Hibiscus Notes
(Extracts from IHS mail list communications)
On Hybridizing:

Richard Johnson:  Concerning Fifth Dimension, I've been trying to get seed from it since I began hybridizing last February.  In those warmer months, it very soon was obvious  nothing would develop each time I pollinated the flowers.  However, now during our cooler months, I've finally got my first pod: FD x Jayella.  I have several others forming, one of which I think seems particularly promising: FD x Evelyn Howard.  The latter is very large, very heavy textured, basically yellow with mahogany colors and veins.  Somehow, the two seem to me that they might be able to do nice things, i.e., increase the size and texture of FD with a different variation of FD's exciting colors and patterns. As always, time will tell.

Mike Welbes - hibiscus historian:  Fifth Dimension can be a pain to try to hybridize with dry pollen, dry pads, etc.  You might want to try to acquire a Peggy's Pride, a Fifth Dimension progeny with many of the same color patterns but better breeding ability.  Do keep trying though.  I never let a FD go unpollinated.

Evelyn Howard is an incredible flower in size and color, but it can also pass on that great tall bush that doesn't branch so well.  It is one of the heaviest textured hibiscus I've ever seen in my life.  You'll get some big singles crossing with this.

Both plants are from Gordon Howard.  He was originally going to name Howard's Flower for his late wife Evelyn, but she thought it was a bit "flashy."  When Evelyn Howard (the hibiscus) bloomed, Evelyn (the wife) said that it was a flower worthy of bearing her name.

On the hybridizing front, do go back to one of the grandparents of Fifth Dimension, Lagos.  A close examination of the eye area reveals three distinct colors: cerise, pink and white, before arriving at the orange body of the flower.

Undoubtedly, Gordon Howard saw that too, since he was the first to cross Lagos in Florida.  He crossed it with Carrie Ann, and it produced Howard's Flower and Lily Howard.  Lily Howard crossed with Old Spot gave 5th Dimension.  The upright, close-branching plant habit of Lagos comes through all the way to FD, overcoming even the octopus-like growth of Carrie Ann.  Keep on hybridizing!

Mike Welbes:  I'm giving a link to some photos I took back in 1994 and 1995. 

The web page (If this link doesn’t work, just copy the text into your browser address window) has not been updated since 1996, but the photos are still pretty good. The ready-made wallpapers are too.  Bare in mind, the photos were highly compressed (for reasonably fast downloads on 2400 and 9600 baud modems) and are a little "fuzzy" around the fine details.  I figure a slightly fuzzy picture is better than no picture.  More than 6,300 people have viewed the pages, so I must have done something right.

The "Lena Park" (and it is Park, not Parks) flower was nearly 12 inches (30+ cm) across!  The "Maya del Oro" was the first sport I ever found and named - a sport of "Maya on Red", also pictured.  "Howard's Chartreuse" is really the color depicted.  The photo of "Romeo" and "Herm Geller" together is one of the best I ever took.  People unfamiliar with "Alii Ui" (not Ali Uii) should look closely at its red & yellow spray-paint effect.  (click here to see Jill Coryell’s story on this cultivar.)

When I re-connect my scanner, I'll scan some of the hundreds of photos lying around here, many of old, rare, and, in some cases, possibly extinct hibiscus.   

Enjoy!

More Helpful Hints and Words of Wisdom: 

Mike Welbes - on back crossing:  When one takes a seedling, say "A x B", and crosses it with one of its parents, say "(AxB) x A", this is "back crossing" or crossing back with a parent.

The late "King Harry" Goulding was the original major (modern) user of this technique, but Joe Ludick and Gordon Howard refined it to the ultimate degree, I believe.  The flowers "Red Bomb" and "Joyce A" figured mightily in their generations-long breeding programs.  In fact, I believe that "Joyce A" is one of the most influential hibiscus of all time, for the number of "family trees" it is found in.  In some of Joe L's flowers, "Joyce A" appears 3, 4, 5 times or more as parent, grandparent, great-grandparent.

Many years ago, I "hand made" family trees for most of my favorite hibiscus.  When I locate the disks with them, I'll make a web site of these "trees."  I found them immensely helpful in choosing parents to cross with.  When faced with 2 or 3 possible pollen Daddies for instance, I'd look up the Mama's tree, and try to pick something listed in the tree for the pollen parent.  Why mess with success?  Goulding, Ludick, and Howard are/were the finest hybridizers of modern day hibiscus.  We should continue using the techniques they pioneered so well.

