National Capital Cactus & Succulent Society Logo
 National Capital Cactus and Succulent Society

The next Regular Monthly Meeting of the National Capital Cactus and Succulent Society of Washington, D.C. will be on
  Sunday, June 16, 2013

Astrophytum asterias in flower

Astrophytum asterias 

The genus Astrophytum is small, with only six species, but all six species are wonderfully attractive plants, and many believe A. asterias is the best.  Unfortunately, it has the reputation of being the hardest to grow.  The common name of Astrophytum asterias is the sea urchin cactus.  It is a small, flattened, globular cactus with no spines.  The plant body has eight low ribs with large, woolly areoles. The flowers are spectacular.  They are large, 2 inches in diameter, yellow, sometimes flushed with pink.  A. asterias is native to Mexico, and extreme south-east Texas.  The pictured plant was grown by NCCSS member Bob Stewart. 
  

 Sempervivums  (Hen and Chicks)

Sempervivums

For More Photo's Visit Our  Plant  Gallery

The Plant Gallery features photos from our recent newsletters and photos of our member's plants and plant related activities.  Here's a section of the sempervivum collection of member Bob Stewart.  Semps are one of the unsung heroes of the succulent world.  They have colorful and attractive foliage, they are easy to grow, they are immune to the cold of winter, and they propagate themselves.  Unfortunately, they are difficult to grow well in the frost free parts of the world, but those areas have so many other choices in succulent plants it's an acceptable trade-off.  Long live the Semps!   
Behnke's Nursery Garden Party
June 8, 2013  10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The National Capital Cactus and Succulent Society will have an information table at the Behnke's Nursery Annual Garden Party on June 8, 2013.  Behnke's is located at 11300 Baltimore Ave.  Beltsville MD, 20705.  Phone 301-937-1100   We will have handouts on selecting and growing cacti and other succulents plants, a display of weird and unusual plants, and members on hand to answer questions about our society or succulents plants. 

The Behnke's Garden Party is a connection between plant societies in the Washington, D.C. area and the gardening public.  Many plant societies will be represented as well as area Master Gardener groups.   If you are interesting in cacti and succulents please stop by and visit with us.  

The program for the June 2013 NCCSS meeting will be
Getting Ready for the 2013 NCCSS Show and Sale
presented by a Panel of NCCSS Members

Our Annual Show and Sale will be held on Saturday August 3rd and Sunday August 4th 2013 at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland. At our June 2013 meeting a panel of NCCSS members will discuss preparing plants for the show, and how plants are entered in the show.  The panel will also discuss preparing plants for our sale.  The Show and Sale is an important event for our Society and June is the time for selecting and preparing plants for both the show and sale.  In addition we will have our annual Plant Identification Clinic during the meeting.  Anyone with a cactus or other succulent plant in need of a name, bring it to the meeting and a name shall be given (hopefully). For more information about our society and directions to the monthly meetings, contact Lee Miller   leejmiller@verizon.net or Bob Stewart  stewart723@gmail.com.  

The National Capital Cactus and Succulent Society

The NCCSS is a group of individuals sharing an interest in the collecting and growing of cacti and other types of succulent plants.  We meet  once a month from September through June.  In August we hold an annual plant show and sale at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland. Our Regular Monthly Meetings are held at St. Anselm’s Abbey School at 14th & South Dakota Ave. N.E. Washington, DC.  Our meeting begin at 10:30 a.m. and end at Noon.   If you live in the Washington, D.C. area and are interested in succulent plants, why not visit one of our meetings and share your interest with others who also love these weird and fascinating plants.  
Would You Like To Know More About Aeoniums?

Society member Donna Kuroda presented a program on Aeoniums at our October 2011 meeting and she has agreed to allow you access to that program through a PDF presentation.  Just click here on the word AEONIUM  to call up the program.  This is a large file and make take a minute or two to load, depending on the speed of your computer.

Yes, you can grow cacti in your Washington, D.C. area landscape.

The photo below was taken during the winter of 2009-10  in the backyard of a home in Charles County Maryland, just southeast of Washington, D.C.  The cacti shown in the photo have been growing outside for the past 12 years.  They are not brought inside or protected in any way during the winter.  The most serious winter damage occurs from stem breakage due to the weight of heavy wet snow or ice.  There are a large number of cacti and other succulent plants that can withstand winter conditions, and they can be used to develop a very interesting and enjoyable part of any landscape.  One of the best places to learn about winter hardy cacti and succulents for the Washington, D.C. area and, and have the opportunity to buy plants is our Annual National Capital Cactus and Succulent Society Show and Sale.   This year our Show and Sale will be on Saturday, August 3rd and Sunday, August 4th at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland  The Show and Sale will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, and from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.  For directions to Brookside Gardens check out their webpage at        http://www.montgomeryparks.org/brookside/

Winter Hardy Bed in Spring

The tall, cylindrical stemmed, plants in the photo above are cholla cactus.  The scientific name is Cylindropuntia imbricata. They are winter hardy in the Washington, D.C. area and make a fine addition to any winter hardy cactus and other succulent planting.  The cacti with the round stems are prickly pear cactus.  The scientific name is Opuntia phaeacantha.  They too are winter hardy in the Washington, D.C. area. 

