The Beaver Tale
November 2008
From the President: Fall weather has finally arrived, meaning cooler temperatures and shorter days. The plants seem to like the change. Out on the trails at the Springs Preserve the leaves on the Cottonwoods along the Cienega are turning gold and fall-blooming succulents like the Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii) and the Hummingbird Trumpet (Zauchneria californica) are brightening up the landscape. October saw a number of club members showing off their cacti and succulent creations at the Nevada Garden Club’s 2008 Mysterious Plant Show. Kudos to Joey Betzler and Alana Sullivan for organizing things as well as other club members Susan Kent, Pete Duncombe, Tom Garcia, Stephanie Thomas, and Donnie Barnet—just to name a few— for their wonderful entries. If you haven’t already done so, check out Susan’s photo slide show on the club web site at www.csssn.org. Victor Lindsey, our VP and programs guy, put together a field trip out to Nelson, NV, in October. I’m sure those that went will be sharing pictures taken, at the meeting coming up in November or at the December Holiday Party. Speaking of that, I hope to see everyone at the upcoming meeting on Thursday, November 6. We will be holding our annual elections, taking membership renewals for 2009, and discussing the December holiday gathering. Member Donnie Barnet will be doing a presentation on native plants in southern Nevada and the surrounding area. Donnie works with Pete Duncombe and Russ Harrison at the Springs Preserve, as most of you know, and is passionate about his love cacti and succulents. As per usual, there will be Board meeting starting at 6:00 p.m. before the general meeting at 7:00. Come early and bring a friend. Phil Lawton
PS: REPORTS ON THE OUTCOME OF THE FLOWER SHOW WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE WEB IN THIS NEWSLETTER ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2008. RESULTS WILL BE GIVEN IN PAPER FORM AT THE MEETING THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008, AS WELL.
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Next Meeting: November 6, 2008 Garden Center at Lorenzi Park 3333 W. Washington Las Vegas, NV General Meeting Starts at 7:00 PM. Please come early to help set up or stay late to help clean up! Board Meeting starts at 6:00 PM Members with last names ending in N-Z please bring refreshments.
PS: Please use the lobby area for the children’s quiet play area and utilize pre-meeting, postmeeting, and the break period for mingling. Try to refrain, if possible, from talking while the program is being presented so that all of us can enjoy it. The old adage, “If you are talking, you are not listening, and the person you are talking to can’t listen either…” applies. Thank you
Stay in touch at Meetings & on-line: YAHOO GROUP SITE: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/CSSSN/ WEB SITE: http://www.csssn.org/index.php?option=com _content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=37
Monthly Meeting Program: Cacti and Succulents of the Mojave Donnie Barnett will be giving the November meeting (usual place and time). Donnie works at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve on the horticulture team. The talk will be about the many wonderful and attractive cacti and succulents that grow in the Mojave Desert. Agave, yucca, nolina, cacti and dudleya will be highlighted in his slide show.
2008Officers & Committees: http://www.csssn.org/index.php?option=com_co ntent&task=view&id=16&Itemid=29
Membership Dues: Individual $15.00; Household - $25 Name(s): ____________________________________ _____________________________________________ Street: _______________________________________ City,State,Zip _________________________________ Phone: ______________________________________ E-mailaddress: ________________________________ Email & website are default methods of communication. If you have an e-mail address, we e-mail the newsletter. If you wish a paper copy, please notify Liz at
[email protected]. Dues can be paid at any monthly meeting, or you may mail them. Thanks for your continued interest! CSSSN – Membership P O Box 571101 Las Vegas, NV 89157
(Photos by Donnie Barnett)
CSSSN Events 2008-2009 GRAB SOMEONE & GO Date Range
Name
Location
Links
11/2/2009
Sandy Valley (near Jeanne)
Meet at the convenience store in front of Palace Station on Sahara just west of HWY 15 at 7:00a.m.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/grou p/CSSSN/cal///group/CSSSN?v=4& t=1225609200&i=104&pv=61
2/14/2009
San Diego Winter Show & Sale
Casa del Prado Balboa Park Downtown San Diego.
http://www.sdcss.com/
3/11/2009??
UNLV Educational Presentations?
UNLV Arboretum?
Details to be Determined
4/11/2009?
Plant Sale
Springs Preserve
Details to be Determined
4/10 to 4/15, 2009 CSSA's 33rd Biennial Convention
Westin La Paloma Resort, Tucson, http://www.cssainc.org/ AZ Page 2 of 4
SHORT STUFF ABOUT OR FROM SOME OF OUR MEMBERS DICK AND LIZ ASKEW have a problem common to many of us in the club. Actually, they have 332 cacti problems and 487 succulent issues. Liz has been collecting and resizing her collection (up and down) for 64 years, while Dick has had serious intentions for just the last couple of years. Before moving to Las Vegas in 1987, their home was near Lodi, CA. Liz was a member of the Stockton CSS and the San Jose CSS. Their 4-year-old shepherd mix “Maggie,” offers them grand companionship. Liz started doing our newsletter somewhere around 2002; she is still a newsletter coach, ensures that paper copies are mailed, and tries to keep a handle on membership. At our meetings, Dick is always around for set up, and sometimes the takedown, too. Dick will be assuming librarian responsibilities for the club very shortly.
