Our virtual magazine, after a period without issue, comes back and, in this return, intends to maintain the same structure it had before: one or two main articles, the topic "Show your orchid" and we also plan to introduce, little by little, other permanent sections. We start with "Growers" where we will talk, basically with small and medium, professional or amateur grower. The purpose is made a map of the whole city and, later, of the whole state, in order to know who is cultivating orchids. We would like to present, in a permanent section, interesting, fun or sad but always true stories, which, somehow, paint the authentic "little story" of Brazilian orchidophilia. For this section, we do need, entirely your help for sending us the cases, adventures, stories that you have participated or observed. Please, send us your stories, by e-mail: bo@sergioaraujo.com
In this issue which is mark of the return of Orchids News, we planned to do a joyful, happy edition, however the death of Father González and Mr. Jorge Verboonen (from Binot Nurseries), two of the most important people of Brazilian orchidophilia, pushed us to dedicate this issue to their memories. And, when we were finishing this edition, we got to know about another lost to Brazilian orchidophilia: Maria Werneck de Castro, who died in Rio de Janeiro, in March, 12th, of this year. Definitively, this end of the millenium has not been being very generous for Brazilian orchidologists and orchidists. Sergio Araujo - editor
SADNESS AND HAPPINESS. In spite of the sadness that provokes in us the lost of those people, we are, in a way, happy because we had the opportunity of being contemporary with them and we can enjoy what they have done in their lives. I would like to say that they have been a very happy people who have accomplished a function in this life. Father González has lived for glorifying God by his cathechesis and by his studies about old languages and orchids, making himself useful for many researches and orchid lovers. His knowledge was not limited to himself. He distributed it to every one who wanted and still distributes. Mr. Jorge Verboonen dedicated his life to reproduce flowers, to make genera and species known, to help researchers offering them the opportunity to know new species and most of all, spent his life spreading the beauty by selling those wonderful flowers. Maria Werneck de Castro was the most completely Brazilian botanical illustrator, her precise illustrations, at the same time, rigorously scientific and artistic, make us to have a different look. Those three people marked their place in this life, all of them showed why they have come to earth. For one hand, we are upset for their departures, on the other hand, we feel happy to have had the opportunity of enjoying what they gave to us. There is a moment that all of us should go, their moment arrived but their works will stay with us making us happier and thankful for their life. We are sad with their leavings but happy with the remembrances they have left to us. Delfina de Araujo - editor