UPCOMING MEETING DATES
Meetings are held at the Park Ave. Community Center in Escondido unless noted.
Note that events might be canceled or modified without notice. Check back regularly for updates.
January 28, 2023
Speaker: Robert Kopfstein – Terrestrial Bromeliads
Plant of the Month: None
February 25, 2023
Speaker: Peter Walkowiak – Soil
Plant of the Month: Pelargonium
March 25, 2023
Speaker: Bob Webb – Haworthias & Gasterias, Gems of the Veld
Plant of the Month: Albuca
April 22, 2023
Spring Festival
Plant of the Month: None
May 27, 2023
Speaker: Nancy Carol Carter – Kate Sessions
Plant of the Month: Beaucarnea
June 24, 2023
Speaker: Philippe de Vosjoli, Caudiciform Succulents
Plant of the Month: Echinopsis
July 22, 2023
Speaker: Steve Plath – Desert Restoration
Plant of the Month: Euphorbia millii
August 26, 2023
Picnic
Plant of the Month: None
September 23, 2023
Speaker: Jeff Moore – Dudleyas (new book)
Plant of the Month: Tylecoden
October 28, 2023
Member Book Reviews
Plant of the Month: Miniature aloes
November 18, 2023
Speaker: Ivon Ramirez (Zoom ) – Hechtias of Mexico
Plant of the Month: Holiday cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii, Schlumbergera truncata, Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri)
December 2022
Holiday Party
Plant of the Month: None
MONTHLY MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Meetings are the fourth Saturday of each month, with a few exceptions, at the Park Avenue Community Center in Escondido, 210 E Park Ave Escondido, CA 92025. Check the newsletter or website for the exact dates. The basic schedule is as follows, with times being flexible:
11:00 – 12:00 pmSign in, check out the Brag, Exchange, Benefit Drawing, and Sales Tables. Meet up with friends.
12:00 – 12:45 pmMeeting starts – Announcements, Club Business, Brag Table Judging
12:45 – 1:10 pmBREAK – Refreshments, chat with fellow members, enjoy all the plants
1:10 – 2:30 pm Name Badge Raffle, Main Speaker
2:30 – 2:50 pmBenefit Drawing followed by Exchange Table Drawing
2:50 – 3:00 pm Clean-up
Check-in Welcome Table – Members and guests sign-in here, join or renew their membership, order nametags, sign-up to bring refreshments, and get Name Tag Drawing tickets. There are also handouts, flyers, etc.
Programs – Experts in the hobby present a variety of programs, usually with a PowerPoint or slide show. Some are club members, but more often they are by other well-known guest presenters, some from around the world.
Plant of the Month – A different cacti/succulent is featured and there is a short presentation with basic information provided. Members are encouraged to bring in their specimens of the featured plant to share and to enter them in the Brag Table competition if desired.
Brag Table – Bring in your favorite plants and show them off! This is a mini-competition with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners chosen in Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced divisions of both cactus and succulents. Members get a chance to see each other’s special plants, and this is also excellent practice for our big October Show held at San Diego Botanic Garden. The judge shares details about the plants as they are evaluated. Winners earn 3 points for first place, 2 points for second place, 1 point for third place, plus 1 point for each plant entered. The points go towards choosing from a selection of beautiful gift plants at the December Holiday Luncheon.
Exchange Table – Cactus and succulent enthusiasts love to share, and this is the place! Bring in cuttings and/or plants, used pottery and get a ticket to participate in the Exchange Table drawing. Tickets are randomly drawn and each person chooses what they want from the wide assortment available. After all tickets are called, you can help yourself to what is left over. This is an excellent way to share your surplus and to collect cuttings or plants that you’ve been searching to find.
Benefit Drawing – Each month members donate plants, pottery, and/or other garden related items to the Benefit Drawing. These items should be a bit nicer than those for the Exchange Table. The club also provides plants to enlarge the selection. Tickets are $1, or 6 for $5, with proceeds going to the club. This is the place to pick up some excellent plants for a bargain.
Sales Table – Members sell plants they have grown or collected, in addition to pots, rocks, and other merchandise of interest to succulent fanatics. See our Treasurer for information if you are interested in selling.
Library – Our library has over 200 books, journals, etc. that members may check out. Many are not available at your local library. New books are purchased regularly, and we love suggestions.
Name Tag Prizes – To encourage members to sign in and wear their name tags so that everyone knows who you are, we have a name tag drawing. When you wear it to a meeting, make sure to get a ticket at the Membership Table to enter in the drawing. After the break, 3 lucky members will have their ticket chosen for a plant prize. You can order a name tag for $7 at the Membership table.
Refreshments – The club provides coffee and bottled water. Members take turns bringing in snacks for the break. Sign up and treat everyone to your specialty or something else tasty! If you are not able to bring something you may make a small monetary donation towards the cost.
Socialize – Spend some time with old friends and get to know other fellow club members who share this rewarding hobby. Introduce yourself to someone you don’t know. The club is full of wonderful people with a wide range of interests! They love to answer questions, so don‘t be afraid to ask!