sacxs factssacxs.org/newsletter/archive/2014/10-october 2014 sacxs...sacxs facts vol. 26, #10 page 2...

SACXS FACTS Vol. 26, #10

SACXS FACTSSACXS FACTS NEWSLETTER FOR THE SAN ANTONIO CACTUSNEWSLETTER FOR THE SAN ANTONIO CACTUS

AND XEROPHYTE SOCIETYAND XEROPHYTE SOCIETY

October 2014 VOLUME 26, NUMBER 10October 2014 VOLUME 26, NUMBER 10

SACXS Board MembersSACXS Board Members

President: President: Marty Ruona Marty Ruona [email protected]@rhinamic.com

First ViceFirst Vice--President: President: Joey Gutierrez [email protected] Gutierrez [email protected]

Second ViceSecond Vice--President: President: Grace Fry [email protected] Fry [email protected]

Third ViceThird Vice--PresidentPresident: : Claude Townsend Claude Townsend [email protected] [email protected]

Recording Secretary: Recording Secretary: Debbie Braly [email protected] Braly [email protected]

Publicity Secretary: Publicity Secretary: Alice Knight Alice Knight [email protected]@aol.com

Treasurer: Treasurer: Don Clark Don Clark [email protected]@sacxs.com

SAGC Liaison: SAGC Liaison: Sidney Yarbrough [email protected] Yarbrough [email protected]

Directors: Directors: Linda Draper Linda Draper [email protected]@prodigy.net

Bill Fry Bill Fry [email protected]@att.net

Barbara Schulze Barbara Schulze [email protected]@pisd.us

Librarian: Librarian: Paul Kibler Paul Kibler [email protected]@satx.rr.com

SACXS FACTS Editor: SACXS FACTS Editor: Linda Draper Linda Draper [email protected] [email protected]

Visit our website: www.sacxs.orgVisit our website: www.sacxs.org

Table of Contents

Page 1 President’s Message

Page 2 October Program

Page 3 Assignments

Page 4 September Program

Page 5 Presidents Message/Dues Due

Page 6 4 M Ranch Field Trip

Page 7 PICNIC!

Page 8 Board Member Profiles

Page 9 Show News/SAGC Event

Page 10 Program Line-up

“THE SAN ANTONIO CACTUS AND XEROPHYTE SOCIETY WAS ORGANIZED IN 1977 TO PROMOTE THE STUDY, “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.”PROPAGATION, CONSERVATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS OF CACTI AND OTHER SUCCULENT PLANTS.”

SACXS President’s Message "Improved Gardening Skills" is the focus of my message this month. We are

all members of the San Antonio Cactus & Xerophyte Society, SACXS. It is safe to assume that we all have an interest in cacti & succulents. The word xe-rophyte refers to plants that live in arid environments. These days land-scaping is going more and more toward xeriscaping, and away from expan-sive lawns. So let's combine these elements into being members of a club that appreciates cacti and succulents and xeric gardens. Sounds to me like we are all gardeners at the core. SACXS is a gardening club in my defini-tion.

The past couple of years our monthly programs have been geared towards improving all of our gardening skills. We have had topics/presentations on soils, acidic watering for improved plant health, micro climates, tools we all use, made Hypertufa pottery, discussed agaves with an expert, talks by Woody Minnich on succulents in the landscape, visits to club members’ homes, photo expose on local plant collections and landscapes, and repotting seminars. We have visited Keller Materials landscape supply, and driven to a few nurseries who specialize in our favorite plants. "Improved Gardening Skills" has been our focus.

Continued on page 5


SACXS October 15, 2014 Program

Fertilizers Explained

Mark Fanick, of Fanick’s Garden Center and Nursery

Many of our club members fertilize in their own way. Mark F a n i c k , o f Fanick's Garden Center and Nursery, will visit with us. He is an organic fertilizer expert. We will be presenting many different ways you can give

nutrients to your cactus & succulents.

