SACXS FACTS NEWSLETTER FOR THE SAN ANTONIO CACTUS AND XEROPHYTE SOCIETY February 2014 VOLUME 26, NUMBER 2 THE SAN ANTONIO CACTUS AND XEROPHYTE SOCIETY WAS ORGANIZED IN 1977 TO PROMOTE THE STUDY, PROPAGATION, CONSERVATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS OF CACTI AND OTHER SUCCULENT PLANTS. SACXS Presidents Message "Spring is just around the corner". Is that what I said last month? What was I thinking? As I write this, in the last days of January, Old Man Winter has made his appearance in South Texas. We had a substantial ice event on the 16th, and another really cold spell a week later. Mixed in was gorgeous spring like weather. I go from heating my greenhouses, to opening the windows to keep the solar heat down. Go figure. We have a great monthly meeting coming up. February 19th has Woody Minnich in town. He is giving us a presentation titled "Cactus and Succulents for the Greenhouse and Garden" Woody has been in the cactus hobby for some 46 years. He is an honorary life member of nine clubs as well as a life member of CSSA (Cactus & Succulent Society of America.) He gives presentations nationwide. Don't miss this meeting. Continued on p. 4 SACXS Board Members Table of Contents President: Marty Ruona marty@rhinamic.com First Vice-President: Marty Ruona marty@rhinamic.com Second Vice-President: Grace Fry gfry3@att.net Third Vice-President President: Claude Townsend ctownsend@satx.rr.com Recording Secretary: Tess Weaver tessw@satx.rr.com Publicity Secretary: Eula Townsend ctownsend@satx.rr.com Treasurer: Doug Coates treasurer@sacxs.com SAGC Liaison: Sidney Yarbrough gyarbrough1@satx.rr.com Directors: Linda Draper draperl@prodigy.net Alice Knight aliceknightsa@aol.com Barbara Schulze bschulze@pisd.us Librarian: Paul Kibler elisakibler@satx.rr.com SACXS FACTS Editor: Linda Draper draperl@prodigy.net Visit our website: www.sacxs.org Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 President s Message February Program and Assignments Plant of the Month Show and Sale News Educational Display Examples More Educational Display Examples Show Volunteer Form January Program Field Trip News February-March Program Line-up SACXS FACTS Vol. 26, #2 Page 1
SACXS February 2014 Program Woody Minnich Presents: Cactus and Succulents for the Greenhouse and Garden Woody visits Texas yearly, giving fantastic presentations to different Texas cactus societies including SACXS. We can always expect a great program from Woody. He s been a cactus and succulent nursery owner for decades, and travels all over the globe with plant pictures to prove it. Come be entertained and informed by a true succulent expert. This program will be held at The San Antonio Garden Center 3310 N. New Braunfels Ave, San Antonio 78209 Social time: 6:30 Program: 7:15 The General Public is Welcome Refreshment Assignments & Volunteers*: Barbara Schulze*: bschulze@pisd.us Judy Terry*: jterry@sbcglobal.net Robert Klebe: robertklebe@gmail.com Paul & Elisa Kibler elisakibler@yahoo.com *Please consider signing up to be part of the refreshments committee. Signup sheet will be available on the table with the refreshments. Auction Plant Assignments: Larry & Pat Murphy larrynpat@earthlink.net Marty Ruona marty@rhinamic.com Christine Saalbach Eva Schmidt evalschmidt@att. John Sells john_sells@earthlink.net SACXS FACTS Vol. 26, #2 Page 2
Plant of the Month Echinocactus texensis Article and photos by Claude H. Townsend Echinocactus texensis (Hopffer) Horse crippler, Devil s head, Chisos hedge hog, Manco Caballo, Viznage Cactaceae (Cactus Family) Synonym(s): Homalocephata texensis Range USA: NM, OK, TX and Mexico This plant has one of the widest ranges of any other cacti in Texas. Now uncommon from North-central to South central to south West Texas into old Mexico due to the eradication by ranchers because of its ability to endanger live stock, by crippling a horse if stepped on. But in some large areas, large colonies can be found. Plant identification Very broad, in most cases flattened to domed up to 12 in. in diameter, 2-8 in high with singular heads, except when damaged, then some cases will have many heads appearing from the crown. Crested form have been found coming from the damaged plants. Ribs are deep and long leading to the apex covered with long white wool; this is where the flower appears. The flowers are about 1-2 ½ in. diameter and in length. Pink to violet, with feathered edges some have red centers. But mostly pink. I have seen all white flowers. The fruit is bright red. This plant surface is hard and like low flat soil some sand, but not packed soil. Can stand heat, cold down below freezing in the ground. Full sun and can stand more rain than most barrels. This makes it a prime choice for your landscape. Spines In clusters of 6-7 spines in each cluster of which the central spine usually, longer, thicker and curved down. This is the one that is a danger to livestock. There are 3-5 clusters to a rib, off set from each other making a defense from small critters looking for water. Acknowledgement Del Weniger Cacti of Texas & Native plant data base SACXS FACTS Vol. 26, #2 Page 3
