Up Dated 08/16/2005

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The KCCSS 2005 Show and Sale

Press Release


Kansas City Cactus and Succulent Society Presents Their 
27th Annual Show and Sale.

September 10 & 11, 2005

Ward Parkway Mall
85th and Ward Parkway
Kansas City, Missouri

Friday Sept 9th
Set Up and bring in Show Plants

Saturday, September 10th
Sale 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
(Show opens at 11.00 a.m.)

Sunday, September 11th
Sale and Show 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Amazing selection of curious and uncommon cactus and succulents. Beautiful sale plants and pots provided by vendors including Shoal Creek Succulents and J & J Cactus. Judged show has category open to public. Free Admission. Sponsored by the Kansas City Cactus & Succulent Society. For more information call Linda: (913) 362-6533

Show Classification's 2005

Show Chair Person Linda Tamblyn (913) 362-6533

Map of Kansas City MO 64114

Directions to Kansas City MO 64114

2005 Show Awards

Hidden Benefits of the Annual Show


Taking time to prepare for the annual show every year actually helps me enjoy my plants more all year long. 
You see, I might let a plant get grossly potbound, or unattractively growing too far to one side of the pot, or dirty or whatever.  Maybe that one has potential but it needs to be repotted.  Maybe with some pruning today this one will look like an ancient bonsai next year.   But my life is busy.  Isn't everyone's?  And it's easy to put off those little chores that keep my plants looking and growing in top form.  Making a commitment to enter a few plants in the show every year reminds me keep on top of those small jobs that might otherwise get pushed aside and soon build up to unmanageable proportions.
So I clean, prune, repot, topdress as I see the need and have a few minutes here and there.  A modest number of plants go off to the show but everything gets a bit of my attention and looks better for the rest of the year.  There is the theory that in nature plants get dirty, have dead spots, animal damage, etc. and so it isn't a natural look if we groom them and keep them clean and centered in their pots.   However, these plants are no longer growing in their natural habitats.  Wild dogs sport a rustic aroma and matted hair but that doesn't mean I'm going to let Woofie adopt the same style to lie around my living room. 
Keeping my plants in show-worthy condition cuts down on disease and insect trouble, too.    Dead leaves and cobwebs notoriously hide problems until it's too late.  Repotting lets me know if the roots are healthy or infested with mealies.    A little topdressing keeps the soil from splashing up on the body of the plant, which would mar the beauty of the epidermis and possibly invite in rot.  And while I use the show as my motivation I benefit the most.  I steal a look at my plants every day - even on the busiest day.  I want them to look their best for me 24-7.
When I first joined the club I decided I probably wouldn't ever enter anything into the show.  After all, I thought, I'm not really a competitive person and the shows are so unrealistic.  Now I feel I owe a great debt to the idea of a yearly show.  It has taught me how much more enjoyable my own collection can be when I aim to grow the most beautiful and healthy plants I can grow.   Winning a ribbon at the show tells me that I'm getting to be better at growing all of my plants.  And there is a great deal of satisfaction in knowing that.

By Linda Tamblyn
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