1. home and garden

 Open Gates
A publication of the
Gates Cactus & Succulent Society
April 2015
April 1,
NEW PLACE - NEW TIME! 7:00 PM
NEXT MEETING, WEDNESDAY,
AT THE REDLANDS CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
1307 E CITRUS AVE, IN REDLANDS, CA. 92374
Sweepstakes Winner
NEW MEETiNG
PLACE
March Plants of the
Month:
Cacti: Echinocactus /
Ferocactus
Succulents: Miniature
Agave
Save These Dates:
April 11‐ 12, South Coast C&SS Show & Sale April 22, Earth Night in the Gardens April 25 Gates Home Tour May 15 & 16 Gates C&SS Show & Sale From the President:
Spring has finally arrived and I am confident that everyone is spending as much of your free time as you can in the garden with the succulents. This month my message will be like a table of content of spring‐happenings for our club. Most of you should know by now that our club will be inundated with activities in the upcoming three months. The first full spring weekend on March 21, 2015 saw the Palms to Pines District Garden Club Spring Show. Our Gates CSS had a big presence on that day. We had the biggest and most plants set‐up for sale. Gross sales between the club and two other club members was approximately $200. All of the club’s sold plants came from previous cactus rescue expeditions. Many thanks go to the members who recently participated in the rescue effort. Several other members also attended the event and supported the “succulent” talk presented by Buck. But our biggest accolade during the show came serendipitously in the form of a cardboard. Our static display on “succulents” won first place for “Educational Award” in the educational exhibits. Several pictures of the display are included in this newsletter. The display board is the creation of Chris Roholt. He had spent enumerable hours and months coming up with the concept and finally bold enough to execute the production. Be sure to have a peak at the actual board that will be on display during the meeting. This static display will be used for future club events. Thank you all who participated and helped with the show. April will likely be a busy month for most everyone. Remember to take breaks in between your gardening duties to attend some of the upcoming club events. The Earth Night event on Earth Day, April 22, 2015, in Riverside will offer many family‐friendly booths and information. There should be lots of freebies for the kids. We will have an informational booth there. The Gates spring home tour follows on Saturday April 25, 2015. Be sure to have the location map and schedule with you that day. There will be lunch on a sprawling majestic hill at the conclusion of the tour. Bring your cameras. 2015Continued pg.‐2‐ ‐ President
Phuc Huynh
909-910-9195
e-mail: [email protected]
Vice President
909-824-2147
Diana Roman
Treasurer 951-369-7180
Karen Roholt
Secretary 909-234-4388
Linda McConnell
Past President
909-783-2477
Don McGrew
Membership
951-369-7180
Karen
Roholt
Editor
760-508-3531
Trish Davis
Director
Director
Director
Director
Librarian
Greeter
909-797-8214
909-380-6617
760-508-3531
951-849-1618
951-682-3795
951-781-8205
Kim Urman
Connie Ramirez
Trish Davis
Ray Cardenas
Karen Fleisher
Teresa Wassman
Leadership Team 2015
The next Redlands Market Night will be Thursday April 30, 2015. Anyone interested in helping with our booth or wanting to sale some plants, you know how to contact me. As usual detailed information for each event is elsewhere in the newsletter and you can always ask any of the Board members. The Biennial CSSA Convention is quickly approaching (June 2015) and waiting for all of you to get involve. The program chair will share more updates and insights at the meeting. I know most of you by now are aware that Buck and Yvonne Hemenway are making plans to move permanently to South Africa later this year in June. They have been so deeply involved with all aspects with our club and the CSSA that everyone will surely miss them in one form or another. Sue Sims of the Sims Tree Learning Center and our club will be hosting a celebratory BBQ party for them on Saturday May 9, 2015. Sue has graciously offered her facility to host this once in a lifetime extravaganza. This will be a potluck‐style event similar to our annual fall BBQ evening. Perhaps we can get a taste of Yvonne’s cactus margaritas one last time. Full details will be coming soon. Please mark your calendar for an evening full of food, fun, friend, family and cactus. No roasting Phuc April Speaker
Kelly Griffin We know Kelly today as one of the world’s
foremost explorers of Agaves and Aloes. His
frequent trips to Mexico for Agaves and Africa and
Madagascar for Aloes have entertaied us for many
years.
