By Szymon Szary
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 – 7:00 pm Pacific Time (California)

Members and visitors can attend in person in San Francisco,
or register or join the meeting in progress on Zoom.

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Program Description

In October, Szymon gave a talk for SFSCS on his hunt for cacti in northern Chile, home to many iconic cactus species such as copiapoas. His talk covered the journey northward from Santiago to the northern part of the country, as well as up into the Andes. On this second installment, he will cover the journey back south, with stops at different places. He will show a variety of plants not seen in the first part, including bromeliads and other fascinating succulents, observing and documenting them in their natural habitats.

About our Speaker

Szymon has been keenly interested in cacti since childhood, and he worked for years at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek. He likes to go on backpacking trips in dry areas to see plants in habitat, and to learn about them and document them with photos. 

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Meeting Agenda

7:00 Mingling and announcements
7:30 Formal presentation starts promptly with Society business
7:35 Show and Tell Table
7:50 Leg stretch
7:55 Featured presentation

Show & tell table: Sansevieria on the succulent side, Eriosyce (including Neoporteria and Neochilenia) on the cactus table, and Othonna pachyforms, plus anything else that’s looking good or in flower.

Featured grower: TBD.

Snack table:, There will be a shared spread, but we suggest bringing something every couple of months if you partake regularly. As a thought, we are often short on drinks. 

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Watch Online

On Zoom: Register or join the meeting in progress.

We will attempt to simulcast on our YouTube channel.

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