G D E M S OF T H E

June 2010
Volume 38, Issue 6
G EMS OF THE D ESERT
Newsletter of the Orange County Cactus & Succulent Society
www.occss.org
President’s Message
Next Meeting
By Vince Basta
Despite a rather mild spring temperature wise,
summer is here and we are right in the middle of
show season. The weekend after our meeting,
the 45th CSSA Show & Sale at the Huntington
Library and Botanical Gardens will be happening
June 25-27. As with any show, much help is
always needed in the areas of; set up on the 24th,
staffing the show and sale during its hours of
operation and breaking down the show. Also,
show plants are needed. If you have any
questions or what to help, call Buck
Hemenway, Show Chair at (951) 360-8802.
Our Summer Show is just one month away and
now is the time to start getting your plants ready
to show! Everyone is doing a great job showing at
our mini-show and I hope to see all those great
entries the weekend of July 23-25. I will have
show tags and schedules available at the next
meeting and give everyone instructions on how to
enter. We will be asking the public to vote for
their favorite choices once again with 10 fun and
new titles to consider.
And as summer winds down, the 25th Intercity
Thursday June 24, 2010
at 7:30pm
OCCSS Meetings are held the 4th Thursday of each
month. Meeting place is the Fullerton Arboretum
1900 Associated Road, Fullerton, CA 92839
Show will be held the weekend of August 14-15 at
the L.A. County Arboretum. I am sure the number
and quality of plants will again amaze everyone at
this 25th anniversary show! If you have never
attended or participated in any of the three shows,
plan on attending and participating this summer in
our great hobby!
Mary has a great program speaker lined up for
June and I am looking forward to Kelly's program
on "Bolivian Blooms". Kelly usually has some great
plants to sell so be sure to attend the next meeting.
See all of you next Thursday!
March 2010 Speaker: Kelly Griffin
Bolivian blooms
In June we welcome Kelly Griffin with a
presentation on Bolivian Blooms. We
look forward to his photos and thoughts
on these beautiful plants. Kelly is the
curator of succulent plants at Rancho
Soledad Nurseries in North San Diego.
He loves to travel and study plants with
an emphasis on Succulents.
Mary Chittenden; OCCSS VP Programs
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
President’s Message
1
June 2010 Speaker: Kelly Griffin
1
Speaker Thanks, New Members, kaktus korner
2
Plant of the Month Mini Show
3
Plant of the Month: Caudiciforms
4
Upcoming Events, Editors Pic, Discussion table & Library
5
OCCSS Show & Sale Info, OCCSS Leadership Team
6
Page 2
Gems of the Desert
Thank you, Rene & Patty Caro!
OCCSS gives a warm
welcome to our new
members!
By Mary Chittenden; OCCSS VP Programs
OCCSS would like to thank Rene and
Patty Caro for their entertaining
presentation on Photographing Your
Plants. We look forward to creating our
own award winning photographs!
Bruce & Donna M.
Rufus V.
Photo: Lori Coxe
Kaktus Korner
by Dean Hart
Hi again everyone, Ah a new month brings yet another opportunity to espouse on the proprieties of our
fascinating hobby, and with all things in flux and the full moon rising in the constellation Gemini, anything is
possible, if not probable. Meanwhile back at the ranch, we mere mortals must look to our own dispensation to
satisfy our aims.
I wanted to thank all those who gave me positive feedback about my first column. The jury is still out however as I
am sorting out the various threats of lawsuits received that range from plagiarism to corruption of the common
good. Fortunately, I have the capable law firm of Readem and Weep to represent me in such matters, so not to
worry.
In the That’s Entertainment department, a friend of mine who runs an online nursery recently told me of a letter he
received that I found humorous and wanted to share with you here, it goes as follows.
“Dear Sirs, Please find enclosed two dollars for your latest catalog, and please hurry as I am old and don’t have
much time to wait.”
Yours truly, Mrs. H Gainesville, Florida
Ah the impatience of youth, one can only guess.
June is a time of transition with many of our plants as they begin to wind up the spring growing season and settle
down for their rest period during the hot summer months. The gushings of water we gave many of them through
the spring months must make way for lighter sprayings and misting in the warm days ahead, too much moisture
will only bring you repentance and regret, so be careful. Less fertilizing and of course vigilance for scale and the
dreaded mealy bug must be maintained as they can sneak in when you’re not looking and do their damage.
The Mini Show was another success last month with a good selection brought in for the occasion. These monthly
shows are a great opportunity to hone your skills at staging for our two main shows as well. So take advantage and
bring in your plants. If you need advice on staging, Vince or myself would be glad to help out with ideas on pots and
top dressings.
In the upcoming events department The Big One is just around the corner folks! No not the great quake, the CSSA
Annual Show and Sale of course. This is the national show and sale and if at all possible is a must see event. There
will be a huge selection of plants offered by a whole host of vendors and the show and the auction and the dinner!
Then there’s the Huntington Library and Gardens! Well you get the picture, so try and attend you’ll be glad you did.
