September - SACXS Home

SACXS FACTS
Newsletter for the San Antonio Cactus
and Xerophyte Society
September 2010
Volume 22, Number 9
“The San Antonio Cactus and Xerophyte Society was organized in 1977 to promote the
study, propagation, conservation and public awareness of cacti and other succulent plants.”
President’s Letter
Greetings Fellow SACXS Members,
I hope you will welcome our new board taking over leadership this month. They
deserve your support. Many members are continuing to serve on the board for a second term, but we have some new members as well. Please feel free to voice your
opinions to the board members. Let us know what you like or what things may need to
be changed. Just remember to be positive. All members are welcome at monthly
board meetings which are held on the second Monday at 6:30 at Claude and Eula
Townsend's home.
I'm sorry I was unable to attend the August meeting. It happened to coincide with
my school district's evening “Meet the Teacher” activities. I am told that Claude did an
admiral job in my stead. My thanks to Claude, as well as to Sydney Yarbrough for conducting the installation ceremony and to Ann Black, our August speaker.
Sam Rodgers is already on the job as third vice president in charge of arranging
field trips. Two field trips to the Eagle Pass area were arranged for
the last week of August. I hope some members were able to attend and found some interesting cactus and succulents. I was not
able to make it, and I am sorry I missed this field trip.
Two important events are coming up in October. The TACSS
seminar will be held in Houston on October 2. I hope we will have
some good representation from SACXS. Our annual picnic will be
held at my home later in October. The date has yet to be decided,
but will be announced at the September meeting and in the October newsletter. Hope to see everyone at the September meeting. Thelocactus bicolor:
Barbara Schulze, SACXS President
Glory of Texas
Visit our website at www.sacxs.org
Don’t Miss the September Meeting! Read on for Important Information!!
SACXS Board Members
President: Barbara Schulze 830-281-5766 1st Vice President: Claude Townsend 210-655-8959
2nd Vice President: Tony Garcia 210-733-7470 3rd Vice President: Sam Rodgers 210-240-7721
Secretary: Bjorn Steffenson 210-479-3717 Publicity Secretary: Eula Townsend 210-655-8959
Treasurer: Doug Coates 210-659-7279
Directors: David Dawson 210-336-8621, Gerald
Yarbrough 210-435-7157, Ernie Akers 210-521-5772
SACXS FACTS Editor: annblack@gvtc.com
September 15 Meeting Information
...September Speaker
to be Announced…
Claude is working on a program for September.
Info will follow in a separate announcement next week.
Please check your email and the website. Www.sacxs.org.
SACXS meets at the San Antonio Garden Center.
Social time begins at 6:30 pm. The meeting starts at 7:30 pm.
Visitors are welcome. For more information call or email
Claude at 210-655-8959 or ctownsend@satx.rr.com
September 15 Member Assignments
Auction:
*Sam Rodgers 210-240-7721
Barbara & Randy Schulze 830-281-5766
Judy Terry 210-655-8960
Claude & Eula Townsend 210-655-8959
Felix Vargas 210-449-3668
*First person on each list, please call the others to remind them.
Refreshments:
*Doug Coates 210-659-7279
Robert Powers 951-259-0041
Kacey Reeves 210-625-1768
Don & Trinie Reiter 210-681-2402
Jim & Lucy Roberts 830-980-4107
*First person on each list, please call the others
to remind them.
Please feel free to call Cal Eichler if you have any questions.
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SACXS FACTS
DUES ARE DUE!!!
The new SACXS fiscal year began
on September 1st. According to our bylaws, membership dues are $10 per person and $15 per family.
The following exception applies to new members
only: Dues paid on or after July 1st of any given
year will be designated as payment of dues through
August 31st of the following year.
This is also a good time to update your information on file with our Membership Chairman.
Please check your address and email address
when you renew your membership.
Thanks!
Congratulations to the 2010-2011
SACXS Executive Committee
(Board of Directors)
Best Wishes and Good Luck to the following
Board Members as they begin their new term:
Barbara Schulze-President
Claude Townsend-1st VP Programs
Tony Garcia-3rd VP Membership
Doug Coates-Treasurer
Sam Rodgers-Field Trips
Directors: D. Dawson E. Akers
G. Yarbrough
Eula Townsend-Publicity
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SACXS FACTS
Welcome New Members!!
New to SACXS in 2010? We’re glad you’re here! Don’t be shywalk around and introduce yourself to our club members. We
want to know who you are! Be sure to ask about ordering your
SACXS nametag (see Cal Eichler at the meeting).
Don’t forget to sign in at the attendance roster. Please check
your demographic information-make sure we have your correct
email and postal addresses and your phone number.
Needed...small plants (both cacti and other succulents) for the membership table. These little plants will be given to our new members and guests.
Donated plants should be in good condition and labeled when their name
is known. Please give you plant donations to Cal Eichler
at meetings throughout the year. Thank you!
Our new members really appreciate these little plants!!
Austin Cactus & Succulent Society 2010 Fall Show & Sale
Labor Day Weekend
Saturday - Monday, September 4th - 6th
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Austin Area Garden Center at Zilker Botanical Garden
Park at the garden or across the street.
► FREE admission!
►Plant Show with specimen cacti & succulents
►Plant Vendors from Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma
►Handcrafted pottery by Austin artists
David Gutman & Rick Van Dyke
►Daily silent auction and hourly plant raffles
►Expert advice and free literature available
For more information, contact Bob Barth at 512-327-1173
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SACXS FACTS
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SACXS Board Meeting Minutes for July 13, 2010
1. Meeting was called to order at 6:40PM in the home of Claude Townsend
2. Members present: Barbara Schulze, Claude Townsend, Chad Booth, Cal Eichler, David Dawson, and Bjorn Steffensen.
3. Approval of Minutes
Barbara Schulze called the meeting to order. Bjorn Steffensen read the minutes from the June 8, 2010 Board Meeting. The minutes were approved (Chad moved, Cal seconded) with the following modification: Under item 14. Bylaw amendment and changes, the last sentence “There
was not a majority among the Board members in support of the change in the by-laws at the meeting” was deleted.
