South Coast C&SS monthly meeting -May 2024
May 19 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm PDT
Mini-Show Cactus for May: Eriosyce, Neoporteria, Neochilenia, Islaya
Mini-Show Succulent for May: Crassula
South Coast Botanic Garden members, Society members and their guests free admission.
PRESENTER FOR MAY: Kelly Griffin “An Adventure to Namibia”
Kelly will present his visit to Namibia and the northern part of South Africa last May covering some 1800 miles. This was a successful romp to see some iconic bucket lists of succulent plants. Namibia and RSA are unique places with unique flora and fauna. This includes Welwitschias, Aloes, Pachypodiums, and Lithops in their native surroundings. Kelly will impart some helpful info regarding the cultivation of the plants from these areas.
Welwitchia in Namibia
Aloe erinaceae
Aloidendron dichotomum
Kelly Griffin
Kelly is a succulent plant hybridizer, propagator, and avid plant explorer. Like many of us, his interest in plants, and succulent plants, started at a fairly young age.
Since his early exposure, Kelly has traveled to 20+ countries searching for plants, visiting Madagascar 5 times, South Africa 5 times, and Mexico 25 plus times to name just a few. He worked as the Curator of Succulents at Rancho Soledad Nursery for 11 years and, for the past 12 years, he has been working for Altman’s Plants as Succulent Plant Development Manager.
He has become well known for his hybridizing and has created far over 100 succulent hybrids now in the trade, including Aloes, Agaves, and Echeverias. He is probably most known for his Aloe hybrids that are 30 years in the making (Pink Blush, Delta lights, Christmas Sleigh, and Coral Fire, etc) and some Agave hybrids and selections too (Blue Glow, Snow Glow, Cubic, Black and Blue, Dragon toes, Spawn, and Crème Brûlée to name just a few). He is also responsible for obtaining seed from many interesting species and propagating the seed for all to enjoy.
Kelly has been a member of the San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society since 1992. He has been on the board of Directors for the SDCSS for as he says; “way too long” He has served 4 years as SDCSS President and 2 years as Vice-President. He was very honored to have been named a Fellow of the San Diego Society.
He currently serves as a director on the board of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America. He is active on the conservation committee and is working on the National convention, which comes to San Diego next spring April 23rd to 27th 2025.