Greetings Gates!
Our Show and Sale is almost upon us! Only a few more sleeps until we can give the city of Redlands a real treat!
I highly encourage all of you to not only attend, but to enter your plants into the show. Make this the year you submit plants for the first time… Or make this the year you submit even more plants! Remember, it’s not about entering to win, but to showcase your beautiful collections and give the public a chance to see many cacti and succulents that they otherwise would never see. For some people, a big box store’s cactus selection is their only narrow glimpse into the diversity of form, color, and beauty that we see everyday when we tend to our collections.
Since the show and sale overlaps with our regular monthly meeting cadence, we will not have our “second Friday of the month” meeting. Meetings will resume next June on Friday 06/13.
At the end of the newsletter I have once again included the schedule of events (dates and times) for our show and sale. I have also included the rules/ regulations, categories, competitive classes, and award information. We will have copies of the show indices available to consult while you are filling out your entry cards (I encourage you to print out a copy for your own use to save time). If you are unsure of a plant’s entry category, please see show chairperson Kim Urman or an available volunteer. Please pay particular attention to the drop off and pickup times. The cut off for show plant drop off is 1PM on Friday May 9th. This doesn’t mean you show up at the last minute right before 1PM to start filling out your entry cards… this means your plants are entered and the building is clear by 1PM. Our clerks and judges need ample time to not only ensure all plants are in the correct categories, but also have the plants judged in a timely manner. A final reminder to point out is that your plants are pest-free. Any plants showing signs of disease or pest/ parasite infestation will be pulled from the show. Make sure your pots don’t have any stow-aways like ants!
This past month the Cactus and Succulent Society of America (”CSSA”) had their biennial convention in San Diego. Hundreds of people attended and experienced an amazing event filled with knowledgeable speakers, wonderful workshops, and of course, amazing plant shopping opportunities.
Finally, I have attached the show indices and schedule/ program for the CSSA’s 58th Annual Show and Sale as PDFs to the newsletter email. Please do not confuse the CSSA indices and schedule for ours.
All my best,
Jeffrey Loew
Gates Cactus and Succulent Society 