2014 SACXS Show & Sale Report By Barbara Schulze, 2014 SACXS Show & Sale Chairman Less than 3 months til SHOW TIME! This is the time to check your little plants you plan to donate for the raffle. We would also appreciate Silent Auction or regular Auction donations. Make sure these plants are healthy and cleanly potted. This would also be the time to start thinking about your Educational Display. Remember that the Displays can be as small as one or a few interesting plants up to a half or full table of plants. You can even prepare a display without live plants. The main idea is that you include educational information. Check out the photos in this newsletter pages 5 and 6. I hope that all members have looked at the volunteer sign-up sheet (also included in this newsletter) and are deciding what volunteer position(s) they can sign up for. Please try to attend the March meeting when we will showcase the various positions and expectations. We hope that members will decide at the March meeting how they can best help out during the Show & Sale. If your work schedule prevents you from attending the Show & Sale, you can help with advertising and donations for raffle or auction. We are also accepting monetary donations to purchase quality auction plants. MEMBER PARTICIPATION = SUCCESS February President s Message continued Here's something new...sacxs has a FaceBook page. We have joined the 21st Century! Come visit our page, and join the discussions. Our biggest and hopefully best ANNUAL CACTUS SHOW AND SALE will be here in April. Barbara's show committee had been working hard. Claude is planning additional field trips to look for cactus and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow club members. Soon most of us will be doing our Spring plant shuffle. It is the busiest time of year for a gardener. Winter is ending soon...our plants will come out of their dormancy...many into flower...and...spring is only four or five weeks away...of that I promise! SACXS FACTS Vol. 26, #2 Page 4
Educational Displays for the Show and Sale Our Show and Sale is just around the corner! Here is the second instalment of some ideas about Educational Displays. There are more possibilities than we can list. Please think about what you can do to help the club fulfill its mission to educate the public about the plants we love. If you are uncertain about an idea you have, contact Barbara Schulze or Linda Draper. We ll help you figure it out. We want to inspire you all to participate by creating and sharing an Educational Display or two! Display of artwork of plant pollinators by Barbara Schulze Display of Ariocarpus with tented information cards by Paul Kibler Large display of Astrophytums with one page information card and handouts by Carol Blocker Large display of hairy cactus with trifold data by Barbara Schulze SACXS FACTS Vol. 26, #2 Page 5
More Examples of Educational Displays Example of single specimen plant with normal & crested growth and book for information Example of hybrid succulent with rock decoration Example of single specimen plant with rocks and book for information Example of normal and crested old man cactus on bricks and a wood background SACXS FACTS Vol. 26, # Page 6
