Green-thumbed Clevelanders may be interested to attend the Midwest Cactus & Succulent Society Show & Sale, happening this weekend at the Cleveland Botanical Garden on Saturday and Sunday, in conjunction with “Orchid Mania.”
According to cactus society Vice President Bill Hendricks, “This is a very popular weekend. The society has been putting on a show at the garden for more than 50 years.” He goes on to say that the show is very well-attended, with over 1,000 visitors on the weekends when the shows coincide.
Cactus and succulent plants grow in Africa, Madagascar, Mexico, South America and desert locations in the United States. Cactuses are succulents, however not all succulents are cactuses. They are water-retaining plans that adapt to arid climates or soil conditions. Hendricks will be giving a PowerPoint presentation entitled “The Desert Country of Northern Arizona and Utah” about the different varieties that grow in the West, at 2pm on both days.
“There’s just something whimsical about this diverse and eminently growable genus of succulent plants,” says Ann McCulloh, curator of plant collections at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. “In addition to 125 naturally occurring species, there are cultivated varieties with descriptive names like ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy,’ ‘Fang’ and ‘Flapjacks.'”
The show is from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, and noon to 5pm on Sunday at the Cleveland Botanical Garden located at 11030 East Blvd in Cleveland. If you are planning to attend “Orchid Mania: This Side of Paradise” this weekend, the Midwest Cactus & Succulent Society Show & Sale is an exciting bonus.