JIM PETER’S RECIPE FOR BLACK BEAN DIP (He served this at Paula’s party) 1 pound dried black beans (or 3 small cans) 4cup sliced onions ½ cup chopped celery ½ pound ham luncheon meat or ½ pound bacon – cooked until brown – reserve fat 3 tablespoons oil Wash dried black beans and soak overnight (or two days) in 2 quarts of water. Cook beans until tender. Approximately two hours, adding water if needed. Fry ½ cup onions and celery in oil or bacon fat until tinged with brown. Remove ¾ (more or less) of beans with ½ cup water.
SUSAN KENT is our CSSSN digital newsletter editor and web site administrator. She and Flower (kitty) and Kukla, Fran, and Ollie (Parakeets) and her growing collection of plants now live in a small home of her own here in Las Vegas. She continues to live chapters in her life book. Her chapter on “The Turner-Greenhouse Days” has not been completely closed! A new chapter, already started, includes gardening with an HOA, and experiences with a new job. She is doing the interior horticulture at the J W Marriott Resort, Spa, and Golf over on Rampart. This assignment in life brings its laughs, more friends, and trials. As a lover of the desert and grower of cacti and succulents, we are used to having at least some degree of sunlight and enjoying beautiful odd plant forms. Most hotel people do not get that concept! Dormancy is not a word in their vocabulary. Everything needs to be shined, leafy, and green. Perhaps the biggest trial to overcome is learning to care for plants that grow in the near dark! Once life settles down a bit more, maybe she and Kris Turner, (others?) will hunker down and write a book on growing cactus and succulents here in Las Vegas. November Words of Wisdom--There are four basic states of consciousness, in other words, people generally react to any new situation in one of four ways: Aha!........Ho-hum…….Oy Vey!.......and Yum yum Dick Askew Page 3 of 4
Let cool a little and put in a food processor with the meat, fat, onions and celery. Blend until somewhat fine. Return to the cooking pot with remaining beans and cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring to prevent burning. Add water if necessary.
Enjoy!!
Victor Lindsey’s http://calplants.biz/ We are always looking for rare, special, and large specimen Cactus & Succulents to buy. Call 1-800-384-4559 E-mail
[email protected] Check out this valuable site!!!!!!! http://www.coldcacti.com/home Save 50% on Travel: http://victorlindsey.worldventures.com
If you have veggie or tropical plant gardening questions, contact club member, Leslie Doyle, aka the
“Tomato Lady”
http://www.sweettomatotestgarden.com Watch for her several Workshops around the Valley!
THE COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CACTI SUBIK & KUNTE----288pgs---2003 This book presents members of a single family of plants, the Cactaceae, to which all cacti belong. The first few pages give a rather concise review of botanical facts, growing hints, pests and diseases, and a brief overview of conservation of cacti and their influence on humankind. The remainder of the book classifies the cacti according to their geographical origins and a final chapter on cultivated hybrids and specialist varieties. I found the book rather easy to read (for a neophyte such as me)), and the comments on care and feeding most informative. Remember, all of our books may be checked out for one month at a time. *****CLOSING SALE***** Dave & Kris continue the process of closing Turner-Greenhouse- http://www.turnergreenhouse.com 645-2032 4455 Quadrel Street, Las Vegas, NV 89129 OPEN Friday, Saturday, Sunday ONLY New Hours those days: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM CLOSED THE REST OF THE TIME! Remaining inventory is available at a 40% price reduction. This includes ALL sizes of landscape plants, their private collection, pottery, and decorative yard art. st
1st come, 1 served. Plants selected & paid in full can be held for no more than 24 hours. (SORRY, NO “TAG & HOLD” FOR ANYBODY!) Master & Visa still accepted, but CASH & CHECKS PREFERRED.
A few new photos are being added to the website along with a few more links. If you have others that would be useful to add, please e-mail them to me at
[email protected]. PS: I would love some additional photos, but am wondering if you want the plant photos labeled with botanical names? Mistakes will be made, of course, but is the attempt worth it? If so, contributed photos must come to me with an attempt at identification. Thanks Page 4 of 4
I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU! This is YOUR NEWSLETTER. As the newsletter editor, I think it appropriate that club members contribute some content. Falling short of that, I would at least like to have suggestions about content. Here are some points to get you thinking: Did you like the crossword puzzles? Did they teach you anything? Did my occasional error at least make you laugh? Were the puzzles too big or too hard? Do you like knowing little “tid-bits” of information about club members? Do you want reports and photos on the field trips that some of the folks have been taking? Do you want book reviews? Do you want articles about specific plants? Do you want articles about landscape or interiorscape care? Please help me deliver what you want. It really is your newsletter. I am just giving you my time. Please help me make it worthwhile. Thank you and happy growing, Susan K. (
[email protected])
BE WISE TO THE SEASONS By now, you should have changed the number of times a week your landscape waters. It is a good idea to check your system for broken drippers, too. If you do not have sufficient water delivery out of all drippers, replace them and, maybe even purge the system. You could also start to plan for freezing temperatures. If you have frost tender plants in your landscape or on your patio, you MIGHT want to stock up on little Styrofoam “hats” for the columnar plants. Old blankets and sheets (never plastic) can make adequate throws in some cases. A strand or two of “Christmas lights” or the rope type lights can generate enough heat sometimes to keep plants cozy. Just as layering provides warmth to humans, layering of cardboard boxes, fabric, taller trees, and mulch can offer a great deal of protection to small or tender plants. Think now before it is too late!