Open Gates A publication of the Gates Cactus & Succulent Society June 2013

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1 Sweepstakes Winner June Plants of the Month: Cacti: Echinocereus Succulents: Medusoid Euphorbias Speaker: Ernesto Sandoval, Plants of Baja Learn from the Masters: Photography, Study Save These Dates: June 1 & 2 San Diego C&SS Show & Sale June 8 & 9 Los Angeles C&SS Show & Sale June Biennial CSSA Convention June CSSA Show & Sales Open Gates A publication of the Gates Cactus & Succulent Society June 2013 NEXT MEETING, WEDNESDAY, June 5, NEW TIME! 7:00 PM AT THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MUSEUM I- 10 AT CALIFORNIA STREET IN REDLANDS, CA. From the President: The first and most important item in my report this month is an advisory that the proposed bus trip to Lotus Land is in jeopardy. We have, to date, only (15) members signed up with their deposit paid. If we do not reach a minimum of (25) by the end of our regular June meeting the Lotus Land destination will have to be cancelled. This is too nice a trip to let a cancelation happen. Not only is Lotus Land a spectacular garden, but we will also be visiting at least (1) of the very impressive nurseries located in the Carpentaria area. For those of you who have never visited Island View or Seaside Nursery, this alone would make the trip worthwhile. Also there is a spectacular nursery like retailer in Carpentaria who specializes in garden art, pots and garden accessories more so than plants. Time permitting we will try to visit more than just (1) of these fine secondary destinations in the area. I am pleased to report that our annual Show & Sale was bigger and better than ever and we are hopeful that the many people who picked up our club information flyers and expressed an interest will result in a few more new members. So far, this year we have acquired (12) new members, more than offsetting our losses to attrition. Our efforts at recruitment seem to be paying off. From my perspective everything went very well at the Show & Sale this year and I heard no complaints, with possibly one exception, and that is one person reported that a prize winner had entered a plant which was only recently acquired. We assume this was done unwittingly but the rules are very emphatic about a plant being in your collection for at least six months before it can be entered into a show. The home tours early in May were a resounding success and the carne asada feed, at Rob Roy s marvelous garden, that capped the tours, was better Continued pg. 2 President Don McGrew Director Rob Mac Gregor romero8686@sbcglobal.net Director Rene Hernandez Vice President Cap Strano Director Kim Urman Treasurer Karen Roholt Director Phuc Huynh Secretary Linda McConnell Librarian Karen Fleisher Past President Mike Green Greeter Teresa Wassman Membership Karen Roholt Editor Buck Hemenway Leadership Team 2013

2 From the President Con t. attended than our last annual BBQ at the Simms Tree Learning Center. This is the second time Rob Roy has hosted club members and word must have gotten out about what a fine event he and Belinda put together. Last month s program presenter, Joe Wujcik s demonstration and talk about preparing and staging plants for show was well received and several people commented that they wanted to see more on this subject. We will try to schedule more demonstrations on this subject, which brings me to wondering why there were so few of our novice members who entered plants in our recent show. Many of our novice members have regularly been participating in our mini shows with some terrific plants. Where were they at our annual Show & Sale? Our intermediate and advanced members entered more plants this year than ever before. I am a little distressed to have to report that it looks like the Huntington is changing their policy regarding the annual CSSA Show & Sale we all like to attend. They are requiring membership lists in advance and free admission to the Show only for affiliate club members. The general public will apparently have to pay for admission to the show and affiliate members will not be allowed free admission to the rest of the facilities as has been the policy. Efforts are still underway to convince them to not make these changes and more positive information will hopefully follow. Mary Alice and I want to thank the many of you who showed up at our recent open house and especially those who brought the delicious side dishes and desserts. We enjoyed your participation and company. was the winner of the contest prize; Buck Hemenway was the runner up. Finally, I want to wish Edna Osborn a speedy recovery and I look forward to seeing you all at our upcoming June meeting. Best Regards, Don McGrew Mini Show results for May 2013 Judges, Joe Wujcik, Don & Caryl Lyons Best Staged Cacti Novice Small 2 nd Cleistocactus strassii Linda McConnell 3 rd unknowm M. Laney Large 1 st Echinocereus Diana Roman 2 nd Lady Fingers cactus Diana Roman 3 rd Opuntia Diana Roman Intermediate Small 1 st Escobana sneedii var. leei Rob MacGregor 2 nd Rebutia albipilosa Rob MacGregor 3 rd Mammilaria geminispina Rene Hernandez Large 1 st Mammillaria lenta Rob MacGregor 2 nd Coryphantha elephantidens Rene Hernandez Advanced Small 1 st Copiapoa tenuissima Montrose Yvonne Hemenway Large 1 st Matucana madisoniorum Greg & Anna 2 nd Echinocactus grusonii cristata Greg & Anna 2 nd Haageocereus psedomelanostele crest Greg & Anna 3 rd Copiapoa tenuissima montrose Tony Marino Best Staged Succulent Novice Small 1st Cremnosedum Little Gem Syd Martin 2 nd Euphorbia resinifera Linda McConnell 3 rd Graptoveria sp. Diana Roman Large 1 st Echeveria Perle Von Nuremberg Diana Roman 2 nd Pachypodium lameria M. Laney 3 rd Dudleya tarnosa M. Laney 3 rd Senicio scaposus Ben Marino Intermediate Small 1 st Agave titanota Montrose Rob MacGregor 2 nd Haworthia attenuate Rene Hernandez Large 1 st Gasteria Little Warty Rene Hernandez 2 nd Dorstenia foetida Rob MacGregor 3 rd Echeveria black Alice Beardsley Advanced Small 1 st Cheirodopsis sp. Yvonne Hemenway 2 nd Adromschus masianae immaculatus Greg & Anna Large 1 st Euphorbia colliculina Greg & Anna 2 nd Euphorbia sp gm211 Greg & Anna 3 rd Haworthia pumilla