And finally our own three day Show and Sale is coming up and we are sure to be in need of volunteers for one thing
or another. So sign up and lend a hand helping out in some way if you can, your efforts will be greatly appreciated.
And be sure to get your plants ready, this is the show judged by the public and the results are always interesting to
say the least.
Until next time, Be well and Happy Growing!!
Page 3
Gems of the Desert
Plant of the Month Mini-Show May 2010
Novice Class – Succulent
Intermediate Class – Cactus
Jim Tanner – Haworthia Limifolia 1st
Bruce McDonald – “no card” 2nd
Jim Tanner – H. truncata “Lime Green” 3rd
Kathy McNair – Parodia schwebsiana 1st
N/A- 2nd
N/A- 3rd
Novice Class – Cactus
Advanced Class – Succulent
Jim Tanner- Notocactus mamulosus 1st
Jim Tanner – Notocactus “Ball” 2nd
Scott Bunell – Notocactus Magnificus 3rd
Craig & Denise Fry – H. magnifica v. splendens 1st
Craig & Denise Fry – Haworthia truncata 2nd
Craig & Denise Fry – Haworthia truncata 3rd
Intermediate Class – Succulent
Advanced Class – Cactus
Kathy McNair- Haworthia Maughni 1st
Lori Coxe-“no card” 2nd
Kathy McNair- Haworthia cv. “Lime Green” 3rd
Jen & Darryl Craig – Parodia scopa 1st
Jen & Darryl Craig – Parodia scopa neobuenekeri 2nd
Glen Carlzen – Notocactus herteri 3rd
Plant of the Month Mini Show
Month
Cactus
Succulent
January
N/A
N/A
February
Turbinicarpus/Eriosyce
Tylecodon/Cotyledon
March
Echinocereus/Echinomastus
Aloe/Agave
April
Mammillaria
Stapeliads
May
Notocactus (Parodia)
Haworthia
June
Escobaria/Coryphantha
Caudiciforms
July
Opuntiads (Opuntia+all subgenera)
Echeveria/Dudleya
August
Thelocactus/Sclerocactus
Lithops
September
Discocactus/Melocactus
Euphorbia/Monadenium
(South Africa)
October
Gymnocalycium/Matucana
Euphorbia (Madagascar)
November
Ariocarpus/Astrophytum
Crassula/Sedum
December
Echinopsis (hybrids ok)
Other Mesembs
(Gibbeum, Conophytum…)
Photos: Lori Coxe
Classes:
Novice - WHITE
Intermediate - YELLOW
Advanced - BLUE
Points:
1st
2nd
3rd
HM
10 pts
8 pts
5 pts
2 pts
Up to 3 cacti and 3
succulents each show
per exhibitor please
“Awesome
turnout at the
mini-show!!!!
Thanks for all the
participation.”
Darryl Craig; PotM Mini
Show Director
Page 4
Gems of the Desert
Caudiciforms
Plant of the Month: June 2010
By Clifford Meng
Caudiciforms
Caudiciforms are plants with a swollen root structure that is used as water storage
device. This enables the plant to withstand prolonged periods without rain. Most
are located in an area about 30 degrees north and south of the equator where
there is a wet and dry season. During the dry periods they go dormant only the
spring back to life back to life when the rains come. In contrast to Southern
California where we have a hot summer dry period and a cold winter wet season,
most caudiciforms grow in an area where it is warm year around.
Some of the more popular caudiciforms are Adeniums, Pachypodiums, Beaucarnea,
Bursera, Commiphora, Jatrophia, and Operculicarya. They first became popular
with Gordon D. Rowley’s book “Caudiciform & Pachycaul Succulents published in
1987.
What started out to be just a few plants, caudiciforms plants potentially include
more than 2,000 plant species. They range from rocklike globs to tree forms and
columnar monoliths.
One only needs to attend a show and sale by the many Cactus and Succulent
Societies to see how popular these plants have become. “A Guide to Growing
Pachycaul and Caudiciforms” written by Philippe de Vosjoli was published in 2004
enhanced the popularity. “Pachyforms Volume II Bonsai Succulents by Philippe de
Vosjoli and Rudy Lime came in 2007. These books are a “must have” for anyone
with an interest in succulents.
Dorthe Bihrman a German hobbist has made it his life work constructing a website
on caudiciforms and pachycaul plants. His website: www.bihrman.com contains
over 1,500 pages describing these plants. It is a comprehensive resource for
anyone with an interest in these plants. Take a look.
Several nurseries specialize in caudiciforms and pachyforms. They are:
Great Petaluma Desert owned by Jerry Wright, www.gpdesert.com
Rare Exotics owned by Guy Wrinkle, www.rareexotics.com
Rare Succulents owned by Petra Crist, www.raresucculents.com
Out of Africa owned by Mike and Maureen Massara, www.out-of-africa-plants.com
Page 5
Gems of the Desert
Up Coming Events
Editor’s Pic
June 25-27: CSSA Annual Show & Sale, Huntington
Botanical Gardens 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA.
