MEETINGS: Fourth Thursday each month, 7:00 p.m. * Unless otherwise noted WHERE: San Joaquin County Building 2707 Transworld Drive Stockton, California *NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, July 29th, 2014 PRE MEETING DINNER: Denny’s Restaurant Arch Road location 5:30 p.m.

STOCKTON CACTUS & SUCCULENT SOCIETY C/O BRIAN POOT 1180 BOXWOOD WAY TURLOCK, CA 95380

STOCKTON CACTUS & SUCCULENT SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

JULY 2014

JUNE POTLUCK & AUCTION

2014 BOARD: President: Roelyn Poot (209) 599-7241 pootscactus@yahoo.com Vice President: Dianne Van Order (209) 406-4512 auntiedi44@att.net Treasurer: Lori Mace (209) 556-7506 lsmace@yahoo.com Secretary: Pam Fish (209) 887-9190 psfish.fish61@gmail.com Board Members: Steve Roberts, Maybelle Abplanalp & Dawn Dalyce Newsletter: Brian Poot (209) 664-9232 jeffgordonfan24@sbcglobal.net

BOARD MEETINGS: Please note, board meetings will now be held the second Tuesday of each month, at 7:00 p.m., except in December, or if that date conflicts with something else. Anyone is welcome to attend, but please call first to let them know you will be coming to make sure of the date. Thanks!

We can always use new ideas & opinions for the club, as well as help with behind the scenes stuff. If you are interested, please come to a board meeting. Thx!

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION: Individual $20/yr Family $25/yr Contributing $35/yr Patron $50/yr Membership runs January-December. Complimentary Jan. & Feb. issue if unpaid.

All dues should be sent to the treasurer before the February general meeting.

CALENDAR: July 8th - Board Meeting at the Poot’s 7:00 p.m. 29th - General Meeting 7:00pm: Woody Minnich – 45 years of field work August 12th - Board Meeting at the Poot’s 7:00 p.m. 28th - General Meeting 7:00pm: Elton Roberts September 9th - Board Meeting at the Poot’s 7:00 p.m. 25th - General Meeting 7:00pm: Country Store OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS: (not club related) August 9th & 10th - Intercity Show & Sale at the L.A. Arboretum – 9am-5pm Daily. 301 North Baldwin Ave. Arcadia, CA.

SUNSHINE REPORT: by Kathy Zumbrunn HAPPY BIRTHDAY to: Brian Poot, Thomas Durbin & John Barnett.

THIS MONTHS MEETING: THE MEETING IS ON TUESDAY JULY 29th.

“45 Years of Field Work, Around the World” Wendell S. (Woody) Minnich

“Contributions of Cactus and Succulent Field Workers” will be a slide presentation and discussion of my 45 years of experiences and learning from traveling in the field. We will go to the cactus and succulent rich regions of the world to see what myself and so many other field workers have discovered. It is the opinion of many a field worker, that being where the plants grow and learning what habitats can teach us, IS EVERYTHING! We will focus on the many field explorers who have brought so much to the cactus and succulent world (my heroes.) We will also cover the various aspects that field work brings to the health and vibrancy of successful plant organizations. We will acknowledge the many contributions provided by the field worker, from the overall motivation of the general hobbyist to the economic health of the nursery trade. The responsible field worker brings many positive aspects to all of us with; the writing of articles for journals or newsletters, writing of books, sharing information through presentations, motivating others to study further, discovering new species, introducing new plants to the trade through seed or propagation of live material and showing taxonomic relationships. Also; the field worker inspires and promotes conservation of threatened or endangered species, sharing of field information that may improve cultivation, brings new knowledge to the plant world, and so on. All in all, we will address the importance and need to do field work. Field work, for many people, is the foundation of our hobby. We will discuss current aspects of the national and international treaties and how we might make them less bureaucratic and more realistic to the field worker and the plant world in general. We will consider ideas for better implementation of our treaties, so that they meet today’s needs and are truly in the best interest of the plants that we are trying so hard to protect. We will advocate methods of better promoting the field worker or propagator so they may work with new plant material, with less encumbrances and more support. After all, these people are not the enemy! Let’s find ways to do more field work. Incidentally, this is where it all starts! Responsible field work will allow us to better understand and protect the plants we love so much. Woody will be bringing plants to sell. The Poot’s will provide the raffle table this month.

