Opuntia basilaris var. treleasei

The Bakersfield C

actus & Succulent Society

% Stephen C

ooley, editorthecactuspatch@

bak.rr.com

Volume 3 December 2000 Number 12

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BAKERSFIELD CACTUS & SUCCULENT SOCIETY

Monthly Meeting

Tuesday, Dec. 12First Baptist ChurchChristian Life Center

5500 Olive drive at 6 PM

(West of 99 freeway on corner of Olive drive & Victor street)

This Month's Program

Annual Potluckpresented by Everyone!

Plant of the MonthPlant of the Month

ChristmasChristmasCactusCactus

Illustration by Linda Cooley

Volume 3 Number 12

December 2000

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BCSS general meeting: November 14, 2000

Our November meeting was conducted by Vice-president Lynn McDonald. We had a few visitors to welcome: Roy and Aurora Castillo from Delano, and Jim Parker, who became our newest member! Welcome to all! We also welcomed our speaker, Charles Spotts and his wife, Joanne.

The business part of our meeting consisted of a brief Show and Sale review, with a report on T-shirt sales and mention of the kids drawing contest (with winning drawings on display). Lynn was thanked especially for doing such a great job with the advertising of the Show and Sale. The December Christmas potluck was mentioned: bring any dish, the meeting will start at 6 pm instead of 7. Terry was absent from this meeting and information will be given to her. Members were reminded about the silent auction and the free raffle plants that are a part of our annual party. Possible field trips were discussed: Bonnie passed around a sign up sheet for an April trip to the petroglyphs at China Lake and a trip to Tucson was mentioned for a time between Christmas and New Year's. Maynard reported that the club has about $2800.

Charles Spotts then began his program, "Glimpses of Peru". We traveled along with Charles and Joanne as they made their way through Peru, becoming familiar with many cacti and succulents on the way (especially tephrocacti and opuntias!) In addition to the plant life, we were treated to scenes of the culture, architecture, and animals of southern Peru. Thanks to Charles and Joanne for sharing their travels with us.

Peruvian plants were on display, along with drawing of succulents done by young people at the Show and Sale and photos of various club functions. The "Name tag" drawing was won by new member Jim Parker!

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A replica of the Nazca Plains hummingbird on the editor's roof

Photo by Stephen Cooley

The Cactus Patch is the official publication of the Bakersfield Cactus & Succulent Society (BCSS) of Bakersfield, California. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at the times and places noted within. GUEST ARE ALWAYS WELCOME

2000 Officers

President - Rob SkillinVice-President - Lynn McDonald

Treasurer - Maynard MoeSecretary - Bonnie East

Editors - Stephen Cooley Linda Cooley

2000 Directors

CSSA Representative - Bobby WilliamsPast President - Bruce Hargreaves

2000 Chairpersons

Refreshments - Bill McDonaldHistorian - Bobby WilliamsLibrarian - Bobby Williams

Field Trips - Dan French

Material in The Cactus Patch may be reprinted by non-profit organizations (unless such permission is expressly denied in a note accompanying the material) provided that the proper credit is given to the BCSS & the author and that one copy of the publication containing the reprinted material is sent to the editor. Reproduction in whole or part by any other organization without the permission of the BCSS editor is prohibited. Contact thecactuspatch@bak.rr.com

BCSS Executive Board MeetingI was unable to attend the meeting. I think the officers discussed

raffle plants, the taxes, and the potluck. Bonnie the secretary can fill you in if you would like more information!

Maynard provides these details:1. Discussed the possibility of donating money to the cactus preserve on the

Kern Bluffs above Hart Park. Will ask members.2. Discussed paying taxes. The treasurer will find out about it and pay them

on time so President Skillin does not go to jail.3. Discussed the potluck.4. Discussed the Home and Garden Display - generally decided not to do it

since our club Show & Sale was so successful.5. Discussed going to Woody's for raffle and silent auction plants. Rob and

who ever wants to go, will go on Saturday. (they went, got lots of great plants, I don't recall who went with Rob in addition to Paul)

6. Bruce talked about Botswana (I think that's where he is going). He got an offer.

7. Great cake from Terry!!

PROGRAM NOTESLynn McDonald was hoping to have some slide shows for us to view

in January and February, thus saving any out-of-town speakers from having to travel in the dark and the fog. However, the CSSA slide programs are in the process of being transferred to another caretaker and the likelihood of getting one is remote. Nevertheless, I know that there are some good programs just waiting to come out of the minds and imaginations of all our wonderful members.