3 June Speaker Ernesto Sandoval Ernesto is the Director of the Conservatory at UC Davis. He has traveled more than 13 times to Baja California researching the flora there. His presentation promises great information on the plant life of Baja. It should be very interesting and entertaining. Mini Show Judges for June Rob MacGregor, Cap Strano Kitchen Duty for June 2013 Yvonne Hemenway Don t Forget to SIGN UP For the Bus trip to Lotus Land on August 11, You must have your deposit paid to the Treasurer by the June meeting or the trip may be cancelled. Costs are: Entry to Lotus Land: $35.00 Lunch on your own in Carpinteria Club pays for the bus and the water & sodas. CSSA CONVENTION 2015 Committee Meeting Saturday, July 20 at Pitzer College, 9:30 AM. We ll join the San Gabriel Valley C&SS for their annual picnic following the meeting at about 11:30. Plan to spend the afternoon. 2015? June 2015? Isn t that more than 2 years away? Time Flies! The Gates C&SS and San Gabriel Valley C&SS will be co hosts of the CSSA s 36 th Biennial Convention to be held at Pitzer College. This is an opportunity for those of us in the Los Angeles Basin to strut our stuff in front of the C&S World. It will have been 14 years since the LA club last hosted anywhere near here. Please rsvp your intent to participate by phoning or Buckhem@sbcglobal.net. LEARN FROM THE MASTERS! We re beginning a new educational series for all interested members. Beginning at 7:00PM prior to the start of every meeting, we will be treated to a hands-on learning experience by one of our experienced grower members. The lessons will be short, 10 to 15 minutes. The topics covered will be ones that are frequently asked about and or just plain misunderstood by many of our members. Here are the goals of the organizers: A) To inspire educational drive & knowledge B) To create core group for scientific study C) To create core group for propagating plants for club functions D) To create club seed bank Following are the anticipated topics, but these will be subject to change: January: Soil Mixes July: Growing structures February: Water August: Seed Collecting March: Transplanting September: Salvaging your plant April: Productive pruning October: Winterizing your plants May: Show etiquette November: Accessing your wish list June: Photography/Study We will create a flyer to pass out containing information from that class that may be referred to at a later date. For example : List of Materials, Lists of Suppliers, Lists of References.