This program is another participatory one where we have an expert lay the groundwork and we all share experiences and techniques to help each other become better gardeners and growers of our wonderful cacti and

succulents. Come participate in the discussion.

This program is free and open to the public.

6:30 Pm—9:00pm

Marty Ruona’s Home

151 Huxley Drive 78218

Mark Fanick (right) and his brother Mark own Fanick’s Garden Center and Nursery 1025 Holmgreen Rd, San Antonio, TX 78220. San Antonio’s oldest

Nursery, celebrating 75 years in business.


Refreshment Assignments:

Tony & Sally Ware [email protected]

Tess Weaver [email protected]

Jeannie Williams & Maria Gomez [email protected]

Gerald & Sidney Yarbrough [email protected]

Manny Zamora [email protected]

Each person will be contacted by Sidney Yarbrough, Refreshments

Coordinator. If you are unable to attend the meeting and bring refreshments, please

consider donating $5 or more so something can be purchased as a substitute.

Please consider signing up to be part of the refreshments committee. See

Sidney Yarbrough if you’d like to help.

Refreshments only happen when people volunteer and share the responsibility.

Auction Plant Assignments:

Cathy Eignus [email protected]

Theresa Fossier [email protected]

Bill & Grace Fry [email protected]

Becky Garteiser [email protected]

Bob & Tempella Guernsey [email protected]

Note: Typically members donate a plant or plants worth at least $5. If unable to

bring a plant to the meeting, please consider making a $5 cash donation. Our

auction proceeds go toward covering the building rental for our meetings.


September Meeting

Over 40 people attended our September meeting. Several members brought plants and pots

to sell and our speaker, Mary Irish had many of her books available for purchase so there was

a lot of activity before the program.

Mary Irish talked to us about smaller– sized agaves that work well in urban landscape settings

in our area. She had a variety of slides and a matching species list to share and took questions

during and after her presentation.

Left: Speaker, Mary Irish, answers questions from

the audience.

Below: Harvey Kendall and Christine Saalbach

with Harvey’s plants for sale.

Left: Mary Irish chats with Albert Del Rio and

Suzanna Harrison.


SACXS President’s Message, cont’d.

This theme continues this month. October 15th, 2014 we have Mark Fanick, co-owner of Fanick's Nursery talking to us on the ins-n-outs of organic fertilizers. Come learn from an or-ganic expert. The meeting is NOT at the Garden Center this month. It will be at my home, 151 Huxley Drive SA TX 78218. 6:00 we will start to gather, and Mark's presentation will

begin at 7:00.

The Board of Directors is dedicated to improved club activities. Later this month is a trip to a West TX ranch for cactus enthusiasts, and we are hosting a re-potting and cuttings clinic on

the 26th, in conjunction with our annual picnic.

Please attend our meetings and activities. We want to make our club as informative, fun, and helpful towards all of our members. The result will be all of us learning "Improved Gardening Skills"

IT’S TIME TO PAY YOUR DUES

Our Membership VP, Grace Fry wants to remind

everyone that your dues are payable in

September. She will be available to take your dues

at our October meeting. Grace will also ask you to

verify your contact information so we’re sure we

can send you updates and of course, your SACXS

Facts. Dues are $20 for individuals and $30 for

families. If you can’t make it to the meeting, you

can mail your dues to:

Grace Fry

15403 Bluffview St

San Antonio, TX 78232


TRIP TO 4 M RANCH OCT 17-18-19 2014

Sonora, Texas

Our Field Trips VP, Claude Townsend says there are still a few openings for our fall field trip to

the 4M Ranch near Sonora TX. Contact Claude right away to reserve your spot for this great

weekend.

Cost: will be $120.00 each person for the 3 days, 2 nights.

What’s included? 5 meals, 2 nights in the bunkhouse (linens and towels are provid-

ed), and all the cactus and things you collect. There are 11 rooms for couples (man &

wife) 3 rooms for 4 singles each.

