Members of the Henry Shaw Cactus Society raise both award-winning cacti and less formal plants that are just as appealing. Follow the links below to view images that illustrate some of the diversity, beauty and comradery available to those who cultivate succulents and cactus plants. All photos copyright by their respective owners. Photographs may not be reproduced without permission.
HSCS members may submit photos, captions and a brief description for consideration to: David Wolfe hscswebm@hscactus.org 5121 Ashrock Drive St. Louis, Missouri 63129 USA APRIL PLANT SALE AND ADVICE. After members bought 300 cacti and succulents from Grigsby Cactus Gardens in less than 20 minutes at the April 2008 meeting, Pam Schnebelen provided tips for potting the bare-rooted plants. First, "Learn something about what you just bought," she said. What are the natural habitat and growing season of the plant? Examine roots for mealy bugs and remove roots that feel "like dead grass." Choose a pot shape that matches the plant's root system and pot material that matches your watering style. Use soil mix that allows water and air to reach roots. Avoid peat or sand. Gently settle the soil to finish, add a label and watch your plant grow! Images by Barbara Rengers: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 MADAGASCAR -- PLANTS AND MORE. In his November 2007 HSCS meeting program, Dr. George Waring showed how Madgascar is "a very unique place" of varied people, animals and, of course, plants. During his photo presentation on a recent journey to the country, the professor emeritus of zoology at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale said there are about 12,000 species of plants -- many of them unique to the island country -- in Madagascar. The list includes seven of the world's eight baobob species and four cactus genera. His photos included shots from a diverse arboretum as well as the "Spiny Forest" in the southern part of Madagascar. Pictures by Dr. George Waring: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 Photo 5 | Photo 6 | Photo 7 | Photo 8 2007 SHOW: BIG, BEAUTIFUL. The Midwest's biggest succulent show kicked off with traditionally high first-day attendance and plant sales at Missouri Botanical Garden. Various members commented about the overall quality of the show entries, as well as the wide selection of sale plants. Club volunteers helped show attendees select plants and worked to keep the sometimes long checkout lines moving smoothly. Included in the photos below are several winners in the hanging plant categories. Photographer Michael Eastman's stunning succulent prints were exhibited in the upper lobby of Ridgway Center during the event. Images by Pam Schnebelen: Winning show plants. Click to Web Shots Album Pictures by Barbara Rengers and David Wolfe: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 Photo 5 | Photo 6 | Photo 7 | Photo 8 Photo 9 | Photo 10 | Photo 11 | Photo 12 Photo 13 | Photo 14 | Photo 15 | Photo 16 SPRING BEAUTY. In her May 2007 Plant of the Month article, Pam Schnebelen said that when flowers and other spring growth are lacking, she heads to her greenhouse for a shot of color and form. Here is a selection of photos that captured blooms on just a few of her hundreds of plants. See below for more photos of Schnebelen's beautiful spring flowers. Images by Pam Schnebelen: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 Photo 5 | Photo 6 | Photo 7 | Photo 8 SUCCULENT BONSAI. Mike Hellmann shared his love of succulent bonsai plants through a slide show and brief demonstration at the April 2007 HSCS meeting. The nursery manager said that a bonsai succulent inspired him to join the society in 1994. The succulent bonsai hobby parallels traditional bonsai, he said, but is appealing because it is a less formal art. He suggested starting with plants that naturally lend themselves to bonsai, then performing "plant torture" as needed to coax the plants toward your long-term bonsai vision. His basic tips: Match pots to plants, prune conservatively to basic form and then regularly to encourage small foliage, gently wire and anchor branches as needed ... and be patient. The work of bonsai is never done. Pictures by Mike Hellmann and David Wolfe: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 Photo 5 | Photo 6 | Photo 7 | Photo 8 2006 HOLIDAY PARTY. It was potluck and plants as the Grand Oak Hill Center again hosted 50 HSCS