4 2013 Plants of the Month CACTI SUCCULENTS June Echinocereus Medusoid Euphorbia July Photograph Photograph August North American Columnars Succulent Bormeliad September Astrophytum Lithops October Ferocactus/Echinocactus Stapeliads Dead Plant November Auction December Christmas Party CALENDAR OF UP COMING EVENTS FOR 2013 June 1 & 2 San Diego C&SS Summer Show & Sale, Balboa Park Rm 101, San Diego June 8 & 9 Los Angeles C&SS Show & Sale, Sepulveda Garden Center, Magnolia Blvd, Encino, CA Info June Biennial CSSA Convention, Austin TX June CSSA Show and Sale July 20 Planning meeting for the 2015 Convention WHERE TO FIND STUFF Your club library is a fantastic resource for information about the plants in your collection! Gates Cactus & Succulent Society Annual Show & Sale 2013 I want to thank everyone who helped out with our Show & Sale. This is by far our biggest event of the year and it takes all of our efforts to pull it off. I can say that we had one of the best Shows in the history of the 38 years that this event has been staged. While the plant numbers were not the largest, we had an extremely high quality Show. Our members should be proud of themselves. Your efforts to grow top quality plants show on every table. Our Sale was by far the largest in the history of the Gates Society. Again, help from our members makes the event happen. We filled the sales tent with plants and the public came to buy them. The only slightly negative aspect is the lack of participation by our newer members. We need you! And, I think, that you need the experience. There is no other way to truly appreciate the unique quality of the plants that we all collect, until we have them side by side with other plants of the same genus. It is a normal rite of passage in this hobby to become collectors first and then to share those beautiful specimens with others second. Those who have been at the collecting of plants for more that a few years invite our novices to begin process and share your wonderful plants with all of us. Thank you all for your help, Buck Attention all cactus philes!! The Cactus Rescue Squad needs your help. Please consider joining the squad in future rescue missions. All rescued specimens will be a part of upcoming sales and auctions with which all proceeds go to our club. The more specimens we have for sale the more revenues we can generate toward the general fund. More money means the club can do more events and activities for all to enjoy and learn. We can help you too! If you or someone you know who have a desire to part with your cactus/succulent collection let us know. We can arrange for removal of the unwanted specimens that can benefit our cause. It s a win-win deal for all. Contact me or any board member for further details. Rescue missions can be a fun time for everyone, building camaraderie and knowledge of succulents and cacti. I look forward to spending more rescue times with as many of you as possible. Phuc Huynh

5 Cactus of the Month - Echinocereus By: Tom Glavich Echinocereus is one of the earliest recognized genera of Cacti; first described in 1848 by George Engelmann from a plant collected in 1846 in what is now New Mexico. The type species (the first one found, and after which the genus is named) is Echinocereus viridiflorus, a widespread species with a distribution that ranges from Southern Wyoming, South Dakota, and Kansas to Eastern New Mexico. As the name suggests, it has brilliant green flowers. Echinocereus species can be found throughout the Western United States, and the range of species stretches through the American west and through Northern and Central Mexico to about Mexico City. As might be expected from a genus covering such a large range, Echinocereus are extremely varied in form, ranging from nearly spineless green balls such as E. knippelianus, to very spiny short columnar species such as E. engelmannii, to pencil thin sticks such a E. poselgeri. In general, Echinocereus is an underappreciated genus. Many cactus growers try one or two; but having killed a few in their early collecting days, often because of over watering, concentrate on other genera. Most of the species are easy to grow. Many species are variable displaying different spination and flower colors depending on the local environment. This caused a confusion of names with too many species named. These are being reduced to a more conservative 30 to 50, but the number of collectable forms remains very high. The varieties and local growth forms provide an enormous range of interesting plants to grow. Most Echinocereus have spectacular flowers, giving rise to such common names as Claret Cup, Strawberry Cactus, Calico Cactus. These common names are often attached to more than one species. Echinocereus flowers erupt through the skin, leaving scars. Offsets also may erupt through the skin. Almost all the species need bright light and warm temperatures to grow well and flower. Some are quite easy, but many have somewhat fragile root systems that are prone to rot. They often benefit from being slightly underpotted. Good drainage is a must. A low organic potting mix, with mostly to all pumice will give the best results. The plants will keep their natural character. Recent publications have shown the benefit of low ph (slightly acid) water. This improves growth and minimizes rot. City water is high ph, often over 8. Reducing ph is a great way to improve plant appearance and growth. Propagation from seed is easy. Seed germinates in a few days to about two weeks in warm weather, as long as soil mixture is kept moist. Once germination occurs, the seedlings need to be moved to an environment with moving air. They need to be kept damp until they have hardened off. Once seedlings get to a size where they can be safely handled, they can be pulled out of the seedling mix and repotted in straight pumice. Growth and survival rate will improve dramatically. Propagation from cuttings is relatively easy, but attention to cleanliness is important. Use of a good rooting compound containing a fungicide helps ensure success. Echinocereus triglochidiatus ssp. mojavensis Echinocereus viereckii

