Appendices & Glossary - Botanical Research Institute of Texas

SPECIAL RECOGNITION—LYNN R. LOWREY
I N M E M O R I A M
LYNN R. LOWREY
1917–1997
MARY ANNE PICKENS
2498 FM 109
COLUMBUS, TEXAS 78934
E-MAIL: gravel@wcnet.net
APPENDIX TWENTY-FIVE
According to many of Lynn Lowrey’s friends,
he never met a plant he didn’t like. Born in Mansfield,
Louisiana, Lynn grew up among much of the same
vegetation that he later found when he moved to
Texas. His love and appreciation for those plants
prompted him to encourage others to try them in
their gardens, and by so doing, he became one of
the first nurserymen to actively promote using
native plants in both residential and commercial
landscapes.
In 1940, Lynn received his Bachelor of Science
in Horticulture from Louisiana State University.
In the early 1950s, he came to Houston and soon
afterwards opened his own nursery. He later
recalled that when he put out a sign advertising
native azaleas, that “it must have brought in at
least one car a week.”
Not one to be discouraged, Lynn continued to
“botanize” and to search for garden worthy plants.
He enjoyed having a few friends to collect with
and was soon botanizing with Robert Vines, Ed
PHOTO COURTESY MIKE ANDERSON
McWilliams and L.G. Marsters, Jr. in the Houston
area. Moving westward, he enjoyed the company of Benny J. Simpson, Barton Warnock, and Carroll
Abbott. Years later, Lynn wrote, “Plant hunting with Benny, Carroll Abbott, and Barton Warnock was
like an expedition looking for gold nuggets.”
Through the years, Lynn became friend and mentor to horticulturists across the state. At Lynn’s
memorial service, Scooter Cheatam described him as the “Pied Piper of the plant kingdom” and said
that “once he started playing that flute,” everyone would drop what they were doing to follow him on
his plant collecting excursions. In Lynn’s quiet manner, he taught and inspired everyone he encountered.
He was widely respected for his knowledge and horticulturists literally from around the world
came to visit him.
During the 1970s, Lynn relocated his nursery to Conroe, Texas and there published his Lowrey
Nursery newsletters, offering numerous philosophical gems about using native plants. Although Lynn