I am so sorry to hear this.I just wrote Vlad an email yesterday.
When someone knows any plans please let us know.
Thanks......
Bonnie

I am so sorry to hear this. Please pass along my condolences to Eric and his family.

Suja

We'll miss you Vlad. Steve in Baltimore County.

Sorry to here this
you will be missed friend
my condolences to Eric and family

Blueangel

Vlad was one of the true gentle man of gardening. I will miss him.

I will remember Vlad.

(Thank you, Anne, for posting the news.)

Thanks for letting us know Anne. He will certainly be missed.

If you go to Vlad's webpage, you'll see that they intend to leave the page up until the domain expires in November. What do you all think about chipping in to keep the page up after that?

Anne

Here is a link that might be useful: Vladpup

Gone but not forgotten. He was a dear kind hearted person. We will miss his "Happy gardening!"

So sorry to hear this. He was a fine young man and will be missed.
Beth B

I just spoke with Eric. Needless to say, he's "moving through glue."

They're talking about having a memorial service of some kind later in the spring when the gardens are blooming. He understands how important and soul-feeding the gardens were for Vlad.

Vlad and I started gardening the same month, several years ago. We went through all kinds of trials and tribulations together, trying to figure out what we were doing. We are both grateful for these boards and the friends we've made. Without everyone here, neither of us would have the gardens we do now, nor the beautiful friendships that we enjoy. Now that Vlad is in a much nicer, painless state, I'm going to miss my gardening buddy terribly.

Sorry I couldn't post sooner, too. Anne, thanks for being able to.

Christine

Christine and others, I think a Memorial Service later in the year is great. Any way we could tie it into the Spring Swap?
Steve in Baltimore.

A memorial service would be great.
Is there any way we could plant something somewhere in Vlad's name? Maybe take up a collection during the spring swap and purchase a tree or seedlings and find somewhere to restore or plant it( them) ? Maybe we could use the donations to give to a conservatory, garden club project, park, or whatever organization that Vlad was involved with ?
Bonnie

Being new to this forum I didn't know Vlad but can see that he must have been a wonderful person by all that has been written. I didn't realize what a young man he was. Death is always sad but the death of someone in the prime of their life seems especially unfair.
Karyn

The spring swap will probably be a sort of memorial weather we plan it that way or not. I remember where he was parked when we were at Grandma's before and I like that the swap is back at the same place this time too.
BB

Vlad would like it if your donations were made
to community support systems of brandywine MD
P.O. Box 206
Aquasco, MD 20608
Phone: (301) 372-1491
Email: CSS1995@aol.com
or any organization that plants trees world wide
there may even be a park or special place in Aquasco,Md
that would welcome a tree planted in his memory

Blueangel

I think the whole Spring swap is going to be a memorial to him one way or the other. Of all the "swappers" he worked hardest both and giving and taking home to his and Eric's beloved garden. He was one of a kind, a real gentle soul, and he loved nature and gardens with great enthusiasm and flair. I guess this should remind us all to love every moment that we spend close to nature and our gardening and hold on tightly to those memories.

Being a novice gardener I have read many of VladÂs posts. I have learned a lot from him. We will feel his absence on the forum.

When I talked to him at the swap it was pretty amazing to me to hear him refer to each plant by its scientific name spoken properly.

My sympathy and condolences to Eric

-Annette

I have a packet of sunflower seeds that i bought to winter sow. they have been sitting because I have been too depressed this winter to garden. I think I will get some potting soil tomorrow and plant them while thinking of him.

Acquasco is a crossroads and doesn't have a park or anything. I think the community services would be a good thing. Brandywine is more of an area than a town, but it's the biggest crossroads nearby.

C.

I can't believe it. Vlad was the nicest and most generous soul and I especially looked forward to seeing him at the swaps. I will miss him, too. My garden has been graced by many of his plants. I will continue to aspire to be as giving as Vlad and helpful to other gardeners. I hope we can create a fitting memorial for him.