Kelly is also the premier hybridyzer of
these plants in our hobby. His special small Aloes
and Agaves are in nearly every collection.
He is President of San Diego Cactus &
Suculent Society, works at Altman Plants and is
currently working on the a book on Dudleya.
His talk this month is on a recent trip that
he made to eastern South Africa and Lesotho. We
will see Aloe polyphylla in habitat as well as many
Gasterias and Haworthias that grow in the summer
fainfall region of the country.
MINI SHOW RESULTS March 2015 Cacti, Parodia, Notocactus Novice Small 1st Paodia shumanniana ssp. Claviceps, Karl Trisler 2nd Parodia rutilans, Dick Hemmer Intermediate Small 1st Notocactus ubelmannianus, Diana Roman 2nd Parodia magnifica, Diana Roman Large 1st Parodia scopa, Rico Leon 2nd Notocactus erubescens, Diana Roman 3rd Parodia culpinensis, Judy Horne Advanced Small 1st Notocactus sp., David Hawks 2nd Parodia erubecens, Rob MacGregor 3rd Parodia subterranean, Tony Marino Large 1st Parodia magnifica, Greg & Anna Cavanaugh 2nd Parodia scopa, Greg & Ann a Cavanaugh 3rd Parodia scpopa, Rob MacGregor 3rd Parodia scopa, Greg & Anna Cavanaugh Succulents, Dudleya Novice Small 1st Dudleya lanceolata, Karl Trisler 2nd Dudleya greenii, Sandra Martin 3rd Dudleya lanceolata, Mike Madrigal Large 1st Dudleya pulverulenta, Mike Madrigal Intermediate Smal 1st Dudleya lanceolata, Karen Roholt 2nd Dudleya farinose, Diana Roman Large 1st Rico Leon Advanced Small 1st Dudleya abramsii, David Hawks Large 1st Dudleya gnoma, Tony Marino 2nd Dudleya candida, David Hawks KITCHEN DUTY for April
Cory Chaney, Sandra Martin Andrew Gould JUDGES Ray Cardenas Sign UP to Help at Convention!
Sign Up Sheets at the Meeting 2015 CSSA Convention at Pitzer College June 14 – 19 2015 Planning is coming along well for tour
Convention. Our speakers, vendors, food
providers are in place. There are a lot of activities
happening in the background.
Now it is time for all of us to step up and
volunteer to help. Not only does this give one a
good feeling of actually helping out a worth-while
activity, but it gives all of our members to attend a
world class succulent event.
CSSA holds Conventions every 2 years. The
last time one was held in the LA basin, was 2001.
That’s 14 y6ears ago, and it won;’t happen again
for a number of years. Get with the program and
plan to participate.
So, how do you, a member of the host club get
involved? Two ways – pay the registration like any
other member of CSSA or VOLUNTEER to help
put on the show. Volunteers (active members of
the 2 host clubs) who will commit to at least 10
hours of service in the planning or execution of
the event will be able to attend the lectures free
of charge.
We are looking for people to head various
committees. They include:
Security – Karen & Martin Ostler
Auction
Closing Banquet
Room Assignment, check in and check out
Opening Reception
Welcome Bags - Eunice Thompson San Gab.)
