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When and Where
We'd love for you to join us
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Why Attend Our Meetings?
They are fun, educational, and you will leave with more plants!
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CSSM Recorded Programs
Check out our latest recorded programs on YouTube
September 12, 2026: 20th Annual Cactus and Succulent Festival
In-person event
Visit our Festival page for more details
Mark your calendars for this must-attend event. The Festival is always a great time to admire hundreds of plants on exhibit, to buy fabulous plants, pots, books, tools, and gifts from 20+ vendors, and to feast on the best hot dogs this side of Fenway Park.
Time: 9:00a-3:00p
Location: Norfolk Public Library - 2 Liberty Lane, Norfolk, MA 02056
October 17, 2026: Back to Basics: The Foundations of Healthy Cacti & Succulents
In-person meeting
For our October meeting, we’re going Back to Basics with a trio of speakers covering three of the most important elements of successful cactus and succulent growing: soil, water, and light. Whether you’re new to the hobby or an experienced grower looking to fine-tune your care routine, these practical talks will help you better understand what your plants need—and why. Come away with useful tips you can put to work in your collection right away.
Glen Lord on Soil Basics: Which soil components are good for cacti and succulents, which to avoid, and why—plus a good basic soil recipe to get you started.
Jean Butler on Water and Watering: How water interacts with soil chemistry, when to water, how to water effectively, and how your watering practices can affect plant health.
Tom Chen on Lighting: How to provide the right amount and intensity of light for cacti and succulents, recognize the signs of too much or too little light, and adjust growing conditions to help plants thrive.
Time: 12:30p-4:00p
Location: Norfolk Public Library - 2 Liberty Lane, Norfolk, MA 02056
November 21, 2026: From Seed to Succulent: The Art & Adventure of Growing from Seed
In-person meeting
There’s something especially rewarding about growing a plant from a tiny seed—and watching it develop into a specimen unlike anything you might find at a garden center. For our November meeting, two CSSM growers will take us through the fascinating process of raising cacti and succulents from seed, sharing the techniques they’ve learned, the mistakes they’ve made, and the successes that keep them sowing more. Whether you’ve never opened a seed packet or already have trays of seedlings under lights, you’ll leave with practical ideas and plenty of inspiration to start your next batch.
Zach Blanc — From Seed to Haworthia & Gasteria: Zach will explore the process of hybridizing, germinating, and raising Haworthia and Gasteria from seed. He’ll cover the fundamentals of successful germination and seedling care, common mistakes to avoid, and ways to optimize light, moisture, and other conditions for indoor growing. He’ll also introduce the exciting possibilities of hybridizing—where growing from seed can produce plants with combinations of traits all their own.
Vladimir Fuflyigin — Growing Cacti from Seed: Why, How & What I’ve Learned: Why grow cacti from seed when you can simply buy a plant? Vladimir will make the case for starting from scratch and walk us through how he grows cacti from seed, from sowing and germination through the challenges of raising young seedlings. Along the way, he’ll share both his successes and failures—and the lessons learned from each—to help fellow growers avoid some of the same pitfalls and discover the rewards of raising their own cacti from seed.
Time: 12:30p-4:00p
Location: Norfolk Public Library - 2 Liberty Lane, Norfolk, MA 02056
December 5, 2026: CSSM Holiday Party
In-person event
We’re putting the presentations aside and celebrating the season together! Join your fellow CSSM members for a festive afternoon of good food, great company, and plenty of cactus and succulent cheer.
There will be no formal meeting this month—instead, we’ll gather for a potluck lunch filled with delicious dishes, conversation, and lots of laughter. Members who would like to join in can also participate in our optional holiday gift swap, and every registered attendee will go home with a special gift plant from CSSM.
Come hungry, come festive, and come ready to celebrate another wonderful year of growing together!
This event is open to registered CSSM members only. Advance registration is required.
Time: 12:30p-4:00p
Location: First Universalist Society Meeting House - 262 Chestnut St, Franklin, MA 02038
January 16, 2027: The Wonderful World of Astrophytum
Virtual meeting via Zoom
Join us on Zoom as Adam Baker takes us into The Wonderful World of Astrophytum, one of the most distinctive and endlessly variable genera of cacti. He’ll introduce the species and some of the remarkable cultivars that make Astrophytum so collectible, while sharing lessons from his own experience growing them in his California greenhouse.
Along the way, Adam will cover the practical side of successful Astrophytum cultivation—including soil, watering, heat, airflow, pest and rot prevention, repotting, and staging. He’ll also delve into pollination, seed collection, and raising Astrophytum from seed, sharing techniques and lessons learned from growing his own plants.
From classic species to eye-catching cultivars such as Kikko, Onzuka, Hakuun, Hakujo, Superkabuto, and Fukuryu, this presentation should have something for both the Astrophytum-curious and the already obsessed.
Adam Baker is a California cactus and succulent grower and the creator of Bakersuccs. What began as a fascination with unusual cacti quickly grew into a particular passion for Astrophytum. Adam now maintains an extensive collection representing numerous species, forms, varieties, and cultivars, and has spent years experimenting with pollination, hybridization, seed growing, and cultivation. Known as @bakersuccs on Instagram, Adam enjoys sharing what he has learned—and continues to learn—with fellow cactus and succulent enthusiasts.
