To promote knowledge, enjoyment, cultivation, and conservation of cacti and other succulent plantsamong its members, other individuals and organizations throughout West-Central Colorado

APRIL PROGRAM: OUTDOOR CACTI & SUCCULENT CULTIVATION & Member Outdoor Plant Exchange!

Don Campbell will present a program on the cultivation of outdoor cacti and succulents at the Regular Meeting of the Chinle C&SS on April 12th. The members will meet at the CSU Extension garden (weather permitting) for a “hands on” tutorial on growing outdoor succulents and the challenges of helping plants recover from winter, insects, animals, drought and sometimes, neglect! Those members who have participated in the March garden parties will have had a preview of what to expect, but everyone will find the program informative and entertaining. After spending some time in the CSU garden, we will move the meeting activities to the Sagebrush Room for the business meeting, refreshments, and a member outdoor plant exchange. So be sure to gather up any cuttings or plants suitable for the outdoors and bring to the meeting to share and/or expand your own collections.

SPECIAL PROGRAM

FRIDAY, APRIL 20TH!“A South African Travelogue with Trevor Wray”

Members and the general public are invited to attend a stunning photo-graphic presentation on Friday, April 20th, by qualified British judge of cacti and succulents and colleague of Don Campbell’s, Trevor Wray. Trevor and his wife, Sue, travel here from the United Kingdom with his program, “Gardens of the Western Cape - A South African Travelogue.”

The presentation is not just gardens and not just the Western Cape! He’ll feature three of South Africa’s National Botanical

Succulent MorselsNews of the Chinle Cactus & Succulent Society

April 2012 Vol. 4, No. 4

Trevor & Sue Wray at the Equator on a Kenyan safari holiday.

Leucospermum ‘Sunrise’. A spectacular hybrid in the Protea family grown at Kistenbosch National Botanical Garden, South Africa.

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Gardens (especially the succulents), roadside stops for other interesting succulents and visits to two of South Africa’s biggest cactus and succulent nurseries. Trevor gives talks throughout the UK and has won numerous awards at the British Cactus and Succulent Society Shows. He says that he “enjoys visiting plants in habitat, cacti and succulents obviously, but also alpines and orchids. My wife and I love gardening and our garden is open every two years for charity. We also like to visit other gardens to relax or gain inspiration.” He has been growing cacti and succulents for 40-odd years--”no special favorites but anything that will tolerate the odd dip below freezing.” The program promises to be entertaining and most informative. Be sure to put this on your calendar and invite your friends!

LOOK ON PAGE 6 FOR MORE PREVIEWS OF TREVOR’S TRAVELOGUE!

PLANT SHOW WEST

REALLY SHOWED OUR “STUFF”

The weekend of March 3-4 was filled to the brim with cacti, succulents, orchids, African violets, Bonsai plants, herbs, and all the fresh and lovely plants at Bookcliff Nursery, the site of the show. The attendance for this event was outstanding, as was member participation.

Sincere appreciation goes out to the volunteers who staffed our display and sales area: Judy McCart, Janet & Bill Hassell, Maryann & Loren Benoit, Joy Bush, Pat Severson, Pam Johnson, Janet Schaeffer, Julie Bursi, Lynn Dunham (& George Dunham who transported all her plants), Don Campbell, Kathleen McGinley, Sandy McMacken, Bob & Judy Bubel, Kay Klausmeier, Gabriele Russell and Lilly McAnnally.

(L to R) Bill Hassell, Don Campbell, Lynn Dunham and Loren Benoit help set up on Friday, March 2nd.

Above right is the large Chinle Show Plant table. To the left, Maryann Benoit proudly displays the new Chinle display she developed. To the right, Bill Hassell & Kathleen McGinley check out the second Show Plant table.

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Left, Judy McCart discusses orchid cultivation with a member of the Orchid Society. On the right, John Moore examines plants on the Chinle sales area. John is a member of the Chinle Society, the African Violet Soceity and the Orchid Society--he had a busy weekend!

Sandy McMacken, Volunteer

Don Campbell’s “Mammillaria plumosa” won both Best in Show and the People’s Choice awards.

Lynn Dunham shared this lovely Euphorbia lactea cristata at the Plant Show.

