Gary is a member of the World Conservation Union's Species Survival Commission and a fellow of the Linnean Society of London. He has also written many articles and books on desert plants.

This program is somewhat of a historical overview and retrospective of how Gary got into cacti. It is also a look at the people and events that have influenced his work, and an overview of the gardens with which he had a connection over the past fifty years.

Please join us for this great program and help the club welcome Gary back to Tucson.

Additionally:

David Yetman will be doing a book signing at the April 3rd meeting. He will be signing his new book "The great Cacti". David will also briefly talk about some very important conservation efforts. He will arrive at 6:30 for early bird book signings

Free Plants of The Month:

Echinocereus pectinatus variety rubrispina Red Spined Rainbow Cactus - Echinocereus - Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs are a popular group of cacti to grow either in pots or as landscape plants. The genus Echinocereus, being derived from Greek , echinos, hedgehog or sea urchin, referring to their spiny fruits. The genus is distributed widely from Oklahoma west to California and into Mexico including Baja. Most species are frost hardy, lending themselves well as landscape accents in southern Arizona. The bulk of the species flower in Spring or early Summer at higher elevations. Several species from Baja California actually wait until late summer or fall to bloom. Many species are commonly grown locally and will reward you with magnificent large showy flowers. Echinocereus will only flower once per year, but you may experience one to dozens of flowers depending on the size and species you grow. Another unusual flowering fact, watch where the flower bud emerges from, just above the aeroles, as to split from inside the stem of the cactus. Subsequent scarring remains where flowers had been borne. Some species of Echinocerus are single stemmed and others are low multi-stemmed. Some species perform better with morning sun and afternoon shade while others can be acclimated to full sun.