To register: The 4M website does not currently accept payments.

Send 50% deposit check (payable to 4 M Ranch) to:

Claude H. Townsend, 5102 Village Green, San Antonio, Texas 78218.

Pay the remaining balance upon arrival and sign in at Ranch on Friday, Oct. 17 after

12 pm.

For cancellations made after 13 October 2014, deposit is non-refundable.

What to expect? The best of west Texas, the 4M is a game hunting ranch. The bunk-

house and clubhouse are set up for hunters. We are there between hunting seasons.

Ranch-type meals are served buffet style in the Clubhouse. Saturday night dinner is

usually steak cooked on the grill over a mesquite wood fire. You can hunt for and col-

lect cacti. There are interesting rocks, fossils, Indian artifacts, and interesting dead

wood to collect. You can photograph plants and wildlife, hike and on Saturday after

lunch you may use the shooting range. Gem and mineral clubs and other “cactus”

clubs are invited to join us so you’ll have a chance to meet new people.

What to bring? If you plan to hunt and collect cacti, you’ll need to bring digging tools,

something to carry your plants in like buckets, boxes and the like. You should wear

sturdy shoes or boots if you venture away from the bunkhouse area. Check the

weather forecast for Sonora for appropriate weight clothing. Layering is the best way

to go.

Questions? Contact Claude H Townsend 5102 Village Green San Antonio Texas

78218 210-655-8959 [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


The Club will furnish the following:

Meat, paper goods, water and iced

tea.

Please bring a side dish

Food Assignments:

Members from

A thru E: “Heavy” sides like

beans, potato or pasta

salads

F thru L: Vegetables & other

salads

M thru Z: Desserts

PICNIC: What Else to Bring??

Folding chairs, sunscreen, bug

spray, and soft drinks

Date: Sunday

October 26, 2014

Time: 12:00am – 5:00pm

Food will be served at 1:00pm

Where: Paul’s Desert

200 Schertz Parkway

Schertz, TX 78154

RSVP by Oct 22 to

Elisa Kibler at [email protected]

SACXSSACXSSACXS AnnualAnnualAnnual

Picnic and Propagation ClinicPicnic and Propagation ClinicPicnic and Propagation Clinic

PROPAGATION CLINIC: What Else to Bring??

Bring your callused cuttings and plants for

repotting and propagation too! Pots, soil and

top dressing provided.


Board Member Profiles

This month we continue our “meet your officers” series with our Treasurer, Don Clark

and yours truly, Linda Draper, Director and Newsletter Editor.

Don Clark began showing an interest in cacti and succulents after

his wife, Jeannie, started propagating the plants in their backyard

in San Antonio around 1993. Don built a small 8X16 greenhouse

to house the many succulents which were bought and

propagated. When Jeannie started selling more than $600 worth

the plants, Don, a CPA, informed her that Uncle Sam needed to get

his cut. The hobby soon blossomed into a small business and both

of them joined SACXS in 1995. Clark’s Cactus & Succulents soon

started selling at the SACXS Show and Sale, then held at the

Central Park Mall. In 1999, Don and Jeannie purchased property

in the Hill Country and had a commercial greenhouse 21X96 built

on 10 acres along with a house. They continued to buy many

plants from collectors and growers but especially loved propagation. One of their

favorite succulents is the Desert Rose (Adenium obesum). Other favorites are Agaves,

Ariocarpus and Pachypodiums. Don previously served on the Board as a Director in

1999, 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2008. When he wasn’t a Director he held the office of

President in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Don has also served as Show

Treasurer from 2001 to present. Don and Jeannie particularly enjoy the annual SACXS

Show and Sale and have especially enjoyed the auctions. They look forward to this

gathering every year.

Linda Draper is a life-long gardener who grew up in Arizona

where she developed a real affection for arid land plants. Cacti

and succulents have become something of an obsession.

