Fellow Aroiders,
I wanted to point out, for the benefit of those who do not know. that Steve Lucas, the person who started the Exotic Rainforest website, passed away in January of 2011. He was a good friend of mine, fanatical about the scientific side of aroids, and very supportive of the International Aroid Society. His website is still up and i don't know who is maintaining it at this time. So if anyone addresses a comment to him, that is why you will not receive an answer.

However, his site has been archived on the I.A.S. website - the link is below:

http://www.aroid.org/gallery/l...

LariAnn

Thank you, I was wondering.
Regards,
Arif.

LariAnn,
I have been told that his wife is maintaining the site. I was also wondering about him, & find it a shame that someone so passionate about this subject is no longer helping us learn more about these wonderful plants. I am sure he will be sorely missed.
Noel Calvert

We have you now lets see if you can help us. ;)
regards,
Arif.

hehe Arif,
Agreed! I am taking another small trip today, & bought a digital camera. I should have lots of photos showing the local flora as well as the living situation & more down here in Tumaco. I anticipate new plants also. I know of a lot full of Illistrus growing wild that I am going to raid today as well as some other locations.
Sincerely,
Noel

NoelCalvert said:I am taking another small trip today, & bought a digital camera.

Take your camera along when you go raiding, why raiding why not collecting. Noel, while collecting don't behave like an elephant and trample the rest. Just one cute plant do it with surgical precision. Hope you can provide us with a pictorial log book and graphical account.
Regards,
Arif.

Hello everyone,
Your not going to believe some of the plants I found. I will be uploading photos soon. Relax Arif! I was only kidding about the raiding. I collected quite a few plants today. I found another type of monstera that I have seen before. That makes 3 monsteras that I have now. I found several varieties of philodendron, or Antharuims. I am not sure how to tell the difference, but we will see when I post my blog tomorrow. I am dog tired now at 10:30 at night.
Noel

Relax? I am quite relaxed thank you.
Regards,
Arif.

Apparently there is an issue with the site now...the Domain seems to have not been renewed.
Too bad, so much good information there.

The site has been preserved on the I.A.S. site. I'll post the link, please let me know if you can access it.

Edited: here's the link. I'm not sure if it's all set yet.
http://www.aroid.org/gallery/l...

Thank You Evan !

@LariAnn, can you add the link to your introductory post please?

Can you get to the page MJ?

Evan, Yes I can

Evan,
I've added the link - thanks for the update.

LariAnn

Thanks LariAnn.

Evan and LariAnn for the link to Exotic Rainforest at the IAS site! Recently I had searched specifically for the Exotic Rainforest site and noticed it was no longer available which was sad. I know that Steve Lucas is missed a lot and I'm glad we will still be able to peruse his site. I often wondered if his family kept up the gardens in Arkansas, does anyone know? I'd always wished I could have made a trip to tour his beautiful gardens.

Lariann,
Hello. I was looking for Steve's web site so I could identify some plants. I got acquainted with Steve and Janis about a year before he passed. Wonderful man....giving with his knowledge and plants. I got in touch with Janis and she told me of his passing and that she was going to be moving. When I asked about their rainforest she said she would sell it. I bought it and it is now housed in a wonderful private conservatory in central indiana. Even though its not open to the public, I gladly welcome anyone, as Steve did, to come for a visit. Added features...which I think Steve would have loved...are a 12 foot high waterfall and koi pond...also lots of Lady Gouldian birds, canaries, finches, small green parrots.
The conservatory is computer climate controlled. It rains at 6:00am and 10:00pm every day. If it starts to get to hot the vents open and the fans come on. In the winter it stays around 76 to 78 degrees....so even though there are big snow flakes coming down, I go out there and am in heaven.
I will get some photos and try to post here
Connie Scott
[email protected]
Morristown, Indiana