4. Treasurers Report
Treasurer’s report at the 7/13/2010 Board meeting:
Chad Booth reported on the activities in the club account. The final amounts and balances were not finalized at the meeting and Chad would
bring typed summaries to the general meeting. Expenditures included new member plants purchased by Cal Eichler. Two membership checks
remain in need of correction. Barbara will check on these checks.
Treasurer’s report presented by Chad Booth at the 8/18/2010 General meeting:
Checkbook balance on 7/9/10 was $991.17.
Total expenses since 7/9/2010 were $381.40 and the total deposits were $476.30, including $415.80 profit for the Fiesta medals sale. The checking account balance as of 8/8/10 is $1,086.07, the saving account balance $8,002.80, yielding an overall closing balance of $9,088.87.
At the General meeting of 8/18/10, the Show and Sale Committee provided the Treasurer with $1,027.91 corresponding to the profit from the
2010 Sale and Show. This should return the Show Account balance to an estimated $4,000.
5. Membership Chairman’s Report
Item was not addressed.
6. Program Chairman’s Report
Programs
Claude reported that the July program would be presented by Bjorn Steffensen describing a Cactus Garden on an Island near Vancouver.
The program for August remains to be determined – probably Ann Black will present on propagating succulents.
Fiesta medals: The account has been finalized: Total income from sales was $462. After 10% payment to the Fiesta committee, there is a profit
of $415.80 for the club.
Old Business
7. October Picnic and By-laws Change
October picnic: The picnic is anticipated to occur on October 2 or 3. The Board supported to have this year’s picnic at Barbara Schulze’s home.
The Board approved the expense for having Claude prepare a brisket.
Bylaws change: Unfortunately, the proposed by-laws change to accommodate the change in timing of the picnic was not distributed with the
newsletter as required for a vote at the July General meeting. A vote will be carried out at the August rather than the July meeting following distribution of the proposed change. In essence, the new Article X will state that no General meeting will be held in the month where there is a picnic, and will not define a specific month.
8. Third Vice-President Nominee
Barbara proposed Sam Rogers as third vice-president with responsibility for field trips. He holds that position in other clubs, and can therefore
help the SACXS participate in field trips with other groups. The Board was informed that Sam cannot attend all Board meetings.
Barbara proposed that Ernie Akers be nominated as Director.
The Board approved the nominations to be carried forward to the General Meeting for a vote among members.
9. By-Law Change Concerning Audit of Regular & Show Accounts
The Board discussed the proposal forwarded previously by Chad Booth regarding audit of accounts. The Board concluded that the By-Laws already specified that audits should occur for all club accounts and that a by-laws change was not required. Barbara will address the issue and request audits including all accounts.
10. Garden Club Attendant
A reason for having an official GC attendant is to reduce the number of distributed keys. Cal has been asked to serve in this role at several meetings. Procedures still need clarification.
11. Newsletter Articles
Barbara made a strong case that Ann Black needs articles. Bjorn suggested that a list of members be generated to ensure articles. It was decided
instead that David Dawson will ask members to provide submissions and Barbara will ask for contributions at the General meeting.
New Business
12. Gift Plants for New Members and Guests
Cal Eichler has bought plants for the club at Lowes to be distributed to guests and new members. He will repot the plants and bring them to the
meetings.
There was widespread support for the concept of giving such gifts.
13. Richard Blocker on TV
Barbara informed members that Richard will be featured on Central Texas Gardener (PBS channel 9) on July 31 at 11:00 AM.
14. Other minor issues and information
- Bjorn informed the Board that he had received an invitation to visit Malcolm Beck’s Garden with Marty Ruono & other interested people
- Barbara and Claude planned to be out 2-3 weeks for vacation. David Dawson would be substitute contact person.
- The Board asked Bjorn to send letters wishing speedy recovery to Gerald Yarborough and Carol Blocker.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:05PM
Respectfully submitted,
Bjorn Steffensen, Recording secretary
8/18/2010
SACXS FACTS
Plant Facts
Plant Facts is a regular feature of SACXS Facts.
Information is provided by SACXS members.
Jatropha berlandieri
Synonym: Jatropha cathartica
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Common Name: Baseball plant,
Buddha belly
J. berlandieri is a subglobose underground caudiciform. It is found in
southern Texas and northern Mexico where it is difficult to spot if it is not in
the vegetative form, or if the caudex is not above ground. In the middle of
the rounded caudex emerge blue-green stems and leaves which are incised. Toward the end of June, a six to seven inch flower stem arises and
produces a cluster of orange-red flowers (some are male, others female).
They can easily be hand-pollinated by using a soft watercolor paint brush or
a Q-tip. After pollination, a seed pod quickly develops which contains three seeds. I usually pick off the
pods when a cream-white line appears between each
division of the three part ovary. I then place the pods
into a small paper bag where they can mature.
So far this year, one of
my plants has produced
twenty-two seeds! These
seeds may be sown in a
slightly gravely mixture, lightly watered, and then
placed in full sun. Germination time may very between seven and fifteen days. Plant in a welldraining soil mixture and water sparingly.
This plant is not cold-hardy, but the caudex if
underground, may survive a mild winter.
An easily grown oddity which will enhance any
collection with its rounded caudex and blue green foliage, Jatropha berlandieri is a worthwhile endeavor.
—–Cal Eichler, SACXS Life Member
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SACXS FACTS