brought to you by 2010 CSSSN President, Victor Lindsey. 

Let your voice be heard and your contributions help set the direction for CSSSN.org!

Arranged and Contributed by 2010 CSSSN Vice President, Donnie Barnett.

The January program features Panayoti Kelaidis's talk on "Looking for Succulents in All the Wrong Places.” Panayoti is a world renowned speaker on succulents and rock gardens. He is Curator of Plant Collections at the Denver Botanical Gardens and Vice President of the Colorado Cactus and Succulent Society (CCSS). P.K. has traveled throughout the world searching for succulents and new alpine plants.

Panayoti has been a great inspiration to me. I remember meeting him when I was 12 years old at a CCSS cactus sale. Later down the road he visited my parent’s rock garden in Pueblo, Colorado. He was able to spout off nearly every species of plant in the yard. He showed me that a man with his kind of knowledge could help gardeners and hobbyists improve the horticultural world. This January meeting should be epoch!

Important Discussion: “CSSSN’s Location, Location, Location!”,  and other items

brought to you by 2010 CSSSN President, Victor Lindsey.

Are you new to the "Valley?" or  Do you and your family and friends have a void of "tradition" during the holiday season?  Does this sound familiar?  Read this little item and start something that brings joy to your life!

We live in the unique "Four Corners" area of the US.  Moreover, we Las Vegas people live smack dab in a Mojave valley surrounded by "higher desert"  ranges.  We're a stone's throw from what's living in CA, UT, AZ, and even ID!  From a desert plant diversity perspective, it's just a hoot to some native C&S lovers. 

I'm suggesting that people think and act on a tradition that's been alive for years, but maybe not in your heart.  I'm going to quote from an article that appeared in the CSSA November/December, 1989, issue of the CACTUS AND SUCCULENT JOURNAL Volume 61, No. 6.  It's an article written by Carol Wujcik.  Many of us may know both Carol and Joe . . . certainly hundreds of C&S enthusiasts know Wujcik pottery.  Try this tradition.  Fill your lungs with clean air.  Fill your eyes with Mother Nature!  I begin the quote (in italics), with permission:

"Some people go to Grandma's house for the holidays . . . some people go to the desert . .

A CACTOPHILE'S CHRISTMAS by CAROL ANNE WUJCIK

Visiting our local deserts in Southern California has become a holiday tradition for my husband and me.  A daytrip to visit spiny desert dwelling friends in their awesome homes of tumbled, sculpted boulders is soul-satisfying and fun.

Christmas in America is composed of many things - family and friends; presents; exhaustion; long, cold nights; firesides and song; garish displays; togetherness and smiles; and for some, profound religious joy.  The holiday season for me usually includes all these things, but ever since my first desert experiences at Anza Borrego Desert State Park and Joshua Tree National Monument, Christmas and often New Year's day as well means the crunch underfoot of decomposed granite, cold winds, mittens and scarves and coats, towering rocks and winter meadows of Joshua trees, fuzzy-topped Echinocactus polycephalus, sun on the golden Opuntia chlorotica, and the warm gold and ultraviolet light of a late afternoon sun on the white/lavender flocks of Opuntia erinacea ursina.  The beauty of the holidays has become the desert for me.  Christmas, especially, is Joshua Tree National Monument - a place inviting spontaneity and poetry - a place many call "sacred."

For our Christmas '88 celebration, good friends joined our annual visit to plant friends in Joshua Tree.  The weather was cold and clear.  As we drove up into the high desert, Morongo Valley on State Route 62 was a basin of winter white.  Snow and frost sparkled on Joshua trees and Opuntia.  Every leaf and branch was outlined in ice, and the several Saguaros outside the cactus nursery beside the road were bejeweled.  Even the lowly Creosote bushes were luminous.  Thinking we would have a chance later for photos of ice or snow-covered plants, we continued out of the enchanting little basin into clear, cold sun.  Cool but no ice or snow.  Our memories will serve as a remembrance."

The article continues complete with a desert poem written by Carol that points out the paradox of the very dry desert marked with washes and dry basins that have been carved by water . . . yet none is to be seen.  She laments that it is too cold and windy for the family to put up with decorating a Joshua Tree and certainly doesn't stand still long enough to sing a modified rendition of, "Oh Joshua Tree! Oh Joshua Tree!"  They visit their favorite plants to check on their well being and say hello to new little beings that might have surfaced.  The article closes with their list of visited plants.  When I recently visited the desert, I was happy to see most of the plants listed.  Take the checklist below, and see how many you can find! 

Happy desert holidays, Susan Kent

• 1967 - Cochemiea poselgeri - synonym Mammillaria poselgeri.  This is a clumping cactus composed of stems about 2 1/2 inches in diameter, but each can be lengthy.  The red flower occurs at the tip of the stems.  It grows in USDA zones 9b - 11.  It must be covered in the event of frost, and in Las Vegas should be placed in a warm corner with other plants that might help increase the humidity creating a litttle microclimate.  The yearly average minimum temperature should be around 55 degrees F.  (Sounds like it would thrive in San Diego!)  Check out this link.  Another link that's one of my favorites (desert tropicals) lists the plant with good info, too.