This bizarre Tillandsia seleria

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was contributed by Janet

Schaeffer. Tom Burrows’ flowering Pachypodium brevicaule joined Janet Hassell’s smaller version of the same.

Janet Hassell (& Bill) were Show Coordinators.

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Don Campbell’s Euphorbia knuthii (L) & Raphionacme flanaganii (R) attracted much attention.

Other crowd pleasers (L to R) were Julie Bursi’s enormous Golden Barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii) and Janet Shaeffer’s Aechmea bromeliifolia v. albobracteata.

(L) Two lovely specimens of Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia millii) shown by Julie Bursi.

(R) Don Campbell’s Larryleachia cactiforme that decided to bloom during the show!

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CAPITAL REEF TOUR DATES CHANGED The Capital Reef trip originally scheduled for May 18-20 has been rescheduled to Saturday, May 12th through Tuesday, May 15th. This change was necessitated by not having a leader available to coordinate the trip May 18-20.

Pam Johnson and Dave McCullough will be the trip leaders for the new dates, and encourage members to contact them if they plan to join the tour. If staying through Tuesday, May 15th is a problem, participants are free to return to Grand Junction earlier.

At the end of this newsletter is a listing of various lodging options in Torrey, Utah.

Pam and Dave can be contacted at: 970-523-5443 (home) or email: pjohnson@fcfpremium.com

MARCH MEETING FEATURED PLANT EXCHANGE, WEB TOUR...........AND ICE CREAM!

New members, Deb & Glenn Mallory, Kathy Murdock and Martin Pitts (plus daughter Catherine & son Anderson), joined a good turnout of regular members at the March 8th Regular Meeting of the Chinle C&SS.

After a lively indoor plant exchange and ice cream and cookies, Tom Burrows, Chinle secretary and webmaster, took the group on a tour of the Chinle website. He demonstrated the ease with which one can navigate around the site, and shared many beautiful photos taken by Chinle members that are posted on our website.

Many members took home cuttings to plant in anticipation of Bloomin’ Deals in May.

Maryann Benoit reminded members of the first Garden Party, March 17th, at the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens, beginning at 9 am. “We’ll have goodies---but no green beer even if it is St. Paddy’s Day!”

RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP NOW! 2012 has arrived, and it’s time for membership renewal in the Chinle Cactus & Succulent Society! Dues for individuals are $20, for a family $25. You may send your renewal check to Chinle Cactus & Succulent Society, PO Box 20000-5028, Grand Junction, CO 81502, or bring your check to the March meeting. Your continued support of the Society is appreciated! And invite your friends to join!

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Roadside planting of Aloes on the way to the Worcester Botanic Garden

Aloe dichotoma. A cultivated plant of this tree at the Karoo Botanical Garden, Worcester

Obesa Part of the extensive cactus garden at the Obesa Nursery in Graaf Reniet, South Africa

PREVIEWS OF TREVOR’S SOUTH AFRICAN TRAVELOGUE

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FIRST GARDEN PARTY OF THE2012 GARDENING SEASON Eleven Chinle gardeners participated in the first garden party of the year, March 17th, at the Western Colorado Botanical gardens. Even Sigfried, the Garden Gnome (left), joined the group for the event.

The garden is in surprisingly good condition, particularly compared to last spring when there was significant frost damage. Of course, there were the early weeds to pull, the blown-in debris and leaves to remove, left-over dead heads to eliminate and a few dead plants for replacement.

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(L to R) Party-goers included Don Campbell, Janet Hassell, Kathy Murdock, Bill Hassell, Sandy McMacken, Wayne McMacken, Aiden McMacken, Glenn Mallory, Deb Mallory, Maryann Benoit, and Loren Benoit (behind the camera!).

Wayne, Sandy & Aiden brave the chill! Bill, Maryann & Kathy + tools of the trade!

Glenn Mallory and wife...... ...Deb!Agave parrii--lovely even in death.

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FIRST CSU GARDEN PARTY!

Six Chinle members descended on the Colorado State University Extension cacti & succulent garden on

Wednesday, March 28th, to begin the annual first clean-up after our unusually mild winter. From (L to R),

Maryann Benoit, Loren Benoit, Tom Burrows and Pat Severson. Not shown are Jack Neckels and Don

Campbell, who took this photo.

