BCSS Macclesfield & East Cheshire Branch

Newsletter December 2009 - Looking Back Over the Year

As some of you know we took a holiday to the U.S.A. during September and October. This trip completed a lifelong ambition of touring all of the States by self-drive car other than Alaska which was done by boat and train. This undertaking was done over a period of 18 years and covered 58,000 miles. We haven't regretted one minute or one yard of our journeying. We have seen many sites and met lots of nice people and made many friends along the way.

Now back to base and the Cactus house. This year has seen lots of superb flowers. The first Cactus to flower was Parodia chrysacanthion in February and it was also the last with a flower in October greeting us when we got home from our vacation. Also in flower on our return home in mid-October was Aloinopsis compactus subsp canus with nine perfect blooms,the best it has ever done. This plant was kept cool and totally shaded whilst we were away. The Gymnocalyciums surpassed themselves putting on a spectacular show for the majority of the summer.

Now to the task of taking care of all the plants, repotting where necessary, ready for the start of another season.

With my Show Secretary's head on, I would like to draw your attention to some amendments to the schedule for next year's Wilmslow show. There are two additional classes, these being

(1) STROMBOCACTUS^*group - one plant - pot size up to 13cm

(2) GASTERIA group - one plant - pot size up to 13cm. Please also note in the ALOE group the pot size is amended to 'up to 20cm'

The JUNIOR CLASS has been reduced to

(1) CACTUS - one plant any genus - pot size up to 20cm

(2) SUCCULENT - one plant any genus - pot size up to 20cm.

Alan Brown, from Leicester, is the Judge for 2010

Finally I would like to wish all members of the branch and their families a Happy Christmas and a good growing New Year.

David Roseblade