In sadness,
Susan

Hello Everyone,

In honor of Vlad, Eric has asked that an invitation to be extended to the Gardenweb community to a celebration of Vlad's life on May 5, 2007:

"WeâÂÂre planning a celebration of VladâÂÂs life on Saturday, May 5. The garden should be in bloom, and weâÂÂd all like to remember him in his garden glory. Will you be able to make it? Also, can you let the garden web people know? I want to invite every single person whoâÂÂd like to come." Eric

I am be happy to keep communication lines from Eric to this MAG Gardenweb group. I will continue to post here as things develop. If anyone else knows of any other Gardenweb groups that should be notified of this event, please let me know, or please feel free to pass this invitation on. For those of us who can make it, I think it would be a beautiful tribute to Vlad for our Gardenweb community here to honor him with our presence at this celebration. Perhaps some of the memorial ideas mentioned in the above thread can take seed at this event. The Garden is a wonderful analogy for life.

Regards,
Effie

How sad. I met Vlad for the first time last year. What a great guy. I still can't believe this is true. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

A friend who lives down that way tells me that the Boy Scouts have a woodland camping facility near Aquasco, and suggests that that might be a good place to plant some trees in Vlad's honor. Anyone know more about this? What d'yall think?

LynnT

Given the Boy Scouts official and public stance on certain issues, I don't think anything at their site would be very appropriate. Or maybe it would be in a tongue in cheek style.

:(
Rest in peace Vlad and may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
This has not been a good year for my cyber buddies; a long time poster on a horse racing board I frequent died a few weeks ago.
Think they're talkin' horses and horticulture?

Please check out Treble's other thread on Vald's memorial. It is going to be on May 12th.

I agree with Kim about the tongue-and-cheek Boy Scout thing.

But we can ask Eric what he things, perhaps? He's going to come to the swap. Hmm. I just thought of something. If anyone wants to make a trip down maybe on the 4th or so, we could help Eric dig up a few things to trade for Vlad.

Will anyone not think of Vlad when they eat one of those huge strawberries his many plants produced? :)

Christine

I'm so sorry to hear about Vlad. I had exchanged emails with him shortly after he became ill. I have a number of his plants thriving in my garden and I'm sure I'll be sending up a little prayer every time one of them reminds me of him.

Rich

I'm so so sorry to learn about Vlad. He was a rare human being and exceptional gardener who shared his plants and wisdom with enthusiasm. He wrote to me after reading my member page to talk about old houses and horses, and ask about Beagles... Seems he thought there'd been Beagle kennels at his place... We exchanged several emails before meeting and I still remember my shock when we finally met! ;) Like so many, I'd presumed he was much older and was very pleased to get a chance to share stories and plants with him face to face. After seeing his place I also realized he was way ahead of me with his tremendous gardens!!! I will miss him and continue to think of him while admiring the little greenies I got from him as they poke up from the thawing ground...

Leslie

I too am so sorry to hear about Vlad. I didn't know him personally other than through gardenweb but I know he was a wonderful, caring person.

My heart goes out to all his many friends and loved ones. I think he was a rare gem and I know he'll be sorely missed.

Best wishes to a passionate gardening bud...

I was so shocked to see that Vlad had died. I didn't know that he was sick & the last time I saw him, he was the picture of health!
I didn't know him well but he was so exuberant in his love of gardening, it was infectious. He will be missed.

Rose

I am so sorry to see that Vlad is gone. He was such a interesting soul. I still have some wonderful ferns from him, and I hope he enjoyed the containers and Nandina we traded. I think I also got the unique Shi So herb from Vlad. He was always so helpful. He will definitely be missed.

I am shocked to hear Vlad has past away and my condolences go out to his loved ones.

When I 1st came to this board, back in '04, looking for advise, Vlad was there. He even invited me to his place to show me how things work. The man was full of knowledge.

I come back here (I haven't visited this forum in over a year), just to see what's up and I see this post. What a SHOCKER!

Although I only met the man one time, I know he will be dearly missed by myself and many others.