"Grass Aloes and other botanical treats from the hills of eastern South Africa"

By Brian Kemble from the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, California.

Brian Kemble is the curator at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, California. He has been working at this garden of succulents and other drought-tolerant plants since 1980. He has been a member of the Cactus & Succulent Society of America for over 30 years and has been a judge at many cactus & succulent shows. Over the years, he has made many trips to places such as Mexico , Madagascar and South Africa to see and photograph succulents in habitat. The genus Aloe has been a major focus for Brian and he is also vice-president of the Institute for Aloe Studies, based in Oakland, California.

Brian's program will cover his recent trip to South Africa, in November of 2007. He was fortunate to be able to get out in the field with Charles Craib, author of "Grass Aloes in the South African Veld". This book, published in 2005, is the only work devoted to this interesting group of diminutive Aloes. Seldom seen in cultivation, these plants grow in grasslands and can be very difficult to spot when not in flower. Along with the Aloes, Brian saw a variety of other succulents and bulbs.

This will be a very special program for anyone interested in the Aloes. We are really looking forward to having Brian as our special guest so please join us and bring a friend for this rare presentation.