members for the holiday party. The club provided fried chicken and barbecue, while members ably served up everything else. The silent and live auctions featured such rare and impressive plants as a dual-headed ariocarpus, a fist-sized Dorstenia gypsophylla, and bonsai Bursera microphylla. A raffle also added a new dimension to the event. Thanks to Jane Jensen, Barbara Wedler, Mike Hellmann, Janet Kister and everyone who helped set up the party. Thanks also to Wayne Erickson and Barbara Rengers for their auction and raffle donations. Images by Barbara Rengers: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 Photo 4 | Photo 5 | Photo 6 THOMAS SCHWINK, SEED SPECIALIST. Thomas Schwink, a dedicated plant grower from Des Moines, Iowa, explained both the whys and hows of seed propagation to a full room at the November 2006 HSCS meeting. Growing from seeds supports genetic diversity and the conservation of endangered species. It's also personally rewarding, Schwink said. His advice for success with seeds: Treat them with fungicide before sowing, sterilize your soil mixture, cover plants to keep out insects, water from below with distilled water during initial growth and keep those light on. His results? "Talk about Flower Power," Mike Hellmann said. Pictures by Barbara Rengers: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 GREENHOUSE TOUR. Over 40 HSCS members took advantage of the September 2006 meeting program -- an informal tour of Missouri Botanical Garden's C-3 greenhouse. The narrow greenhouse contains many plants moved from the garden's Desert House when that facility was closed in 1994. The members broke into two groups to view the diverse cacti and succulents, some of which are endangered in nature. Images by David Wolfe: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 Photo 5 | Photo 6 | Photo 7 | Photo 8 UPS, DOWNS AT 2006 SHOW. The annual HSCS Show and Sale experienced both highs and lows this year. The memorable dedication that honored Dorothy Weitz to open the show July 15 was a definite high point. Yet a few days later, the damaging storms and power outages that swept across St. Louis strained both the remaining infrastructure and the temperaments of member volunteers and those who attended the show. As the event closed on July 23, it was nonetheless considered a success. Click for report and more photos. Images by Pam Schnebelen: Winning show plants. Click to Web Shots Album Pictures by Barbara Rengers and David Wolfe: Show visitors came to view -- and buy -- quality plants despite the weather-related problems. Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 Photo 5 | Photo 6 | Photo 7 | Photo 8 Photo 9 | Photo 10 | Photo 11 | Photo 12 Images by David Wolfe: The decorative classes showed off the creative side of plant staging and affected the sweepstakes results, as well. Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 Photo 5 | Photo 6 | Photo 7 | Photo 8 SUPER STAPELIA. The well-established Stapelia nobius that Janet Kister bought from the members' table during the HSCS Show and Sale blossomed into an impressive plant with four large flowers. The hairy, star-shaped blooms were over 8 inches in diameter. As with other stapeliads, the odor of the flowers attracted flies. The stapelia's larger parent plant, which still belongs to Nikki Murdick, reportedly had seven big buds preparing to bloom. Pictures by David Wolfe: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 LANDSCAPING WITH OPUNTIAS. Various species of winter-hearty opuntias offer interesting landscape options for homeowners in the St. Louis area. Smaller forms of the familiar prickly pears will spread to fill separate beds, while large plants with hand-size pads provide a more impressive focus among other plantings. The Missouri native Opuntia humifusa is easy to grow in St. Louis cactus gardens with ample sun and good drainage, but watch out for those pesky glochids. Images by David Wolfe: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 MINI SPRING SHOW. As an educational preview to the HSCS show in July, CSSA-certified judges Connie and Chuck Staples critiqued HSCS member plants "out loud" at the club meeting in early April. The longtime members of the Mid-Iowa Cactus and Succulent Club in Des Moines, Iowa, praised many plants in the mock show, but found two in overly large pots, while another was questionably classified. A few more were poorly staged or not