Grit Dwellers, Quartzfields and Kokerbooms: Succulent Plants of the Western Cape

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With Fred Dortort
Tuesday, August 16, 2022 – 7:00 pm Pacific Time

NOTE: Members and visitors can attend in person in San Francisco, or watch on Zoom.

Program Description

Fred Dortort, author of The Timber Press Guide to Succulent Plants of the World as well as numerous articles for the Cactus and Succulent Journal, will be showing us what he saw on his recent trip to South Africa. He’ll be focusing on plants from the Western Cape regions, covering the Little (Klein) Karoo, the Tankwa Karoo, parts of Namakwaland and the Knerverslakte quartzfields, along with some other adjacent, succulent-rich areas. Many of the succulents that grow here specialize in very odd habitats, some of which extend for miles and others for only a few square feet.

This most recent trip, in April and May, came towards the end of the dry season, for most of this vast area is in the winter rainfall zone. Many succulents are huddled down or even pulled underground at this time, but many of them also have decided on this time of year as their flowering season. The “tour” is also going to feature a number of photos from earlier trips, made in the South African winter and early spring, when some of the same plants are at their growing peak. The contrast may be quite enlightening for those of us who strive to grow some of these choice, often dwarf, species.

For the show and tell table this month, bring Euphorbia, Copiapoa, or anything else you might think of that deserves its chance to shine.

This month’s featured grower is Fred Dortort

There will be no shared snack table this month, but you can bring your own.

Current SF Covid requirements for our venue: Masks and vaccination recommended. We will keep doors open to ensure adequate ventilation.

Watch Online

On Zoom: Register or join the meeting in progress

Or watch the simulcast on our Facebook page: http://fb.me/sfsucculent

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

Upcoming Events

  • Sept 20, 2022 – Ernst van Jaarsveld, on cliff-dwelling succulents of SA