*Reminder to the Poot’s (drinks) & Dawn Dalyce (snacks), this is your month to bring refreshments. *Reminder to Maybelle Abplanalp, this is your month to be greeter. *Reminder to bring your own boxes for any plants that you win in the raffle or buy.

NOTE: Woody will also be in Sacramento on Monday July 28th doing a program on Madagascar. JUNE POTLUCK & AUCTION RECAP: by Roelyn Poot It was a wonderful evening for 37 folks who showed up with their delicious dishes of food for all to sample at the Poot's back yard. Many enjoyed a delightful tour of Bill and Roelyn's large greenhouse that houses Bill's private collection. After the dinner and tour we were lead through a great auction by Kathy Zumbrunn and her eager assistant, Maybelle Abplanalp. The auction brought in $309.00. This will help the club meet it's expenses of paying our speakers. Many thanks to all who brought food, auctions items and purchased auction items. It takes all of us to make the club successful. Special thanks to Kathy and Maybelle for so generously sharing their time and talent to make the auction not only a great fund raiser but also a lot of fun. Many thanks to Pam Fish and Lori Mace for coming out an extra night to prepare paper work for the I.R.S. for our non-profit status. We also greatly appreciate the professional help of our club member, Tim Taylor who is a C.P.A. and is assisting the board with the paper work for our club, concerning the non-profit status of the club. We are looking forward to seeing all of you at our July 29th meeting, which is a Tuesday.

RING AROUND THE SUCCULENTS: By Virginia A. Smith 05/10/14 Succulent plants - things like agaves, aloes, and sempervivums, known as "semps" - are glamorous and unfussy, with a distinctly 21st-century plus: They can survive periods of drought by storing water and nutrients in their fleshy leaves and stems. That quality alone makes them a darling on the rain-starved West Coast and increasingly popular with environmentally thoughtful gardeners elsewhere. But succulents, especially the perennial "semps," are prized for another reason: They're cool! Designers may experi- ment with violets, orchids, ivy, heucheras, even - we kid you not - cherry tomatoes, but "semps" are the favorite component in "living wreaths," a refreshing riff on the traditional silk, plastic, or dried floral wreath. Small succulents are embedded inside a wreath frame covered in lightweight sphagnum moss. Once they root and begin to thrive, a process that can take two months or more, the wreath can safely be hung outside on a patio or serve as an elegant centerpiece - ringing a candle, maybe - on a dining room table or outdoor deck. Debra Lee Baldwin, author of three books on designing with succulents, considers these diminutive beauties indispensable in her half-acre, water-wise garden in Escondido, Calif., in a topiary, bouquet, or living wreath. Especially a living wreath. "It's so appealing because it is alive, and it has a sense of change about it, slow change over time. It also appeals to fans of all things miniature and "bringing the garden indoors or decorating outdoor living spaces, especially if people have small gardens and need to go vertical," says Baldwin, whose latest book is called Succulents Simplified: Growing, Designing, and Crafting with 100 Easy-Care Varieties (Timber Press, 2013). At a recent succulent-wreath workshop at Meadowbrook Farm in Abington, Betty Calloway of Cobbs Creek seemed mesmerized by the tiny succulents in her new wreath. "Look at that! It's so beautiful," the retired hospital technician said. Aesthetically, it's hard to miss with "semps," also known as hens and chicks. They come in dreamy shades of green, blue, red and pink, yellow, and silver, with curious features, such as chubby leaves with shark-tooth edges and dizzy rosettes with a fuzzy feel. East Coast gardeners aren't used to their look or feel, which may explain why Calloway and 20 other workshop participants seemed so intrigued. What to make of these strange-looking plants? And what to make with them? Linda Geiger, a retired second-grade teacher from Huntingdon Valley, surprised herself. "I have no talent for design, and I really thought it was going to be kind of amateurish," she said of her wreath. "Instead, it's amazing." Each student was given 14 plants - 12 tiny "semps" and two sedums, another type of succulent; a 14-inch mossy frame; plastic knives to make holes in the moss; and toothpicks to secure the plants inside the holes. Meadowbrook horticulturist Cynthia Wright guided the group through the process, which sounds - and she insists it is - simple. Soak the mossy frame in water until saturated. Pour off excess. Insert larger "anchor plants" into moss and fill in with smaller ones. Eventually, the "semps" will spread and the wreath will be full. "Do it however you like. There is no wrong way here," Wright said, although most folks plant symmetrically, or in groupings. Lay the finished wreath on the ground in full sun until plants are growing well. When the wreath is ready to use, place it flat on an outdoor table or hang it on a garden gate, wall, trellis, or other vertical surface; Wright sometimes puts hers on top of tree stumps. Do not hang on a door that sees a lot of traffic, and if you use your wreath as an indoor centerpiece for a dinner party, put it outside again the next day. It's not meant to live inside - and it won't do well hanging on an indoor wall. Too heavy and, with watering, too messy. Outside, the "semps" will bloom, send out babies - technically, "offsets" - and then die. Cut the babies off and plant them in new holes. They'll continue the cycle, provided the wreath gets at least six hours a day of full sun and is kept moist. (You can water with hose or sprinkler, but rain is best.) The sedums, added to the mix for their different textures, will need to be replaced every year, but the "semps," with care, could last four years or so. Wright leaves her wreaths outside in winter, sheltered under a shrub or tree. Megan Taylor, a TV producer from Roxborough, who "fell in love with succulents at the Flower Show," plans to put her new wreath on the banister of her front porch. "I'm a new gardener," she said, "and this year, I'm all about that." Megan McEroy, a stay-at-home mom from Wyncote, will hang hers on a new privacy fence. Chris Yura's wreath will probably live on a tabletop on her Eagleville deck.