Attention Shutter Bugs!GET THOSE GORGEOUS PHOTOSSUBMITTED FOR THE CONTEST!!

Here are the guidelines for our photo contest:1. Submit your photo(s) for newsletter publication during the contest period (Feb 1 through October 31st). Just submitting them automatically enters the photo into the contest.2. You may submit as many photos as you like, but at the end of the contest period, you will be asked to choose one or two photos for judging.3. Please accurately identify plants, location of plant, date of photograph, etc. (if possible).4. Photos need to have been taken in 2012. 5. Subject matter is wide open, but should be related to cacti and succulents in some way. Suggestions? Interesting individual

plants, garden photos, plant flowers, “artsy” or photo-shopped photos of plants, plants in natural habitat, or just be creative. It’s OK to include people, birds, animals in the photos if related to cacti and succulents.

6. If you have a comment, story, or article to accompany the photo, go ahead and submit it.7. Please submit photos in full size jpg format to ensure the best quality. Send by email to Janet Hassell, janethassell@gmail.com.8. Janet Hassell will print the photos for viewing by the members at the November regular meeting. She will have the official judging done by knowledgable from outside the Chinle C&SS and winners announced at the ADM.9. There are many fine photographers in our membership! Take advantage of this opportunity to share your beautiful work!

Check out the examples below!

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Matucana aureiflora - photo by Don Campbell

Mammallaria duwei - photo by Janet Hassell

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NEW MEMBER CAPTURES ARIZONA FLAVOR Martin Pitts writes: “Thank you for the warm welcome. I look forward to learning more about these fabulous lifeforms. My son's name is Andersen and we know the indomitable...Catherine.

We just returned from our Spring break trip down to Southern Arizona, and I led my children astray into the thickets of the wild desert. I will need to start learning the Latin names for these beautiful plants. Our timing was lucky, the desert was blooming, and the weather was perfect! I look forward to our next meeting, let me know how I can be of help.”

Arizona wildflowers show off their colors in Marh 2012.(photo by Martin Pitts)

(L to R) Catherine & Anderson Pitts pose in front of Arizona octatilla & saguaro stands.

(Photo by Martin Pitts)

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THE LIGHTER SIDE

WOOPS & OUCH!!! Courtesy of @jtbourne and passed on by Don Campbell, comes this photo of one golfer’s particularly painful experience while playing some desert golf. According to the original tweet, this unidentified golfer apparently fell back into a Jumping Cholla during his swing, and as you can see, the situation got a little prickly from there.

For those unfamiliar with the cactus Cylindropuntia fulgida, the “jumping cholla” name comes from the ease with which the stems detach when brushed, giving the impression that the stem “jumped.” Often the merest touch will leave a person with bits of cactus hanging on their clothes to be discovered later when either sitting or leaning on them. The ground around a mature plant will often be covered with dead stems, and young plants are started from stems that have fallen from the adult. They attach themselves to desert animals and are dispersed for short distances.

“Goodness gracious, he resembles what a male, green porcupine suffering through the degrading and emasculating experience of quill loss might look like. Happens to the best of them, I guess.”

Chinle Cactus & Succulent SocietyRegular Meeting Minutes

February 9, 2012

Call to OrderThe meeting was called to order at 6:35 PM by President Bill Hassell at the Sagebrush Room at the Mesa County Fairgrounds.Secretary's ReportIt was moved, seconded [John Moore/Julie Bursi] and approved that the minutes of the January 12, 2012 regular meeting be approved.Treasurer's ReportLoren Benoit presented the Treasurer's Report.Members were reminded that now is the time to renew.Gardening CommitteeMaryann Benoit announced that the first gardening session of this year will be March 17 at WCBG.ProgramsLynn Dunham spoke about the next couple of regular meetings:

• March: Tom Burrows demoing the club's web site; ice cream social; indoor plant exchange.• April: Meet first at the Extension garden; Don Campbell will speak about cultivation of outdoor cacti &

succulents; outdoor plant exchange.Pam Johnson spoke about upcoming special events:

• Garden Tour to Montrose and Ridgeway, June 23?• Capitol Reef field trip, either Mother's Day weekend or the next weekend after.

