Tom Karwin, on gardening | Cactus, succulent and bonsai show coming

  • Variegated thread-leaf agave (Agave schidigera 'Shiro no Ohi'). This attractive,...

    Variegated thread-leaf agave (Agave schidigera 'Shiro no Ohi'). This attractive, slow-growing succulent grows 12 inches tall. It has an 18-inch-wide solitary rosette of dark green leaves with creamy white margins, curly hairs and a sharp reddish terminal spine. This cultivar’s name comes from the Japanese terms meaning “white thread” and “queen,” referring to the plant’s curly hairs. Jeff Brooks grew this award-winning agave, which is native to Mexico and a member of the asparagus family (asparagaceae). (Courtesy Tom Karwin)

  • Cushion milkspurge (Euphorbia multifolia). This striking succulent has unique, spiraling,...

    Cushion milkspurge (Euphorbia multifolia). This striking succulent has unique, spiraling, spiny stems with tubercles and vibrant flowers, creating a bold statement indoors or in the garden. It thrives in a warm, Mediterranean-like climate, in sun or partial shade and well-draining soil, making it easy to care for in the Monterey Bay area. Naomi Bloss grew and displayed this plant, a South African native in the spurge family (euphorbiaceae). (Courtesy Tom Karwin)

  • Fire barrel cactus (Ferocactus viscainsis or F. gracilis). This plant...

    Fire barrel cactus (Ferocactus viscainsis or F. gracilis). This plant has a solitary dark green globular stem with 24 ribs and felted areoles that bear seven to 13 reddish spines and eight to 12 whitish radial spines. The stem becomes cylindrical with age and can eventually reach 5 feet in height. During summer, the plant produces golden-yellow or reddish blossoms with a dark red stripe down the center of each petal. The fruits shown here are cylindrical, yellowish and 1 inch long. Richard Deming grew and displayed this plant, which is native to Mexico and a member of the cactus family (cactaceae). (Courtesy Tom Karwin)

  • African bonsai (Trichodiadema bulbosum). This small succulent’s unique and distinctive...

    African bonsai (Trichodiadema bulbosum). This small succulent’s unique and distinctive appearance makes it popular with collectors and bonsai enthusiasts. Its tuberous base is exposed, and its densely branched stems have small, bright green or gray-green leaves. Each leaf has a diadem of small bristles at the tip. The plant grows up to 12 inches tall and, from spring to fall, produces bright pink flowers with yellow-green centers. The specific epithet means "bulbous," referring to the plant’s swollen roots. Naomi Bloss selected the container and grew this plant, a South African native belonging to the fig-marigold family (aizoaceae). (Courtesy Tom Karwin)

  • Sulfur butterbush (Tylecodon cacalioides). The rare South African succulent shrub...

    Sulfur butterbush (Tylecodon cacalioides). The rare South African succulent shrub has a main stem with yellow-gray peeling bark and gray-green branches with short appendages. The thick, cylindrical, fleshy, gray-green leaves, growing over 2 inches in length, curve upward at the ends of the branches. In the summer, the plants drop their leaves and create 1-inch-wide sulfur-yellow flowers. David and Janet Sparks grew and displayed this member of the stonecrop family (crassulaceae). (Courtesy Tom Karwin)
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Variegated thread-leaf agave (Agave schidigera 'Shiro no Ohi'). This attractive, slow-growing succulent grows 12 inches tall. It has an 18-inch-wide solitary rosette of dark green leaves with creamy white margins, curly hairs and a sharp reddish terminal spine. This cultivar’s name comes from the Japanese terms meaning “white thread” and “queen,” referring to the plant’s curly hairs. Jeff Brooks grew this award-winning agave, which is native to Mexico and a member of the asparagus family (asparagaceae). (Courtesy Tom Karwin)
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Mark your calendar: The Monterey Bay Area Cactus and Succulent Society and Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai will hold their shows and sales on Saturday and Sunday.

