Getting such awards has made me pause and reflect on what an amazing trip it has been since I arrived in California in 1978 – at that time knowing no more about the native flora than being able to recognize a California poppy (Eschscholzia californica). Now I’m considered an authority on the flora of the state, had four plants named in my honor (Tomales red-ribbons, Clarkia concinna ssp. raichei, The Cedars’ fairy-lantern, Calochortus raichei, Cow Mt. manzanita, Arctostaphylos stanfordiana ssp. raichei, and recently a new subspecies of bristly jewelflower, Streptanthus glandulosus ssp. raichei), and have co-published two new entities (The Cedars’ buckwheat, Eriogonum cedrorum and The Cedars oceanspray, Holodiscus dumosus var. cedrorus).
Wow, somehow I still find it hard to believe I did all that! And this doesn’t take into account 30 years of horticultural endeavors both with native plants and plants from all over the world.