one man’s obsession with Mediterranean Climate Gardening
  • Home
  • About
  • My Garden
  • Random
  • Contact
  • PALMS
  • CYCADS
  • SUCCULENTS
  • FLOWERING PLANTS
  • LANDSCAPING
  • Reviews
  • TOURS
  • HODGEPODGE

2017 San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society Winter Show and Sale

Is it really already that time of year for the San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society Winter Show and Sale? What is even more hard for me to believe is that the last time I did a post on the winter show was back in 2014. Three years ago! I guess it is true that time flies when you’re having fun. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to go back sooner, it was simply the fact that kid sporting events had priority. Last weekend was one of those rare open weekends.

Once at a succulent show and sale, my usual order of business is to first hit the sale in hopes of finding something on my wishlist before others do. Once done shopping, I then move to the show – where I can take my time and enjoy the beauty. Plus it is usually a little less crowded, making for better opportunities for photography. With that being said, let’s grab a box and check out the sale.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Sale Boxes

As per the norm, you can never get to any plant sale early enough to beat the over-the-top collectors in line. These plant sales are like Star Wars premiers for movie buffs. I swear some would pitch tents if allowed. I was 15 minutes early and still ended up about 100-150 people back in line. Once in, the joint was already hopping.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Sale Room SDCSS Winter 2017 SaleSDCSS Winter 2017 Sale

There was already a line at the checkout counter as well. Some people don’t waste any time. They get in, and they get out.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Sale Checkout

I always get a kick out of the change in prevailing winds with plant collectors. A few years back, these Echeveria cante would have been gone in minutes. Nowadays they are old hat, apparently.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Sale - Echeveria cante

You can’t have a succulent sale without pottery. There were four different pottery makers selling their ceramics at the sale.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Sale - Pottery

Pottery by Keith Kitoi was present. Keith is one of my favorite artists. Here he is showing off some of his recent work with pride. I ended up leaving with three of his pots, which I will show at the end of this blog post.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Sale - Pottery by Keith Kitoi

This dog has certainly done this before. The foldable wagon also gives away that this is a seasoned succulent shopper.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Sale Cart

While the sale was popular and had many venders, the 2017 San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society Winter Show was much smaller than in the past. The show and sale is always held at Balboa Park. In winter, the sales area is inside the Casa del Prado, Room 101, and the show is under a tent just outside. In the summer, the two switch. You can see from the photo below there were not many show tables. Not to mention it had been raining all morning.

2017 SDCSS Show Tent

Depending on the succulent class, it could have been sparsely represented or well represented.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show TableSDCSS Winter 2017 Show Table

While the San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society Winter Show is never as large as the summer show, you can be guaranteed there will still be some amazing plants on display.

First up, the Aeonium and Echeveria table.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show Table

Aeonium decorum ‘Sunburst Forma Cristata.’

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Aeonium decorum 'Sunburst Forma Cristat

Graptopetalum paraguayense ‘Forma Crista.’

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Graptopetalum paraguayense 'Forma Crist

Echeveria ‘Linguas.’

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Echeveria 'Linguas'

Cotyledon undulata ‘Variegata.’

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Cotyledon undulata f. variegata

Crassula ‘Emerald.’

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Crassula 'Emerald'

Lithops category only had four entries.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Lithops Table

Lithops karasmontana var. lateritia.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Lithops karasmontana var. lateritia

A Lithops relative – Pleiospilos nelii ‘Royal Flush.’

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Pleiospilos nelii 'Royal Flush'

Ariocarpus table. Some really nice plants were on display here.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Ariocarpus Table

Ariocarpus retusus.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Ariocarpus retusus

Ariocarpus confusus.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Ariocarpus confusus

Ariocarpus fissuratus.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Ariocarpus fissuratus

Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus. I was a big fan of this plant.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus

Astrophytum niveum.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Astrophytum niveum

Now for some random photos. I’ll try not to show plants I have posted before from the different shows I have attended.

Agave victoriae-reginae ‘Albomarginata.’

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Agave victoriae-reginae 'Albomarginata'

Agave victoriae-reginae x Agave utahensis var. eborispina. Still not sure how I feel about this cross. I like crosses that improve upon each parent plant. Not sure this one does.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Agave victoriae-reginae x Agave utahensis var. eborispina

This Ceropegia was really unique.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Ceropegia

This Boophone haemanthoides was one of a few plants that Keith Kitoi entered into the show. Of course they were displayed in his own custom-made pottery.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Boophone haemanthoides

Albuca spiralis ‘Fizzle Sizzle.’

