On Saturday, 23rd of April 2011, Myron Kimnach, Director Emeritus of the Huntington Botanical Gardens, received the Cactus d'Or at the 9th IOS Inter-Congress in Monaco (figure 1a, b). He is the 16th recipient of the award, which had its inception in 1978, “to honor someone who, by their research in the country of origin, has contributed to the extension of knowledge of succulent plants”, and joins a prestigious group of marvelous plant people. His research into epiphytic cacti and Crassulaceae of the New World is reflected in his many publications, as well as the living collections at UC Berkley, where he worked for 11 years beginning in1951, and most recently as Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds and the Huntington Library. Myron will tell you he never really paid much attention to the buildings, with the exception of adding the Desert Conservatory, to enable the display of more tender plants.
1a & b
Myron Kimnach receives the Cactus d'Or from J.M. Solichon, Director of Le Jardin Exotique, Monte Carlo, Monaco. Photograph by John Trager. b Myron with the Cactus d'Or. Photograph by Ingrid Mecklenburg.
Werner Rauh was the first recipient of the award in 1978 (figures 2, 3). 1980 saw the award go to Mexico for the first time, the recipient being Dr. Helia Bravo-Hollis from Mexico (figure 4). Gordon D. Rowley brought the honors back to Europe in 1982 (figure 5) before it returned to North America, and the person of Dr. Lyman Benson in 1984 (figure 6).
2
Prof. Werner Rauh receives the first Cactus d'Or from Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco.
3
The first Cactus d'Or was actually made of solid gold, though subsequent trophies were gold plated.
4
Dr. Helia Bravo-Hollis received her award at the 16th IOS congress held in Mexico City, when the award was presented to her during a visit to the University Botanical Garden.
There was no award in 1986, but in 1988, the honor went to Larry Leach, an Englishman living and working in Zimbabwe (figure 7). Walther Haage (figure 8) of Germany was the recipient in 1990, notably the first horticulturalist to receive the award. Dr. George Lindsay was honored in 1992, when the IOS held their 22nd Congress in Phoenix, USA (figure 9). Hans-Dieter Ihlenfeldt (figure 10) from Germany was the 8th recipient in 1994. The award went to England for a second time when Susan Carter-Holmes was honored in 1996 (figure 11). Dr. Edward Anderson was the 10th to be given the trophy in 1998 (figure 12). ‘Dieter’ Supthut (figure 13), the recently retired Curator of the Zürich Succulent Plant Collection, received the award at the start of the new millennium. Dr. Wilhelm Barthlott, next door in Germany, was the recipient in 2002 (figure 14), while in 2004, the award went to Africa for the second time, when Dr. Gideon F. Smith (figure 15) from South Africa, received the award in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The 14th recipient was Dr. David Hunt from Great Britain (figure 16). Completing a double for Great Britain, though living and working in Kenya, Dr. Leonard E. Newton (figure 17), current IOS President, was the recipient in 2008. Myron Kimnach was, of course, the most recent recipient in 2010.
Congratulations Myron!