The textural rosettes, subtle colors, and quirky features of tiny succulents - like Sempervivum sobolifera (above) - lend

themselves to creating unusual and prized wreaths.

ASK MARTHA - SENSATIONAL SUCCULENTS: by Martha Stewart 04-04-14 These plants have it all: exotic shapes, intriguing textures and beautiful colors. And they’re even a breeze to propagate and care for. I use them at my farm, both indoors and out. Aloe, Echeveria, Agave, Rosularia, Sedum, Haworthia, Stapelia, Aeonium, Hylocereus, Faucaria, Sempervivum, Delosperma, Crassula ... You may have heard of some of these plant families. Indeed, you may know all the names, but did you know that they are all classified as succulents? This is the rather juicy term for a group of plants that are quickly becoming popular with home gardeners because of the ease with which they can be propagated, raised, divided, and even shared with friends and other gardeners. In addition, because most require only small amounts of moisture, little cultivation and pruning, and modest amounts of growing medium, they are excellent varieties to enjoy in even drought-plagued areas and warm or hot climates. Most of the more familiar types, those we know by their common names - hens and chicks, jade plants, aloes, ice plants — can be easily grown almost anywhere and require little care when established in a garden. But once you’ve been introduced to this amazing array of charming, colorful, funny-looking and interesting plants, you will certainly want to know more, and you may even become an avid collector, as I have. I began growing succulent wreaths in 1991. Inspired by a friend in California, the gardener Teddy Colbert, I planted mixed varieties of succulents in heart shapes, dome shapes and circle shapes. With bright sunshine, every wreath thrived and burgeoned, colorful textures and beautiful leaf shapes contributing to a very special display. I became an early adopter, avid proponent and curious collector of every type of succulent I could get my hands on. When I saw, for the first time, an almost-black Aeonium arboreum ‘Atropurpureum,’ I filled my bag with plants to take to my farm. My recent discovery of a very unusual succulent, a euphorbia that looks like a bunch of dried sticks, has inspired me to start collecting that new family of plants. And the big, flat, complex Aeonium tabuliforme — dinner-plate aeonium — is so compelling that I have several on my dining room table, potted up as ornamentals in flat saucers on beds of granite pebbles. I am thrilled that there is such an interest in succulents — the Internet abounds with nurseries and growers who specialize in these striking plants, which, by the way, can travel well as plants (with roots), or just as leaves that can be rooted easily. I find that succulents are great planted singly in small pots or saucers, as well as in groups of one variety or many. Large aloes and agaves thrive in containers on sunny terraces or walls, or beside pools. Window boxes filled with echeveria and sedum can be striking. Succulents normally grow in arid regions, and the reason their flesh is so “plump” is that they store needed moisture in their leaves, stems and even roots. Large-headed succulents should be watered extra-carefully under their heads, as too much water can cause rotting in the center of the rosette. And many succulents have leaves that mark easily, so it is advisable to handle them carefully and leave no fingerprints! How to propagate succulents • Break off leaves from a small branch, exposing a short stem. Dry, or “callus,” both stem and leaves for several days before rooting. • Mix equal parts sand, perlite and vermiculite; water well and use to fill paper-towel-lined seed flats. • Push the stems or ends of the leaves into the mixture, and tamp around them to set them in place. • Water and keep the succulents moist in a sunny spot. Watch for new growth in four to six weeks, then repot. For more tips on caring for succulents, visit marthastewart.com.

