Julius Wadekamper
Faribault, Minnesota

Julius, a former monk who served in South America, opened Borbeleta Gardens in Elk River in 1972. He later moved the business to Faribault in 1986. Wadekamper grew four specialty perennials: lilies, daylilies, Siberian iris, and dwarf and intermediate bearded iris. He sustained an active breeding program, which led to the development and introduction of more than 70 new cultivars of Asiatic lilies. Julius sold Borbeleta Gardens in 1992 to move to the west coast. Wadekamper was also founder of the North American Lily Society’s Species Lily Preservation Group. He died in 2001.
This biography was taken from the NALS website.

Hugh Cocker remembers Julius Wadekamper:

"Wadekamper was a teacher and worked at various places in Minnesota.  Julius was the 16th President of the North Star Lily Society and also held office in the North American Lily Society.  He was an instructor in the NALS judges training course.

"Julius did a lot of hybridizing and also sold other hybridizer’s lilies at Borbeleta Gardens. He sold Borbeleta when he moved to Oregon which is where he passed away. Of the many lilies Julius made, I think 'Purple Reign' and 'Willow Wood' are the best known."