Keep on Pollinating!  I want to see those seedlings. 

Also from Mike Welbes:  The first flower I ever had the chance to name was a sport of "Maya on Red."   Instead of white patches, my flower had gold patches, so I called it "Maya del Oro" (for those of you who don't know Spanish, "Oro" means Gold, thus "Golden Maya").  For hybridizers, this plant will put a black eye into many of its seedlings, and I mean black.

Two years ago, I was wandering through one of those ubiquitous side-of-the-road nurseries, and I noticed a flower that I knew was not right.  It turned out to be an orange sport of the giant pink double "Mary Morgan."  The bottom branches were still blooming pink, but the top branches were a beautiful shade of orange, the same color as the much more common "Jane Cowl," also a sport from a pink flower.  (And no, there are not "two cuttings" in the pot.)  This orange "Mary Morgan" is probably not unique, as "Mary Morgan" is known to have sported in the past, although I've not heard specifically of an orange one.

The Flower-of-the-Day posted by Dick on 21 July 2000 was "Sundance."  I've never seen it written or posted anywhere, but (and you read it here first!) this plant is a sport of "Brilliant," probably the most common hibiscus on planet Earth.  I had said for many years that there weren't really any "great" yellow hibiscus.  There were "adequate" yellow hibiscus, but no great ones.  Well "Sundance" is now the first "great" yellow hibiscus, blooming just as prolifically as "Brilliant." It's a highly recommended plant, available just about everywhere.  It's rarely labeled with a name, but the plant is unmistakable, same exact growth habit, leaves, etc. as "Brilliant" but with yellow flowers.

About 12-13 years ago, a friend of mine set off some of those "chemical can bombs" for some purpose (fungicide, pesticide) in one of his greenhouses.  Something went wrong, and either someone else came along later and did it again, or they used too many, or didn't ventilate soon enough. Whatever!  The hibiscus didn't look great, but refused to die.  The result, starting a year later, was dozens of new sports, all over the hibiscus plants.  Pink plants sporting white flowers, white plants wearing pink flowers, red plants with yellow flowers, and even two plants that grew variegated-leaf limbs!  Not a recommended treatment, but certainly a desirable result.

Hibiscus Silver Memories Photo by Richard Johnson

European Point of View (Jean-Francois Giraud) 

Jose Almandoz:  The other day I took cuttings of the best H. rosa-sinensis I've ever seen growing outdoors in my surroundings. It is a very beautiful single pink (not pale, but intense, kind of pink-red?). The plant is now some 2 meters high per the same in width and has sustained brief, night frosts down to -5C and probably less. I assume this is a valuable kind for my conditions, and thus I took propagating material from it. My question is if it is so vigorous and hardy and proves an easy rooter (is this an English word?), it might be a good rootstock for me to try grafting some "more elaborate or delicate" kinds. Do you think the stock will impart some "cold tolerance" to the scion, or has that nothing to do with it and just shares the adequate rooting system and perhaps some extra strength?

JFG:  Did you visit my web site? Have a look and you'll find a picture of "Van Houtten." 

I think it is the one you speak of.  It is one of the oldest and well-known cvs in Europe. An improvement of "Versicolour or Rose Scott."   I use it very well ("Van Houtten") as rootstock, and I'm very satisfied. Last year I had a large grafting process, and this year I tried to compare the best rootstocks from the different cvs I have. Most are European sources, like my own "Josy”, "Columbine", "Monrovia", "Hanne", "Van Houtten," and "Camdenii" and “President", "Ruth Wilcox" and "Pride of Hankins" as exotic sources. About cold tolerance, I have to go through the coming winter to see if there are some influences or differences. So far I prefer to use the Eu-sources because they grow well with a good wood size, Ruth Wilcox and Pride of Hankins have a small wood size for me.  In my observations I see that the rootstock does not influence the graft. The grafted cv conserves its identity in the development. Fast growth is still fast; slow growth is still slow.  The same is so with the wood size. I do not observe any influence at the flowering stage. Keep in mind, it is the first year I have this observation. I need to use experience from many years to confirm all that.  One of the most important points we all have to consider is the resistance against Phytophtora. Hope this helps. Bonne soirée et amitiés.

Jean-Francois Giraud

Gettin' To Know You 

Tammy LaPlante:  I enjoyed meeting you on the "Getting to Know You" page, Damon!   That was quite an impressive write-up about you, too!   I will have to have my husband take some photos of me with all of my hibiscus plants so that I can "share" myself with others on the "getting to know you" page!

