The Beaver Tale March 2009

From the President:

We had a brief snap of cold winter weather, but nothing that would hurt most of our plants. I hope
that from now going forward in 2009, frost covers stay in the garage! And the RAIN! Yes! Could we
have a bit more? If achieving heavy blooms on cactus is on your “desirable” list, don’t forget about
low nitrogen, high phosphate fertilizer. (Don’t start watering too much; it’s spring—not summer!)
At our meeting in March, we’re going to take a more serious look at caring for our collected plants. A
little “sharpening of our mental saw” could help us improve the quality of our plants and increase our
collections. The overall reward for our hobby should be elevated. We each have small “nurseries” at
one level or another! Victor Lindsey begins this series.
WE ARE DOIN’ STUFF!
“TEACH ME HOW! CREATE BEAUTIFUL CACTUS AND SUCCULENT GARDENS INSIDE YOUR
HOME AND OUT”: April 4 at the Museum lobby and Lecture Hall with the desert garden right
outside. Paula Garrett is the coordinator. Show your support and invite people to come with you!
COUNTY FAIR: April 9, 10, 11, 12 in Logandale. Will CSSSN participate in any way?
SALE TIME: Springs Preserve, Sat., April 11, Many different kinds of plants for sale. Are you
helping? Are you Selling?
SHOW & SALE TIME: CSN, Charleston Campus, Sat. & Sun. April 25 & 26. CSSSN is only garden
club seller these days. We can put on one heck of a show along with some great demonstrations.
We’ll need to get organized. Please come to the meeting to see how you can participate.
SHOW & SALE TIME: PLANT WORLD on Charleston has invited us to sell, show, demonstrate, talk,
etc., under the lattice on Sat. and Sun., May 16 and 17. This is another excellent opportunity. Let’s
not blow it off. We’ve got some time on this one. Maybe we can even get an out of state plant vendor
or two! We need to get organized. Please come to the meeting to see how you can participate.
HIKES AND DAY TRIPS: Don’t forget it’s WILDFLOWER SEASON!!!!! The club is not organizing an
event for you. It’s your gig! Roll out of bed, guzzle some coffee, gas up your buggy or saddle your
pony and GET OUT THERE!
DIGGIN’ IN THE DIRT: If you can’t get your jeans dirty in your own yard, find someone that needs
some help. If you can’t get down and dirty this year, don’t forget to redo those flower pots, benches,
and patios. Your hands will retreat from winter’s arthritic pain with just a bit of torn cuticle, dirt under
the nails, and a glochid or two discretely and most annoyingly placed!
WEBSITE: A traditional calendar feature is operational. Check it out and stay in touch through all of
these these links:
YAHOO GROUP SITE: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/CSSSN/
WEB SITE: http://www.csssn.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=37
2009 Officers & Committees: http://www.csssn.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=29
MEMBERSHIP: If you are reading this and are not a member yet, consider paying up!

I hope to see you Thursday – see inside for a slight change up in our routine

Susan Kent
Page 1 of 6
 MEETING
TIME
BEGINS AT
4:30 PM!

Next Meeting: March5, 2009

Garden Center at Lorenzi Park
3333 W. Washington
Las Vegas, NV
Regular meeting: Start gathering at
Lorenzi Park Garden Center at 4:30.
We will get set up, lock the building,
and car pool over to Victor’s home.
After a tour there we will head back
to the Garden Center and finish our
regular meeting by 7:00. A brief
Board meeting starts at 7:00.
Members may attend. Tentative
plans indicate that a light snack will
be available. (This could be as small Membership Dues: Individual - $15.00;
as a pot of coffee.) If you want to Household - $25
Name(s): ____________________________________
make sure finger food is available,
pick something up at the super _____________________________________________
market on your way. PS: BRING Street: _______________________________________
MONEY! Raffle plants and perhaps a
show quality plant or will be on the City,State,Zip _________________________________
block! Phone: ______________________________________

