Richmond’s Botanical Journey from 1974 AAMU Field Trip Still Thrives

In 1974, a young Donica Jessick Richmond embarked on a field trip that would shape her life in an unexpected way. As a 9-year-old fourth grader at Weatherly Elementary, she visited a greenhouse at Alabama A&M University and received a few tiny “babies” from a plant known as the “Momma Daughter.” These plants, scientifically named Kalanchoe daigremontiana and affectionately called Mother of Thousands or Mexican Hat Plant, have been a part of her life ever since.

A Growing Passion:
“I've been growing these plants ever since that trip,” Richmond shared in a heartfelt email to the University. “This is my 51st year, and I've got 24 pots altogether. It’s more of a dedication thing than a green thumb because they are awfully hearty. They’re part cactus, so they don’t require a whole lot of water, but they just don’t like cold weather.”

Richmond, now an accomplished gardener, has transformed her childhood fascination into a lifelong passion. Her greenhouse brims with these resilient plants, each one a testament to her enduring care and dedication. To share her story, Richmond recently brought a few of her cherished plants back to AAMU, sparking memories and curiosity.

A Historical Connection:
Richmond’s story prompted a trip down memory lane for Dr. Govind Sharma, a retired professor who began his tenure at AAMU in 1970 and worked with Dean of Agriculture Dr. Winfred Thomas. AAMU’s 972-acre Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station is named in his honor. He recalled the numerous field trips from local schools. “The tradition continued and took new forms, most recently as the Science Exploration Day, attracting students from across the state,” Sharma said.

Sharma fondly remembered Mr. Henry Joiner, the expert horticulturist who managed the greenhouse tours and was a founding member of the Huntsville Botanical Garden. Joiner's expertise left a lasting legacy on the AAMU campus.

“Mr. Joiner had a meticulously run greenhouse that existed north of the old Councill High School Building,” says Sharma. “His legacy lives at many places on the AAMU campus, including two male Gingko Trees he planted across from the current Post Office Building and in the Patton Hall parking lot,” Sharma noted.

A Botanic Wonder:
Richmond’s beloved Kalanchoe daigremontiana is a marvel of nature. Sharma elaborated on its unique characteristics. The Kalanchoe plant that Mrs. Richmond has belongs to a genus of about 125 species of tropical, succulent plants in the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae) native to tropical Madagascar and tropical Africa. Its serrated margin has hundreds of buds ready to grow into leafy stems and fibrous roots if they contact moist soil.

Sharma emphasized the broader importance of her cherished plants. “Green plants are a veritable biochemistry laboratory of our planet. They sustain every type of life from humans to animals to bacteria. Numerous plant-derived medicines, including antitumor compounds like Bryophillin from the Kalanchoe species, have contributed to human well-being,” he explained.

A Personal Connection:
Richmond has worked at Redstone Arsenal for almost 40 years, 20 at the Utility Helicopters Project Office (Black Hawk) as an Industrial Security Analyst. She doesn't consider herself to have a green thumb, attributing the plants' survival to their hardiness. Despite several near-death experiences, including a close call during a frigid winter, her dedication has kept them thriving.

“I’ve almost killed them off a few times through the years, most recently when we had below zero temps last winter,” she confessed. “Thank goodness one was still next to the heater and survived! I love my plants. I must to still have them going after all these years!”

While Richmond's plants hold sentimental value for her, her husband is less enthusiastic.

“He says they would live through a nuclear war,” she laughed. “They were on my kitchen table for years, and he was sick of looking at them, so he got me a greenhouse two years ago. He doesn't understand how important they are to me and the connection I have with them. I’ve always told people, ‘When these plants are gone, that means I am gone.’ I’ve had them so long, they’re just part of me.”

Richmond’s story is a beautiful reminder of the lasting impact a simple school trip can have. It’s a tale of growth, resilience, and the deep-rooted connections we form with the natural world.