• 1968 - Coryphantha vivipara  (Escobaria).  Many of us have this gem, or a close relative, in our collections.  The plant is very hardy here, but because it is small, I like to protect it from foot traffic.  As a result, it's usually in a pot under the edge of a shrub or near a small boulder.  This photo comes to us with permission from:  Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.

• 1984 - Zygocactus (Schlumbergera) A "Christmas Cactus!"  And depending on the bloom time, it is also sometimes called a "Thanksgiving Cactus" or an "Easter Cactus."    This is not really a cactus, but rather an epiphyte. The care is quite different from that of cactus, and more like the care of an orchid.   Unless over watered or left to sun burn or freeze, these plants are long lived and often passed along from one household to another.  To encourage bloomng, the plant enjoys a bit cooler weather beginning in September or October.  It also needs to have reduced light during the same period of time and NO LIGHT at night.  Fight the temptation to water frequently during this period as well.  You will be rewarded with many lovely flowers.  The colors range from white, slightly orchid, salmon, pink, and red.  They can be obtained from almost any floral shop or garden nursery or even grocery store!  If you want winter blooms, pick them up and start a little collection.  Life is not always about cactus!

• 2007 - Arrojadoa eriocaulis.  This is not one that I've seen around, but surely one of our vendor/members either has it or can get it!  There are two photos included to show the unique form of the plant.  Humminbirds pollinate the flowers which are formed from a cephalium.  With the number of hummingbirds that frequent my gasteria, haworthia, and aloes, I'm sure the natural relationship would form with this plant as well.  The plant is a native of Brazil and should be a fun addition to our protected "bench" collections.

• 1989 - The final plant selection is a monumental favorite.  Alas, due to copyright issues, the actual cover cannot be printed here at this time.  It brings me joy every time I see it.  If you read the following paragraph, just imagine: a cute white puppy dog wearing a smile and bright red Santa hat, sitting in the desert next to a great big Saguaro decorated in holiday wreaths, you'll grin and understand.  I will quote exactly from the journal:  "COVER PLATE:  We are pleased and honored to be able to present as our cover this marvelous Christmas greeting to the "CSSA members and friends" from "Spike", the desert dwelling cousin of Charlie Brown's dog, Snoopy, and Charles Schulz, the artist and creator of Peanuts, one of the most popular comic strips of all times.  We had teasingly remarked that for all the fun he had poked at cactus & succulent societies with Spike attending cactus society meetings in the desert in companionship with the resident saguaros, Charles Schulz in pennance should contribute a cover to the Journal.  Our firend, David L. Eppele of Arizona Cactus & Succulent Research Inc., Bisbee, Arizona, said that the artist was a very kind and generous person with a real love for the desert and that he was sure that he would, indeed, be happy to contribute a cover to our magazine, and through the intercession of Mr. Eppele we are able to present this charming Christmas greeting to you all.  Dave tells us that "Sparky" Schulz moved from his native Minnesota to Needles, California when he was 7, hence his real feeing for the desert comes quite naturally and from firsthand experience.  We are proud and deeply grateful and in turn send our best wishes and those of the CSSA to Spike, his saguaro companions and to Mr. Schulz and the entire Peanuts gang!"  

So, if you can get your hands on the issue (maybe in your bookcase), have a look and enjoy, or call me!  I don't know if our CSSSN library houses old issues, perhaps it is there.  If you can remember how Snoopy dances around,  that's EXACTLY HOW I FEEL when I'm in the desert - - - I'm happy all over when I'm out there!

Susan Kent

If you have an interest in photographing your landscape, favorite blossom or plant, you are invited to attend the Cactus and Succulent Society of Southern Nevada's November 5 meeting, 7PM at the Garden Club Building at Lorenzi Park (enter off Twin Lakes). Our guest speaker is Rick Holmes.  Rick is a long time member of our club, an avid hiker, and noted local photographer.  His many landscape, plant, and abstract prints are a tribute to his accomplishments.  He's agreed to deliver "Plant Photography 101" to help us all improve our skills.  Whether we are trying to capture the beauty of our own favorite plant and landscape, or to document troubled plants and insect infestations, the photographic tips given to us by Rick will be worth our time.   Come learn how to better document your favorite garden subjects.  (Yes, you may bring your camera if you have questions about it.  He will address as many questions as we can fit into our meeting time.) 

There are two other important pieces of business to conduct at this meeting:  1st we will elect an entire new slate of officers at this meeting.  Help determine who will lead and serve the club.  2nd, we will decide the agenda for the end of year December meeting. 

I hope to see you all there.  Susan Kent