Meeting | Thursday, February 2, 2012 |7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) | Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Center | 5330 North Fresno Street, Fresno, CA
Program: Namibia: A dry place in a wet time 2011
Presented by Wendell S. (Woody) MinnichNamibia, rivaled only by the Chilean Atacama, is one of the driest regions in the world. Much of
its western coast, located in the southern reaches of the African continent, rarely, if ever gets rain.
Some of these areas are only sustained by the seasonal nightly fogs. Due to these unique conditions,
it is in some of these very arid, Mojave desert-like landscapes, where many of the world’s most
unique plants and animals can be found.
Similar to the infrequent rainy El Nino years that affect our California and Chilean coasts,
Namibia had an extreme summer rain fall this last January thru April 2011. It is reported that this was
one of the heaviest summer rains ever experienced in Namibia.
Our objectives were to visit this amazing country in this unusually wet time when the plants
and scenery may be different than what most explorers might normally experience. We were in luck and our
timing was perfect. When we arrived, the last of the torrential rains were spiting and sputtering off into
the eastern reaches of the country. Windhoek, the capital of the country, was green and the weather looked
promising. Needless to say, unlike some of our other friends who had visited the country the previous month,
we were blessed with open roads and passable river crossings. The weather stayed sunny, warm and accommodating
for the entire three weeks.
From Windhoek we took a giant clockwise loop to the south and then did the same from Windhoek to the North.
We experienced the succulent rich areas to the Orange River, and from there we migrated up to the famous Luderitz Bay.
The Richtersveld vegetation in these southern environments included many fantastic plants from the statuesque Pachypodium
namaquanum to the many jewel like mesembs. One could spend a life time studying all these different genera, some of which
included: the Lithops, Sarcocaulons, Tylecodons, Conophytums, Othonnas, Aloes, Hoodias, Cerarias, Haworthias, Titanopsis,
Adromischus, Pelargoniums, Crassulas, Avonias, Larryleachias and many, many more. On our northern loop we traveled to the
west towards Swakopmund and then up to the impressive Epupa Falls on Namibia’s northern border to Angola. From there we
eventually meandered our way back to Windhoek. On this northern journey we encountered a very different group of succulent
genera. The plant taxa generally became larger and often very sculptural. We saw: Cyphostemmas, Pachypodiums, Welwitschias,
Commiphoras, Sesamothamnus, Adansonias, Moringas, Aloes, Hoodias, Adenias, Adeniums and so on and so on. We also stumbled
across many wonderful animals, not in the game reserves, as well as some of the most beautiful indigenous peoples. The Herero
and Himba tribes were both unexpected cultural highlights of this amazing trip!
I took over 10,000 photos, and a few have found their way into this presentation. Be prepared to see the trip of a life time
and the total of Namibia, edited of course!
About Woody
Woody, as he is commonly called, has been in the cactus hobby for some 41 years and has become well known for his participation
in many of the cactus and succulent clubs. He is an honorary life member of seven clubs as well as a life member of CSSA (Cactus
and Succulent Society of America.) He has served in almost all positions of leadership from president, to newsletter editor, to
show chairman and so on. He is also known for his extensive field work studying primarily the cactus family. He has traveled
throughout the United States, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Africa, Yemen and Socotra. From these trips he has
developed an extensive knowledge of the cactus family as well as many of the other succulent genera.
Woody is also known for his many presentations. His photography is considered to be special and his commentary very
entertaining and educational. He is a recognized international speaker and has spoken for plant conventions - organizations
all over the USA, as well as in England, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Mexico. Woody has also authored
a number of articles for various newsletters, the CSSA journal and his photographs are well published. Woody is the creator-originator
of the first color version of the CSSA journal “Cacti and Succulents for the Amateur” that also featured show plants, shows and the
growers of the pictured plants.
He is also known for his cactus and succulent nursery, Cactus Data Plants. CDP was started in 1975 and is still in operation today.
Cactus Data Plants specializes in show specimens and rare cacti and other succulents with particular emphasis in Ariocarpus, Astrophytum,
Mammillaria, Gymnocalycium, Turbinicarpus, Melocactus, Copiapoa, Fouquieria, Pachypodium, Euphorbia, Cyphostemma, Adenium and Adenia.
Woody and his wife Kathy now live in the beautiful mountains south of Santa Fe New Mexico in a region called Cedar Grove. He has a
small 1,200 square foot greenhouse where he grows his unique plants. He is always on the move and travels frequently to do presentations
and shows throughout the western United States. Woody is the proud parent of three children, Leah, Denver and Sarah, all of whom are now
grown and out in the big world. Woody is also the proud grandparent of three grandsons, Indiana, Ashton and Logan. He is a retired high
school teacher of 32 years and he taught Graphic Arts, Architecture, Art and Health.
Woody will be bringing a large assortment of his wonderful plants. Members may email or call and make requests for plants.
Email: cactusdata@msn.com or phone 1-505-281-5884
Before the program, the club will meet for dinner at the Plaza Ventana Mexican Restaurant located at 5088 North Blackstone Avenue
(north of Shaw Avenue. Dinner starts at 5:15 p.m. Everyone welcome. Contact Mary Ann Villegas by Wednesday, February 1 at 559.906.1187
or
e-mail marianna.2@comcast.net.
THE FCSS MEETS ON THE FIRST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AT 7 PM (EXCEPT JULY, SEPTEMBER, AND DECEMBER) AT THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICE CENTER IN FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. ANYONE INTERESTED IN CACTI AND SUCCULENTS IS INVITED TO ATTEND A MEETING AS OUR GUEST. SEE OUR PROGRAM SCHEDULE.