INFO: 626-405-2160
July 23-25: Orange County Cactus & Succulent Society
Summer Show & Sale Fullerton Arboretum 1900
Associated Rd. Fullerton, CA 10-4 INFO: Vince Basta
714-267-4329
August 14 & 15: 25th Annual Intercity Show & Sale, LA
County Arboretum 301 N. Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA
INFO: Tom Glavich 626-798-2430 or John Mattews 661297-5364
Sept 4th: Huntington Botanical Gardens Succulent
Symposium, All day at The Huntington
Fockea crispa; Triangle Farm, South Africa
Photo: Jen Craig; CoronaCactus Nursery
Discussion table plants
Do you have a question about a plant you have? Looking for a name? Wondering how to grow it? Or do you have
a special plant that you just feel like showing off? Bring in these plants so that we can talk about them. This
way, we all can learn something new!
OCCSS now has its own page on Facebook. You
can find us by searching for “Orange County
Cactus and Succulent Society” in the search
box.
OCCSS Library
We have added some new books this month; 2 books on
Agaves, The Sulco Gallery (which is about the cactus genus
Sulcorebutia) & the Euphorbia Journals Vol. 8, 9 and 10. You
can check them out at the next meeting.
We had the full collection of Euphorbia Journals before, but
someone never brought back Vol. 7-10 a couple years ago.
So please don't forget to bring back any books you have. I am
hoping that the new book on Gymnocalyciums comes back
this month.
Craig Fry: OCCSS Library Chair
Page 6
Gems of the Desert
Hello OCCSS Members!!
We are fast approaching our 2010 Summer Sale & Show on July 23, 24, & 25.
It is 4 weeks from our June meeting. We need volunteers for various jobs during the 3 day period, including the show room area.
We are doing a people's choice show, so we may need help with ballots.
Even a few hours helping out can make a huge difference.
Thanks to Valerie Hartmann, Jonel Lancaster, and Barb Kerr, for doing the food.
These ladies will need help on the days they bring food, so keep that in mind when volunteering.
We need TAG PULLERS!! This is the most important job at the sale! The tags must be pulled correctly for everyone to get paid.
Please volunteer to help the club out for a few hours during the sale.
Rosanna Barela did a great job on the plant sitting table last year, and she has agreed to help out again managing that booth.
We will also need people walking around answering questions the public might have, and steering them in the right direction.
Also, some security is needed as we have had some vandalism in years past. A sorry fact, but one we do need to address. I need
some volunteers to wander around as security, keeping a look out for people changing tags or removing tags. If you have a high
school or college student who needs volunteer hours, they can help us out. It could be as much as 6 hours per day towards
earning those hours for school.
We are trying to cut expenses and gather our own boxes. If each member brought 20
boxes, we wouldn't have to buy boxes. Please let us know if you can gather boxes for us on a larger scale.
If you are available to help with the Wednesday set up day, please contact Vince. There is some heavy work with the canopy set
up, so if you are able, please come and join us.
Please contact me with any questions you might have, or to volunteer.
I will have sign up sheets at the next meeting.
*Remember this sale helps fund our great bus trips, refreshments at meetings, our wonderful and informative speakers, our room
to have our meetings, and our raffle table*
Everyone's participation is needed to make our sale a success.
Thanks to everyone for taking the time to help the club,
[email protected] or cell 562.587.3357
Lori Coxe, Secretary
OCCSS is looking for articles that relate to the Plant of the
Month mini show. We could use articles about a genus in
general or a focused article about just one species or a
group in that genus. Look over the schedule for the year
and let us know what plant you want to write about. To
avoid multiple articles about the same subject, talk to
Darryl or Jen Craig at the meetings or email us at
[email protected] and let us know what subject you
will be writing about so we can mark you down. Photos
would be an excellent addition to your article!
Renewal of Club Membership for 2010; $20.00 email
or $25.00 snail mail. You may do this at the next
meeting or mail it to:
OCCSS
c/o Membership Chairman
P.O. Box 3062
Fullerton, CA 92834
Contact the Newsletter Editor:
Jen Craig -- [email protected]
www.occss.org
OCCSS Leadership Team for 2010
Vince Basta, President
Mary Chittenden, V.P. Programs
Denise Fry, V.P. Excursions
Nancy Rokkum, Treasurer
Lori Coxe, Secretary
Roger Claassen, Immediate Past President (2008)
Patty Miller, Membership Chair
Lori Coxe & Denise Fry, Summer/Winter Sales Cochairs
Vince Basta, Summer/Winter Show Entry Chair
Craig Fry, Library Chair
Darryl Craig, PotM Mini Show Director
Barbara Kerr, Raffle Sales
Denise Fry, Raffle Plants
Pat Hamilton & Mary Ann Rogers & Sue Gilley,
Refreshments
Rick Davenport, CSSA Affiliate Representative
Jen Craig, Newsletter Editor
Daiv Freeman, Website