So, put on your thinking caps and let's see if we can come up with a couple of programs, activities, demonstrations, etc. for the near future. Keep in mind that we are a club made up of a wide variety of interests. We are represented by Part-Time Hobbyists and Master Growers, Eager Amateurs and Fanatical Specialists, Cactophiles, Succulentophiles, and at least one Euphorbimaniac.

You don't need to be a scientist or a world traveler to present a program. Find out what attracts you to our hobby, or what people and events you remember in your succulent pursuits, and see if you can't present it to the club.

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PLANT OF THE MONTH:

Christmas CactusSchlumbergia & Zygocactus

The Christmas Cacti grow in the jungles and rain forests of Central and South America. They are epiphytic, which means they grow on other plants -- on branches and trunks of trees like many orchids and bromeliads. They are not desert plants and therefore can tolerate more water but will not take as much heat and sun. They can be prolific houseplant bloomers, often displaying their flowers between Thanksgiving and New Years (especially if they have been grown outdoors in summer on a patio and brought in after the short days and cool nights of fall have prompted the buds to set).

Be sure to read the article on Christmas Cactus in the December Martha Stewart Living magazine. The article features Schlumbergera grower Stephen Schuckman, who is the horticultural manager at the Van Vleck House and Gardens in Montclair, New Jersey. He grows more than 200 Christmas cactus plants and his collection includes 30-ish kinds of Schlumbergera. The article includes background information about the habitat and climate of native Schlumbergera and the history of its horticultural journeys. There is information about getting them to flower and how to start new plants--and the photos are great! And here's an idea--whenever Schuckman prunes his plants, he pots up the cuttings and gives them away to his friends at the next Christmas season! If all our club members who grow Schlumbergera would do this, we would be able to have a little gift to give at the Christmas potluck!

ThankYouLynn and Terry

for bringing the November treats

Welcome New Member James Parker!

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St. Nicholas Visits the Greenhouse by Eva Allen

From The Kansas City Prickly Pressand the Kansas City Cactus and Succulent Society

was the night beforeChristmas. The whole greenhouse through,All the cacti were resting, most succulents, too.Not one stocking was hung by the heater with care, For plants don't wear stockings, as you're well aware! But there, near the doorway, pots plastic and clay Were waiting for gifts St. Nick might bring that way. The plants nestled down, dry and cool on their shelves, While they dreamed of sweet plant food and cactophile elves. And soon the place filled with a wonderful glow, As each plant dreamed it'd someday win Best of the Show! Then, out on the lawn, there arose quite a roar, And an old Aloe cried, "It's that man we adore! Hope he won't try to land on the glass roof again-- When he did it last year, he came crashing right in!" Not a plant dared aspire, but they needn't have worried, The sleigh came to rest on the grass, all unhurried. And into the greenhouse, St. Nicholas came, Laughing and calling each plant by its name! "Greetings, Agaves, Euphorbias, too, Astrophytums and Gymnos--it's good to see you! And my Cereus buddies! Just how have you been? Don't you hide from me, Lithops!" he said with a grin. "I see you Opuntias still have all your spines! My Haworthia friends! You are looking so fine! How's it going, you Crassulas and Mammillarias, You Pachys, Parodias, and lovely Gasterias!" St. Nick made his way through the greenhouse and back To the door where he'd set down his big, bulging pack. Then he turned his attention to filling the pots-- Of the plants' favorite food, he had brought lots and lots! There was lava rock, perlite, and pumice in bags,

Tweezers, insecticide, pretty name tags, Compound for rooting, and tools to make grafts, And caulking to keep out the cold winter drafts! All the plants received things they would very soon need To start growing and blooming and making new seed. "We're eternally grateful," the old Aloe said. "My pleasure!" St. Nick replied, nodding his head. "I wish we had succulents at the North Pole, But you're not quite that hardy, I know, bless my soul! I will see you next year, now you all take good care, And win a nice prize at the show or the fair!" Then, turning, he made his way back to the sleigh, Called out to his reindeer, and soon flew away. And they heard him exclaim as he faded from view, "Happy Holidays and Happy Growing to you!"