Membership & Dues:

To join the National Capital Cactus and Succulent Society contact Lee Miller   leejmiller@verizon.net or Bob Stewart  stewart723@gmail.com.    If you would like a sample of our most recent newsletter, The Eastern Spine, contact newsletter editor Bob Stewart. Annual membership dues are $15.00 per individual and $20.00 for a family.  There's a five dollar deduction for those receiving their monthly newsletter via email.  

The Cactus Mall Web Site
http://www.cactus-mall.com/ is a wonderful clearing house of cacti and succulent information.  It has lists of world wide clubs, nurseries, home pages, photos, etc. all centered around succulent plants. If you are looking for one stop shopping for information on succulents, this is it.

 
Monthly Newsletter:

The Eastern Spine is the official newsletter of the National Capital Cactus and Succulent Society.  It is  published monthly, September through June and is included with your society membership. Join our club and get your own copy delivered to your mailbox.
Click Newsletter to view the April 2013 newsletter in PDF format.  When you are finished reading the newsletter, hit the BACK button on your browser to return to this page.  If you would like a complementary copy of our upcoming May 2013 newsletter just drop me a note. 
stewart723@gmail.com

Purpose of the National Capital Cactus and Succulent Society:
  • the study, culture, and propagation of cactus and other succulent plants;
  • to exchange information among interested persons and organizations, and to further the education about and understanding of succulent plants and their habitats;
  • to encourage conservation of plants and preservation of natural habitats;
  • to affiliate or associate with other organizations of similar purpose;


Benefits of the National Capital Cactus and Succulent Society:
  • Share ideas and techniques with other cactus and succulent growers.
  • Interesting and informative programs.
  • Good fellowship and refreshments.
  • Use of an extensive club library.
  • A monthly newsletter, The Eastern Spine.
  • Sales table with members plants and related items.
  • Monthly raffle of donated plants and related items.
  • Annual Show & Sale at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland

Programs:

Our program committee arranges for us to have a unique event each and every month. These consist of lectures, slide shows, informal discussions and presentations; they are always interesting and informative.

Plant of the Month:Mammillaria longimamma

Each month a succulent genus, or special selection of succulent plants are featured as our plant of the month.  Our plant of the month for May 2012 was Mammillaria longimamma.  This small cactus with the long, thick tubercles and bright yellow flowers is not often seen in cultivation, but it is an attractive plant that's easy to grow and flower.  It is native to Mexico.  It is not difficult to grow and over time forms large clusters of stems.  As seen in the photo on the right, the flowers are large for a mammillaria and bright yellow, again unusual for a mamm.  It was originally consider so different from most mammillarias that it was placed in the genus Dolichothele, but most botanist now consider it a Mammillaria, albeit an unusual one.  

Information on Growing Succulent Plants:

One of the important aspects of growing healthy succulent plants is using the proper potting soil mix.  You can read the NCCSS Potting Soils for Succulent Plants handout by clicking right HERE.

Plant Sales:                                                                                                             

If you have any surplus plants, seeds, pots, books or any other plant related items you want to sell, you can bring them to the meeting. Set your own price. 25% goes to the club to buy new books and cover other club related expenses.

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History:

First meeting was held July 21, 1974 at the Samson House at Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD. The club newsletter, The Eastern Spine, became official for the November 1974 meeting. The club began its affiliation with the Cactus & Succulent Society of America with the adoption of the By-Laws at the September 15, 1974 meeting.

Extra-Curricular Activities:

  • Annual Cactus & Succulent Show & Sale.
  • Summer field trips.
  • Summer picnic.
  • Holiday Buffet at St. Anselm's Abbey School in December.
NCCSS Officers for 2012/2013

President: Donna Kuroda
Vice-President: Ben Burkhardt
Recording Secretary: Ric Tursan
Membership Secretary: Lee Miller
Treasurer: Lee Miller
Directors at large: Bob Petza
Bob Stewart      
Newsletter Editor
 Bob Stewart
Librarian
 Ben Burkhardt


Links to Gardens and Other Societies in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area: Cactus and Succulent Society of America  (CSSA)CSSA Logo

The National Capital Cactus & Succulent Society is an affiliate society of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America.  For more information about the CSSA see their web site at: http://www.cssainc.org

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The NCCSS  web site is maintained by Bob Stewart

The NCCSS Web Site is part of the Cactus Mall Web System
Use the Link Below to Visit the Cactus Mall Site

The Cactus and Succulent Plant Mall