Linda and her husband, Larry joined SACXS about 4 years ago

to meet like-minded folks and learn more about her favorite

plants. Her special plant interests are Aloes, Haworthias,

Euphorbias and Sansevierias. One small greenhouse

became two and it’s still not enough! Linda has served SACXS

as Recording Secretary and as a Director and Newsletter Editor

(this is the second time). With Barbara Schulze and Paul Kibler

she will be Co-Chairperson of the 2015 Annual Show and Sale.


I hope to see many of our members at the picnic at Paul and Lisa’s house. Even

though we are gathering there to enjoy the fellowship of other SACXS members, there is another purpose as well. Please bring your extra plants, cuttings, and offsets

for our potting party. Paul will have soil and pots available and all you have to do is the potting. Then take home your newly potted plants and care for them. We ask

you to donate some or all of them to our raffle at the 2015 SACXS Show & Sale. This

has produced quite a large profit for our society. Please join us

in making the raffle successful.

Also, I am requesting that members make a small donation each

month in our Auction Plant Donation Container. If members would put in 50¢ - $1.00 each month, we will have quite a large

amount to purchase quality potted and landscape plants for the

2 day auction during the Show & Sale.

I hope this doesn’t sound like I am asking too much. Remember, you are all members of SACXS and as members, everyone should be willing to join together to produce the

highest quality Show & Sale we have ever had. Thank you for your support.

San Antonio Garden Center Clubs will meet

Wednesday, November 5th

at 10 am at 3310 N.

New Braunfels @ Funston. Program will feature

John R. Thomas, owner and founder of

Wildseed Farms, the nationally-known

wildflower farm and nursery in Fredericksburg,

TX. He will share the story of Wildseed’s

success and offer tips on planting and growing

wildflowers in your own yard. Join us for coffee

at 9:30. Free and open to the public. For more

i n f o r m a t i o n , g o t o h t t p : / /

www.sanantoniogardencenter.org/ or call (210)824-9981.

Show News! Barbara Schulze, co-chairperson for the 2015 SACXS Show & Sale

San Antonio Garden Center Event

http://www.sanantoniogardencenter.org/

http://www.sanantoniogardencenter.org/


10-15-2014 General Meeting

Fertilizers Explained

at Marty Ruona's Home

6:30 to 9:00

John R. Thomas tells the Wildseed Farms story.

Program Line-up

October - November 2014

Many of our club members fertilize in their own way. Mark Fanick, of Fanick's Nursery, will visit

with us. He is an organic fertilizer expert. Come participate in the discussion. We will be

presenting many different ways you can give

nutrients to your cacti & succulents.

Location; 151 Huxley Drive SA TX 78218

10-17, 18, 19 –2014 Field Trip to 4M

Ranch

Club members journey to the Sonora TX area

for a weekend of exploring a very large west

Texas ranch and collecting cacti, fossils, rocks,

wood and happy memories. See Page 6 for

full details.

10-26-2014 SACXS Annual Picnic and

Propagation Clinic/Potting Party

12-5 pm at Paul’s Desert

Bring a side dish to share and join other

members for our annual Picnic and Propaga-

tion/Potting Party at Paul and Elisa Kibler’s

home. We’ll share a meal (meat provided by

the club) and fellowship and pot up your cut-

tings, offsets and extra plants for our raffles

during the spring Show and Sale. See Page 7

for full details.

Location: Paul’s Desert 200 Schertz Parkway,

Schertz

11-05-2014 SAGC Monthly Meeting

9:30 Coffee 10:00 Program

SA Garden Center

3310 N New Braunfels

11-19-2014 SACXS General Meeting

Garden Center

3310 N New Braunfels

6:30-9:00 pm

What's Wrong With My Plant?

SACXS members have a chance to bring to

this meeting plants that they just don't know

what is wrong with them.

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