E-mail address: _______________________________

Monthly Meeting Program Email & website are default methods of communication.
The small home nursery! Victor Lindsey If you have an e-mail address, we e-mail the newsletter.
has invited us to tour his nursery. He’ll If you wish a paper copy, please notify Liz at
[email protected].
give us plenty of ideas and cautions. I Dues can be paid at any monthly meeting, or you may
look forward to getting tips that could mail them. Thanks for your continued interest!
save me from making his same CSSSN – Membership
P O Box 571101
mistakes. Las Vegas, NV 89157
Page 2 of 6
 this. The costs of heating would be minimal being attached
A Cactus Greenhouse in Iowa to the home and visiting the greenhouse would be like
by Dick Schreiber walking to another room in your home. Very appealing to
Reprinted from the Mid-Iowa Cactus & Succulent Society consider, however, it would not work for my situation.
Newsletter, February 2001
It goes against all common sense to grow cactus and Shelter
succulents in Iowa. There are numerous reasons; too The framework of our greenhouse is a second hand
cloudy, too much rain and humidity, too hot, too many aluminum Lord and Burnham lean-to, that I had decided to
critters, no room and then freezing temperatures come place along my 24' long garage. This makes it run North to
along and force them indoors. Is this natural for the plants South pretty much and 20 feet or so away from the house.
and are they really happy? This lean-to is approximately 7' wide. The person I
purchased this from had no appreciation for the
I chose to build a greenhouse a little over 10 years ago. It
greenhouse and basically wanted it removed ($450). It was
isn't perfect or high dollar; however, it was an adventure to
28 1/2' long and was in disrepair. We disassembled it in
build and is giving us enjoyment year around. This is a
one day (with the help of my father, brother and sister-in-
short article on my situation, some thoughts pertaining to
law), and moved the many pieces to my home. It was
greenhouses and answers to the above issues.
stored until it was needed.
The basic necessities of a greenhouse are shelter,
I had to provide a base or foundation for the wall, by
sunlight, moving air and moderated temperatures. This
digging down 2' and pouring concrete footings. Then a
means a structure, electricity, and a heat source. It was
short knee wall sits atop that, to provide a beginning for the
overwhelming at first, to bring all this together. I needed to
framework erection. I completed the utilities, foundation
research greenhouses and find out what makes them work.
and framework the first year. Year 2 saw the glass sides
Because I would be the design, construction and repair
and Lexan top panels go together and the greenhouse
person, and, oh yes, the person to use and enjoy it. Thus it
became a tight shelter. The midsummer was spent building
was my choice to proceed and do it myself. So the key to
the benches for the plants to set on. Going into fall, I chose
this project was keeping it simple and I believe I did.
a hot water heater for keeping the plants warm in winter.
Another way to keep it simple is to pay a contractor to do
The idea came from a MICSS club member (Elwin Hand)
the work. There are numerous kits and styles available for
that had used it successfully and he was proud to explain
contractor installation or the "do-it-yourselfers". It's a
his setup. It consisted of a 30-gallon residential gas water-
decision on a persons comfort level to do the work
heater, fin tubes, a thermostat, and a circulation pump. It
themselves or have it done by someone else. I felt
was simple and I could do it.
somewhat at ease building the structure. I talked to my
wife, Cynde, a lot regarding design with common sense I installed the fin tubes under the benches to give off the
answers that I was looking for. heat to the plants above. This fin tube is a copper pipe with
aluminum fins or radiators on them to give off heat from the
There are 3-season and 4-season greenhouses, each
hot water inside it. The pump moves the heated water
have advantages and disadvantages. Often a 3-season
around the loop of pipe, returning the water to the water-
can become a 4-season with additional amendments at a
heater (in the garage) for another trip, warming the entire
later date when funds become available. A person must
structure. The thermostat shuts off the pump when the
decide what is best for their needs and budget. Location,
structure reaches the temperature it was set for. I keep
size, style, to buy or to build is all necessary to answer
mine at 50 degrees F. Simple and it works. We figure it
before taking the plunge into having a greenhouse. Is there
costs about $1.50 per day, during the winter months. The
electricity, and gas nearby for the detached greenhouse?
water is actually a 50/50 mix of water and glycol (anti-
Attaching the greenhouse to the home is an attractive
freeze) to keep from freezing a pipe. This actually
option if there is enough room and the sun location permits
Page 3 of 6
happened in the beginning when I didn't have one pipe round. I had used wall fans in the beginning. However, they
entirely insulated and the heater was not in use because of were hard to locate in the stores and were usually costing
a sunny day in the winter. That section of pipe froze and half again as much. The table fans are common, cheap
kept the loop from circulating the hot liquid. I had to get a ($15) and last 3 years or so.
