Chris Monard from the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society will discuss the Cactus Rescue Program that is working to salvage endangered cacti and succulents facing developers’ bulldozers.
The Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society Cactus Rescue Crew saves cacti and other native plants that would otherwise be destroyed during the development of Arizona real estate. They do not remove plants from private residences.
Typically, many transplantable native plants are simply cleared away with other desert vegetation. Since 1999, They accomplished 184 rescues, and over 36,633 native plants have been salvaged and provided with new homes throughout Southern Arizona. Plants are sold to our club members, donated to institutions such as the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Tohono Chul Park, and sold to the public at Pima County Plant Fairs and Tucson Botanical Garden sales. These sales help recover the costs of Arizona Department of Agriculture permits and tags and raise funds to further their educational efforts.
The Cactus Rescue Crew has provided over a dozen rescued specimen plants that will be available in a special raffle at the meeting; including Ferocactus Fouquieria (ocotillo), echinocereus, and more. Raffle tickets will be $2 each, or 12 for $10.
Featured grower: The featured grower of the month for August will be interesting seed-grown species from Russell Sprouts, and still more plants from the club’s collection tended by Marilyn Mangle.
|