6 Succulent of the Month Medusoid Euphorbia By: Tom Glavich The myth of Medusa is very old, and predates Greek Mythology. Medusa s character changes with culture, social conditions and time. The best known story comes from late Greek Mythology; where Medusa was a mortal woman, descended from the gods, whose beauty was so renowned that she fancied herself more beautiful than the god Athena. As punishment (or in revenge), Athena turned Medusa s hair to snakes, and placed a curse on her so that any living being looking at her was turned to stone. The origin of the myth is from North Central Africa, and the plants we grow and exhibit come from much further south. These are some of the best of all the Euphorbias, and demonstrate a variation on parallel evolution with cacti that is hard to match. Although no one turns to stone, the first sight of Medusoid Euphorbias often stops viewers at our shows. The medusoids are among the most unusual of the Euphorbias, and have no close parallel in other genera. On the other hand, they look a lot like extreme cacti! The Medusoid Euphorbias are easily identified. A (usually) large body is covered with arms. The arms may be stubby and widely spaced (Euphorbia decepta), or they may be long, snake like and closely spaced (Euphorbia caput medusae). For all of the Medusoid Euphorbias, the central thickened stem is equivalent to a caudex. It is the central storage organ, and acts as a reservoir for nutrients and moisture in times of stress. Many of the medusoids will shed their arms (branches) during extended droughts, growing new ones when the rains return. Medusoid Euphorbias come from a wide range of habitats, with Cape Province, South Africa being Medusoid central; but all go through extended periods of low moisture. Cultivation for many is relatively easy; as long as attention is paid to not watering during periods of dormancy. There are generally two periods of dormancy, a long one during the late fall and winter (mid November through the end of February) and a shorter one during the peak of the summer heat (a few weeks in August and September). The arrival of the summer one is harder to predict, and overwatering in late summer can result in root rot. In spite of the sensitivity, most of the Medusoid Euphorbias do well as unprotected pot plants outdoors in Southern California during the winter. It s nearly impossible to find seed for most of the Medusoid Euphorbias, and in general, the seed is short lived (months). Vegetative propagation is easier. Most Medusoid Euphorbias can be propagated from arm cuttings, although a year or two will be required before the plant is worth showing. Euphorbia caput-medusa Euphorbia namibensis

7 Best Plant in Show: Best Cactus in Show: Best Succulent in Show: Trophy and Ribbon Awards 2013 Copiapoa tenuissima montsrosa Mammillaria perezdelarosae Peter Walkowiak Pachypodium succulentum v. griguence Peter Walkowiak Best Sansevieria: Odd-ball Plant: Best Echinocereus Best Lithops Best Opuntioideae Sansevieria aethiopicta Rob Roy MacGregor Euphorbia medusa Ann Reynolds Echinocereus engelmannii Darryl & Jen Craig Lithops marmorata Rob Roy MacGregor Maihueniopsis bonnieae Best Cactus Novice: Mammillaria geminispina Cap & Peg Strano Best Gymnocalycium Gymnocalycium saglionis Best Succulent Novice: Agave Americana v. mediopicta Diana Roman Best Junior in Show: Best Euphorbia: Best Ferocactus: Best Haworthia: Best Mammillaria: Best Mexican Cactus: Best South American Cactus: Best Aloe: Echinopsis chamaecereus Ben Marino Euphorbia obesa Peter Walkowiak Ferocactus herrerae Greg & Anna Haworthia pumila Mammillaria rioveidensis Greg & Anna Stenocereus eruca Esposatoa melanostele Aloe suprafoliata Greg & Anna High Points Sweepstakes Other Awards & Statistics Number of entries in Show: 494 Number of exhibitors: 21-1 Junior 4 Novice 7 Intermediate 9 Advanced High Points Succulent: 1 st Peter Walkowiak (63) 2 nd Judy Horne (55) 3 rd Karen Roholt (51) High Points Cactus: 1 st (89) 2 nd Peter Walkowiak (42) 3 rd Judy Horne (39) Overall High Points SWEEPSTAKES : (137) 2 nd Peter Walkowiak (105) 3 rd Judy Horne (94) Best Agave: Agave utahensis v. eborispina

8 From: Gates Cactus & Succulent Society 5890 Grinnell Dr Riverside, CA FIRST CLASS MAIL