Los Angeles
Cactus and Succulent Society
Mission Statement
The Los Angeles Cactus and Succulent Society (LACSS) cultivates the study and enjoyment of cactus and succulent plants through educational programs and activities that promote the hobby within a community of fellow enthusiasts and among the greater public.
Come and Visit!
Welcome to the website of the Los Angeles Cactus and Succulent Society. Our nearly 200 members come from throughout the southland and share a passion for cacti and succulents. Throughout the history of LACSS, many of the most prominent researchers, authors, and collectors of the succulent world have been leaders and members of our society.
LACSS meets monthly in the San Fernando Valley to enjoy stimulating presentations, hands-on workshops, plant sales, mini-shows, raffles, trading, and other activities. In addition, LACSS offers field trips to member gardens, nurseries, and private collections. We serve the greater community by offering free educational activities, and presenting an exciting annual festival in April or June, and a Fall Sale.
In order to share the joys and benefits of collecting and cultivating cacti and succulents, we invite you to check out our general meetings on the 1st Thursday of each month at ONEgeneration Senior Enrichment Center at 18255 Victory Blvd.
Doors open at 6:15 for the Social Hour, Ask an Expert, and much more. The business meeting starts promptly at 7pm. Attendance is FREE and open to the public. Each new visitor receives a free plant! We hope to see you at a meeting soon.
July 2023 Meeting
Thursday, July 6
at
ONEgeneration senior enrichment center
18255 Victory Blvd, Reseda, CA 91335
Doors open at 6:15pm
Meeting begins at 7:00 pm
July Plant of the Month competition
Cactus - Melocactus
Succulent - Euphorbia medusoid
Speaker for July 6, 2023 Meeting
Roxie Esterle
A Journey with Legendary Seed Grower Steven Brack
About the speaker
Roxie Esterle brings a lifelong love for biology to the study of cacti and succulents. As a science educator for all grades from middle school to college, she was acknowledged statewide for her creative lessons, hands-on methodology, and leadership.
Roxie and Jim have traveled the world to explore distinct biological habitats including Galapagos Islands, Madagascar, Borneo, Ethiopia, South America, and South Africa. Each of these trips has elevated their appreciation for the fragility and uniqueness of these destinations.
Roxie credits LACSS for cultivating her learning about and enthusiasm for succulents and cacti. She has been a member of the board for over a decade, including serving as President. She is presently the Secretary of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America (CSSA).
This page requires a password
In the early 1970's, Steven Brack founded Mesa Garden, the premier cactus and succulent seed nursery in the country. Steven’s many successful pollination and germination techniques have influenced growers around the world. His philosophy of producing seed grown specimens for collectors and retailers aimed to reduce field collection, laying the foundation for current thinking about conservation of wild populations. Steven sold Mesa Garden in 2016, allowing him to travel extensively in South Africa.
In Fall, 2022, Roxie and Jim Esterle were among a small group of fortunate adventurers who explored a narrow strip of South Africa’s west coast with Steven Brack and Karel du Toit. Curious about the unusual origins of Steven’s impressive knowledge about growing succulents, Roxie interviewed him on several occasions and traveled to New Mexico to visit Mesa Garden see the operation at work. This presentation combines highlights of traveling with a seed fanatic and an insider view of the story of Mesa Garden.
Hoodia gordonii
Roxie E. with Boophone haemanthoides
Wide view of area visited