Martha Stewart holds a prized dinner-plate aeonium (Aeonium tabuliforme), which should be

watered carefully under the head and never touched; fingerprints will mar the smooth, slightly

filmy surface. (Photo: Matthew Williams )

REVEL IN THE BEAUTY OF THE ICE PLANT: by Norman Winter 05-10-14 If you have been to California you’ve probably seen the shockingly colorful display of ice plants blooming everywhere. Now, after growing them at two different locations in the Southeast, I am convinced the rest of us can revel in their iridescent beauty. Chilling out The hardy ice plant is known botanically as Delosperma cooperi and is native to southern Africa. It is a low growing plant reaching about 3 to 6 inches in height with lush, succulent leaves. The psychedelic, fuchsia- colored flowers might make you think daisy family, but it belongs in the Aizoaceae, the fig-marigold family. Don’t worry about all of that taxonomic stuff — just make sure to give them a try. In addition to the hot pink or fuchsia-colored selections there also is a flashy yellow selection, which I have not grown, called Jewel of the Desert Peridot. The spring flush of flowers is simply incredible and the showiest. On the other hand, the hot blazing sun just seems to keep those flowers coming. Some report that once fall and winter arrive the foliage takes on a slight red hue. It is cold hardy from zones 6-10 with several reputable suppliers suggesting it can be pushed to zone 5 as well. In addition to full sun, the real paramount requirement is good drainage. You must think desert or Mediterranean climate when planting. Sandier soils are best but when you consider the range of soil amendments at your garden center today it will not be hard improve your planting area. Tolerance The hardy ice plant is the “poster child” for drought tolerance. Dry, sandy or gravelly soil situations are no problem. Overhead irrigation that comes on every day, however, spells doom and failure. Once you find your plants, space them 16 to 24 inches apart. You will find they have no trouble spreading to 24 inches and if you do you soil prep, this will be the one bed you do not have to worry about when you go on vacation. At the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens, we have ours growing in the Mediterranean Garden. Here they are growing around a large glazed container with a young olive tree. In the colorful bed they are partnered with another dazzling succulent, the Lemon Ball sedum. Lemon Ball also is a perennial but only in zones 7 through 9, so it is not quite as cold hardy as the ice plant. Botanically speaking it is Sedum mexicanum and sports chartreuse foliage topped by flashy yellow blossoms. The contrast with the hot pink of the ice plant makes for a most striking partnership. Lemon Ball also spreads and will develop into a 3-foot-by-6-foot drift in about three years. The combination planting is made even showier with the 3-foot-tall spike of the soap aloe, Aloe maculata. The aloe also adds interest with its foliage by helping create a great diversity in leaf texture. Sometimes gardeners forget that real beauty can be created with drought tolerant or xeriscape type plants. With a little soil preparation and the right choices in plant material, like the hardy ice plant and Lemon Ball sedum, we can have an attention-grabbing display without being a slave to the garden.

Hardy ice plant The hardy ice plant creates a colorful display with it its shocking iridescent pink flowers.

Here it is partnered in a Mediterranean garden with Lemon Ball sedum and soap aloe.

JUNE POTLUCK & AUCTION 2014 - PHOTO'S BY BRIAN POOT & KATHY ZUMBRUNN

RUTH BANCROFT GARDENS FIELD TRIP 2014 - PHOTO'S BY LESLEY SLAYTER