Plant Show WestJanet Hassell needs plant identification info by February 24 from those exhibiting.Promotional ItemsJanet Hassell brought shirt/hat/logo samples and began taking orders. The initial ordering period will be until the week after the March meeting.

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Management Changes at WCBGIt was noted that management changes are occurring at the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens and we will be planning according.

Prepared by Tom Burrows, SecretaryFebruary 21, 2012

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTSAPRIL-JUNE 2012

APR 2 Chinle C&SS Board Meeting - 10 am 2666 Summer Hill Ct., GJ, CO

APR 12 Regular Meeting of the Chinle C&SS Program: “Outdoor Cactus & Succulent Cultivation” Presenter: Don Campbell Member Outdoor Plant Exchange 6:30 pm - Meet at CSU Garden for program, Mesa County Fairgrounds Sagebrush Room for meeting after program.

APR 14 SATURDAY GARDEN PARTY - WC Botanical Gardens - 9 am

APR 20 SPECIAL CHINLE PROGRAM WITH GUEST SPEAKER Program: “Gardens of the Western Cape -- A South African Travelogue” Presenter: Trevor Wray 6:30 pm - The Sagebrush Room, Mesa County Fairgrounds

APR 25 WEDNESDAY GARDEN PARTY - CSU Extension Garden - 9 am

MAY 7 Chinle C&SS Board Meeting - 10 am 2666 Summer Hill Ct., GJ, CO

MAY 10 Regular Meeting of the Chinle C&SS Program: “Scientific View of Cactus & Succulents” Presenter: Albert LaSalle, Retired Botany Educator 6:30 pm - Sagebrush Room, Mesa County Fairgrounds

MAY 12 SATURDAY GARDEN PARTY - WC Botanical Gardens - 9 am

MAY 10-15 Capitol Reef Weekend Tour & Cacti Hunt - Pam Johnson & Dave McCullough, Coordinators Details forthcoming!

MAY 23 WEDNESDAY GARDEN PARTY - CSU Extension Garden - 9 amJUNE 2 SATURDAY GARDEN PARTY - WC Botanical Gardens - 8 am

JUNE 4 Chinle C&SS Board Meeting - 10 am 2666 Summer Hill Ct., GJ, CO

JUNE 13 WEDNESDAY GARDEN PARTY - CSU Extension Garden - 9 am

JUNE 23 Annual Chinle Garden Tour (replaces June regular meeting)

JUNE 30 SATURDAY GARDEN PARTY - WC Botanical Gardens - 8 am

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SHARE THIS POSTER WITH YOUR FRIENDS & INVITE THEM TO THIS MEETING!

CHINLE CACTUS & SUCCULENT SOCIETYProudly Presents

TREVOR WRAY QUALIFIED BRITISH JUDGE OF CACTI & SUCCULENTS

FOR HIS STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRESENTATION:

“GARDENS OF THE WESTERN CAPE - A SOUTH AFRICAN TRAVELOGUE”

FRIDAY, APRIL 20TH, AT 6:30 PMTHE SAGEBRUSH ROOMMESA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS COMMUNITY BUILDING.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACTLYNN DUNHAM, PROGRAM COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONAT 970-243-1822

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2012 Chinle Cactus and Succulent Society Board President: Bill Hassell Secretary/Web Master: Tom Burrows Treasurer: Loren Benoit 970–263–0910 970–462–6767 970–254–7471

Vice President: Lynn Dunham Member at Large: Judy McCart Newsletter Ed: Janet Hassell 970–243–1822 970–623–9279 970–263–0910

Garden Committee: Maryann Benoit 970–254–7471

Chinle Cactus and Succulent Society usually meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm.Meetings are held in the Sagebrush Room at the Grand Junction Fair Grounds. Guests are always welcome.

CHINLE C&SS WEBSITE: www.chinlecactusclub.org CSU WEBSITE LINK: http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/TRA/PLANTS/chinlecactus.shtml

DIRECTORY OF MOTELS/HOTELS & CAMPGROUNDS IN THE CAPITOL REEF AREA