My recently purchased plants (actually they lost their leaves) are still green, and I think I even see the hint of a few leaves beginning to sprout out on some of the stems.  I bought the potting soil that you recommended and also got the next sized pots for them. Thanks you for not forgetting about the Snow Queen cuttings, etc.   I am very appreciative of your time and efforts on my behalf.

(Editor: You are welcome!  That's what we do at the International Hibiscus Society web site - help others in positive ways.)

News from Down Under – Allan Little 

MY recent hibiscus day was kind of a 'special' day.   I had the pleasure to meet Les Beers, co-author (with Jim Howie) of "Growing Hibiscus," one of the best Hibiscus publications ever.

Les was the guest speaker at the Australian Hibiscus Society Sunshine Coast Branch monthly meeting.  It was great to talk to someone like Les with 40 years of hibiscus experience behind him. It was so good of him to give one day of his holiday to share with us, some of his vast knowledge.  I know it has been said before, but those of you who have met Les will agree that he is a real gentleman.

Les also shared with the members present some of his recent experiences of trips to USA and Europe.  He tells me he is still 'dabbling' in a bit of hybridizing and indicated he may soon be on the internet.  Let's hope he does get on the net as he has such a lot of knowledge to share.
Hibiscus days don't get much more special than this!

(Editor:  I agree with you on the value of this publication.  It should be in every "hibiscus library," and it even makes a nice addition to a coffee table arrangement.)

Hibiscus Sprinkle Rain   Photo by Damon Veach

News From Newbies

I recently joined your list.  I am in the process of developing a hibiscus collection on three acres on which I live about ten miles out of Hilo, Hawaii.  I am a retired biologist and maintain a hypnotherapy practice currently.  I also have a macadamia nut orchard with various tropical fruits.   I have lived and done research in many areas of the world but returned to Hawaii to retire as some say that Hilo has one of the best climates in the world.  I am generally in shorts all year, and it averages 75 degrees.  I am interested in information about hibiscus and have an ongoing collection of over 300 plants.

Aaron Bandy

I live in Connecticut (USA), Zone 5b-6a and look forward to the higher level of activity promised on this list.  I am notoriously forgetful and tend to forget to edit my responses, but I do try.  I bought my first Hibiscus plant this year.  It is a braided version using three plants/vines and it has produced quite prolifically all summer.

Ed Conure

I have approximately 40 varieties of hibiscus but never have enough!  Really, I enjoy all the beautiful photographs that I am receiving from the International Hibiscus Society each day.  My hibiscus are growing with a large collection of alocasia (more than 80 varieties) and calathea (nearly 70 varieties). Here in Europe, it is more than difficult to buy some of the beautiful varieties of hibiscus, and it is also the same for finding alocasia and calathea other than the usual ones.

Dany Hervelle

Hibiscus Empire Photo by Damon Veach

(Editor: The photos of the day are very popular with many people checking out the International Hibiscus Society web site.  As Nadeen says, she gets her cup of coffee and relaxes with the hibiscus of the day.  Welcome.  And have a cup along with us.)

Hawaiian Connection (Aaron Bandy)

There are many hibiscus scattered around the islands. There are frequent surprises when I travel over new roads.  I recently took some wood from a very dark large red hibiscus that, by the look of its foliage, was a hybrid.  It has rooted already so if it does not do well on it's own roots I can graft it.  I purchased a group of grafted plants from someone who has been here for awhile.  I ordered the Jim Howie book from Wally, and there are many of the plants in that group that are mentioned in that book.

I also raise Sun Conures.  I have selected them for the dark orange color so that some of them are now red in color.  I just pulled three babies tonight to finish feeding.  

The parents are excellent feeders but you must decide when you can still place the metal leg band on their legs.  I hand feed them from then until weaned.  They are much like lories and love to play.  I have seen houses in South America where they are endemic, which had dozens of tame Suns sitting on the roof.

I do not have a camera but Koolau from the collection bloomed today.  It is soft deep orange with a half inch band of lemon on the edge and probably seven inches wide.  Joyce Conrad also bloomed with soft pink and blue in bands.  A beautiful flower, but I have since learned that Joyce Conrad is a red so I will have to figure out the name on this one.

