Freeze Damage The worst type of freeze damage that I had this year

was stem die back. A lot of the time, a viable option

This past December 28, Tucson had a low is to do nothing. Most plants will only die back to a
temperature of 19°F. Tucson has not experienced point and heal themselves off, leaving a dead stem
that since early December, 1978. At that time, we tip to probably fall off at some future time. The
had over 24 hours at or below 32°F, with an ultimate amount of die back depends on the severity of the
low of 19°. The recent freeze was very different, in freeze. At 19°, I had burseras and fouquierias and
that it was a shorter duration of hard freeze. some other pachycauls under semi protection, appear February 2004
Although the plant damage this season was not as to freeze back to pencil diameter stems. I say
bad as 1978, some did occur and is a cause for apparently because sometimes the full extent of the Thursday, February 5, 2004
concern. damage does not show up right away, and in some
TCSS BOARD
Mark Dimmitt: Biodiversity of Baja
cases you may not know how much has been Officers
In most cases, the damage damaged until the plant starts to grow again in President: Richard Wiedhopf 7:00 pm
that I have seen was spring. On most of these hard stemmed, or semi 885-6367 This will be a terrific preview of our upcoming
superficial. That is, leaf die succulent plants, I am in no hurry to cut off plant Vice President: Kevin Barber
Sonoran V conference with its focus on Baja. Come
back, flower damage, and, material. On the other hand, with some of the soft
Secretary: Lynda Ryan
Treasurer: Valarie Miller and learn more about this interesting succulent-
in some cases, stem tip die stemmed succulents like adeniums, euphorbias, diverse area. Mark isa very interesting and
back. Generally, the action adenias and others, I usually cut off damaged stems Board of Directors: knowledgeable speaker and an excellent
now taken is for aesthetics as soon as I can see what has died, normally within a Past-President: Vonn Watkins
photographer. We will be treated to some fabulous
only. With that in mind, it couple of weeks. The thought here is that the dying
Gail Virtes (2004)
Barry McCormick (2004) images of this area.
is easy to remove dead or softer tissues might start to rot and that rot may Jack Ramsey (2004) Mark is Director of Natural History at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
damaged leaves, which can be done at any time, continue into the healthy tissue. Joe Frannea (2005)
with the slight loss of insulation that a covering of Marty Harow (2005)
His knowledge of the flora and fauna of the Sonoran desert is very well
dead leaves might provide. Another possible benefit Prevention, of course is the best solution. Move, Peter Hubbell (2005) known and he is currently heading
to leaving the old leaves and stem tips on is to cover or heat, or only grow those ugly, boring, cold Dan Birt (2006) up a number of research projects
support frost cloth in any future freeze. tolerant plants. Or better yet, if we could only get Chris Monrad (2006) including a study of the Ironwood
that global warming they have been promising. Not Mark Sitter (2006) Forest National Monument. Many
Damaged flowers can also be removed at any time. in the summer, mind you, but at least a little bit in
CSSA Affiliate Rep: Helen Barber
of us know Mark as a dedicated and
I had many aloe inflorescences start early this year. winter. Cactus Rescue: Chris Monrad prolific horticulturist specializing in
This always makes me nervous because of the long Educational: Joe Frannea the cultivation of succulents and
season ahead with many chances of freezing. Gene Joseph Free Plants: Norma Beckman
Librarian: Jenny Coniglio
epiphytes, especially Adenium,
Sometimes, if the freeze happens early enough, Programs: Kevin Barber Trichocereus, and Tillandsia. He
aloes will regenerate another flower spike, but I Refreshments: Patsy Frannea has produced more than 50 named
don't think that will be the case this year. Sales: Jack Ramsey cultivars. Check out more on
Technology: Kevin Barber
http://www.desertmuseum.org/programs/succulents.html.
Editor: Barry McCormick
jbarrymcc@earthlink.net
Deadline for copy:18th of each month
Thursday, March 4, 2004
TCSS Rescue Cacti for Sale TCSS Web Page:www.tucsoncactus.org
Lots & lots to choose from….. The March program has not been firmed up as of this moment. Look
Next Meeting for an announcement on our web site at www.tucsoncactus.org.
Barrels - from 2” to 14” diameter (about $1 per inch) Thursday, February 5 at 7:00 pm
Hedgehogs – from 1 to 20 heads (about $1 per head) Junior League of Tucson
2099 E. River Road
TCSS Club Members receive a 15% discount Tucson Meeting Place Parking Junior League of Tucson
Call Joe or Patsy if interested 575-7126 Kiva Bldg.
January Refreshments 2099 E. River Road

Campell

Camino Escuela
Those with family names beginning with 299-5753
T to Z, please bring your choice of
Photos by Joe Frannea, Barry McCormick, and Mark Dimmitt refreshment to the meeting.
Everyone is Welcome!
Bring your friends, join in the fun, St. Phillip’s
River Road

and meet the cactus and succulent Plaza

community.

