WHEN:
Saturday, August 22, 2026
9:00am to 2:00pm
WHERE:
Green Acres Elk Grove
9220 E Stockton Blvd
Elk Grove, CA 95624
WHAT:
SCSS volunteers will be hosting a table to inform participants and shoppers about the use and care of cactus and succulents and to raise awareness of our club.
Succulent repotting demonstrations will be held at 10:00am, 11:30am and 1:00pm.
Stop by and say hello!
Visit the Green Acres website for more information.
WHEN:
Saturday, September 12, 2026
9:00am to 2:00pm
WHERE:
2248 11 th Avenue
Sacramento, CA
WHAT:
Dave Roberts’ garden features many specimen cactus and succulents collected over the years. A former nurseryman and landscaper and now an avid gardener, Dave has a love of many
plants besides cactus and succulents. Both the front and back yards reflect an eclectic style.
But fear not: Cactus and succulents are not only in a planted section of the yard, but displayed throughout in pots.
A few highlights include a 50+ year old Bottle Palm, a 50+ year old Staghorn Fern and a 35+ year old Fan Aloe.
If you came by a couple of years ago, the ground bed has been upgraded with new specimens and several new potted specimens are in pots.
In addition, there will be plants for sale.
Popular speaker Ernesto Sandoval will take us on a natural history walk with Welwitschia and talk about growing this “it plant” from the Namib Desert.
He’ll share his many years of growing this species and many specimens from seed to mature plants, some quite unique.
In the process, Ernesto hopes to shed some myths and share some science on the cultivation and biology of this unique and often/sometimes poorly understood, and often-but-not-always-desert-dwelling species. Some terminology he’ll use and define includes gymnosperm, dioecious, phreatophyte, and indeterminate growth.
July meeting:
Monday, July 27, 2026
6:15pm -9:15pm
Doors open at 6:15 for plant sales and fellowship.
Program begins at 7 PM.
J.D. Wikert is a former fisheries biologist and worked on restoration of habitat for salmon in California’s Central Valley. He lives in Lodi, California. Previously, he worked in Florida sampling fish and doing lake restoration. He is a self-trained succulent hobbyist and usually has more than 150 flats of plants in his backyard. J.D. has been actively propagating succulent plants for over 20 years and has figured out how to kill most succulent species over that time. J.D grew orchids when he lived in Florida and is now learning more about terrarium plants and carnivorous plants. He is a member of both the Sacramento and Stockton Cactus and Succulent Societies, and has served numerous terms as president for the Stockton Club. J.D. began doing presentations as a way to learn more about the cactus and succulent hobby.
J.D. will provide a broad overview of the cactus genus Mammillaria. The presentation will include information regarding taxonomy, distribution, cultivation, and propagation as well as providing pictures of many of the more readily available species. Be ready to answer when J.D. asks where in the world you find Mammillaria in their natural habitat. The presentation is structured to provide value to people of knowledge levels from beginner to expert.
J.D. will bring plants to sell at the meeting. He can take cash or Venmo.
June meeting:
Monday, June 22, 2026
6:15pm -9:15pm
Doors open at 6:15 for plant sales and fellowship.
Program begins at 7 PM.
WHEN: Saturday, June 6, 2026, 10a – 2p
WHERE: 6101 Chrysler Cir, Garden Valley, CA 95633
(look for the big greenhouse)
SCSS board member Amie Frisch, the brain behind the online nursery Vivid Root,will open her greenhouse for club members. Explore hundreds of varieties of cacti and succulents and see a real working nursery.
There will be plants for sale, as well as light refreshments and shelter from the heat (if the day turns out to be hot).
Garden Valley is about an hour away from Sacramento, so you can make a day of it by visiting the American River, Marshall State Park (site of the original gold discovery), and other local attractions.
This February, Bill McCabe journeyed to the southern portion of Africa to experience the exotic sights and sounds of Namibia. At our May meeting, join Bill as he recounts his Namibian adventures and misadventures (of which there were a few). He will share stories of his travels with Peter Beiersdorfer and Jaan Lepson
of PB & J Plants — long-time vendors and great friends of the Sacramento Society.
Bill’s enthusiasm for cacti & succulents started when he was about 8 yrs old. The number of plants in his collection remained steady for many years and only recently crossed the line from hobby into obsession. He joined the Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society in 2015 and has been volunteering ever since. Bill has been the vendor coordinator for the annual sale since 2022 and is currently the Club President.
May meeting:
Monday, May 18, 2026
6:15pm -9:15pm
Doors open at 6:15 for plant sales and fellowship.
Program begins at 7 PM.
Exploring remote locations to try to find new species and decipher relationships between species can often get researchers into challenging situations on the sides of cliffs or in sketchy boats. Stephen has braved rough seas, steep climbs, and close encounters with dangerous wildlife as part of the process of naming five Dudleya species new to science. While describing these adventures, he will also talk about the many endangered species of Dudleya (a.k.a Liveforevers) and how grow them successfully.
Stephen McCabe worked in Yosemite for three summers, started studying Dudleya in 1983, then worked at the University of California Santa Cruz Arboretum for 30 years. His hobby of rock climbing has come in handy in accessing some of the species in the group he studies. He has published widely on the genus Dudleya and on a variety of subjects. Some of the publications were in Madroño, the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Fine Gardening, the Jepson Manual second edition, Systematic Botany, the American Alpine Journal, and Rock Garden Quarterly. He has named five species of Dudleya and has developed cultivars of Dudleya, monkey flower, × Gasteraloe, manzanita, and an Australian shrub. He was named the first and only Fellow of the Society for the San Jose Cactus and Succulent Society. Stephen and his brother Bill, our current club president, have been growing cacti and succulents since they were young.
April meeting:
Monday, April 27, 2026
6:15pm -9:15pm
Doors open at 6:15 for plant sales and fellowship.
Program begins at 7 PM.
SAVE THE DATE! Wednesday, April 22, 2025
WHAT’S HAPPENING? A Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society educational field trip to the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory.
The UC Davis Botanical Conservatory is home to a diverse collection of over 4,000 plant species from around the world, providing a unique space for education, research, and conservation. Our greenhouse showcases rare and unusual plants from tropical rainforests, arid deserts, and carnivorous habitats, offering visitors a hands-on experience with plant adaptations and biodiversity. Whether exploring on a self-guided
visit, joining a guided tour, or participating in internships and volunteer opportunities, the Conservatory is a hub for discovery and learning.
Join fellow plant lovers from the Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society for a 45 to 60 minute docent led tour of this botanical gem.
DATE: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
TIME: 9:45am at the Conservatory. The tour will begin at 10:00am.They will break us up into groups no larger than 15 people at a time.
COST: Admission to SCSS members will be free. Non members $14.00. WOW! For $15.00 a non-member can become a member!
PARKING: Weekday parking on the UCD campus is $18.00/day, no hourly rate. Besides being eco-friendly, carpooling can be good for your pocket book. We highly recommend forming carpools.
HOW TO SIGN UP: Simply fill out this form and you’re ready to go.
HAVE QUESTIONS? If you have concerns or questions about the trip, please contact Dave Roberts. Email: roblands94@gmail.com. Cell phone: 916/416-9368.
SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, April 11, 2026
WHAT’S HAPPENING? A Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society educational field trip to Poot’s Cactus Nursery in Ripon, about 1 hour south of Sacramento.
There are some of you out there who have never been to Poot’s Cactus Nursery?! The perfect opportunity to right that wrong is coming up on Saturday, April 11. It’s also the perfect time of
year to shop at Poot’s. The crew at Poot’s will have filled all of their tables with the new stock of plants for 2026. In addition to that, Poot’s is planning on having other Cactus Succulent Vendors at their place on April 11 th. Despite it being a busy day for the nursery, we should be able to take a behind the scenes tour of the propagation greenhouse.
Any Club members that wish to come should meet at Poot’s about 10 minutes before 9AM on Sat, April 11 (we want to avoid the rush). There is a small paved parking area directly in front of the nursery, as well as a larger dirt parking area. We can gather there and enter as a group.
DATE: Saturday, April 11, 2026
TIME: 8:45am at Poot’s
WHERE: Poot’s Cactus Nursery, 17229 E. Hwy 120, Ripon, CA 95366
COST: Free
HOW TO SIGN UP: No need to sign up. Simply show up at Poot’s before 9 am.
HAVE QUESTIONS? If you have concerns or questions about the trip, please contact Dave Roberts. Email: roblands94@gmail.com. Cell phone: 916/416-9368.
Mariel will have an open garden on Saturday, April 18, from 10 am to 3 pm.
WHAT: Mariel’s garden was recently was certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a wildlife habitat.
WHERE: Rancho Cordova (for address, see April newsletter emailed to members)
WHEN: Saturday, April 18, 10 am to 3 pm