Printed Program, execution and Sales,
Isabelle Moon (Gates)
Registration Please see me at the next meeting if your have interest in heading any of the committees listed. Buck Plants of the Month 2015
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
Cacti
Succulents
Echincactus/ Ferocactus
Best Staged Cactus
Astrophytum
Photograph
Rebutia/ Sulcorebutia
Miniatures
Crests/Monstrose/Variegates
Miniature Agave
Best Staged Succulent
Pachypodium
Photograph
Caudiciform/ Pachycaul
Miniatures
Crests/Monstrose/Variegates
Coming Cactus & Succulent Events
April 11 -12
South Coast Cactus & Succulent Society Show & Sale;
South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd,, Palos Verdes CA
Info: 310-378-1953
April 22
Earth Night in the Garden. Landscapes Southern California Style, 450 E Alessandro
Blvd., Riverside, CA 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM
April 25
Gates Home Tour, see 3 beautiful gardens maps and time in this newsletter
April 26th
Huntington Plant Sale, 10 til 5:00 PM
Huntington Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA
Info: 626-405-2160
May 3
South Bay Epiphyllum Society Sow & Sale, 9 AM til 4 PM
South Coast Botanic Garden
Info: 310-833-6823
May 2 & 3
Sunset Cactus & Succulent Society Show & Sale
Veterans Memorial Center, Garden Room; 4117 Overland Ave, Culver City CA
Info: 310-822-1783
May 9 & 10
Long Beach C&SS Show & Sale 10:00 AM til 5:00 PM, Rancho Alamitos, 6400 Bixby Hill
Rd., Long Beach, info : 310-922-6090
MAY 15-16
Gates Cactus & Succulent Society Show & Sale
Friday & Saturday May 15 & 16 9:00 - 4:30
at Landscapes Southern California Style
450 E Allesandro Blvd, Riverside, CA
Info: 951-360-8802
May 30 & 31
Los Angeles Cactus & Succulent Society Show & Sale, Sepulveda GardenCenter, 16633
Magnolia Blvd., Encino, CA, infowww.lacss-show.com, 30th 9:00 – 5:00, 31st 9:00 – 3:30.
June 10
Convention preview, Committee get together, Pitzer College, 7:00 PM
June 14 – 19
CSSA Biennial Convention at Pitzer College
June 26 – 28
CSSA Annual Show & Sale –Huntington Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino,
CA 626-405-2160 or 2277. Plant Sales start 26th – 28th, Show opens 27th & 28th. Gates
open at 10:30 AM. Club membership proof required for free entry to the Show & Sale.
Gates Cactus & Succulent Society
Home Tour 04/25/2015
First Stop, Joann Levine plan to arrive at 9:30 AM. 1014 W. Sunset Dr. S., Redlands, CA
Call 909-793-0680 if you are lost.
Driving on I-!0, exit
on Ford St. east of
Redlands. Turn
south on Ford,
that’s right if coming
from Redlands, or
left if coming from
Yucaipa. Turn right
on Redlands Blvd.,
and then left on
Highland Ave.
Turn left on Center,
then right on
Crescent to
Alessandro Rd.
Turn left on
Alessandro then left
on Sunset to 1014
W. Sunset Dr S.
Second Stop, Epigmenio & Diana Roman, Arrive at about 11:00 AM 2716 Dark Canyon
Rd., Colton CA. Call 909-824-2147 if you are lost.
After leaving Joann’s travel
back on Sunset, to
Alessandro. Take
Alessandro, slight left turn
for 1.1 miles to San
TimoteoCanyon Rd.
Turn right onto San
Timoteo and travel 3.6
miles to Barton Rd. urn left
onto Barton Rd for 4.2
miles. Barton Rod.
Becomes Washington St.
Turn left off of Washington
on to Reche Canyon Rd.
Take Reche Canyon for 2.2
miles and turn right onto
Ranch Road. There will be
signs, but know that Ranch
Road is 0.1 miles past Hunts Lane and if you come to Scotch Lane, you’ve gone abut 0.1 miles to
far. Stay on Ranch Rd. for 0.1 miles and turn right at the first turn. This road has several names,
but it is all one road that finishes as Dark Canyon.
After touring at The Roman’s, climb back in your car and head up the hill to the McGrew’s.
The address is 2782 Dark Canyon Rd. Colton, CA. Epigmenio or Diana can point the way.
Plan to be at the McGrew’s by about 12:30 and Mary Alice will be serving some great snacks
and real food too.
Here’s a map showing the reference distance from the first stop to the next.
Ferocactus, Echinocactus
Buck Hemenway
These two genera are closely related and
many of the botanists who have categorized them
over time have included them in the same genus.
