They curl, twist, shoot straight up bristling, snuggle into pots
looking like balls of fur or lumps of stone and burst into
brilliant blooms in cerise, red, orange, yellow.
Some are hardy outside, while many others need the shelter of a
windowsill or greenhouse. We’re talking about those appealing
inhabitants of the plant world called cactus and
succulents.
Visitors can view an amazing variety of plants at the Cactus and
Succulent Society’s 36th-annual show and sale March 29-30 at the
Denver Botanic Gardens. Members will exhibit prize specimens and
plants for sale will include winter-hardy varieties.
If visitors purchase a plant, they can also buy from a
collection of attractive pots and members will – carefully – repot
the cactus, illustrating how to handle it without getting stuck.
Think wads of newspaper. Potting soils, fertilizers and books also
are on sale and lots of expert advice comes free.
There will be hourly drawings for free plants.
The club, which welcomes new members, was formed in 1972 and has
150 members throughout Colorado and elsewhere in the
country.
The annual show and sale is the only fundraising event and with
funds raised, the club has contributed to other organizations such
as the Denver Botanic Gardens, Butterfly Pavilion and the botanic
garden in Grand Junction.
A number of the club members live in the south metro area,
pursuing this prickly passion. Among Littleton residents: Dana
Such, a veteran grower who owns a home greenhouse and “has won tons
of ribbons,” according to Colorado Cactus and Succulent Society
president Theresa Mercado; longstanding member Bob Vick, an
ex-president of the society and also an expert grower. The
organization welcomes young members and Peter Szilagyi is an
enthusiastic club member who has gone on many field trips with the
group.
Club members have monthly meetings and schedule outings to seek
native cactus and to visit members’ collections.
303-566-4111 | sellingboe@ccnewspapers.com