Quite a few of us are keen Gasteria collectors and will have had plants directly or indirectly from Rick Nowakowski at Nature's Curiosity Shop in Nevada. Sadly, Rick died of a heart attack this Monday. Whilst I never met him personally, I've exchanged and bought quite a few plants from him over the years and he had a unique nursery specialising in variegated succulents along with many of his own hybrid Gasterias. He couldn't send an email without mentioning his various ailments but had some quite unique plants, probably the world's only nursery specialising in Gasterias. I don't think he kept many of his plants labelled and most were hybrids and, though he was an easy car trip from Las Vegas, he told me his greenhouse wasn't set up for walk-in visitors. I don't know what will happen to his plants but hopefully they will go to another US nursery who might make them more freely available.
Stuart - Plantlife
Natures Curiosity Shop - sad news
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Please respect all forum members opinions and if you can't make a civil reply, don't reply!
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Stuart
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Ray_M
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Re: Natures Curiosity Shop - sad news
Thats sad Stuart,there are more of us gasteria fans out there than will admit,i,m sure I must have some of his stock via you.It seems that when a C+S nursery closes because of retirement or death,it doesn't get taken over or replaced,which makes it doubly sad.Cheers,Ray.
Ray Mitchell,member of South Norfolk group.living on Suffolk/Norfolk border,near Diss.Keen on all cacti and succulents,alpines and other plants.BCSS member since 07.Visitors welcome,PM first please.
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Tony R
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Re: Natures Curiosity Shop - sad news
Very sad indeed, Stuart,we must keep some of his NCS specials in propagation and circulation.
Tony Roberts
Treasurer, Haworthia Society
Chairman, Tephrocactus Study Group
Moderator, BCSS Forum
Kent
(Gasteria, Mammillaria, small Opuntia, Cleistocactus and Sempervivum are my current special interests)
Treasurer, Haworthia Society
Chairman, Tephrocactus Study Group
Moderator, BCSS Forum
Kent
(Gasteria, Mammillaria, small Opuntia, Cleistocactus and Sempervivum are my current special interests)
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stephen
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Re: Natures Curiosity Shop - sad news
Rick seemed a pretty decent guy and will be missed.
As well as his extraordinary collection of hybrid Gasteria (many bred by himself over many years of interest - see pics on the Cactus Mall under Natures Curiosity Shop) he also had an impressive collection of variegated Haworthia and Agave plants, many of which he seemed to obtain from contacts in the Far East.
I hope his plants get passed on and find there way into circulation in due course.
As well as his extraordinary collection of hybrid Gasteria (many bred by himself over many years of interest - see pics on the Cactus Mall under Natures Curiosity Shop) he also had an impressive collection of variegated Haworthia and Agave plants, many of which he seemed to obtain from contacts in the Far East.
I hope his plants get passed on and find there way into circulation in due course.
BCSS - Grampian branch in north east Scotland.
A passion for the unusual - particularly variegates. Always looking for the greenhouse equivalent of the Tardis!
A passion for the unusual - particularly variegates. Always looking for the greenhouse equivalent of the Tardis!
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Phil White
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Re: Natures Curiosity Shop - sad news
I had heard Rick was not well in recent times what a sad loss, thanks for keeping us informed Stuart.
I never corresponded with him but I have some variegates from him. The attached (poor) picture is all I could find from a few years ago, both plants came from NCS.
[attachment 21971 nobilisvariegatasmall.jpg]
I never corresponded with him but I have some variegates from him. The attached (poor) picture is all I could find from a few years ago, both plants came from NCS.
[attachment 21971 nobilisvariegatasmall.jpg]
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- nobilis variegata small.jpg (99.03 KiB) Viewed 1565 times
Phil White
Wiltshire, England
Wiltshire, England
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Roger Mann
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Re: Natures Curiosity Shop - sad news
Sorry to hear the sad news...................Roger
B.C.S.S Member 32963 Clacton on Sea Branch and Sedum Society .CSSA long time member also Alpine Garden Society. I collect Sedums and Opuntias large and small. I live in Essex and also go to Chelmsford branch meetings. 
Roger Mann.
Roger Mann.