I want to thank Dean Kelch for an exceptional program where he presented slides of habitat, animals and plants. Everyone who goes to the Cape region sees it differently and brings back a different viewpoint. Among Dean's encounters were stately trees of Podocarpus, Protea flowers, Leucadendron, Aloe, and mesembs. Haworthia and Aloe comptonii were crowd-pleasers. We learned about the similarities of the "fynbos" to the California chaparral and how evolution experimented more with succulence in Africa. South Africa is certainly a place of colorful, odd flowers and spectacular diversity. Thanks for taking us there!!

I also want to thank Ernesto Sandoval for donating an awesome 1.5 foot seedling of Dendrosicyos socotrana to the raffle table. Thanks to the featured grower Steve Stephens who brought in many attractive Gymnocalycium, Mammillaria and an interesting Pereskia acculeata for the Featured Grower Program. Remember to give Steve a call and visit his collection in San Anselmo. Thanks to Stephen Lysaught and Gary Anderson for setting up the July refreshment table. The spread included wonderful home-grown apricots and other fresh fruit!

Special thanks to Michael Louie, Tom Steppe, Lucille and Martin Tobiassen for representing our club at the First Annual Summer Gardening Fair. This was located right inside the Strybing gates on Saturday, July 23, from 11 AM to 3 PM. Also thanks to Brian Kemble who led the special tour to the succulent garden. These events directed a lot of people to the NorCal Sale and afforded an opportunity to bring in new club members. Thanks for all your good efforts.