When and Where
Why Attend Our Meetings?
Why Attend Our Meetings?
We'd love for you to join us. Visitors welcomed!
Why Attend Our Meetings?
Why Attend Our Meetings?
Why Attend Our Meetings?
They are fun, educational, and you will leave with more plants!
CSSM Recorded Programs
Why Attend Our Meetings?
CSSM Recorded Programs
Check out our latest recorded programs on YouTube.
CSSM Monthly Programs
In-Person October 8, 2022 - First Universalist Society Meeting House, in Franklin. Just 8 minutes from Norfolk
Note that this meeting is on the Second Saturday of October.
This month's program : Light it Up!
With the changing of the seasons, and moving indoors, our plants’ needs change in the winter. The October meeting is designed to inform and educate on what C&S need to thrive at this time.
Many folks turn to indoor lighting. We’ve gathered some members with extensive indoor grow set-ups to share how they configured their set-ups. Paul Carlberg, Tom Chen and Tim Greene will also answer questions you may have on how to get started with grow lights.
Following the lighting discussion, Art Scarpa will be providing a brief introduction to Winter Growing Succulents –because yes, some plants save their best for winter.
Time:1:00p-4:00p
Location: First Universalist Society Meeting House in Franklin , MA
November 19th: Here Comes the Judge! In-person meeting.
Actually, here come 4 judges! CSSM members Paul Carlberg, Margo Hammer, Abby Rorer, and Art Scarpa will be sharing how they go about judging a plant, with tips and suggestions on how to help your plants look their best.
Afterward, we’ll be treated to some live, real-time judging. Bring your best plant, bring your worst plant, and see what the judges have to say! (Plants will be presented to the judges anonymously, as would happen in a show setting).
Time: 1p-4p
Location: First Universalist Society Meeting House in Franklin , MA
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December 10th: Celebrate! (note: this is the 2nd Saturday in December)
No formal meeting, we’ll be having a potluck lunch with lots of laughter, an optional gift swap, and gift plants for all registered attendees.
Party signup has closed - see you there!
Time: 1p-4p
Location: First Universalist Society Meeting House in Franklin , MA
January 21, 2023: ERNESTO SANDOVAL Propagation of Succulents from Seed at the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory
Ernesto and Company have been experimenting with various techniques for propagating succulents from seed and want to share these techniques and tips for better seed germination. If you haven’t tried growing from seed or if you are looking for ways to perhaps increase your success rate, Ernesto thinks you’ll appreciate this visual tour of propagation of plants such Welwitschia, Aloes, Cacti, Dorstenia, Othonna, Mesembs and more.
Ernesto has been wondering and seeking questions and answers to why plants grow and look the way that they do for nearly 40 years. Now he explains and interprets the world of plants to a variety of ages and from amateur to professional gardeners. He regularly lectures to a variety of western Garden Clubs throughout the year and particularly to Succulent Clubs throughout California. Desert plants are his particular passion within his general passion for plants. He describes himself as a "Jose of All Plants, Master of None" and loves learning from the experiences and passions of others as well as his own. Ernesto thoroughly enjoys helping others, and gardeners in particular, to understand why and how plants do what they do.
Time: 1 - 4 PM via Zoom. Login info will be sent to all members in January.
February 18, 2023: Jeff Moore - California Succulent Road Trip!
For our February program we will welcome back Jeff Moore, plantsman, speaker, author, photographer, and owner of Solana Succulents near San Diego. Jeff has been informally recommending a coastal California Grand Tour of botanical gardens and nurseries for years, and has at last crystallized the plan and will share it with us just in time for a late winter escape to sunny California. Here’s the preview, in Jeff’s own words:
"This California Succulent Road Trip showcases some of the fabulous succulent collections from the Golden State, from the Bay Area to San Diego. I'll show you private collections - both container and landscape - as well as some of our succulent themed botanical gardens and a few of the prominent succulent nurseries. Since I started my book tours to cactus clubs and botanical societies around 2014, I've made this trip 5 or 6 times, and every time I feel lucky to have done it and wish others could follow along. It is at the same a time a bit of a celebration of coastal California - can't help but show off a little. I always encourage other enthusiasts that tend to get stuck down here in our little southwest corner of the state to get out there and do the same, but then it occured to me that it might really appeal to succulent enthusiasts outside the state - particularly in colder regions - to ditch the snow in February or March to fly out and make all or part of the route. It can be done anytime of the year as the weather is usually cooperative here, but that late winter/early spring window is my favorite time - the aloes and aeoniums are in bloom, the brown hills are usually green, and the air is crisp. Always a chance for some rain that time of year but it usually passes quickly.
Time: 1 - 4 PM via Zoom. Login info will be sent to all members in February.
MARCH 18: David Burdick - TILLANDSIAS!
Coming in March David Burdick will be presenting an
in-person program on Tillandsias. A program on an absolutely fascinating succulent family. Don't miss it!
Location: In-Person March 18, 2023 - First Universalist Society Meeting House, in Franklin. 1 - 4 PM
April 22: succulent bonsai
CSSM Member Joel Mullen will introduce the club to similarities between growing bonsai and growing succulents and also how to train various succulents into bonsai. Topics will include tools, pots, soil and all the helpful things that can be taken from one and used on the other. Norfolk Public Library, 1 - 4 PM
MAY 20: ALL ABOUT POTS, POTTING, AND SOIL TYPES
Every once in a while it’s a good idea to step back and review the basic necessities and requirements of our favorite plants. Just in time for potting season, our May program will do just that!
CSSM Emeritus Member Art Scarpa will lead an interactive session exploring all aspects of potting. Topics include Pots (plastic, glazed, ceramic, hypertufa, terra cotta), Soil Components (sand, gravel, potting soil, volcanic rock, and more), customizing your mix, potting, and repotting.
This will be hands-on, with numerous soil samples to see and touch.
Bring your curiosity and questions!
Norfolk Public Library, 1 - 4 PM
JUNE 17, 2023 - ANNUAL CSSM PICNIC
On Saturday, June 17th, join fellow CSSMers at our annual June Picnic. This year we will meet for fun, sun, and good times at a beautiful location in bucolic central Massachusetts. Event details will be sent to all members in May. Stay tuned!