April is usually our Show & Sale so we do not assign Cactus or Succulent of the Month genera. There being no Show & Sale this year we decided that we would make the Plants of the Month be “My Favorite Cactus” and “My Favorite Succulent”.

As you probably know the need for social distancing has meant that our monthly meetings are now virtual via Zoom. At our virtual meetings we show the photos of the Cactus and Succulent of the Month that members have sent in. They are not judged, we add one mini show point per photo but a maximum of two points per member.

To be aligned with this month’s speaker’s topic “Staging” we ask that the photos you submit be of your favorite plants that are nicely staged like they would be in an in-person show. They do not have to be recent photos.

Staging involves using ONE plant per pot (unless you are creating a dish garden).
Pick a pot that complements and enhances the plant. The plant should be placed in the pot so that there is a natural front and back with some space between the pot and the plant. Add rocks as needed to decorate the plant and/or stabilize it. Finally place top dressing that brings out a color in the plant so that it too is complementary to both the plant and the pot.

Photographing the plant to show off the plant at its best is also important. If you have a good android or I-phone camera, this is fine. Otherwise the photo should be taken with a high resolution digital camera. It is best to place the plant in a place by itself to minimize distraction behind or beside the plant. Place a background that does not compete with the plant. Above all, before taking the photo, clean the plant and make sure it is free of cobwebs, insects, dried leaves, etc. (if it is newly planted for show, you would have done this already). Position the plant so that it is in the best light. Sometimes, an overcast day makes the best outdoor photo by eliminating shadow.

Submit your entry to Maria at minniecap@icloud.com by Friday April 9th.

Below are past Mini-Show winners as examples of good plants well staged. Most are in fancy pots but some are just in modest containers.

LATIN LOOKUP – Loquerisne Latine (Do you speak Latin)?

The meanings of latin plant names on this page – from http://davesgarden.com/guides/botanary/

• Ariocarpus [ar-ree-oh-KAR-pus]
  From the Greek aria (sorb) and karpos (fruit), referring to the similarity to the fruit of the Ario genus.
• Astrophytum [ass-troh-FY-tum]
  From the Greek astro (star) and phyto (plant).
• baldianum [bald-ee-AY-num, bald-ee-AH-num]
  Named for J. Baldi of the early 20th century; no further data available.
• bocasana [bo-ka-SAY-na, bo-ka-SAH-na]
  Named for the Sierra de Bocas Mountain range in Mexico.
• bombycina [bom-BEE-kin-uh]
  Silky.
• Cereus [KER-ee-us, SER-ee-us]
  A wax candle, torch.
• cinerea [sin-EER-ee-uh]
  Ash-colored.
• conoideus [ko-NOY-dee-us, ko-no-ID-ee-us]
  Cone-like.
• Copiapoa [koh-pee-uh-POH-uh]
  Of or from Copiapoa (Chile).
• cristatus [kris-TAY-tus]
  Crested.
• densispina [dens-ih-SPIN-uh]
  Densely-spined.
• Echinocactus [ek-in-oh-KAK-tus]
  From the Greek echinos (porcupine, hedgehog) and cactus, referring to its spines.
• Echinocereus [ek-in-oh-KER-ee-us, ek-in-oh-SER-ee-us]
  From the Greek echinos, (porcupine) and cereus, referring to the shape of the floral tube.
• Echinofossulocactus [ek-in-oh-foss-yoo-loh-KAK-tus]
  From the Latin echinos (hedgehog), fossula (little ditch) and cactus.
• Echinopsis [ek-in-OP-sis]
  From the Greek echinos (sea urchin or hedgehog) and opsis (like), referring to the plant’s resemblance to sea urchins.
• Epiphyllum [ep-ih-FYE-lum]
  Upon the leaf, referring to the flowers appearing to bloom on the leaves.
• Epithelantha [ep-ith-el-LAN-tha]
  From the Greek epi (upon), thele (nipple), and anthos (flower); nipple-like flowers.
• Espostoa [es-POS-toh-uh]
  Named for Nicolas E. Esposto, a botanist from Lima (Peru).
• Ferocactus [fer-oh-KAK-tus]
  From the Latin ferus, (fierce) and cactus, referring to its heavy spines.
• fissuratus [fis-zhur-RAY-tus]
  From the Latin fissura, to split or crack.
• geminispina [jem-in-ih-SPIN-uh]
  Having twin or many spines.
• glaucescens [glaw-KES-kens]
  Becoming glaucous.
• Gymnocalycium [jim-no-kal-LISS-ee-um]
  From the Greek gymnos (naked) and kalyx (covering; calyx); the flower buds are naked.
• horstii [HORST-ee-eye]
  Named for Leopoldo Horst, 21st century Brazilian plant collector.
• laui [LAU-eye]
  Named for Dr. Alfred B. Lau, 21st century cactus collector and explorer.
• Lobivia [low-BIV-ee-uh]
  Anagram of Bolivia, where the plant is native.
• magnificus [mag-NIH-fee-kus]
  Magnificent.
• Mammillaria [mam-mil-AR-ee-uh]
  Nipple- or teat-like.
• Melocactus [mel-oh-KAK-tus]
  From the Greek melo (apple-shaped melon) and cactus; refers to the shape of these cacti.
• monacantha [mon-ah-KANTH-uh]
  From the Greek monos (one, only) and akantha (thorn, spine).
• monstruosa [mon-stru-OH-sa]
  Strange, wonderful; monstrous; also spelled monstrosa.
• muscula [MUS-kuh-luh]
  Diminutive of Latin mus (mouse, or muscle).
• Notocactus [no-to-KAK-tus]
  From the Greek notos (south) and kaktos (cactus), referring to the plant’s native habitat in South America.
• Opuntia [op-UN-shee-a, op-UN-tee-a]
  Named after Opus (Greece), an area where other cactus-like plants were grown.
• pectinifera [pek-tin-EE-fer-uh]
  Comb-bearing.
• peruvianus [per-u-vee-AN-us]
  Of or from Peru.
• pilosus [pil-OH-sus]
  Covered in soft, long hair.
• Rebutia [ray-BEW-tee-uh]
  Named for Pierre Rebut, 19th century French cactus dealer and expert.
• reichenbachii [ry-ken-BAHK-ee-eye]
  Named for Heinrich Gottlieb Ludwig Reichenbach, 19th century German botanist, ornithologist, author and botanical artist.
• sellowii [sel-LOH-wee-eye, sel-LOH-vee-eye]
  Named for Friedrich Sello (changed to Sellow in later years), early 19th century German explorer who collected specimens in South America.
• stenopleurum [sten-oh-PLOOR-um]
  Narrow ribs or sides.
• tenuissima [ten-yoo-ISS-ee-muh]
  Most slender.
• texensis [teck-SEN-sis]
  Of or from Texas (U.S.).
• trigonus [try-GOH-nus]
  Three-cornered, triangular.
• Turbinicarpus [tur-bin-ih-KAR-pus]
  From the Latin turbino (spinning) and karpos (fruit).
• Uebelmannia [yoo-bel-MAHN-ee-uh]
  Named for Werner Uebelman, Swiss grower and collector of cacti in cacti in Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
• variegata [var-ee-GAY-tuh]
  Variegated.
• violacea [vy-oh-LAH-see-uh, vy-oh-LAH-say-uh]
  Violet-colored.
• winteriana [win-ter-ee-AY-na, win-ter-ee-AH-na]
  1. Named for Captain John Winter, one of the captains of Sir Francis Drake’s expedition; also spelled winterana.
  2. Named for Hildegarda Winter, sister of Freidrich Ritter, well-known cactus expert and collector.