Orange County Cactus & Succulent Society

When?
Wednesday, February 26th, 2025
Social time starts at 7:00 pm
Meeting starts at 7:30pm

Location: Anaheim United Methodist Church
1000 State College Blvd
Anaheim, CA

Visitors welcome!

Join us as we welcome Kelly Griffin, presenting: “Australia 2024: A Journey into the Outback / Cape York”

Kelly’s journey into the world of succulents began at a young age and has blossomed into a
lifetime passion. As a hybridizer and propagator, he has dedicated his life to exploring and
cultivating these fascinating plants. His global adventures have taken him to over 20 countries, with a particular focus on Madagascar and South Africa, where he has traveled five times each, Australia two times and an impressive 25 trips to Mexico.

Professionally, Kelly served as the Curator of Succulent Plants at Rancho Soledad Nursery for 11 years before taking on the role of Succulent Plant Development Manager at Altman’s Plants, where he has worked for the past 13 years. His expertise is highly regarded in the succulent community, especially for the hybrids he has created, surpassing 100 unique varieties now available in the trade. Among his notable creations are various Aloe hybrids and well-known Agave hybrids such as Blue Glow, Snow Glow, Cubic, Black and Blue, Lions Mane, Dragon Toes, Spawn, and Crème Brûlée.

Keen on sharing knowledge and supporting the community, Kelly has been an integral member of the San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society (SDCSS) since 1992. His leadership roles include serving on the board of directors for many years, with four years as SDCSS President and two years as Vice-President. In recognition of his contributions, he was honored to be named a Fellow of the San Diego Society. Currently, Kelly serves as a director on the board of the National Cactus and Succulent Society of America (CSSA), where he is also active on the conservation committee. He is the local convention chair involved in organizing the upcoming CSSA convention in San Diego, scheduled for April 23rd to 27th, 2025. This is an event~ in your backyard~ not to miss!

In his most recent endeavor, Kelly has co-authored a comprehensive book titled “Dudleyas” alongside Jeremy Spath and Jeff Moore. This beautifully illustrated volume spans 300 pages and features over a thousand photos, making it an invaluable resource about the Dudleya genus. After decades in the making, the book is finally available for purchase directly from Kelly; interested buyers can reach out via email @ kjgriffin2005@yahoo.com or on Instagram at kjgriffin9977. Both hardcover and softcover versions are available, and he is excited to sign copies for you at the upcoming meeting.
While the softcover edition is accessible on Amazon, Kelly asks readers to purchase directly, as this greatly supports his efforts. For those looking to deepen their knowledge of succulents and engage with an experienced hybridizer, mark February 26th on your calendar!

When?
Wednesday, January 15th, 2025
Social time starts at 7:00 pm
Meeting starts at 7:30pm

Location: Anaheim United Methodist Church
1000 State College Blvd
Anaheim, CA

Visitors welcome!

Join us as we welcome Bob Webb, presenting: “Astroloba and Haworthia”

Bob Webb has been growing succulent plants and cacti for nearly 40 years and has been the owner of Arid Lands Greenhouses in Tucson, Arizona, since 2006. For last 20 years, he and his wife Toni have travelled extensively in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula looking for succulent plants. Webb is the former chairman of the International Sansevieria Society and the current editor of its journal Sansevieria. He has described and named 15 species or subspecies of plants, including 2 Agave species from Baja California, Mexico, and 13 Sansevieria species, subspecies, or varieties from East Africa, South Africa, India, and Somalia.

When?
Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024
Social time starts at 7:00 pm
Meeting starts at 7:30pm

Location: Anaheim United Methodist Church
1000 State College Blvd
Anaheim, CA

Visitors welcome!

Join us as we welcome Dean Karras, presenting: “The Baja peninsula”

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, where he now serves as a member of the Board of Directors. When not busy propagating plants, Dean can be found exploring and photographing the Desert Southwest and Baja California, Mexico.

When?
Wednesday, September 25th, 2024
Social time starts at 7:00 pm
Meeting starts at 7:30pm

Location: Anaheim United Methodist Church
1000 State College Blvd
Anaheim, CA

Visitors welcome!

Join us as we welcome Craig Fry, presenting: “Growing Lithops and other difficult plants”

Craig Fry has been growing succulents for over thirty years and with his wife, Denise Fry, they have a small hobby business “C and D Plants”, canddplants.com. Craig has a degree in Biology and still works a full time job as an Industrial Air Pollution Engineer.

In my earlier life, I did years of rock climbing and wrote a series of Bouldering Guide books. And then some years of ski mountaineering and a broken knee made me look for hobbies closer to home. I caught the cactus bug and still love it.

When?
Wednesday, August 28th, 2024
Social time starts at 7:00 pm
Meeting starts at 7:30pm

Location: Anaheim United Methodist Church
1000 State College Blvd
Anaheim, CA

Visitors welcome!

Join us as we welcome Al Klein presenting: Growing Euphorbias

Al’s interest in the natural world started in his childhood. Growing up in Chicago he would make regular visits to 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.

After moving to California at the age of 17 he found his passion in plants.  He was amazed at the diversity and beauty of the flora of California.  He was employed by South Shores Nursery in San Clemente California while attending California State Polytechnic University in Pomona.  He received his Bachelor of Science in Ornamental Horticulture with emphasis in landscape design and retail nursery management.

After graduation he was hired by Rodgers Gardens in Corona Del Mar, California. Within a year he was promoted to Nursery Manager.  Soon Al had the opportunity to start a new business.  He was asked to help open a nursery-gift shop in Escondido California, called Canterbury Gardens and Gifts. Soon after he was asked to be a partner in the business. Al recently retired from Canterbury Gardens after 35 years of service. Al is now running his nursery business, Botanic Wonders full time, his true passion!  Botanic Wonders specializes in growing and selling of rare and exotic plants, including cacti, cycads, and rare succulents.

When?
Wednesday, June 26th, 2024
Social time starts at 7:00 pm
Meeting starts at 7:30pm

Location: Anaheim United Methodist Church
1000 State College Blvd
Anaheim, CA

Visitors welcome!

Join us as we welcome Ernesto Sandoval presenting: Success with Succulents: Their needs above and below.

What do succulents need to grow well and thrive?  Oxygen to the roots?  Water and how much?  Nutrients and pH… and how about light?  Ernesto will try to explain how all these can and should be managed for healthier happy plants.  In preparation, he encourages you to think about some plant challenges you might be having and to look up where your plants are from!

Jeff Moore will be giving a presentation on his new book on Dudleyas.

When?
April 24th, 2024 Wednesday
Social time starts at 7:00 pm
Meeting starts at 7:30pm

Location: Anaheim United Methodist Church
1000 State College Blvd
Anaheim, CA

Visitors welcome!  Light refreshments will be served.

In the plant world it’s rare to talk about the distinction between “growers” and “collectors,” but there’s a real distinction, and an important interdependence between the two. I consider myself a grower: I produce new plants from seed, and about 95% of my collection is seed grown. I see seedwork as the most essential part of the hobby, because it is through seeds that we get to experience the diversity that exists within a population of plants, and where you discover that each plant is an individual, with unique characteristics. Within cacti, you see variations in spine count, length, and color; tubercle depth, count; flower size and hue, and so on. In succulents like aloe, you can select for spotting, leaf color, and bumps… In fact, every group offers an array of variable traits, and these can be exploited! Selecting for traits within a species is one route to making plants that are more beautiful than those found in nature.

(Read more in our April Newsletter)