2014 SACXS April Show & Sale Volunteer Sign-Up Sheet As an active member of SACXS, I volunteer for all checked assignments. 1. Publicity: distributing advertisement fliers to local businesses. 2. Publicity: post SACXS Show & Sale yard sign at home or business. 3. Set-up/Cover tables: Wed. 4-23, 10:00am-12:00 noon 4. Club Table Greeters: Thurs. 4-24, 9:00am-11:30am Thurs. 4-24, 11:30am-2:00pm Thurs. 4-24, 2:00pm-5:00pm Fri. 4-25, 9:00am-11:30am Fri. 4-25, 11:30am-2:00pm Fri. 4-25, 2:00pm-5:00pm Sat. 4-26, 9:00am-11:30am Sat. 4-26, 11:30am-2:00pm Sat. 4-26, 2:00pm-5:00pm 5. Auction Helper: plant or tag carriers & organize plants by bidder Fri. 4-25 or Sat. 4-26 2:00pm-3:30pm daily 6. Clean-Up: fold & stow tables, sweep floors, and take out trash Sat. 4-26, 4:00pm-6:00pm 7. Kitchen Helpers: lunch prep. & clean-up for members and vendors Thurs. 4-24, Fri. 4-25, Sat. 4-26 11:00am-1:00pm daily 8. Vendor Relief: watch sales tables while vendors have lunch Thurs. 4-24, Fri. 4-25, Sat. 4-26 11:00am 1:00pm daily 9. Bring an Educational Display: Wed. 4-23, 12:00 noon-5:00pm or Thurs. 4-24 8:30am-9:00am 10. Donate an auction plant: Bring to March meeting or contact Show Chairman for pick-up Donate silent auction plant/plant-related item or raffle plants Wed. 4-23, 9:00am-4:00pm or Thurs. 4-24, 9:00am-4:00pm Member s name, phone number, and e-mail address: Thank you for your participation: Return to Barbara Schulze, Show Chairman P.O. Box 1010, Pleasanton, TX 78064 830-281-5766 bschulze@pisd.us SACXS FACTS Vol. 26, #2 Page 7
January s Program Special Cactus Adaptation Barbara Schulze presented How do cactus survive in hot, dry environments that would cause most leafy plants to wither and die? Barbara talked about special cactus adaptations in general and HAIRINESS in particular and how it enables those hairy cacti to have an advantage in their harsh environments. She showed lots of slides and answered lots of questions from the audience. A few plants from her own collection let members feel and see the hairs up close and personal. It was educational and entertaining too. Thanks, Barbara! SACXS FACTS Vol. 26, #2 Page 8
SPRING 2014 FIED TRIP TO 4M RANCH SONORA TEXAS APRIL 11-12-13 2014 Friday- Sat- Sunday The ranch is app.11 miles out of Sonora TX and 6 miles off the main road Things to do. Hunt Cactus and other plants. Fossils. Rocks. Indian artifacts. Drift wood. Photography. Hiking & Fishing. You may bring your ATV and your Guns, the range will be open Saturday after lunch. Cost: $120.00 each person. The following things are included in this package. 5 meals, Friday night meal BBQ Chicken. Saturday cowboy breakfast. (eggs biscuits etc.) Lunch: Sandwiches. Evening Grilled steak. Sunday Breakfast..2 Night in Bunk house. Everything included. Just bring personal items. We have 11 rooms for couples.. 3 rooms for 4 people each or 2 couples that wants to be together. Payment: $60 Deposit NON Refundable after April 1. This will give the Ranch owner time to purchase food in San Antonio. The remaining $60.00 will be paid at time of your arrival at the ranch, at this time you will sign the liability release and pick up maps of the ranch. TO REGISTER: Make a deposit check for $60.00 or for 2 people $120. To 4M Ranch and mail check to Claude H. Townsend 5102 Village Green San Antonio TX. 78218. Please send your Phone number and email address. Upon receiving this I will send you a map & update information. ARRIVAL Time 1:00pn Friday departure time 12:00pm Sunday One Day Hunts Saturday: $20.00 all day. Bring your food Limits of hunt: Entire ranch 12500 Acres, No fire arms will be discharged on Ranch except at Range on Saturday. Dogs are allowed but on a leash no dogs in bunk house. No tent camping. SACXS FACTS Vol. 26, #2 Page 9
Program Line-up February March 2014 2-19-2014 General Meeting At the Garden Center 6:30-9:00pm Woody Minnich is in town! Woody visits Texas yearly, giving fantastic presentations to four Texas cactus societies. He is always well received, having been a cactus and succulent nursery owner for decades, with travels to all parts of the earth. Come see a true succulent expert. 03-19-2014 General Meeting At the Garden Center 6:30-9:00pm Linda Draper & Barbara Schultz Linda has put together a short slide show of her visit to the Wallace Cactus Garden in Scottsdale AZ Barbara is going to give us the low-down on our new and improved annual show and sale. She has rounded up a committee to take our show a huge success with your help! Friends, remember this is your newsletter. Please consider contributing an article, tip, photos of your favorite plant. Ask a question and I ll research an answer from some of our expert growers. There are lots of ways to contribute and it will be more fun for all of us if we have a varied group of contributors. If you want to submit something, I try to get the newsletter out by the end of the first week of the month so I need the submission in the end of the previous month. I can work with whatever constraints you have. Send your ideas to me at draperl@prodigy.net or call me at 210-828-7224 to discuss. Linda Draper, Newsletter Editor SACXS FACTS Vol. 26, #2 Page 10