hair dryer and heat that section of pipe until the water
Vents in the greenhouse structure are also important, and
started flowing again. To remedy the problem, I insulated it
a roof ridge vent or moveable panel is desirable for
better and switched to the water/glycol mix the next fall.
keeping the heat buildup under control for the hottest of
There have been no problems since.
summer days. There must also be outside vents for air to
Attaching a 28 1/2' greenhouse to a 24' garage was enter the greenhouse. This sets up a natural circulation
resolved by extending the additional 4 1/2' beyond the that cycles the air and keeps it moving. On the hot summer
garage and creating a potting shed addition to attach the days of little breezes I wanted to provide relief from the
greenhouse to. This was a later addition I put on when I heat to the plants. So I went to the trouble of installing a
needed more room and the extra parts I hadn't used were swamp cooler in mine for the many plants that remain in
haunting me. Thus, we have a 250 square foot the greenhouse during the summer. It really mixes up the
greenhouse, which houses 537 or so cactus and succulent air the entire length of the greenhouse and is basically a
plants. This addition also provided an opportunity to large fan. This comes on at a predetermined high
enclose my downspout fed 50 gallon water barrel, that had temperature and shuts off when it's cooled off. I do not use
until that time been outside and required emptying each water with the swamp collar, as it introduced more
fall. This was an idea whose time had come. The barrel is problems than solutions; mainly too much humidity that
4' off the floor of the greenhouse and provides gravity for seemed to promote scars, abnormal growth, and diseases.
watering the plants on the benches below, with a garden
I have installed a temperature alarm system that sounds a
hose and the watering wand. The plants being watered
buzzer beside my bed to alert us when the greenhouse
with warm water in winter makes them happy.
temperature is below the 44 degrees F. temperature. I then
take action (usually the middle of the night) to investigate.
Sunlight Usually it means plugging in an electric heater to
I decided to let Mother Nature provide the sunlight and
supplement the hot water heater. Another trick is to
have shade cloth inside provide the shadows for the shade
increase the temperature of the water that circulates. The
loving plant. In the beginning of June I apply a whitewash
greenhouse returns back to 50 degrees in a couple hours
on the glass to cut down on the intensity of the peak
and all is well again. The other convenience I have
summer rays. I have no special supplemental lighting for
purchased is a wireless thermometer between the house
the plants. The Schlumbergeras and Lithops bloom in
and the greenhouse. This clever gadget displays the
December and Aloes show their inflorescence in January,
temperature of the greenhouse and also the outside
all very natural and I believe they are happy. The 50-
temperature, without wires. It keeps track of the highs and
degree thermostat temperature in winter keeps most plants
lows of the greenhouse and lets me know the extremes
dormant and does not show etiolation on any of them.
during the night or while we were away at work. This is
another toy of the greenhouse I rationalized as a necessity.
Air
Moving air is a necessity for keeping the plants healthy,
disease and bug free. Air movement also stirs up the hot
Conclusion
The overall experience of the greenhouse has been
and cool spots to a more temperate climate that plants like.
nothing less than wonderful. Though I regret not having
The gentle sweeping motion of the air seems to replicate
more time to spend on the plants, due to a 40 hour + job.
the outdoor breeze stirring leaves and spines alike that
Therefore, my plants are grown "hard" (not pampered). The
makes them happy. To keep the air moving I have installed
many hours putting this project together was all worth it
3 tabletop fans that are mounted on shelves on the wall.
when a person can see the wonderful cacti and succulents
They are 12" diameter oscillating and run continuously year
bloom, divide and grow in size. I had decided to have it
Page 4 of 6
now and enjoy it for the many years to come, rather than —1100 types of woody trees and shrubs
wait to retirement and then start. This was our decision and —1200–1500 types of hardy herbaceous plants
it seems to be working for us. I very much look forward to —1500–2500 types of tender herbaceous and woody
pampering the plants in retirement. They look forward to it plants
also, I'm sure. —4000–5000 different kinds of plants, with altogether
approximately 8000 total on campus
How Can They Grow Cacti The Conservatory glass houses were built in 1895, 1901,
There? 1952 and 1981. Inside, their average temperature varies by
house, with a minimum of 50°F (10°C) in the coolest house
by Emy de la Fuente Jr and 70°F (21°C) in the Palm House, and a summer
Reprinted from Cereus Chatter, Newsletter of the South maximum of over 100°F (38°C) in all greenhouses, even
Florida Cactus & Succulent Society
with shading and hosing down! To survive New England's
(OriginalpPhotos with article were not available. I’ve bitter winters, the glass houses are warmed with a low-
included at the end of the article, photos from the Lyman pressure steam system. Believe it or not, irrigation is all
home page on the internet. Sjk) done by hand.