Today we recognize the two separate genera due
mainly to a distinct difference in flower and seed
structure. All of them are called “barrel” cacti.
Echinocactus grusonii or “Golden Barrel”
is by far the most widely distributed of these
plants. It is being grown from seed in nurseries
from China to Italy and the millions of them in
gardens and collections far outnumber the original
population. Most of that original population in
Northern Mexico was destroyed when a river was
dammed up and the resulting lake covered the
habitat almost completely. Many plants were
moved to higher ground but almost none of them
survived. There have been additional populations
discovered in remote northern Mexico locations in
recent years.
These plants are native to northern Mexico
and southwestern US from Texas to the Pacific
Ocean. Generally speaking the Echinocacti are
located more easterly of the two, in West Texas,
New Mexico and then south into Mexico. The
main exception to that is E. polycephalus which
grows in the Mojave Desert. Ferocacti are
primarily located in the Sonoran Desert from
Arizona to the Pacific and south into Mexico.
Almost all of both genera are very easy to
grow in the Inland Empire. They grow in the
ground equally as well as in containers and make
dramatic show plants. Many of them such as
Ferocactus wislezenii have good cold tolerance for
those of us who live at higher elevations. A little
research on any given species will reveal how they
can be grown successfully. Plants that are native
to the Tucson area for example do very well in
Banning and in our higher desert regions.
These plants are fairly resistant to the pests
that plunder our other succulent plants. While the
occasional mealy bug will present itself, they are
easily controlled. The main issue for large old
barrel cacti is overwatering. The plants are really
opportunistic feeders and welcome some rain
whenever they get it. While we cannot help our
wet winters, the plants, for the main part come
from areas where the rain falls in the summer.
Extremely well drained soil is the answer
Echinocactus texensis
Echinocactus grusonii
Ferocactus herrerea
Miniature Agave
Buck Hemenway
Agave is a large genus of succulents with
leaves. They range in size from miniature plants
such as A. minibell to giants like A. americana and
A. salmiana which have rosettes that are nearly 15
feet across.
This month, we are focusing on the small
agaves. Show plants will be those whose mature
growth is no more than 15” across the rosette.
There are several ways to identify an
Agave. 1. Their leaves are always tipped with a
terminal spine. Even the soft tipped A. attenuata,
has an obvious terminal spine. 2. The leaves are
formed in a tightly wrapped bud. There is so
much pressure in the bud that those leaves with
“teeth” leave permanent “bud imprints” on the
leaves fronts and backs. 3. Leaves tend to be
fairly rigid and grow in rosette form.
Agaves are “moncarpic” which means that
they have only one life cycle. No matter how long
it takes for the plant to produce it, the bloom stalk
is a terminal inflorescence. That means that the
plant dies after blooming. The bloom stalk can be
produced from 7 years to 40 years of life
depending on conditions and the variety of the
plant.
Agaves grow in the Southwest US and on
some Caribbean Islands, south through Mexico.
They were an important resource for all peoples
who lived on the land throughout history. The
extremely fibrous leaves with the very sharp
terminal spines have always been used to sew or
bind other materials together. Their roots make
good soap. They all will produce a fermented
beverage that was used throughout their range.
We are most used to Tequila which is derived
from the Agave tequilana in the state of Jalisco.
Some, such as Agave americana, are cold
hardy to below zero deg F. Depending on the
variety, they tend to offset and form large clumps
of plant material. It is important to know which
you are planting and how it normally grows.
Most will take full sun and heat, as well as cold
and are extremely easy to grow.
There is no more dramatic landscape plant
than a large Agave. It can become the key to an
attractive succulent landscape. The inflorescence
is truly a wonder of nature. The energy used to
create those 25 foot tall trees in just a few weeks is
amazing.
Agave potatorum verschaffeltii
Agave albopilosa
Agave cv Cubic
Palms to Pines District Garden Club Spring Show
1st Place Educational Display
Thanks, Chris Roholt
From: Gates Cactus & Succulent Society
14278 Desert Rose St
Hesperia, CA 92344