Speaker is Gene Joseph from Plants for the Southwest

"Plant Sex in the City...and the County Too!"

The topic I am interested in promoting is local seed production of succulents and cacti. It is a logical 'next step' in growing these plants and will afford the grower/pollinator an opportunity to closely observe and learn more about these great plants and if successful, can provide some bargaining power with the local growers. With minimal tools necessary and a small amount of time, an individual can focus on a group of plants (Euphorbias or Pachypodiums or Mammillarias) or even a single species (Pseudolithos miguertinus or Euphorbia bupleurifolia or Echinocereus viridiflorus v. canus), producing hundreds, or even thousands of seeds in your back yard, on just a few plants. Pollinating tools and techniques, insect exclusion, seed collecting, cleaning and storing methods and suggested species will be discussed.

Gene has a degree in Plant Sciences from the University of Arizona and graduated in 1985. He was plant propagator at the Desert Museum, where he focused his energies on Sonoran Desert plants. Gene says "I knew where I was by what I was growing and if it was Sonoran, I was at work." "If it was not, I was at home." Gene's collection at home forced him to quit the Desert Museum and move to Jane's flower shop where he continued to maintain his collection under the guise of being in business.

Today Gene Joseph and Jane Evans own Living Stones Nursery & Plants for the Southwest, located at 50 E. Blacklidge, Tucson, Arizona 85705. They specialize in succulent plants and cacti from around the world, but also grow some of the interesting and uncommon desert shrubs, wildflowers and trees, mainly from our region here in the southwest.

Please welcome Gene as our September guest speaker and plan on attending this very important educational presentation.