Hibiscus Alii Ui Photo by Chris Noble - Hibiscus World

Another Hawaiian Viewpoint - Jill Coryell

Ali'i means:  chief, chiefess, monarch, king, queen, etc.  U'i means:  beautiful, handsome, etc. The name should (in proper Hawaiian) be:  Ali'iui.   The glottal stop ( ' ) is an actual letter in the Hawaiian language.

I cannot say for certain because I do not know the hybridizer, but a reasonable guess would be that it means:  Beautiful Chiefess or Handsome Chief,  or maybe Beautiful Monarch.

Again, I don't know for sure, but Ali'iui with her velvety red and yellow patterning very  much reminds me of our 'ahu 'ula or feather capes, made in pre-contact times from hundreds of thousands of tiny  feathers, often red and yellow, in intricate patterns.  These were owned and worn only by high ali'i.  Thus it would make sense that this flower would remind one of the beauty of the high chiefs, wearing their 'ahu 'ula.

Secretary's Report
(Nadeen Pickard)
August, 2000 

Greetings Fellow List Members,

This will be the first of my monthly reports on behalf of your Board of Directors (BOD). On August 8, 2000 the list elected its first governing body.  Once established the BOD quickly set to work. The first order of business was two-fold.
1) To construct a working format of bylaws that will form the rules under which the International Hibiscus Society will operate.  A draft copy is in the hands of the BOD and discussions and revisions have been ongoing.  The BOD expect to have a finalized draft to present to the membership for comment and voting as soon as possible.  This is a

lengthy procedure and your BOD members have been working diligently throughout August on this.

2) BOD members discussed the possibility of a cyber publication.  Damon Veach was elected to the position of Editor.  The members were asked to post their suggestions for a name of our publication.  Several ideas were offered and a poll was created on the IHS web site so that the members could vote for their favorite. 

Results of that poll are in and the members have chosen Hibiscus International as the name of the IHS cyber publication.  Congratulations to Dick who suggested the winning entry in our name the publication poll.

A second poll asked the members what they felt should receive priority development on the IHS web site.  Fifteen members responded and the results in order of preference are:

a) Article on hibiscus care
b) Hibiscus Archive, photos with basic information
c) Digital monthly publication
d) Articles on Grower Essays
e) Article on Hybridizing

The BOD have also created the position of Chairperson of the Membership Committee and elected Gloria White to that position.  Damon Veach and Nadeen Pickard will assist Gloria in this undertaking. Gloria has become the 8th member of the BOD.  Our current membership is at 55. Ideas and suggestions for attracting new members may be directed to this committee.

The first IHS photo competition is underway with the overall winner to receive a Tahitian Black Pearl.  Entry deadline for this competition is September 30th so be sure to get your entries to Dick.  There are several categories that you may enter, these can been seen on the HIS web site under Member Activities.

As this is a society based on the internet, your BOD are available 24 hours a day/7 days a week.  Should you have any issues you wish to bring before the BOD, please email any of the BOD members and it will be dealt with immediately.

President - Richard (Dick) Johnson
V. President - Damon Veach
Secretary/Treasurer - Nadeen Pickard
Chairperson Membership Committee - Gloria White
Pacific Rep - Bob Rivers-Smith
Australia Rep - Allan Little
European Rep - Jean Francois Giraud
US Rep - Ed Bryan

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I wish to thank all those who have contributed suggestions.  Our gratitude goes to those behind the scenes who have helped bring the IHS into being.  People who so generously volunteered their time and efforts with web design and construction and offered guidance so that the IHS could begin to take its first steps

September, 2000

Greetings Fellow List Members:

The Secretary’s Report for the month of September is short and sweet.
The final draft of the IHS bylaws is nearly complete.  As the IHS grows and evolves so must the bylaws grow to reflect the ever changing needs of its members. Your BOD has tried to produce a set of bylaws that will provide for the IHS members of today and in the future.

Hibiscus International, the official publication of the IHS, is a reality thanks to our editor, Damon Veach, and president/webmaster Dick Johnson.  It is a fantastic first effort with material submitted by numerous IHS members, and I’m sure you will all enjoy reading its contents.  Anyone wishing to submit material for Hibiscus International should contact Damon. Your ideas are always most welcome.
Our membership continues to grow in numbers and 121 members currently subscribing to the IHS.
Nadeen Pickard
Secretary/Treasurer
International Hibiscus Society

Why Use ‘K’ For Potassium
(Jim Purdie)

(The following item reprinted with permission – originally appreared in the “Hibiscus”, the AuHS quarterly magazine.)

