Sad news of the death of famous galanthophile Günter Waldorf

[Maggi Young]

Sad news of the passing of a plantsman has come from Germany.
Forumist  Günter Waldorf has passed away. He had the misfortune to endure a long illness and serious operations and his many friends have regretted his suffering.
Günter was best known in the forum for his love of Galanthus but he was also passionate about Hemerocallis and shared these enthusiasms in his website, the Oirlicher Flower Garden www.oirlicher-blumengarten.de

In recent years he was the instigator and inspiration behind the very successful Snowdrops Days
at Nettetaler (Nettetaler Schneeglockchen Tage) where one could meet snowdrop lovers,  and see plants on sale from a really wide range of specialist nurseries... but with the central theme of celebrating snowdrops.

Last year Günter's galanthus book was published: "Schneeglockchen, Zauber in weiss" ( Snowdrops- White Magic). 
So often when a great plantsman is lost to us we have the additional grief of the loss of their knowledge and expertise. Since the publication of his book we at least have this to demonstate his passion and to remember him by.
Günter described himself as a hobby gardener - surely an understatement.
Our sincere condolences to his wife Marlu and to their family on their very sad loss.

[snowdropman]

Very sad news indeed.

Many forumists will also know Günter from his visits to the UK and his stall at recent Galanthus Gala's in the UK.

Through both his website and his book Günter has done much to promote interest in, and knowledge about, Snowdrops in Europe.

He did particularly fine work in securing many of the fine snowdrops discovered by Angelina & Zlatko Petrisevac, from the Buzet Nursery in Croatia, before the latter lost most of them to a disastrous attack of botrytis e.g 'Angelina', 'Decora', 'Jule Jansen' (plus several others which deserve to be better known).

Günter also found and named several snowdrops, including some fine yellows e.g. 'Gilt Edge', 'Günters Geist' etc, photo's of which can be found in the SRGC archives

I remember particularly one occasion when he visited my garden and had brought with him another of the Petrisevac snowdrops - its name was ‘Grünfrosch’ and although neither of us spoke each others language he managed, by hopping up and down etc to convey to me that this meant Green Frog in English - whenever I look at this snowdrop, an image of  Günter hopping along on my lawn always comes to mind and brings a smile to my face

Günter will be sadly missed.

[Maggi Young]

Thank you, Chris, for your thoughtful remembrance of Günter.

Others have been in touch to express their sadness at his loss and also to tell of the fun they had shared with him over the years.
He was surely a man with a glad heart and a plantsman's soul.

[Paddy Tobin]

Certainly,  one of the greats of the snowdrop world has been lost.

Paddy

[Regelian]

Extremely sad news.  Günther was a very special man in the world of Galanthus and Hemerocallis.  I will very much miss seeing him at the Nettertal Galanthus Treff, as well as Hemerocallis Europa meetings.  I first met him some 10 years ago when Hemerocallis Europa had a small meeting at the Oirlicher gardens.  It was my first involvement with the group and I am currently the president.  He certainly left an influence.  This marks the end of an era.  How sad.

Jamie Vande
Cologne
Germany

Hemerocallis Europa