Great Plants, More at 2011 Show

By Barbara Rengers (August 2011)

Wow! The Henry Shaw Cactus and Succulent Society pulled it off again. The Orthwein Hall at Missouri Botanical Garden was once again transformed into a cactus and succulent lovers delight for the 2011 HSCSS Show and Sale.

The tables, as usual, were filled with the best of each exhibitor’s collection. Plant collectors have the opportunity to add to their collections with the plants our vendors supply each year.

Joyce Hochtritt of J & J Cactus and Succulents makes the trip each year from Oklahoma, and Gladys Drummond drives up from Desoto, Mo. HSCSS members combine to be our third vendor, offering a varied assortment of plants they have propagated or just want to delete from their collections.

We offered handmade pottery, too. Robin Stein and Eric Driskill design pots that can help you win those coveted blue ribbons.

Lil Giessow can always be counted on for making the lobby look inviting to all. During the show, we added 10 family memberships and five individual memberships. I think that is a testament to all of the friendly and helpful volunteers. Pat yourselves on the back for a job well done.

I saw several new members “doing time” at the show and sale. Glad to see you, and I hope you felt a part of the group. (Thank you, Hungler family, for bringing bottled water to share during another hot show.)

The blue ribbons were evenly distributed, and it was no surprise when, once again, Pam Schnebelen was the Sweepstakes winner. Her plants are truly beautiful. HCSSS is glad she is willing to bring them to the show to share with the public and us.

Mike Hellmann followed Pam in second place. Mike’s plants are standouts – larger than I would want to carry in, but he does it every year, helping to make the show as spectacular as it is.

Third place this year went to Tom Degnan. Tom is a relative newcomer, but watch him “grow” in that big greenhouse of his.

Barbara Gardner won the Sweepstakes in the decorative section this year, and Casey Kohler won the Junior Division Sweepstakes trophy. Ralph Olliges won a blue and a special ribbon for his educational exhibit, but couldn’t be awarded the CSSA trophy because there must be at least two entries in that class. Next year, let’s try to have at least three educational exhibits.

The Dorothy Weitz best cactus award went to Mike Hellmann for his group of miniature cacti in Class 34. The best succulent award went to Lil Giessow in Class 71 for her grafted succulent. Hellmann, Schnebelen, Neal Bohlmann and Martin Schweig also won judge’s choice awards.

The Henry Shaw Cactus and Succulent Society was honored to have Andrew Wyatt, Missouri Botanical Garden vice president of horticulture, open this year’s show. In my humble opinion, he did it with great style. He also announced the winners, some of whose names are about as difficult to pronounce as the Latin names of some of the succulent plants. Thank you, Andrew Wyatt.