101 Essential Tips:Cacti and Succulents

by Terry Hewitt

Reviewed by Sidney Kelley

I liked this little book. It gives a lot of information for the new enthusiast. This is the condensed version of my first book on cacti, The Complete Book of Cacti & Succulents by the same author, which is still my favorite of a growing lot. There are great color pictures, which you know I like! With easy to read and understand text, thus book will get the novice off to a good start. In 72 pages it covers a surprisingly large range of information. With its 12 chapters, it will give the reader an idea of which questions to ask when purchasing specific plants. I think it will whet the appetite for more information.

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Jenna Williams age 5 Joshua Newman age 9

Succulent SurveyA JOURNAL OF EVENTS FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF OUR MEMBERS[Many avid gardeners find it necessary to keep a journal of the happenings in their gardens. This gives them a record that helps them to keep track of how individual plants were treated, and what special conditions may have existed, and also to help them anticipate what will happen in the future. I thought it might be fun to keep a journal of the events going on in our member's collections; what is blooming, going dormant, breaking dormancy. What has survived a nasty spell of heat, cold, wet, neglect. Anything noteworthy. If you would like to participate, just contact one of the editors (information on page 11) and let us know what is happening in your collection - editor] December 4th from the collection of Maynard Moe and Linda Cooley

Blooming in the ground:Conophytum bilobum (lots of great yellow flowers!), Faucaria albidens, Faucaria plana, Glottiphyllum neilii, Glottiphyllum sp., Lapidaria margaretae, Orostachys fimbriata, Orostachys sp., Tanquana hilmani, Trichodiadema spp. (red one and white one)

Blooming outside in pots:Aloe harlanii, Aloe rauhii, Aloe haworthioides, Lomatophyllum prostratum, Othona sp.

Blooming inside:Euphorbia fasciculata, Othona hallii, Zygocactus sp.

December 5th from the collection of Stephen CooleyBlooming in the ground:

Aridaria noctiflora, Astroloba viscosa, Bijlia tugwelliae, Cephalophyllum pillansii, Crassula tecta, Delospermum pageaum, Eberlanzia sp., Ferocactus glaucescens (in bud), Ferocactus latispinus (in bud), Glottiphyllum linguiforme, Hereroa teretifolia, Juttadinteria decumbens, Juttadinteria suavissima, Mestoklema tuberosum, Sphalmanthus tenuiflorus (in bud), Trichodiadema intonsum

Blooming outside in pots:Faucaria plana, Faucaria felina

Going Dormant outside in a pot:Cyphostemma sp.

December 5th from the collection of Jenny CooleyBlooming in the ground (protected from sun/rain):

Fenestraria rhopalophylla, Lithops marmorata, Lithops sp.

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announcementsThe December meeting will be our annual potluck dinner. The dinner will start at 6:00 pm and will be followed by the silent auction and free raffle. Each member will receive a free raffle ticket (family memberships will get 2 tickets). There are some really nice items, so be ready to outbid the other members!!

POTLUCK: please bring a dish of your choice to share with everyone! The club will provide plates, cutlery and beverages.

We would like to thank the Bakersfield Christian Life Center for allowing us to use their building for our club meetings. The club has given a donation of $150 to the church as a token of gratitude. It's really nice to have such a good place to meet.

Dues are due!

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December's annualPotluck and Meeting

will start at 6pm

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CALENDARDecember 12 BCSS meeting; 6:00 pm Bakersfield Christian Life Center

program: Annual potluck and silent auctionJanuary 9 BCSS meeting; 7:00 pm Bakersfield Christian Life CenterJune 30-July 1 CSSA Show & Sale, Huntington Botanical GardensJuly 1-6 CSSA Convention, Woodland Hills

Contact the editor for more information concerning calendar events

To have your article printed in The Cactus Patch get in touch with:

Stephen Cooley, editor Linda Cooley, editor4820 Mecca place 3030 Sunset Ave.thecactuspatch@bak.rr.com

BE SURE TO VISIT US ATwww.BakersfieldCactus.org

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