This first-of-its-kind combination sale offers gardeners an expansive opportunity to view well-cultivated examples of these collectible plant categories and acquire well-priced specimens for their gardens.

Through this exceptional event, members of the host societies share their gardening enthusiasm and experiences, inspire others to enjoy these featured plants and support their organizations.

We provide the sale and show details at the end of today’s column.

Today’s gallery of images

The Monterey Bay Area Cactus and Succulent Society typically showcases dozens of extraordinary plants grown by members, including home gardeners, amateur plant propagators and full-time marketers of cactuses and succulents.

The photos in this column are prize-winners from my photo archive of a previous show, photographed by society volunteer Fred Valentine. This weekend’s show will display a new array of specimens cultivated and displayed by dedicated growers.

At the show and sale: Discover and appreciate uncommon, rare species

Experienced and skilled growers will bring their plant selections to this event. These specimens will have been carefully cultivated and attractively displayed. The growers will display dozens of cactuses and succulents, as well as 70 bonsai trees.

This show offers visitors unique opportunities to examine exceptional plant specimens and deepen their familiarity with the varieties selected and cultivated by dedicated growers. Even experienced gardeners attending this show can discover plants they had not seen previously.

Visitors can vote for the plants they most appreciate, and a team of expert judges will award separate prizes for the best plants in each genus represented at the show. The judging model appropriately compares plants competing within the same genus.

Advance your gardening knowledge

Several expert growers will present live demonstrations on the cultivation and care of cactuses, succulents and bonsai, often in the early afternoon hours.

A “Make Your Own Bonsai” workshop will be offered from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day, for a fee. For more information and to sign up, contact [email protected].

Experts on cactuses, succulents and bonsai will be ready and willing to share their knowledge and advice on growing these plants and will respond to your gardening questions.

The Monterey Bay Koi and Pond Club will be represented to provide images of its pond and answer questions about koi and water gardens.

Examine garden plants and supplies for purchase

Tour this 22,000-square-foot environment to explore an extraordinary variety of cactuses, succulents and bonsai trees on display tables stocked separately by multiple growers. At least four vendors will offer bonsai trees and bonsai starters, and many other vendors will offer cactuses and succulents.

Additional tables will carry handmade pots designed specifically for cactuses and bonsai, plus tables for tools and supplies for growing cactuses or bonsai. These specialized items are rarely found in garden centers.

Acquire items for your garden

Gardeners can bring home plants to develop their landscapes, containers to enhance their existing or new plants and tools and supplies to make gardening easier or more effective.

People planning to attend this enormous sale should have design objectives in mind to guide their purchases and installation of plants offered at the sale.

More about the show and sale

The Monterey Bay Area Cactus and Succulent Society and the Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai are co-hosting their respective shows and sales at the Capitola Mall’s former Sears building. These events will occur Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For online details of the Monterey Bay Area Cactus and Succulent Society’s show and sale, visit mbsucculent.org. The site also invites interested gardeners to attend Monterey Bay Area Cactus and Succulent Society meetings, read its newsletter online and consider becoming a member of the organization.

The Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai has also provided details of its show and sale on this occasion. Visit santacruzbonsaikai.com for information, including a list of vendors, as well as invitations to attend meetings and workshops presented by the Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai.

This week in the garden

Enjoy your garden!

Tom Karwin is a past president of Friends of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum and the Monterey Bay Iris Society, a past president and Lifetime Member of the Monterey Bay Area Cactus & Succulent Society, a Lifetime UC Master Gardener (certified 1999-2009), past board member of the Santa Cruz Hostel Society and a current member of the Pacific Horticultural Society and other garden-related societies. To review the archive of recent On Gardening columns, visit santacruzsentinel.com and search “Karwin.” Visit ongardening.com to review columns from 2012-2020 (and eventually) from the following years. Please send comments or questions to [email protected] via email.

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