By Szymon Szary
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 – 7:00 pm Pacific Time (California)

Members and visitors can attend in person in San Francisco,
or register or join the meeting in progress on Zoom.

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Program Description

This presentation chronicles a cactus-focused exploratory trip through central and northern Chile, spanning the diverse landscapes of the coastal and interior Atacama Desert and the high elevations of the Andean Mountains. The objective of this journey was to find as many iconic Atacama and Andean cactus species as possible. observing and documenting them in their natural habitats.

About our Speaker

Szymon’s interest in cacti began in middle school after visiting his cousin’s collection. Upon relocating to California in 2015, he discovered an opportunity to combine several longstanding passions — backpacking, hiking, photography, and botany — through desert exploration. His experience in the backcountry proved invaluable for reaching remote and ecologically significant sites, while his photography skills allowed him to carefully document the specific conditions under which various cactus species thrive — essential for understanding how and why these plants succeed in such extreme environments.

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Meeting Agenda

7:00 Mingling and announcements
7:30 Formal presentation starts promptly with Society business
7:35 Show and Tell Table
7:50 Leg stretch
7:55 Featured presentation

Show & tell table: Sansevieria on the succulent side, Eriosyce (including Neoporteria and Neochilenia) on the cactus table, and Othonna pachyforms, plus anything else that’s looking good or in flower.

Featured grower: TBD.

Snack table:, There will be a shared spread, but we suggest bringing something every couple of months if you partake regularly. As a thought, we are often short on drinks. 

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Watch Online

On Zoom: Register or join the meeting in progress.

We will attempt to simulcast on our YouTube channel.

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