BULLETIN NOVEMBER 2008

CACTUS COURIER Newsletter of the Palomar Cactus and Succulent Society

Volume 54, Number 11 November 2008

The Meeting is the 4th Saturday!

November 20, 2008

Joslyn Senior Center 724 N. Broadway, Escondido

Noon!!

“San Diego County California Friendly Landscaping Contest – Poway Winners!”

•• Bill & Jean O’Daniel, and Peter Walkowiak ••

Each year, the water agencies of San Diego County sponsor a California Friendly Landscape Contest to promote outdoor water conservation. The contest was developed to reward homeowners who have explored the beauty of California Friendly plants and installed water-wise landscapes.

The judges consider the following elements of water-wise landscaping. Overall attractiveness – curb appeal; aesthetic color, form, and texture; creative and environmentally sensitive use of hardscape. Appropriate plant selection – California-friendly plant palette; functional turf; functional landscape meeting the needs of the owners. Design – energy efficient use of tree canopy, permeable ground cover, shady and sunny areas in landscape; firewise landscape, as needed. Appropriate maintenance – mulch; weeds kept to a minimum; plants neat, tidy and attractive. Efficient methods of irrigation – designed to reduce runoff; appropriate irrigation equipment for plant material; water consumption appropriate to area.

It is with real delight that we can report that Bill and Jean O’Daniel are the 2008 Best-in-District Winners for the City of Poway. With the design and installation help of Peter Walkowiak, they transformed their typical Southern California tract home front yard into an amazing landscape filled with the plants that we love so much. We will have the pleasure of seeing a series of slides documenting the process. You will be delighted with the results.

If you are interested in trying out for next year, here is the website with the rules: http://www.landscapecontest.com/index.htm

Before…

After…

And the winners are…

BOARD MEETING • PLANT SALES • BRAG PLANTS • EXCHANGE TABLE

REFRESHMENTS

We had almost 60 people at the October meeting – everyone was so generous! We were so focused on passing around the Holiday Party Sign-Up sheet that we didn’t get the sheet for the November meeting out and about. We do have Lorie Johansen, Don Nelson, and Vicki Martin from the earlier sign-in. Please, bring something to share. We wouldn’t want anyone to leave hungry!

October Brag Plants

Cactus: 1st Ariocarpus retusus lloydii Carol & Paul Maker 2nd Ariocarpus scapharoides Carol & Paul Maker

Succulents: 1st Oxalis carnosa Rudy Lime 2nd Euphorbia cylindrifolia ssp. tuberifera Rudy Lime 3rd Euphorbia grandicornis Crest Stan Yalof

Succulent of the Month – November: Othonna

Cactus of the Month – November: Ariocarpus

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It was wonderful to have the opportunity in October to recognize Florence Robbins for her 32+ years of exceptional service to the Club. She has been out in the kitchen making sure we were well taken care of!

Florence with her son, Stephen

We would like to thank Andrew Wilson for his talk on NERINES. He brought a number of these lovely plants in bloom, and managed to tempt us with their potentially forgiving growing qualities. Too bad the photos are too small to show the sparkles!

Here is information about where Nerines can be found:

The following nurseries sell various species.

Bulbmeister 10846 Hodge Lane Gravette, AR 72736 http://shop.bulbmeister.com/nursery/nursery.html

Telos Rare Bulbs P. O. Box 1067 Ferndale, CA 95536 http://www.telosrarebulbs.com/HaemanthusMoraeaNerine. html

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OBSERVATIONS Ron Chisum

We had a wonderful turnout for our last meeting. We had a great showing of both new and potential members. Please continue to greet and get acquainted with them. It is important that we make the effort to grow as a club. It is always fun to help others learn more about plants and gardening. I was very pleased with the plant sales table and raffle table. Our thanks go out to the venders and members who donate plants. Next year we plan to have a plant sale to help raise funds for the club. Our expenses seem to go up a little each year. I would be very helpful if each member took he time to propagate a few plants and donate them for this event. March or April 2009 is our target date. Remember, these plants need to look reasonably nice so someone will want to pay money for them. Now is one of the best times of the year to propagate from cuttings. Once they have roots in the pot, all they need is a little grooming and they suddenly take on added value.

I recently made a little discovery. Home Depot sells a black plastic water-filter basket for fish ponds (less than $10, 9 x 9 x 6 inches). The mesh is almost perfect for screening away the dust from pumice. I buy pumice by the yard. The ¼-inch size usually has quite a lot of pumice dust. I made the mistake, years ago, of leaving the powder as I mixed up a batch of planter mix. The plants placed in this mix did poorly. When I repotted, I found out why. The mix had set up like poor

quality cement. While wearing a dust mask, I simply place about three quarts of pumice in the basket and give it a shake for a couple of minutes. Problem solved.

If you have any helpful gardening tips, please let me know, so I can pass them along.

– RON

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Garden Days Dick Henderson

On November 1st, Dick Henderson and Carol Wilson worked on the Garden. They would love to see you out there!

There will be no formal Garden Committee

meeting in December, but Dick will be there. Give him a call and join him.

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Time to plan!

❄ ❄ December

Holiday Party! !

❄ ❄

The date will be Saturday, December 20th (that’s the 3rd Saturday of the month). Spouses and SOs are always welcome.

As in the past, the Club will supply the turkey (extra dark meat!) and ham. We are asking the members to bring the side dishes.

This Club knows how to eat! We always have a splendid time. Come join us!

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We have 2 brand-new members from the October meeting:

Carol Close from Ramona, and Janice Gordon from Escondido. Welcome to the Club!!

Palomar Cactus & Succulent Society

P.O. Box 840, Escondido, CA 92033 Membership Application

I/We wish to join/renew membership in the Palomar Cactus & Succulent Society

$20.00 Single Membership $25.00 Dual Membership (Same Address)

(1/2 price after June 30th)

Name Phone Address City State Zip

Make checks payable to: “Palomar Cactus & Succulent Society” P.O. Box 840, Escondido, CA 92033

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Officers • Palomar Cactus & Succulent Society

Vick Broughton – President 760-741-7553 • vmbroughton@cox.net

Peter Walkowiak – Vice-President 858-382-1797 • hciservices@gmail.com

Lorie Johansen – Secretary 760-613-1934 • Lorie@casavista.us

Charlie Ambruster – Treasurer 858-484-2253

Bruce Barry – Board Member 760-724-2257

Dick Kubiak – Board Member 760-726-9236

Dick Henderson – Board Member & Garden Chair 760-480-4181

Doug Frederick – Board Member 760-788-9177 • dougfred@gmail.com

Mary Kaho – Board Member 760-432-8197

Brita Miller – Librarian 858-484-7118

Ron Chisum – Refreshments & Speakers 760-743-7996 • rachisum@cox.net

Eleanore Hewitt – Newsletter & Membership Chair 760-753-3651 • elhewitt@ucsd.edu