The 2018 TACSS Fall Seminar in Dallas
The Texas Association of Cactus and Succulent Societies held its annual fall seminar at the Dallas Arboretum this year. Chilly and rainy outside, but warm and interesting inside. TACSS is composed of member associations throughout the state. Members from these...
Tricks to Having Success with Cactus and Succulent Seeds
Pam Schnebelen shared how to successfully germinate cactus and succulent seeds at the Mid-States Cactus and Succulent Conference this summer. Let me share some of her knowledge with you. Pam is the education director for the Henry Shaw Cactus and Succulent Society,...
Rob Wallace and Adaptations of Succulent Plants
The second presentation I want to share with you from the Mid-States Cactus and Succulent Conference comes from Rob Wallace, a botanist and biology professor at Iowa State University. The title of his talk, “Ecological, Anatomical, and Physiological Adaptations of...
Tracy Vymola and her Love of Adeniums
I promised to give a rundown on the instructive sessions from the Mid-States Cactus and Succulent Conference after we looked at the ones that shared their travels to exotic lands. I enjoyed those sessions, but thought I could also share some of the things I...
Mid-States Cactus and Succulent Conference
The initial reason we traveled to St. Louis, Missouri, the trip that I told you about in my last Bright Lights blog was so I could attend the Mid-States Cactus and Succulent Society Conference. Well, here’s how that that part of the trip went. After we spent the first...
Quail Come to the Garden
Two years ago when friend Elaine and I visited Wimberley, Texas, we both went home with rusty metal quails to use as garden decorations. I don’t know where Elaine put hers, but mine went on the shelf outside waiting for me to decide what to do with them. And there...
Ferocactus Hamatacanthus
I am still working on identification skills with my cacti, but I am pretty sure this one is a ferocactus hamatacanthus. Alas, this is also one I can’t remember how long I have had or where it came from, but I am sharing it with you because it grew and bloomed...
2018 Mid-States Cactus and Succulent Conference
I had the pleasure of attending my first Mid-States Cactus and Succulent Conference June 21-24 in Saint Louis, Missouri. The cactus meeting was the real reason for the trip, but since we had not been to Missouri, Bill tagged along and we had a great time. What we did...
Don’t Give Up on Your Ice Plant After Winter
Delosperma, commonly called ice plant, is popular for its mass of flowers throughout the warm months. During the winter, however, it leaves something to be desired. The flowers go away, the stems turn woody, and it looks pretty much dead. But wait! Don’t just pull it...
Echinocereus Reichenbachii Makes Stunning Flowers
May is the month for cactus flowers at my house, especially from the echinocereus reichenbachii, also known as the lace hedgehog, but I’ve never heard it called that. It is one of the most common Texas cactus found pretty much throughout a wide central strip of the...
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