well cleaned, they said. In scoring, the Staples usually favored clustered plants over single specimens, but said healthy, flowering entries also catch their eye. Plant rarity was only a secondary consideration for the visiting judges. They urged the audience to study the show class schedule and rules to avoid unnecessary problems. Pictures by David Wolfe: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 Photo 4 | Photo 5 SPECIAL PLANT SALE. The March 2006 meeting featured a special sale of both rare and commonplace plants raised by long-time member and mentor Dorothy Weitz, who recently gave up her collection. After the sale, Pam Schnebelen began her program on repotting with a brief tribute to Weitz, explaining that the poor condition of many plants resulted from Weitz's failing health. Schnebelen and Mike Hellmann checked and stored the hundreds of plants before the sale. "It was a joy to try to resurrect them," Schnebelen said. She advised members to repot all plants at least every five years, matching the new pots' size and drainage to the plants' culture needs. Schenebelen promoted double labeling, but warned against using "dirt" for soil or screens to cover pot drainage holes. Images by David Wolfe: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 Photo 4 | Photo 5 | Photo 6 MAMMILLARIAS. The March 2006 Plant of the Month featured the genus Mammillaria. Both Pam Schnebelen and Chris Deem wrote about this popular and varied group of plants. Most mammillarias come from the warm climates of Mexico and Central and South America, but more cold-tolerant species can be found in the southern United States. The photos below illustrate just some of the beauty and variety of mamms. Pictures by Pam Schnebelen: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 Photo 4 | Photo 5 | Photo 6 2005 HOLIDAY PARTY. Good food combined with generosity at the Dec. 11 HSCS holiday party. Over 50 members and guests raised almost $700 for the club in two auctions of rare plants and also donated to Feed My People. Other auction plants came from HSCS member Dorothy Weitz, who recently moved into a care facility. Foodwise, HSCS provided fried chicken and barbecue entrees, while members supplied tasty appetizers, salads, casseroles and desserts. As part of the festivities, Bob Harris was recognized for his many years of service to HSCS. Thanks to Jane Jensen, Barb Wedler, Pat Thomann, Mike Hellmann and everyone who helped arrange this fun event. Thanks also to Wayne and Michele Erickson, and Martin Schweig for their auction donations. Images by Barbara Rengers and David Wolfe: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 Photo 5 | Photo 6 | Photo 7 | Photo 8 2005 HSCS PICNIC. The August 21 HSCS picnic brought almost 40 club members to the home of Mike and Vickie Hellmann for an afternoon of eating, plant buying and cameraderie. International succulent expert Chuck Hanson sold plants from Arid Lands Greenhouses at attractive prices and joined in the potluck. The wide array of food offered more main dishes than desserts this year. Hanson later gave a slide presentation that featured succulent orchids from Brazil, Madagascar and Thailand. "Orchids are succulent plants," Hanson reminded the audience. Many orchids live in harsh, rocky conditions in nature, but also do well in standard succulent soil with regular fertilizing. Hanson will launch the new Arid Orchids website this fall. Pictures by David Wolfe: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 Photo 4 | Photo 5 | Photo 6 Photo 7 | Photo 8 | Photo 9 2005 HSCS SHOW BLOOMS. Henry Shaw Cactus Society members and volunteers put together a winning 2005 Show and Sale dedicated to the memory of Bill Cordes. From the diverse selection of entries and traditionally strong plant sales to the beautiful "Plants as Art" exhibit, the show presented both HSCS and Missouri Botanical Garden in a positive light. Click for report and photos. Images by Barbara Rengers: As always, the team effort that went into the 2005 show resulted in a successful -- and fun -- event. Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 Photo 5 | Photo 6 | Photo 7 | Photo 8 Photo 9 | Photo 10 | Photo 11 | Photo 12 Pictures by Gary Giessow: The show opened with ceremony and awards. Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 Images by David Wolfe: Flowering plants added color to the event. Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 Photo 5 | Photo 6 | Photo 7 | Photo 8 Photo 9 | Photo 10 | Photo 11 | Photo 12 ODDITIES AND ANOMALIES. At the July 2005 HSCS meeting, society member Pam Schnebelen presented Gordon Rowley's CSSA slide show on crested, monstrose and variegated cacti and succulents. She also wrote about these plants' unusual forms and coloration in the Plant of the Month section of the July Digest. As shown in these photos, the rarity and unique qualities of the plants raise their value to collectors. Pictures by Pam Schnebelen: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 Photo 5 | Photo 6 | Photo 7 DAN MAHR VISIT. Henry Shaw Cactus Society's May 2005 meeting featured a visit from CSSA President Dan Mahr. Through a slide show titled "Succulent Trees of Madagascar -- Patterns of Loss and Survival," Mahr outlined a 2004 field trip to the island in which he studied rare and endangered trees and plants. With credentials as a seasoned educator, entomologist, traveler and speaker, Mahr is dedicated to making CSSA more accessible to average hobbyists. While in St. Louis, Mahr also attended a social gathering at Martin Schweig's home the day before the meeting. Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 HSCS 2004 CHRISTMAS PARTY. Nearly 60 members and guests made it to the new Grand Oak Hill Center location for Henry Shaw Cactus Society's annual holiday get-together. They mingled a while and then munched on plenty of tasty food supplied by the club and fellow members. They also bid quietly on silent auction items and then not so quietly during the popular live auction of rare plants from Drummond Nursery. Many thanks to party Chairwoman Jane Jensen and her helpers. Images by Bob Harris: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 HOYAS SHOW OFF. Hoyas are viney succulents that display their flowers in showy clusters of color. Whether pink, yellow, purple or lime, the blooms may appear waxy, fuzzy or both. Varied sizes and flower structures add to the variety of the fragrant blossoms. Visit the HSCS library to see file photos of dozens of other hoya blooms. Pictures by Ann Wayman: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 Photo 4 | Photo 5 | Photo 6 Photo 7 | Photo 8 | Photo 9 HSCS 2004 PICNIC. Mike and Vickie Hellmann hosted a fun afternoon at their home near Edwardsville on August 8. Club members who attended the HSCS picnic enjoyed a special plant sale by Out of Africa, tried each others' cooking in a potluck lunch, and took in Mike Massara's slide presentation on his recent experiences studying -- and seeking -- plants in Madagascar. Images by Roy Kasten: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 Photo 4 | Photo 5 HSCS 2004 SHOW AND SALE. Henry Shaw Cactus Society held another successful Annual Show and Sale July 17-25. This year, attendees enjoyed an increase in show entrants, excellent volume and variety on the sales tables, and plenty of friendly help from club members. Another fine "Plants as Art" exhibit complemented the event, as well. Click to view a range of photos from the fun fund-raiser at Missouri Botanical Garden. Pictures by David Wolfe: Show shots -- 1-5, people pics -- 6-10, winning plants -- 11-15 Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 Photo 5 | Photo 6 | Photo 7 | Photo 8 Photo 9 | Photo 10 | Photo 11 | Photo 12 Photo 13 | Photo 14 | Photo 15 Images by Roy Kasten: Although they waited too long to place in the flowering classes, these two plants showed off nonetheless. Photo 1 | Photo 2 OLD GARDEN PLANT BLOOMS. Just before the opening of HSCS's 2004 show, club member and greenhouse volunteer Pat Thomann noticed that Missouri Botanical Garden's Welwitschia mirabilis was in bloom -- an event not seen for the last 10 years. The 25-year-old succulent was grown from a seedling in the garden's old Desert House, but now resides in the C-3 Greenhouse. Also known as the "tree tumbo," W. mirabilis has its own genus. Pictures by Judy Pigue: Photo 1 | Photo 2 DISH GARDENS. I make up planters for the gift shop at the hospital where I work, and have come to LOVE mixing and matching succulents to create a "scene" of what they might look like in nature. Here are a few examples of my "creative staging." I think the photos speak for themselves. Images by Roy Kasten: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 APRIL FLOWERS. I grow cacti for their interesting structures and mathematical symmetries. I appreciate the forms, lines and colors of cacti all year long. They are utterly fascinating plants. Then spring arrives -- and lovely plants stun me with awesome flowers. Here are a few of my cacti that bloomed in April. I hope you enjoy the photos. Pictures by Pam Schnebelen: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 Photo 4 | Photo 5 | Photo 6 Photo 7 | Photo 8 | Photo 9 MORE FLOWERING PLANTS. HSCS member Roy Kasten coaxes excellent results from his prized plants. Images by Roy Kasten: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 FLOWERING ARIOCARPUS. It's blooming time in Ariocarpus Land! A St. Louis cold snap didn't hurt these greenhouse plants. Pictures by Pam Schnebelen: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 HSCS 2003 SHOW AND SALE. Henry Shaw Cactus Society's weeklong annual fund-raiser was held in July at Missouri Botanical Garden. Thousands of garden goers took in the big show and sale. See show report for more details. Images by Bob Harris: Club members entered a wide range of impressive plants in this year's show. Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 Photo 4 | Photo 5 | Photo 6 Photo 7 | Photo 8 | Photo 9 Pictures by Robert Beckwith: Candid shots of club members at the event. Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 Images by David Wolfe: The new "Plants as Art" exhibit combined beautiful cacti with beautiful photos. Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 HSCS HISTORY. Members' shared interest in cacti and succulents is the ongoing catalyst for Henry Shaw Cactus Society's six decades of history. See Club History for more details. File Photos: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4 Photo 5 | Photo 6 | Photo 7 | Photo 8 DESERT HOUSE. The Desert House at Missouri Botanical Garden was built in 1914 to house over 80 varieties and species of plants from the Sonoran and Chihuahua Deserts, and desert regions of South America and Africa. Several specimens were acquired from exhibits at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. A deteriorating roof and declining mechanical systems helped lead to the conservatory's 1994 closure and eventual demolition. It is hoped a new Desert House will be built as part of the garden's Climatron complex. File Photos: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 Photo 4 | Photo 5 | Photo 6 Photo 7 | Photo 8 | Photo 9 OUTDOOR CACTI AND SUCCULENTS. Some cacti and succulents can live outside year-round in Missouri. Particularly in protected areas, these common species die back in colder months, but return in the spring. Pictures by David Wolfe: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 WOODY MINNICH VISIT. HSCS hosted famed cacti and succulent expert Woody Minnich and his wife March 8 and 9. In addition to an engaging slide show at Missouri Botanical Garden, Minnich made an informative presentation on plant staging. Images by Bob Harris: Photo 1 | Photo 2 2002 HOLIDAY PARTY. Food, fun and good company at the annual HSCS get-together. Pictures by Bob Harris: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 Photo 4 | Photo 5 | Photo 6 2002 HSCS SHOW AND SALE. Winners and wowers from the society's big summer event. Images by Bob Harris: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 Photo 4 | Photo 5 | Photo 6 PAST HSCS SHOW AND SALES. Great-looking plants from previous years of HSCS's annual show. Pictures by Jo Goelzhauser: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 BLOOMING PLANTS. "Although I enjoy raising different kinds of plants, my favorites are succulents and cacti. They can be so unusual. These photos show some of the dandy blooms my plants have produced." Images by Janet Kister: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3
APRIL PLANT SALE AND ADVICE. After members bought 300 cacti and succulents from Grigsby Cactus Gardens in less than 20 minutes at the April 2008 meeting, Pam Schnebelen provided tips for potting the bare-rooted plants. First, "Learn something about what you just bought," she said. What are the natural habitat and growing season of the plant? Examine roots for mealy bugs and remove roots that feel "like dead grass." Choose a pot shape that matches the plant's root system and pot material that matches your watering style. Use soil mix that allows water and air to reach roots. Avoid peat or sand. Gently settle the soil to finish, add a label and watch your plant grow!
MADAGASCAR -- PLANTS AND MORE. In his November 2007 HSCS meeting program, Dr. George Waring showed how Madgascar is "a very unique place" of varied people, animals and, of course, plants. During his photo presentation on a recent journey to the country, the professor emeritus of zoology at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale said there are about 12,000 species of plants -- many of them unique to the island country -- in Madagascar. The list includes seven of the world's eight baobob species and four cactus genera. His photos included shots from a diverse arboretum as well as the "Spiny Forest" in the southern part of Madagascar.
2007 SHOW: BIG, BEAUTIFUL. The Midwest's biggest succulent show kicked off with traditionally high first-day attendance and plant sales at Missouri Botanical Garden. Various members commented about the overall quality of the show entries, as well as the wide selection of sale plants. Club volunteers helped show attendees select plants and worked to keep the sometimes long checkout lines moving smoothly. Included in the photos below are several winners in the hanging plant categories. Photographer Michael Eastman's stunning succulent prints were exhibited in the upper lobby of Ridgway Center during the event.
SPRING BEAUTY. In her May 2007 
SUCCULENT BONSAI. Mike Hellmann shared his love of succulent bonsai plants through a slide show and brief demonstration at the April 2007 HSCS meeting. The nursery manager said that a bonsai succulent inspired him to join the society in 1994. The succulent bonsai hobby parallels traditional bonsai, he said, but is appealing because it is a less formal art. He suggested starting with plants that naturally lend themselves to bonsai, then performing "plant torture" as needed to coax the plants toward your long-term bonsai vision. His basic tips: Match pots to plants, prune conservatively to basic form and then regularly to encourage small foliage, gently wire and anchor branches as needed ... and be patient. The work of bonsai is never done.
2006 HOLIDAY PARTY. It was potluck and plants as the Grand Oak Hill Center again hosted 50 HSCS members for the holiday party. The club provided fried chicken and barbecue, while members ably served up everything else. The silent and live auctions featured such rare and impressive plants as a dual-headed ariocarpus, a fist-sized Dorstenia gypsophylla, and bonsai Bursera microphylla. A raffle also added a new dimension to the event. Thanks to Jane Jensen, Barbara Wedler, Mike Hellmann, Janet Kister and everyone who helped set up the party. Thanks also to Wayne Erickson and Barbara Rengers for their auction and raffle donations.
THOMAS SCHWINK, SEED SPECIALIST. Thomas Schwink, a dedicated plant grower from Des Moines, Iowa, explained both the whys and hows of seed propagation to a full room at the November 2006 HSCS meeting. Growing from seeds supports genetic diversity and the conservation of endangered species. It's also personally rewarding, Schwink said. His advice for success with seeds: Treat them with fungicide before sowing, sterilize your soil mixture, cover plants to keep out insects, water from below with distilled water during initial growth and keep those light on. His results? "Talk about Flower Power," Mike Hellmann said.
GREENHOUSE TOUR. Over 40 HSCS members took advantage of the September 2006 meeting program -- an informal tour of Missouri Botanical Garden's C-3 greenhouse. The narrow greenhouse contains many plants moved from the garden's 
UPS, DOWNS AT 2006 SHOW. The annual HSCS Show and Sale experienced both highs and lows this year. The memorable dedication that honored Dorothy Weitz to open the show July 15 was a definite high point. Yet a few days later, the damaging storms and power outages that swept across St. Louis strained both the remaining infrastructure and the temperaments of member volunteers and those who attended the show. As the event closed on July 23, it was nonetheless considered a success. Click for 
SUPER STAPELIA. The well-established Stapelia nobius that Janet Kister bought from the members' table during the HSCS Show and Sale blossomed into an impressive plant with four large flowers. The hairy, star-shaped blooms were over 8 inches in diameter. As with other stapeliads, the odor of the flowers attracted flies. The stapelia's larger parent plant, which still belongs to Nikki Murdick, reportedly had seven big buds preparing to bloom.
LANDSCAPING WITH OPUNTIAS. Various species of winter-hearty opuntias offer interesting landscape options for homeowners in the St. Louis area. Smaller forms of the familiar prickly pears will spread to fill separate beds, while large plants with hand-size pads provide a more impressive focus among other plantings. The Missouri native Opuntia humifusa is easy to grow in St. Louis cactus gardens with ample sun and good drainage, but watch out for those pesky glochids.
MINI SPRING SHOW. As an educational preview to the HSCS show in July, CSSA-certified judges Connie and Chuck Staples critiqued HSCS member plants "out loud" at the club meeting in early April. The longtime members of the Mid-Iowa Cactus and Succulent Club in Des Moines, Iowa, praised many plants in the mock show, but found two in overly large pots, while another was questionably classified. A few more were poorly staged or not well cleaned, they said. In scoring, the Staples usually favored clustered plants over single specimens, but said healthy, flowering entries also catch their eye. Plant rarity was only a secondary consideration for the visiting judges. They urged the audience to study the show class schedule and rules to avoid unnecessary problems.
SPECIAL PLANT SALE. The March 2006 meeting featured a special sale of both rare and commonplace plants raised by long-time member and mentor Dorothy Weitz, who recently gave up her collection. After the sale, Pam Schnebelen began her program on repotting with a brief tribute to Weitz, explaining that the poor condition of many plants resulted from Weitz's failing health. Schnebelen and Mike Hellmann checked and stored the hundreds of plants before the sale. "It was a joy to try to resurrect them," Schnebelen said. She advised members to repot all plants at least every five years, matching the new pots' size and drainage to the plants' culture needs. Schenebelen promoted double labeling, but warned against using "dirt" for soil or screens to cover pot drainage holes.
MAMMILLARIAS. The 
2005 HOLIDAY PARTY. Good food combined with generosity at the Dec. 11 HSCS holiday party. Over 50 members and guests raised almost $700 for the club in two auctions of rare plants and also donated to Feed My People. Other auction plants came from HSCS member Dorothy Weitz, who recently moved into a care facility. Foodwise, HSCS provided fried chicken and barbecue entrees, while members supplied tasty appetizers, salads, casseroles and desserts. As part of the festivities, Bob Harris was recognized for his many years of service to HSCS. Thanks to Jane Jensen, Barb Wedler, Pat Thomann, Mike Hellmann and everyone who helped arrange this fun event. Thanks also to Wayne and Michele Erickson, and Martin Schweig for their auction donations.
2005 HSCS PICNIC. The August 21 HSCS picnic brought almost 40 club members to the home of Mike and Vickie Hellmann for an afternoon of eating, plant buying and cameraderie. International succulent expert Chuck Hanson sold plants from 
2005 HSCS SHOW BLOOMS. Henry Shaw Cactus Society members and volunteers put together a winning 2005 Show and Sale dedicated to the memory of Bill Cordes. From the diverse selection of entries and traditionally strong plant sales to the beautiful "Plants as Art" exhibit, the show presented both HSCS and Missouri Botanical Garden in a positive light. Click for 
ODDITIES AND ANOMALIES. At the July 2005 HSCS meeting, society member Pam Schnebelen presented Gordon Rowley's CSSA slide show on crested, monstrose and variegated cacti and succulents. She also wrote about these plants' unusual forms and coloration in the 
DAN MAHR VISIT. Henry Shaw Cactus Society's May 2005 meeting featured a visit from CSSA President Dan Mahr. Through a slide show titled "Succulent Trees of Madagascar -- Patterns of Loss and Survival," Mahr outlined a 2004 field trip to the island in which he studied rare and endangered trees and plants. With credentials as a seasoned educator, entomologist, traveler and speaker, Mahr is dedicated to making CSSA more accessible to average hobbyists. While in St. Louis, Mahr also attended a social gathering at Martin Schweig's home the day before the meeting.
HSCS 2004 CHRISTMAS PARTY. Nearly 60 members and guests made it to the new Grand Oak Hill Center location for Henry Shaw Cactus Society's annual holiday get-together. They mingled a while and then munched on plenty of tasty food supplied by the club and fellow members. They also bid quietly on silent auction items and then not so quietly during the popular live auction of rare plants from Drummond Nursery. Many thanks to party Chairwoman Jane Jensen and her helpers.
HOYAS SHOW OFF. Hoyas are viney succulents that display their flowers in showy clusters of color. Whether pink, yellow, purple or lime, the blooms may appear waxy, fuzzy or both. Varied sizes and flower structures add to the variety of the fragrant blossoms. Visit the HSCS library to see file photos of dozens of other hoya blooms.
HSCS 2004 PICNIC. Mike and Vickie Hellmann hosted a fun afternoon at their home near Edwardsville on August 8. Club members who attended the HSCS picnic enjoyed a special plant sale by Out of Africa, tried each others' cooking in a potluck lunch, and took in Mike Massara's slide presentation on his recent experiences studying -- and seeking -- plants in Madagascar.
HSCS 2004 SHOW AND SALE. Henry Shaw Cactus Society held another successful Annual Show and Sale July 17-25. This year, attendees enjoyed an increase in show entrants, excellent volume and variety on the sales tables, and plenty of friendly help from club members. Another fine "Plants as Art" exhibit complemented the event, as well. Click to view a range of photos from the fun fund-raiser at Missouri Botanical Garden.
OLD GARDEN PLANT BLOOMS. Just before the opening of HSCS's 2004 show, club member and greenhouse volunteer Pat Thomann noticed that Missouri Botanical Garden's Welwitschia mirabilis was in bloom -- an event not seen for the last 10 years. The 25-year-old succulent was grown from a seedling in the garden's old Desert House, but now resides in the C-3 Greenhouse. Also known as the "tree tumbo," W. mirabilis has its own genus.
DISH GARDENS. I make up planters for the gift shop at the hospital where I work, and have come to LOVE mixing and matching succulents to create a "scene" of what they might look like in nature. Here are a few examples of my "creative staging." I think the photos speak for themselves.
APRIL FLOWERS. I grow cacti for their interesting structures and mathematical symmetries. I appreciate the forms, lines and colors of cacti all year long. They are utterly fascinating plants. Then spring arrives -- and lovely plants stun me with awesome flowers. Here are a few of my cacti that bloomed in April. I hope you enjoy the photos.
HSCS 2003 SHOW AND SALE. Henry Shaw Cactus Society's weeklong annual fund-raiser was held in July at Missouri Botanical Garden. Thousands of garden goers took in the big show and sale. See 
HSCS HISTORY. Members' shared interest in cacti and succulents is the ongoing catalyst for Henry Shaw Cactus Society's six decades of history. See 
DESERT HOUSE. The Desert House at Missouri Botanical Garden was built in 1914 to house over 80 varieties and species of plants from the Sonoran and Chihuahua Deserts, and desert regions of South America and Africa. Several specimens were acquired from exhibits at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. A deteriorating roof and declining mechanical systems helped lead to the conservatory's 1994 closure and eventual demolition. It is hoped a new Desert House will be built as part of the garden's Climatron complex.
OUTDOOR CACTI AND SUCCULENTS. Some cacti and succulents can live outside year-round in Missouri. Particularly in protected areas, these common species die back in colder months, but return in the spring.
WOODY MINNICH VISIT. HSCS hosted famed cacti and succulent expert Woody Minnich and his wife March 8 and 9. In addition to an engaging slide show at Missouri Botanical Garden, Minnich made an informative presentation on plant staging.
BLOOMING PLANTS. "Although I enjoy raising different kinds of plants, my favorites are succulents and cacti. They can be so unusual. These photos show some of the dandy blooms my plants have produced."