How can anyone grow cacti under extremely harsh Long known as The Lyman Plant House, the Conservatory
conditions such as the following? is named for the Lyman family of Northampton, owners of
Average annual precipitation 1092 mm (43 inches) one of the homesteads making up Smith's original campus.
Absolute maximum temperature 38.0°C (100°F) The primary donor of seed money for the Conservatory
Absolute minimum temperature minus 30°C (-22°F) was, you guessed it, Edward H. R. Lyman, whose summer
Average annual temperature 9.1°C (48°F) estate is now the site of the campus preschool and also the
Average monthly temperature Botanic Garden's 15-acre (16 ha) Fort Hill Nursery. The
January, -4.8°C (23°F) Smith College 150-acre (60 ha) campus is itself an
February, -3.2°C (26°F) arboretum—a living museum of plants. There is also a
March, 0.7°C (35°F) collection of 60,000 dried plants available for research in
April, 8.3°C (47°F) the herbarium.
May, 14.0°C (57°F)
Founded in 1875, Smith College is a private liberal arts
June, 19.2°C (67°F)
college for approximately 2.500 undergraduate women. It
July, 22.0°C (72°F)
admits both men and women as graduate students.
August, 20.8°C (69°F)
September, 16.7°C (62°F) Having experienced a New England winter, for me, it's hard
October, 11.3°C (52°F) to imagine that these ladies (and a few gents) would be
November, 4.9°C (41°F) growing cacti well up there; however, the picture provides
December, -2.4°C (28°F) the proof.
USDA Hardiness zone 5a/5b (Think about the fact that
South Florida is in zone 10a/10b) .

Just looking at the Picture 1, it's hard to imagine that they

could grow cacti there.

However, the fact of the matter is that students at Smith

College in Northampton, Massachusetts are growing cacti
and many tropical plants quite well thanks to the facilities
provided by The Lyman Conservatory which houses the
following within its 12,000 square feet 1114 m^2) of glass
houses and 127 acres (51 ha):

Page 5 of 6
 Victor Lindsey’s http://calplants.biz/
We are always looking for rare, special, and large
specimen Cactus & Succulents to buy.
Call 1-800-384-4559
E-mail [email protected]
Check out this valuable site!!!!!!!
http://www.coldcacti.com/home
Save 50% on Travel:
http://victorlindsey.worldventures.com

If you have veggie or tropical plant gardening

questions, contact club member, Leslie Doyle, aka the
“Tomato Lady”
http://www.sweettomatotestgarden.com
Watch for her several Workshops around the Valley!

*****General Public CLOSING

SALE*****
Dave & Kris continue the process of closing
Turner-Greenhouse- http://www.turner-
greenhouse.com
645-2032
4455 Quadrel Street, Las Vegas, NV 89129
OPEN Friday, Saturday, Sunday ONLY
New Hours those days: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
CLOSED THE REST OF THE TIME!
Remaining inventory is available at a 50%
price reduction.
This includes ALL sizes of landscape plants,
their private collection, pottery, and
Sorry that no cactus photos from these greenhouses were decorative yard art.
readily available. If I find some on the internet, I will send 1st come, 1st served. Plants selected & paid
them along. Maybe one of you will and send them to me in full can be held for no more than 24 hours.
for central distribution! [email protected]
(SORRY, NO “TAG & HOLD” FOR ANYBODY!)
Master & Visa still accepted, but CASH &
CHECKS PREFERRED.

Page 6 of 6