Fred Hesse Jr. Community Park
McTaggart Hall  [map]

Mini-Show Plants for July:
Cactus: Melocactus
Succulent: Bromeliaceae (Other than Dyckia and Hectia)

Jeff will present interesting, mostly succulent plants and blooms from around the world that are not often seen in slide shows.  We will visit Mexico, South Africa, Madagascar, Namibia, Australia, Borneo, Chile, and Colombia during our virtual tour.

Jeff’s passion for growing plants began as a teenager and now manifests itself in a nursery/garden open by appointment called Aloes in Wonderland, with 4.5 acres of cultivated grounds and greenhouses in the foothills of Santa Barbara. Jeff’s garden features specimen plants of aloes, cycads, agaves, cactus, bromeliads, yuccas, dracaenas, cyphostemmas, brachychitons, euphorbias, palms, ceibas, and many other enticing plant groups.

Jeff has had a 30 year relationship with Santa Barbara’s amazing botanic garden, Ganna Walska Lotusland. He is a Research Associate, Cycad Lecturer, Plant and Collections Committee Chair, and Auctioneer for the annual Exceptional Plant Sale. A lifelong cycad enthusiast, Jeff has been actively engaged in field work, studying the cycads of Mexico since the 1970’s. Jeff and his colleagues have authored 8 cycad species new to science, and he is a member of the IUCN Cycad Specialist Group.