Enjoy My Fun, Informative Succulent Show-and-Sale Videos

In my latest videos, we go behind the scenes at a San Diego Cactus & Succulent Society (SDCSS) show. You'll meet organizers, volunteers, and vendors; see amazing plants; and find out what to know before you go.

Sales Chairperson Chris Miller is a haworthia expert and the group's V-P

The idea of making a video about San Diego's show-and-sale came from friend/collector Rick Bjorklund. Such events are a huge undertaking, and organizers and volunteers deserve accolades. Plus they have great tips to share.

I met up with Rick the day before the show during set-up and took photos and footage of anyone and anything interesting. Well, everyone and everything was, so instead of one video, I realized I needed to do four. I haven't edited them all yet, but I can't wait to share these first two with you. The people and plants are so interesting, amazing and memorable!

You may spot yourself among the crowd if you were there, or your collector-friends. You'll definitely see experts you've heard of and---I'm betting---others you'll find equally fascinating.

For sale: Variegated aloes and agaves from Altman Plants' tissue culture lab. They originated with renowned hybridizer Kelly Griffin, past president of the SDCSS. In the third video of my series you'll see him in yet another role: judging plants members entered in the show.

Summary of my new video series

Part 1: SHOW SET-UP & VENDORS Taken the day before the SDCSS winter show. You'll see growers, the succulents they're especially proud of, and a set-up Rick describes "is like a symphony.”

Part 2: SHOW & SALE DAY More plants, vendors and experts, plus numerous rare and beautiful specimens that shoppers snapped up and happily discuss. So aglow are some, you'd think they'd birthed those small striped agaves or cacti themselves.

A collector's haul includes grafted cacti and haworthias

What's ahead

Subscribe to my YouTube channel to be among the first to see soon-to-be-released sequels:

Part 3: PLANT JUDGING & WINNERS. We eavesdrop on judges, see impressive plants on display, and view blue-ribbon specimens staged in stunning art pottery.

Part 4: THE ALLURE OF SUCCULENTS. The delightfully erudite Steven Hammer of lithops fame holds forth on why succulents are sexy. Except he doesn't say it quite so bluntly.

Shoppers and collectors arrive at the San Diego CSS show in Balboa Park early for the best selection.

The SDCSS holds two shows annually. The big summer show takes place the first weekend in June at Casa del Prado in Balboa Park. Find details on my Shows and Sales page or the SDCSS website.

For decades, Casa del Prado in historic Balboa Park has served as the venue for SDCSS shows, sales and meetings. Photo: San Diego Cactus & Succulent Society

Postscript

I tend to be more into getting photos than plants, but every so often I can't resist one. At the SDCSS show, I wanted a yellow-and-red fairy castle (Acanthocereus tetragonus 'Variegata'), shown in the top photo at far right.

I lost track of time and before I could grab one, they sold out. Obtaining it was what lured me to Josh Allen's Fairview Nursery two weeks later...resulting in even more photos and footage!

Take a virtual tour of this up-and-coming grower/collector here on my site and in the corresponding video: