Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society

Author: gerhard

  • Next meeting, May 18, 2026: Bill McCabe on his (mis)adventures in Namibia

    Next meeting, May 18, 2026: Bill McCabe on his (mis)adventures in Namibia

    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.

  • Vivid Root open greenhouse, June 6, 2026

    Vivid Root open greenhouse, June 6, 2026

    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.

  • Next meeting, April 27, 2026: New and Old Adventures in Dudleya with Stephen McCabe

    Next meeting, April 27, 2026: New and Old Adventures in Dudleya with Stephen McCabe

    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.

  • Mariel Dennis open garden, April 18, 10-3

    Mariel Dennis open garden, April 18, 10-3

    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

  • Field trip to UC Davis Botanical Conservatory – April 22, 2026

    Field trip to UC Davis Botanical Conservatory – April 22, 2026

    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.

    Register Here!
  • Theresa Roberts open garden, March 28, 1-5

    Theresa Roberts open garden, March 28, 1-5

    Theresa will have an open garden on Saturday, March 28, from 1-5 pm.

    WHAT: Cactus & succulents, small greenhouse, California natives, hardy tropicals, succulent seascape, garden art.

    WHERE: Fair Oaks (see March newsletter for address)

    WHEN: Saturday, March 28, 1-5 pm

  • Field trip to Poot’s Cactus Nursery – April 11, 2026

    Field trip to Poot’s Cactus Nursery – April 11, 2026

    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.

  • Next meeting, March 23, 2026: Getting ready for the May Show

    Next meeting, March 23, 2026: Getting ready for the May Show

    The Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society Show and Sale will be on May 3-5, 2026. This is the time for club members to show your plants in either novice or advanced categories!

    The March meeting will focus on how to show your plants to best advantage. Club members who volunteered will bring in plants and get expert feedback on those plants grom Keith Taylor, Penny Newell and Cassidy Roberts-Yee, club members who have had winning entrants. Ok you club members who volunteered, please remember to bring those plants in!! Details on the judging, entering of plants for the judged show, and general ins and outs of the annual sale will be covered.

    Even if you do not plan to enter plants this year (but we hope you will), the growing and showing tips to be offered will help get those “up and comers” growing beautifully and ready for next year or for display in your garden. Please feel free to bring photos of any plants you would like to get feedback on, as time permitting, there may be opportunity in a small group format to talk about those plants with other club members.

    March meeting:

    March 23rd, 2026
    6:15pm -9:15pm

    Doors open at 6:15 for plant sales and fellowship.

    Program begins at 7 PM.

  • Gerhard Bock open garden, March 7, 11-3

    Gerhard Bock open garden, March 7, 11-3

    Gerhard will have an open garden on Saturday, March 7, from 11 am to 3 pm. Even if you came to Gerhard’s open garden in October, there’ll be plenty of new things to discover. Plus, the aloes should be in full bloom, including some fairly mature specimens.

    Check out this photo from last year. To see more pictures, visit his blog, Succulents and More.

    WHERE: Davis (see February newsletter for address)

    WHEN: Saturday, March 7, 11 am to 3 pm

  • Next meeting, February 23, 2026: Plant Show & Tell with Cassidy Roberts-Yee

    Next meeting, February 23, 2026: Plant Show & Tell with Cassidy Roberts-Yee

    Cassidy wiil show you plants and tell you about them!

    Rare and exotic plants that you may not have seen in person will be featured. Cassidy is a club member and owns Radiant Cactus. He will be a vendor at the club May show.

    Come to the meeting to see and hear about some special plants!

    February meeting:

    February 23rd, 2026
    6:15pm -9:15pm

    Doors open at 6:15 for plant sales and fellowship.

    Program begins at 7 PM.