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Albuca spiralis 'Fizzle Sizzle'

Dioscorea elephantipes.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Dioscorea elephantipes

Espostoa melanostele.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Espostoa melanostele

I had never heard of this plant prior to the show, but found it really unique and now on my wishlist. Larryleachia cactiformis.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Larryleachia cactiformis

Not the best photo of Copiapoa tenuissima f. mostruosa.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Copiapoa tenuissima forma mostruosa

Two different unknown Euphorbia.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Euphorbia SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Euphorbia

I’ll close out the plant photos with shots from my favorite category – the Aloe.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Aloe Table

My favorite plant at the entire show was one entered by a friend of mine, Matt Maggio. This is an Aloe pearsonii grown to perfection.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Aloe pearsonii

Aloe castilloniae.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Aloe castilloniae

Aloe pachydactylos. I had the pleasure of seeing these plants in habitat on top of Mount Ibity in Madagascar. Sadly, I have also had the displeasure of killing three of these Aloe pachydactylos in my own garden. Very challenging aloe to grow.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Aloe pachydactylos

The only time I like this aloe is when it is in bloom – Aloe longistyla. The flower size never matches the size of the body. Almost looks fake.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Aloe longistyla

Nice winter coloration on this Aloe parallelifolia hybrid.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Aloe parallelifolia Hybrid

Well-known succulent hybridizer and one of the judges for the San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society Winter Show, Kelly Griffin, talking to visitors about some of his new aloe hybrids.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Aloe Table

Here are some examples of his new hybrids. They are currently not in cultivation nor for sale.

Aloe ‘Vito.’

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Aloe 'Vito'

Aloe ‘Picnic Frost.’

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Aloe 'Picnic Frost'

Aloe ‘Zinfandel.’

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Aloe 'Zinfandel'

Aloe ‘Sea Star.’

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show - Aloe 'Sea Star'

Once the judging started, they roped off an entire row, making it too crowded for me to photograph in the open areas. So it was time to call it a day and head home.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Show Judging

Of course I can’t end a succulent show and sale post without displaying the loot I brought home. From left to right: Neoregelia tigrina, unknown Aloe hybrid, a Matt Maggio hybrid Echeveria agavoides x lilacina, and four Crassula ‘Morgan’s Beauty.’ These Crassula ‘Morgan’s Beauty’ are going for $19+ on Facebook and eBay – I got the very same sized plants for $6 each. What a bargain.

SDCSS Winter 2017 Sale Loot

And finally, here are those three Keith Kitoi pots I purchased. Not cheap, but pretty freaking cool, right?

SDCSS Winter 2017 Sale Loot

That concludes this year’s San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society Winter Show and Sale blog entry. Still on the schedule for this year are the SDCSS Summer Show and Sale, the Intercity Show at the LA Arboretum, and a first for me, the CSSA Annual Show and Sale at The Huntington. So look for those blog posts later in the summer months.

Tagged: Agaves, Aloes, Bromeliads, Echeveria, Euphorbia, Water Wise

February 23, 2017

More to Explore

  • Croton Propagation - Stem Cutting Propagating Crotons from stem cuttings
  • Palm Tree Growing Tips: Mounding Palm tree growing tips: Mounding
  • Dry Creek Bed - Medium River Rock Placement The building of a dry creek bed
  • Mediopicta Variegation Agave 'Blue Glow' at Sunset Agave ‘Blue Glow’ – The perfect agave

Comments

  1. hb says

    March 3, 2017 at 6:39 PM

    Quality instead of quantity. Great post!

    Reply
  2. Hans says

    January 14, 2018 at 9:49 PM

    Thanks for documenting. Inspiring me to possibly head down this year.

    Reply
    • Len Geiger says

      January 14, 2018 at 10:34 PM

      Well worth the trip.

      Reply

Comments: Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Post

  • Succulent Garden Party at the Rick Bjorklund and Greg Starr residenceSucculent Garden Party at the Rick Bjorklund and Greg Starr residence
  • Agave albopilosa, Aloe pearsonii and other sneak-in plantingsAgave albopilosa, Aloe pearsonii and other sneak-in plantings
  • Inter-City Cactus and Succulent Show and SaleInter-City Cactus and Succulent Show and Sale
  • A 103˚ Fahrenheit visit to The Living Desert Zoo and GardensA 103˚ Fahrenheit visit to The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

Archives

TAGS

Agaves Aloes Botanical Garden Bromeliads Cactus Cycads Dypsis Echeveria Epiphytes Euphorbia Fertilizing Flowering Perennials Flowering Shrubs Flowering Trees Fragrance Fruit Trees Fungus Garden Art Gardening Tips Germination Greenhouse Hibiscus Hiking Landscape Madagascar Mexico New Caledonia Orchids Palm Trees Plant Removal Potting Soil Propagation Rancho Soledad Nursery Rants Rock Garden South Africa Southeast Asia Thailand Transplanting Travel Tropical Plants Variegation Water Wise Weather Wildlife

Get The Latest

Keep up with the latest gardening news from Married To Plants.


CATEGORIES

  • Palms
  • Cycads
  • Succulents
  • Flowering Plants
  • Landscaping
  • Reviews
  • Tours
  • Hodgepodge

CONNECT

  • Contact



  • © 2021 Married To Plants. All Rights Reserved.