The British Cactus & Succulent Society (BCSS) has around 90 branches which are organised into zones. Zone 9 comprises four branches, each with their own web site with full details of branch activities:
Our zone representative is John Foster.
We hold a one day convention each year in April, and a bi-annual cactus mart.
Sunday 20th April 2008
Hardwicke Village Hall, Hardwicke, near Gloucester
| Martin Lowry | Rebut's Jewels of the Andes Martin will take us on a digital stroll across the Andes viewing the
miniature gems from the genus Rebutia in their natural surroundings and
in cultivation. This talk is presented as a geographical perspective
of a popular group of species with personal observations on their
taxonomy, nomenclature and culture. |
| Petr Pavelka | Plant Hunting in Madagascar Petr will show slides of Madagascar's unique flora from 4 trips made
during 2003-2007. We will mainly see Pachypodiums and Euphorbias but
also Aloes (including the new A. droseroides), and plants from the
spiny forest.
Nature in Madagascar is under strong pressure by local people who want
to enlarge their farms, at the expense of nature,
but other places like the Itremo mountains
still have virgin natural habitats. |
| John Miller | Turbinicarpus in Habitat and Cultivation John is well known as the webmaster of the
Living Rocks of Mexico
website, as well as one of its editors. For a change however, we will
leave the Ariocarpus species on one side, and instead look at another
popular genus from Mexico, Turbinicarpus. John will consider these
choice plants in habitat, and also in cultivation, where their small
size, unusual appearance, and propensity to flower makes them
connoisseur's favourites. |
Hosted by South Wales Branch
Admission by tickets which must be purchased in advance.
Tickets £12 each, to include lunch and tea.
| 09:00 | doors open for set up of sales tables etc |
| 10:00 | open to ticket holders |
| 11:00 | John Miller: Turbinicarpus in Habitat and Cultivation |
| 12:30 | lunch |
| 13:30 | Petr Pavelka: Plant Hunting in Madagascar |
| 15:00 | tea |
| 15:30 | Martin Lowry: Rebut's Jewels of the Andes |
| 17:00 | end |
Tickets available from BCSS Zone 9 Branch Meetings, or directly from: Paul Bond, Sycamore Cottage, Far Hill, Trellech, Monmouth NP25 4PP (Telephone: 01600 860448)
There was no cactus mart in 2007.
The Neeld Hall has become prohibitively expensive and we are still looking for a suitable alternative venue.
Sunday 26th April 2009
Hardwicke Village Hall, Hardwicke, near Gloucester
Advance notice for next year's convention.
Hosted by Wiltshire Branch