My first juried succulent show

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Yesterday I posted a teaser about the Sacramento Cactus & Succulent Society’s 2015 Show & Sale. I’ve been a member since 2011 and an officer since 2012 and yet I’ve never entered the show. In fact, I’ve never entered any plant show. Unlike many other club members who enjoy the competition aspect, it’s never been important to me. In addition, most of my favorite succulents are planted in the ground anyway. But this year I finally have some potted plants that are easy to transport and look good—at least enough to enter them in the show.

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Since I’ve never participated before, I’m considered a Novice. I’ve been assured that means less pressure and more lenient judges. However, I still spent more time that I care to admit on preening and primping, except the attention wasn’t lavished on my studly self but on my show plants.

Was it worth it? I’ll tell you on Saturday after I find out if I won anything. And even if I place, what will I do with the ribbons? Do people actually hold on to stuff like that? I have a hard enough time managing the other crap that magically accumulates in my wake. At the same time, I know that if people tell me they liked my plants, I’ll be a proud dad.

Here are my six official entries to the 2015 Sacramento Cactus & Succulent Society Show:

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Dorstenia gigas, a fig relative from Socotra

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Dyckia marnier-lapostollei

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Pachypodium eburneum

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Aloe peglerae

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LEFT: Agave pumila   RIGHT: Agave petrophila

Comments

  1. Mark and GazMay 1, 2015 at 9:51 AM

    Good luck Gerhard!!! Those plants look great!

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    1. Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)May 1, 2015 at 5:24 PM

      Thanks! I spent more time futzing with these plants than I ever have before.

      Delete
  2. Jane StrongMay 1, 2015 at 11:53 AM

    So when will you know? (Oh Saturday.) If it were pots alone, I'm sure you'd win something. The plants look pretty darn good, too! My eye was caught by the symmetry of the Aloe peglerae.

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    1. Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)May 1, 2015 at 5:27 PM

      Tomorrow morning at 9am. I'd been collecting many of these pots but had deemed them to be too pretty to put plants in them.

      Delete
  3. Hoover BooMay 1, 2015 at 1:06 PM

    They all look like winners to me--beautiful plants, beautiful pots, well staged. For a minute I thought the petrophila was a albopilosa pre-fuzzy.

    Now we await the results.

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    1. Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)May 1, 2015 at 5:30 PM

      Thank you, Hoov! Means a lot coming from a connoisseur like you.I had no experience with staging so I simply did what I thought looked good. We shall see.

      I saw some of the show plants today; lots of competition! Nick Wilkinson of GROW Nursery in Cambria has entered a gorgeous Agave albopilosa. It's the largest specimen I've seen in real life. Nice fluffy tips. I'll post a photo soon. (Fortunately he's in a different category so I'm not competing against him.)

      Delete
  4. UnknownMay 1, 2015 at 7:26 PM

    Lovely! Good luck. I like your pots, too.

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    1. Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)May 1, 2015 at 8:54 PM

      Thanks! I wish I had actually made them. But my talents don't extend into that direction.

      Delete
  5. outlawgardenerMay 1, 2015 at 8:15 PM

    Plants and pots are fabulous! You must wear all of your ribbons to every meeting of the society! How exciting to do this. We await the results with bated breath!

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  6. danger gardenMay 1, 2015 at 10:58 PM

    What fun! Seriously you've matched pant and pot quite well, I can't wait to learn the results. Also you've got me thinking, I haven't heard of a single show like this with judging in these parts. What's wrong with us?

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    1. Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)May 4, 2015 at 9:43 PM

      Thanks! I finally had an incentive to use these pots, most of which I had deemed to beautiful to get dirty, LOL.

      Delete
  7. danger gardenMay 1, 2015 at 10:59 PM

    That should be plant, not pant. Oh the joys of typing on the iPad.

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  8. Laura BalaoroMay 2, 2015 at 3:29 AM

    These are all winners Gerhard. Now where were all those awesome pots when we visited?

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    1. Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)May 4, 2015 at 9:44 PM

      I did have the pots already when you were here but I hadn't planted them yet.

      Delete
  9. Kris PetersonMay 2, 2015 at 12:01 PM

    They're all beautiful specimens and well displayed but I think I love that Dorstenia best. Good luck with the judging but all the plants are winners in my book.

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    1. Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)May 4, 2015 at 9:45 PM

      Thanks, Kris. I'm very partial to the Dorstenia gigas, too, mainly because it has survived under my "care" for four or five years.

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  10. LuisaMay 3, 2015 at 12:38 AM

    OMG, beautiful plants and terrific pots! Our local club's annual show is in two weeks -- wish I had a few plants as nice as your entries.

    I still have some trophies and now-faded ribbons my first border collie won in sheepdog trials decades ago. Writer Molly Ivins used her many award plaques as trivets :~)

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    1. Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)May 4, 2015 at 9:46 PM

      My entries all won first or second place but it turns out the ribbons belong to the club and stay behind.

      Delete

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