Mail Call: May/June 2012

By Grit Staff
Published on March 28, 2012
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Oliver Grote loved growing and sharing cockscomb flowers.
Oliver Grote loved growing and sharing cockscomb flowers.
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Oliver Grote loved growing and sharing cockscomb flowers.
Oliver Grote loved growing and sharing cockscomb flowers.
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Oliver Grote loved growing and sharing cockscomb flowers.
Oliver Grote loved growing and sharing cockscomb flowers.
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"We went and took care of dinner, Ma!"
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Can you name this issue's mystery tool?
Can you name this issue's mystery tool?
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If you can name the May/June 2012 mystery tool, you could win a copy of Farm Collector Field Guide to Mystery Farm Tools.
If you can name the May/June 2012 mystery tool, you could win a copy of Farm Collector Field Guide to Mystery Farm Tools.
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March/April 2012's mystery tool stumped our readers.
March/April 2012's mystery tool stumped our readers.

Remembering Oliver Grote

In our little town in the Texas Hill Country, we are quite accustomed to sharing with friends, family, neighbors — and even strangers. One of the locals whom people could always count on to share was Oliver Grote.

In 1978, Oliver opened Country Collectibles, an antique store located just north of the picturesque town square of Mason, Texas. During 30-plus years, Oliver acquired some very unique items: a dress worn by Barbara Mandrell; a 587-carat topaz, the state gem of Texas; and a 1928 Mack truck.

Many years later, Oliver developed a passion for a different kind of collectible: He began planting seeds in the landscape surrounding his two-story building.

Around 1996, Oliver planted the first seeds that produced cockscomb flowers of the deep red variety. He proudly displayed cuttings of his flowers inside Country Collectibles, and he was more than happy when visitors photographed them.

Over the years, Oliver’s supply of seeds for the red-headed cockscomb dwindled. So, he submitted a Friends & Neighbors letter to GRIT, which was printed in the November/December 2010 issue. He asked for 25 Celosia seeds — the big-headed cockscomb in red — in exchange for 50 seeds of the big-headed pale green variety. It didn’t take long for the first response to arrive, complete with a seed packet, a friendly note and photographs of breathtaking cockscombs. More than 60 replies were received, and Oliver exchanged letters and seeds from 21 states.

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