Panayoti on the Road Again! California here I come!

California Lecture Tour

  Tuesday Jan. 21

 (meeting starts at 7 pm at the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park) 

San Francisco Cactus club: “The OTHER South Africa” 

More information HERE

 Succulent lovers are so smitten with the extraordinary biodiversity of the Western Cape that they often neglect to visit the eastern parts of South Africa. I hope to show how wrong this is. The great bulk of plants most often seen in Temperate Gardens from South Africa grow mostly in the Eastern parts of the country: Agapanthus, Watsonia, Crocosmia and no end of Kniphofia are found primarily in Eastern South Africa. Many genera of Succulents (including Gasteria and many Haworthia, Bergeranthus and more are far commoner and more diverse as you travel East in the country. For this reason often receives most of its moisture in the summer--which often means the flower season is protracted, or often in late summer. 

Alice Eastwood

  Saturday 10:30 Wayne Roderick Lecture Series “The Colorado/California Connection” 

Regional Parks Botanical Garden ("Tilden")

A surprising number of great California botanists (not just Alice Eastwood!) launched their careers in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. It’s about time to shine a light on our historical connection Click here for more information: Colorado/California connection 

Saturday, January 25 PM Ruth Bancroft Garden talk 

Click here for more information: "Superbloom" "Trifecta! Three Superb bloom years in South Africa" Most gardeners are aware that South Africa contains extraordinary plant diversity: approximately a tenth of the World's vascular plant flora grows natively in South Africa. The South and Western parts of the Cape are especially rich in succulents (and bulbs!) however this area was subjected to great drought stress thus far this century. Until 2022, that is, when heavy winter rains resulted in a fantastic display of annuals, bulbs, perennials and succulents we call a "Super bloom"...I was so smitten that I returned in 2023 and again in 2024--just a few months ago. Each year seemed to outdo the previous one. Seeing is believing--the technicolor audacity of Namaqualand super bloom must be seen to be believed! It was superb! 

  Monday, January 27 Sacramento Cactus Club 

“Superbloom in South Africa” reprise.

 Click here for more information: Superbloom! Shepherd Garden and Art Center, 3330 McKinley Park Blvd. Sacramento, CA The doors open at 6:15 for socialization and plant purchases with the program beginning at 7pm.