I have often wondered why they use the symbol (K) for Potassium in the NPK rating of fertilizers.  I am sure a lot of people do not know either.  I came across an explanation in one of the books I was reading, and thought it would be of interest to you.

The K stands for Kalium from a group of herbs with succulent leafless stems.  These were originally burnt in a pot for the ash, which was formerly used in glassmaking.  The ashes were often referred to as potash.  Hence our use of potash instead of potassium and the symbol “K”. Potassium or potash is important in the production of sugar and starches in plants. It is essential for the production of brilliant colors in flowers.  Plants which are deficient in potash, have weak stems and are very susceptible to attacks from pests. Make sure you use a fertilizer high in potash when your bushes are about to bloom, and all through the flowering season.

Seeds And Seedlings

Dick Johnson: As you have gathered from my posts, I have been producing a lot of seed.  As it was before the time of many of you, I’ll just indicate that perhaps two months ago we had a number of people express an interest in a local own root, prolific 7” red/orange which I have called Tahiti Red for lack of another name.

At that time, I pollinated a number of flowers and have actually come up with a considerable excess of seed beyond what people at that time were interested in.  Accordingly, if anyone else would like some of this seed, please send me your address and I'll get it off in the mail ASAP.

I'll attach a photo to give you an idea of what it looks like. This is selfed seed, meaning that it was produced by taking the pollen from one Tahiti Red and placing it on the pads of another Tahiti Red. Tahiti Red is probably a gv, garden variety, but as we don’t have a name we know little about it.  It could produce seedlings that very closely resemble the attached photo, but depending upon just how diverse its lineage, it could produce something completely different.  I find this seed to be quite fertile often getting 100% germination, so it should be excellent for anyone interested in trying something easy to grown but a the same time more than just an ordinary flower.

Happy Hibiscus Growing To All
Dick Johnson, Tahiti

Tahiti Red  Photo by Richard Johnson

Garden  Views 

Decorated entrance to tropical garden entrance (Veach home in Baton Rouge)

White Althea (Veach home in Baton Rouge) Freddie Brubaker - a double pleasure (Veach garden along back driveway)

THE GENIE CHRONICLES
(Gloria White)
Hybridizing Hibiscus

An old art form has gone global and is receiving a younger audience.
The hybridizing of hibiscus has been an art form that has enjoyed a long appeal.  Hibiscus rosa-sinensis has been grown for centuries.  It began its journey in the far Pacific and is now found around the world.  

The hibiscus flower comes in a variety of shapes and many tones and hues.  The attraction to this beautiful flower has grown recently through many resources including the Internet.

People everywhere in all walks of life are using the Internet to discover new worlds and in the process many are discovering hibiscus.  Because of the internet and because hibiscus are easy to care for and grow, they are finding their way into many gardens around the world as a decorative shrub with lovely and colorful flowers.  Many growers and useful information for the beginner can be found on the Internet.  This new means of communication offers expert help for individuals with a newly found appreciation and love of this flower.  These experts are from around the world, and many have years of experiences to share.

For those of you who have a favorite color or an image in your mind of a perfect hibiscus, hold on to your hats! Hibiscus come in the reds, yellows and whites that are commonly found in gardening centers and also in colors you only dreamed were possible.  The flowers come in jewel tones, multi-colored hues, green, blue, indigo, purple and colors too numerous to mention.  Then there are singles, doubles and other changes in the traditional form brought on by hybridization that makes owning a hibiscus something other than commonplace.

If you want to be a gardener and want a plant that is relatively low-maintenance and fun to grow, next time you see a hibiscus, remember that they will reward you with their beauty.  It is acknowledged by many around the globe, however, that "you can't have just one!"

And the mysterious flower genie flew on her magic carpet in search of the cave of the powerful dragon.  Down below in an enchanted forest she flew lower and lower until she spied a cavern in the rocks, dark and still.  In the coolness of the cavern she flew until deep within the cave it opened up to a wondrous grotto.  In the grotto, shining in the sun she beheld the breath of the dragon, the most wondrous gem on earth!  She gently lifted it up and decided that it would look splendid on her golden turban.