President’s Message
Congratulations to one of our
newer members, Peter
Bockenthien. He has been
appointed editor for the
Cactus and Succulent
Society of America (CSSA)
newsletter, To the Point.
Peter succeeds our member
Carol Clapp, who has been
editor for the last several years.
Many other affiliate societies of
CSSA are losing membership. It is
important that CSSA remain strong
and, as a member of their Board of
Directors, I want to encourage you
to join CSSA. You will receive the
outstanding Cactus and Succulent Journal and To
the Point six times a year, have access to member
services such as seed sales, and receive a discount
on Symposium attendance. Next year’s symposium
will be in Phoenix, so this is a perfect time to join.
A real effort is being made to include articles in both
the Journal and the Newsletter that will have broad
appeal and interest. We look forward to an
upcoming article by Mark Dimmitt, John Wiens and
Tom Van Devender on “Rich Succulent Floras in
Central Baja California.”
Statistics gathered on our web site show that we are
providing information of real interest. Our site gets
a substantial number of hits a day and people
especially like our ABC guide from Miles Anderson
and our planting guides. Joe Frannea’s rescue
program description is often downloaded even
though it is quite large. It is very good and worth
the effort. Other popular features are our Cactus &
Succulent Business Directory and our Cactus and
Succulent Database. Kevin Barber and all the
technical committee members need to be
congratulated for a great job, and we all need to
remember to refer to the site often for new
information.
The recent cold snap has caused damage to many of
our plants. It would be interesting if you would let
us know the low temperature at your garden and the nature of the
plants that were damaged. Please drop us an e-mail excavation work Huge Cereus Peruvianus Must Go…
or note about your collection and what happened. required. You don’t
You can help us with future planting suggestions know what is A huge multi-
based on real data associated with this cold weather underground until armed cereus
event that we have just experienced. See the article you start to explore located in the front
of a business on
in this newsletter about how to deal with your and your goal is to
damaged plants. get the whole tuber North First Avenue
must be relocated
in one piece. The
New membership badges will be distributed at our to make way for a
tuber is usually
next meeting. They have a new logo and style. new sign. The
much larger than the
We now have over 450 individuals that have plant is too large
stem showing above
membership in TCSS, and it has become difficult and heavy to move
ground. Many of the plants had tubers that were
to distribute badges prior to the meeting. We ask in one piece but
twelve to sixteen inches long and eight to twelve
that you take the badge home with you and wear it will make excellent
to the meetings. As an inducement, wearing your stock for cuttings.
new badge will entitle you to a special door prize The TCSS Rescue Crew plans to remove the plant
ticket. We will always replace a lost badge. in about one hundred pieces and make them
available to club members at nominal cost.
Plans are to have 80 to 100 branch tip cuttings of
various sizes available at the February TCSS
TCSS is presenting special awards at the Southern meeting. Bring newspaper, a box or flat, or
Arizona Science and Engineering Fair for something to wrap your cutting in to transport it
outstanding projects dealing with Cacti, Succulents home. The cutting will be ready to plant about a
and related topics. A group of our members will week or two (after the cut end has a chance to
judge these displays and award cash prizes to the scab-over) after you take them home.
top three entries. We may also give “honorable Joe Frannea
mention” gift certificates to other worthy displays.
The Board of Directors has approved this use of Fiesta de las Flores
money from our research and grants program. We
expect that this will stimulate interest in our We will be participating in
favorite subjects. the Fiesta de las Flores
Orchid and Flower Show
Sonoran V is coming soon and you will be getting again this year. The show
more information in the mail about this event. A will be held on Saturday
large group of volunteers will be necessary to and Sunday, February 28-
make this a great educational and fun event. I inches in diameter. One giant weighed in at 30
29 at the Foothills Mall,
know we can count on you. pounds! Luckily the dirt was fairly soft and the jack
7325 N. La Cholla Blvd.
Dick Wiedhopf, President hammer helped loosen the soil since digging needs
This show is sponsored by
to be deep and to the side of
the Orchid Society, but features many of the
the tuber. You can’t just pry
Rescue Crew Digs Deep! botanical societies of Tucson, including African
it out like you can with a lot
Violets, Bonsai, and many Tucson nurseries. This
A dozen Cactus Rescue Crew members descended of other succulents.
is a good opportunity for us to sell rescue plants
on a residential property just north of Interstate 10
A special thanks to Rescue and display our cactus specimens. We want to
that was in the process of being cleared for new
Crew member Tom Baron for make this a “dress rehearsal” for the cactus
housing development. A night blooming cereus
getting this property set up displays we will have at Sonoran V. This is a good
garden had been planted at the old family residence
for a rescue and acquiring the chance to attract new members, especially in the
several years ago and about thirty plants needed to
tags. We need the help of all TCSS members to Northwest region. We will need display plants,
find new homes.
keep an eye out for properties destined to be cleared help with selling rescue plants, and people to talk
for new development. to the public about the society. Plan to be there!
Digging up each Queen of the Night, Peniocerus
Joe Frannea
Greggii, took time and patience due to the delicate Barry McCormick