An ode to my friend Jean-Pierre, the best sundew grower I know.

I am fortunate to be friend with a French gentleman called Jean-Pierre (his family name shall remain untouched by the sprawling web). We know each other for more than a decade and meet on a regular basis. Either directly or indirectly Jean-Pierre has taught me a lot throughout the years especially when it comes to sundews. He's arguably the best sundew grower I know (and I know quite a few) ever experiencing and ever trying to find new techniques. You might have stumbled onto Jean-Pierre's breathtaking photographs on some carnivorous plant forums where he is known as 'Marcel' or 'JP'.

Jean-Pierre not only grows Drosera but he also keeps with a lots of success genera such as Pinguicula, Byblis, Sarracenia, Roridula or Heliamphora. There is almost no Nepenthes in his collection though which would be one of the very few flaws my friend has. ;) With my good friend Laurent, we like to jokingly call Jean-Pierre as 'Obi-Wan' as we always feel like mere padawans in front if him ^^. 

With Laurent, we visit our Drosera master once a year or so but prior to this I had never took the time to post pictures of any of my 'field' trips to his den. The pictures below ware taken at the very beginning of 2017 (or was it late 2016?) and therefore do not reflect the state of Jean-Pierre current collection but they will give you a good idea of the extent of his expertise. I shall visit Jean-Pierre in a few months so expect more overviews of my friend high class plants. I am afraid I am a bit lazy tonight and I won't take the hassle of naming each of the plants below. I recall the majority of them but a few remain unnamed (for now). In the meanwhile... enjoy !! ;-)

Drosera magna in JP's greenhouse.

Can you believe this sight? 0-o

One of JP indoors growing closets. 

There, my friend keeps a lots of tuberous species.

My daughter, in awe in front of all these glistening gems.

First unnamed plant (ahem).

Drosera rupicola.

Drosera peltata (yes, I can read. ;-)

This one should be Drosera afra ;-)

Drosera purpurascens.

 Drosera collina.

Drosera prostratoscaposa.

Drosera macrophylla.

 Drosera praefolia.

Drosera squamosa.

Drosera glanduligera.

Another closet.

Drosera regia seedlings.

Drosera yilgarnensis.

Do I really need to name this one?

The breathtaking (breathtaking!) Drosera zonaria.

Not sure about this one, Drosera bulbosa maybe?

Drosera hirticalyx.

I believe these are Byblis gigantea. 

I saw very recent shots of these plants. They are adult now and absolutely stunning!!

Another closet with a different kind of lighting: JP is using tubes and (mainly) leds.

Drosera aberrans.

Another Drosera zonaria.

Drosera erythrorhiza (?).

Drosera tubaestylis.

I can't remember this one, alas.

Drosera whittakeri maybe?

Drosera whittakeri for sure (the tag helps obviously)

Drosera salina.

No idea of this one. I think that's another sundew. ;-)

Drosera zigzagia.

Drosera aff. tubaestylis.

I think this one is Drosera rupicola.

My friend Laurent who is receiving 'la claque de sa mère*'! ah! ah!;-)

(*he's getting a slap in the face by his mummy, lol)

 My son, enjoying Jean-Pierre magnifying glass and sundews...

...under the friendly eye of the master himself.

More pictures of Jean-Pierre stunning plants in a few months hopefully. Excuse me while I'm cleaning the floor-I'm drooling again looking at all these pictures. ;-)