Hibiscus Dragon Breath Photo by Richard Johnson

(From the chronicles of the mysterious flower genie from the peninsula of flowers - Dragon's Breath)

About the IHS Logo & Theme Flower
  (Richard Johnson)

IHS founder, based on what was felt is a breakthrough in pattern and design that resulted in a uniquely stunning and beautifully sophisticated flower, selected Dragon’s Breath as both the IHS logo and the IHS inaugural HOTY.  It was almost simultaneously selected as the AmHS HOTY and was also voted the HVH Popularity Winner. Therefore, Dragon's Breath is arguably on of the most remarkable hybrids in recent years.  The fact that it has received this recognition in the year 2000 and the fact that the IHS was founded in the same year, has resulted in our adopting this cultivar for both our logo and theme flower.  We hope the year 2000 will be remarkable not only for the acknowledgment of this spectacular hibiscus variety, arguably one of the most beautiful flowers in the world, but also for the creation of the IHS which is in itself an evolutionary, if not revolutionary, concept.

IHS Membership:

International Hibiscus Society Membership Including:

IHS Cyber Membership
IHS Hard Copy Membership
IHS Member At Large
IHS Contributor and Benefactor Programs 

Complete information on the above programs may be found below.  To sign up for any of them, just indicate which category and amount   (for example: #3 IHS MAL at $US 15.00) and send this info with payment in U.S. funds to  the following address:

Mrs. Nadeen Pickard,
Secretary/Treasurer International Hibiscus Society
Box 723   Lac du Bonne
Manitoba   Canada    R0E 1A0t

1). IHS Cyber Membership is free of charge (see below)
2). Hard Copy subscription to Hibiscus International .$US 15.00
3). IHS Member At Large - includes printed version of Hibiscus International: ……………………………………………………………. $US 15.00

4). IHS Annual Contributor (to be listed in Hibiscus International):  any persons or organizations which provide donations either in cash or services (the latter at the discretion of the IHS board of directors) as follows, which are also entitled to receive a one year hard copy subscription to Hibiscus International.  

A.  Bronze Annual Contributor .......  $US 25.00 to 50.00
B.  Silver Annual Contributor   ........  $US 50.01 to 75.00
C. Gold Annual Contributor............. $US 75.01 to 100.00
D. Platinum Annual Contributor........ In excess of $US100.01

5)  IHS Lifetime Benefactor (to be listed in Hibiscus International):  any  persons or organizations which provide donations either in cash or  services (the latter at the discretion of the IHS board of directors) as  follows, which are also entitled to receive a lifetime hard copy  subscription to Hibiscus International.  

A.  Bronze Lifetime Benefactor  ...... $US 500.00
B.  Silver Lifetime Benefactor ......... $US 500.01 to 1,000.00
C.    Gold Lifetime Benefactor .......... $US 1,000.01  to 1,500.00
D.    Platinum Lifetime Benefactor ..... In excess of $US 1,500.01

THE INTERNATIONAL HIBISCUS SOCIETY: Is a non profit, internet organization with a policy of free cyber membership.  To inscribe to the IHS email list, which also constitutes membership, click the subscription button at the bottom of the home page   The IHS also produces an official publication "Hibiscus International" which exists in two versions, one a cyber publication that is a permanent part of the IHS web site and the other a printed version.   

HIBISCUS INTERNATIONAL HARD COPY: Cyber members wishing to receive printed copy of Hibiscus International may do so by paying a fee of $15.00 per year, which entitles one to receive issues from the date of their inscription to the end of the fiscal year, June 30th.

MEMBER AT LARGE PROGRAM (IHS MAL's): For those without computer access wishing to participate in the IHS, they can do so by contacting any IHS board or other member either by phone, fax or mail (board member contact info is on the web site under "IHS Statute" and is printed in Hibiscus International).  That board member will post such MAL comments on the IHS email list, and any responses or answers (if a question was posed) will be printed (at the option of the editor) in the following issue of Hibiscus International under the section "IHS MAL's".  This permits persons virtually anywhere on the planet to participate in and benefit from the IHS.   The fee for IHS MAL inscription is $US 15.00 per fiscal year ending as of June 30th and includes all issues of Hibiscus International from the date of application to the end of the fiscal year.

ANNUAL CONTRIBUTOR AND LIFETIME BENEFACTOR PRORAM: As the IHS does have need of revenue, in excess of the above fees which are basically designed to cover printing and mailing costs of Hibiscus International, contributions are welcome.  Contributors and Benefactors will be listed in "Hibiscus International".  All categories will be entitled to complimentary issues of Hibiscus International for one year for Annual Contributors and Lifetime for Benefactors.

IHS Governing Board: