Events

Next Monthly Meeting

Photo
An expert in bugs as well as plants, Dan Mahr is also a seasoned world traveler.

August 14, 2022

Guest Speaker: Dan Mahr

1:00 p.m. – Social Hour, 2:00 p.m. – Program

HSCSS has returned to live, in-person meetings at our new venue in Overland – see details below. We will also usually broadcast via Zoom for those who cannot attend.

Meet Via Zoom
Meeting ID: 846 6776 5973 / Passcode: 900328

HSCSS’ August meeting will feature a special presentation by guest speaker Dan Mahr. He will join our in-person meeting via Zoom from his home in California. HSCSS members can watch Mahr on the big screen or tune in from home.

Titled “Growing Cacti and Other Succulent Plants: Lessons From Nature,” the program will be an extensive world view of plants. Some we know, and many are rare and seldom seen or collected. Through hundreds of pictures from seven field sites, Mahr will show the varied characteristics of succulents as well as care information.

Featured Sites

  • Mojave Natural Reserve, California
  • Catavina, Baja California, Mexico
  • Porto Novo, Bahia, Brazil
  • Grao Mogul, Minas Gerais, Brazil
  • Chapi, Polobaya, Arequipa, Peru
  • The Richtersveld, South Africa
  • Ambalavo, Madagascar

Mahr always delivers a great presentation, and this one is exceptional. So treat yourself to a good time – see you at the meeting.

About Dan Mahr

Dan Mahr is a long-time member and former president and board member of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America. He originated and directed CSSA field trips for nearly 20 years, coordinating travel opportunities for CSSA members throughout the U.S. Southwest, Mexico, South America and Africa.

From his first cactus garden at the age of 11, Mahr’s interest in succulents continuously grew – from miniature cacti, haworthias and aloes during the college years to caudiciform plants and succulent trees. His other plant interest is hybrid adeniums.

Mahr grew up and studied zoology and entomology in southern California. He later accepted an appointment in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Entomology, where he was a faculty member for over 30 years.

After retiring, Mahr moved from Wisconsin to the family home of his wife, Susan, in El Cajon, California. The two are reworking the landscape there with desert, native plant and Mediterranean gardens, and an arboretum with succulent and xeric trees. He also continues to present talks on growing cactus and succulents to garden groups as well as at succulent conferences in the United States and abroad.

Zoom

Zoom is a videoconferencing software program that allows multiple users with higher-speed Internet connections to “meet” via desktop computers and mobile devices. The Zoom web browser client will download automatically when you start or join your first Zoom meeting, and is also available for manual download at https://Zoom.us/download.

The club sends e-mail reminders containing a link to Zoom and the meeting ID. Zoom meeting information is also provided in the Digest newsletter. If you need additional help or would like to practice using Zoom, please contact one of the following members well before the meeting:

Susan Carpentier – cuervo28@swbell.net
Nikki Murdick – nmurdick@gmail.com
Marge Williams – maggiewms@aol.com

New Non-COVID Location & Times

Jost Chemical Co.
I-170 Business Center
8195 Lackland Road, 1/2 mile north of St. Charles Rock Road
Overland, Missouri 63114

1:00-1:45 p.m. – Social hour
1:45-2:00 p.m. – Show and tell
2:00-3:00 p.m. – Program
3:00-3:15 p.m. – Break
3:15-4:00 p.m. – Business meeting

Upcoming HSCSS Events

  • June 5, 2022 – Garden Tour and Picnic
    Tour several of our members’ collections and hardy gardens, followed by a picnic lunch at the final tour site – Mike Hellman’s home in Edwardsville, Ill. HSCSS will supply sandwiches and drinks – please RSVP to Don Lesmeister at dtl1146@yahoo.com if you plan to attend.
  • July 16-17, 2022 – Annual Show and Sale
    Note new location: Glaziers Hall (Hampton and I-44). Browse, buy and enjoy the show! There will be no judging of show plants this year, but there will be beautiful and unusual plants to view and buy.
  • August 14, 2022 – Monthly Meeting
    Guest Speaker: Dan Mahr
    Special guest presenter Dan Mahr will join our in-person meeting via Zoom from his home in California. HSCSS members can watch Mahr’s “Growing Cacti and Other Succulent Plants: Lessons From Nature” program, an extensive world view of plants, on the big screen or tune in from home.
  • September 11, 2022 – HSCSS Picnic
    Longtime member Pat Thomann will host this year’s picnic at her home in South St. Louis County. Plan to come and enjoy great potluck eats and the greenhouse/yard of a proven green thumb. Details coming soon.
  • October 9, 2022 – Monthly Meeting
    Program: To be announced
  • November 13, 2022 – Monthly Meeting
    Program: To be announced