Al’s interest in the natural world started in his childhood. Growing up in Chicago he would make regular visits to the Field Museum of Natural History, and read books on the natural sciences. His favorite hobbies were growing exotic plants like cacti, and collecting fossils, minerals, and insects.
Category Archives: Speakers
CSSA Webinarby Jakub Jilemicky April 1st
Jakub Jilemicky: The Best Haworthias in the Western Cape of South Africa.
CSSA Webinar by Martin Lowry on March 4th
Bolivia’s Amazing Diversity of Cacti Saturday, March 4th at 10 am PST. Everyone is welcome to attend!
Woody Minnich | March 1st Speaker
Gates October Meeting, January 4th at 7pm PST. Breslin will explore multiple connections between contemporary and emerging research methods in plant conservation and the ways we raise our plants.
Peter Breslin | January 4th Speaker
Gates October Meeting, January 4th at 7pm PST. Breslin will explore multiple connections between contemporary and emerging research methods in plant conservation and the ways we raise our plants.
Buck Hemenway: Webinar
Survival of the Fattest 2023. Saturday, January 7th at 10 am PST. When supply of water is so unreliable, plants find a number of ways to adapt to these harsh conditions.
Dean Karras | November Meeting Speaker
Dean Karras began collecting and growing cacti from seed as a hobby in 2008. He has been a member of the Palomar Cactus & Succulent Society since 2017, and a member of the San Diego Cactus & Succulent Society since 2019
Karen Ostler | October Meeting Speaker
A brief look at the Genus Mammillaria, focusing on both the beauty and the oddities of one of the cactus world’s favorite plants.
Dr. Kristen Lear and Steve Plath CSSA Webinar
The Bat Conservation International’s Agave Restoration Initiative aims to restore native agaves and natural Agave habitat across six U.S. and Mexican states.
Kelly Griffin | August Speaker
Kelly Griffin is a succulent plant hybridizer, propagator, and avid plant explorer. Like many of us, his interest in plants and particular succulent plants started at a fairly young age.
Gates Cactus and Succulent Society 