk/translat ... rev=search

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oukWbzKxyYs

However in later years excessive stripping of plants from habitat became unpopular and also his seed began to get a reputation for low germination. He did however find some new discoveries like Cintia knizei.

http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/CINTIA ... knizei.htm

[Tina]

Oh thats such a shame , I only knew Jurgen Menzel from his seed list but he must have had an extensive collection and was clearly an exceptional grower/propagator who will be missed.

[valtr8]

Charles Prince died.

[mdpillet]

Those of us in the hobby long enough can remember KK plants being imported by some English cactus nurserymen pre CITES. Some are probably still in collections. I believe he happened to be in Chile on a collecting trip when Russia invaded his country so never went back. I found these views of KK's nursery and another on Wikipedia, you can use Google Translate or similar to translate the limited text of these links.

http://www.nordiskkaktusselskab.dk/inde ... ry/5-knize

https://translate.google.co.uk/translat ... rev=search

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oukWbzKxyYs

However in later years excessive stripping of plants from habitat became unpopular and also his seed began to get a reputation for low germination. He did however find some new discoveries like Cintia knizei.

http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/CINTIA ... knizei.htm

Yes, there are absolute horror stories online about dealing with Knize. I at least hope his habitat plants will go to another collector rather than be demolished.

[DWDogwood]

Very sad news.
With respect to Jurgen, I’d never met him but we emailed quite a bit when I discovered his offerings.
Things I’d always wanted were there for sale, small Jasminocereus, which are now nice specimens, and Brachycereus, both seeds and a nice multi branched speciman. Lots of turbs and such. That new Strombocactus, he offered little seedlings of which he insisted would be a good idea for me to order.
He’d freely ask around if he didn’t have something I was looking for.
Really a good cactus guy. Pediocactus menzlii lives on!

Knize sent me some plants long after I’d given up hope of receiving the package from him, but that was what it was.
I’d heard about him a lot from Anne Shein as most of her good big Copiapoas came from him. Thankfully through her I have a few of his old copiapoa specimens in my collection.
It’s nice to have a link to past collectors.
Both guys names loom large for me.