Kurt Bluemel, Panicum Warrior

Kurt Bluemel, Panicum Warrior

Sorry to deliver sad news. Kurt Bluemel Der Gras König — The King of Grasses — died yesterday evening after a brief illness. The Baldwin MD plantsman and humanitarian was 81.

Kurt was extraordinarily artistic, tireless, demanding, resilient, charismatic, enormously successful and generous.

No one loved life quite like Kurt. The lion sleep’s tonight.

Allen Bush sent me that message this morning. He had flown to Baltimore to see Kurt one last time but arrived an hour after he died. Allen has returned to Louisville and will have more about this extraordinary man, a good friend of his, next week.

I barely knew Kurt but I did get to visit his garden once.  A few of my favorite views below.

Kurt Bluemel's Maryland garden

Kurt Bluemel's Maryland garden

Kurt Bluemel's Maryland garden
 
Kurt Bluemel's Maryland garden
This last shot reveals new plantings being added and I’d love to see what it looks like now, many years later. Hope Allen has some photos for us.