Time: 1:00p-4:00p
Location: Zoom details to be sent to members
February 20, 2027: Success with Hardy Succulents in Crevice Gardens and Troughs
Virtual meeting via Zoom
Rod Haenni will share practical strategies for successfully growing hardy cacti and other succulents in cold, winter-wet climates. Drawing from his extensive growing experience, Rod will discuss rock placement, crevice-garden styles, soil mixtures, microclimates, trough cultivation, and plant selection. He will also provide recommended plant sources, guidance on when to plant, and tips for rescuing plants that are struggling. Questions are encouraged throughout the program.
Rod Haenni is an experienced grower and speaker specializing in hardy succulents, rock gardening, and companion plants. He has presented for the Cactus and Succulent Society of America, including a webinar on companion plants for succulent gardens, and is associated with the Colorado Cactus & Succulent Society.
Time: 1:00p-4:00p
Location: Zoom details to be sent to members
March 20, 2027: Sky’s the Limit? 7 Years of Cactus Growing in NYC
In-person meeting
Nathan Marchack is the current president of the New York Cactus & Succulent Society (NYCSS). His first in-depth encounter with cacti was pollinating astrophytum myriostigma on a small balcony in midtown Manhattan during the lockdowns of 2020. In the seven years since, he and his partner Georgiana have embarked on a project of cultivating their entire collection from seed in the unique microclimates of a high-rise, south facing apartment. In this talk he will cover the highs and lows of the growing journey, present insights from their visits to nurseries in Czechia, Japan, Thailand and the US, and touch on the inspiration of traveling to natural habitats in Mexico. He will also discuss how these experiences shaped his approach to rebuilding the NYCSS and what the future holds for plant societies, particularly in the Northeast.
Time: 12:30p-4:00p
Location: Norfolk Public Library - 2 Liberty Lane, Norfolk, MA 02056
April 17, 2027: The Humble Brag Returns: More Favorite Plants, Proud Moments & Pro Tips
In-person meeting
You asked for it—and we’re bringing it back! Last year’s Humble Brag was such a hit that we couldn’t resist giving CSSM members another chance to show off the plants they’re especially proud of, tell their stories, and share a little hard-earned growing wisdom.
This isn’t about having the biggest collection, the rarest cactus, or a greenhouse full of perfect specimens. It’s about the plants that mean something to us—the old favorites, unexpected successes, stubborn survivors, prized rarities, and wonderfully weird plants that make our collections uniquely our own.
Once again, we’ll feature a “Pot of Pride” slideshow of member-submitted photos, along with short member talks highlighting favorite plants and the tips, tricks, successes—and perhaps a few failures—that have helped us become better growers.
This year’s Humble Brag categories include:
Favorite Plant — The one you just can't help admiring
Oldest Plant — How long have you two been together?
The One That Started It All — Your first cactus or succulent, or the plant that got you hooked
Holiday Party Survivor — A CSSM holiday gift plant that’s still going strong
The Comeback Kid — A plant you rescued, rehabbed, or brought back from the brink
Worth the Splurge — The most you’ve ever spent on a plant (and whether you’d do it again!)
Rare & Remarkable — One of the hardest-to-find or most unusual plants in your collection
I Grew That! — A plant you raised from seed
A Face Only a Mother Could Love — Your misshapen, scarred, quirky, or otherwise lovable oddball
Whether you’ve been growing for decades or bought your first succulent last month, everyone has something worth bragging about. Come ready to learn from fellow members, swap growing advice, discover some extraordinary plants—and enjoy an evening where showing off your collection isn’t just allowed, it’s encouraged!
After all, if you can’t humble brag about your plants at a cactus and succulent club, where can you?
Time: 12:30p-4:00p
Location: Norfolk Public Library - 2 Liberty Lane, Norfolk, MA 02056
May 15, 2027: Succulent Bonsai
In-person meeting
Discover how succulents can be transformed into living works of art through the principles of bonsai. Glen Lord will introduce plants naturally suited to succulent bonsai and explain the specialized care they need to thrive. The program will explore the history of bonsai, along with techniques for styling, pruning, and staging these distinctive plants. Although bonsai is a centuries-old art form, the use of succulents continues to evolve—and Glen promises plenty of hands-on cutting!
Glen Lord has studied and taught bonsai for nearly 20 years. A Certified Massachusetts Horticulturist, he has worked as a bonsai stylist and instructor at one of New England’s oldest bonsai nurseries and previously served as a specialist for the Larz Anderson Dwarf Potted Plant Collection at Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum. Glen is also a horticultural consultant, gardening professional, judge, frequent speaker, and past president of the Cactus and Succulent Society of Massachusetts.
Time: 12:30p-4:00p
Location: Norfolk Public Library - 2 Liberty Lane, Norfolk, MA 02056
June 19, 2027: Annual Picnic
In-person event
Join us for a relaxed afternoon outdoors as we gather for our annual CSSM summer picnic! It’s a chance to step away from our usual meeting format, enjoy some good food and fresh air, and spend time with the people who make our Society such a wonderful community.
Catch up with old friends, welcome newer members, swap growing stories and tips—and maybe even a few cuttings! Whether the conversation turns to a prized specimen, this season’s latest plant acquisition, or the one cactus that simply refuses to cooperate, there’s always plenty to talk about when plant people get together.
Bring your appetite, your plant stories, and your love of all things prickly and succulent. We’ll provide the camaraderie—you bring the summer spirit!
Time: 1:00p-4:00p
Location: Directions to the picnic will be sent to members in May