For those who were tired of the lingering cool, gloomy days of May and June, your wish has come true. The hot dog days of summer are definitely here, and they appear to be staying for a while. How are you surviving the balmy weather? As you stay indoors to escape the heat outside, be mindful that our drought-tolerant plants are not all completely immune to the dry summer heat. Besides the obvious fact that they can tolerate longer periods of less or no watering than non-drought tolerant plants, they will fair better if you water them when the soil dries out. They can sustain sunburn from the intense one-hundred degrees-plus temperature. Find proper covers for them immediately as these burns remain permanent and worse yet, can lead to the demise of the plant. Just like a quick exposure to a freezing, cold winter night, getting exposed to the mid-day blazing, scorching sun is all it takes to damage your succulents. I have a few plants that have already succumbed to this heat. Please pay attention to the care of all your plants, as best you can.
The CSSA Biennial Convention last month welcomed members nationally and internationally back in person to Colorado Springs for four days of cactus and succulent talks and activities. There were well over 350 people attending the event. It was the biggest and best convention for CSSA to date and everyone was thankful to be able to meet again in person after a four-year absence. I will share some highlights with you in the newsletter and during the meeting.
This year will also mark the return of our annual Cactus Cook-off and BBQ potluck dinner. Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 9, 2023, starting at 4 PM in Yucaipa. We encourage everyone to attend with their family and/or a guest. Bring a dish even if you don’t have a cactus edible item to share. More details will be provided at the meeting.
Our guest speaker this month will present his talk from a somewhat different angle on how we view succulent plants. It is an intriguing aspect of succulent plants that many people often do not realize what’s there in front of them. Russel Ray can explain this phenomenon much better than I can describe it so you will just have to come to the meeting to hear his talk.
Sincerely, Phuc
Gates Cactus and Succulent Society 