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CDRI Desert NewsFlash
March 2024
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Echinocereus coccineus, claret cup cactus, by Alan Wintz.
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THIS
is what you've been waiting for since
the last one,
a year ago.
SAVE the date!
SET your alarm clock!
BE THERE early!
We've listened to you,
and we're delivering this year!
So now you get two opportunities
over TWO DAYS
to be there early!
It's TIME
for the ANNUAL
CDRI CACTUS & SUCCULENT SALE!
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CDRI's Annual Cactus & Succulent Sale promises to be our best sale ever. This is the sale where you get exceptional, hard-to-find Chihuahuan Desert cacti.
We began ordering plants last December. At the risk of not having a popular plant (like Ocotillo), we have tried our best not to have field-harvested plants. This year, we can say that all of the plants in our sale have been grown from seed, cuttings, or offsets, often called "pups."
Not overstating or going for hyperbole, but we have some of the most beautiful cacti, agaves, yuccas, and assorted succulents we've ever seen! They range in size from tiny 3" pots to golden barrel cacti in 7-gallon containers! And there are about 1,000 plants in the sale this year! Prices range from $5 to $150.
A complete list of this year's inventory can be accessed here.
We're looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones at this year's Cactus & Succulent Sale.
SEE YOU THERE!
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Thank you to these vendors/growers who
spent years propagating the plants
we're offering for sale at this year's
Cactus & Succulent Sale.
Green Lake Nursery, Seagoville, TX
Commanche Yucca, Fort Stockton, TX
Mountain States Wholesale Nursery, Cochise, AZ
Miles To Go, Cortaro, AZ
Sunland Nursery, Mesquite, NM
Mountain Crest Gardens, Fort Jones, CA
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|  | Barney Dishron and Faith Hille Dishron
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Special Thanks to the Dishron Family
Thank you to Barney and Cindi Dishron of Midland, Texas, who volunteered to drive their truck and enormous trailer to Seagoville, Texas, to pick up more than 300 1-3 gallon plants and 18 7-gallon plants for the Cactus & Succulent Sale. Faith Hille Dishron, CDRI's Head Gardener, and her husband Jake also made the trip, ultimately driving a U-Haul truck back to CDRI with the remaining cacti.
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Book signing, March 14
Please join us to celebrate the release of Roy Morey's new book, The Other Side of Nowhere: Exploring Big Bend Ranch State Park and its Flora, at a book signing on March 14 from 10:00 - 1:00 at the Powell Visitor Center.
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Celebrate the first day
of Spring
at CDRI!
Free admission!
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
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Save the Date!
for
The Roger Conant Distinguished
Guest Lecturer Program
April 11, 2024
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Dr. Christopher Ritzi, a Biology professor at Sul Ross State University (SRSU), will be the distinguished guest lecturer at the Conant Lecture on Thursday, April 11, 2024.
The lecture will be held at the beautiful Crowley Theater in Marfa, Texas, at 7:00 p.m. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.
Everyone who has had the opportunity to hear one of Chris's lectures knows he will deliver a fascinating talk. In this case, it will be about insects -- specifically the Tamarisk beetle that was imported to the southwestern U.S. to combat the invasive imported Salt Cedar plant, which has led to the decimation of the nesting grounds of the endangered Willow Flycatcher. "Messing" with Mother Nature can become a complicated mess.
Please contact us at programs@cdri.org for more information about the Conant Lectures.
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Garden Notes
Agaves donated to CDRI's Botanical Gardens
Agaves were recently planted in the Desert Specialty Garden of the Botanical Gardens in a collaborative effort with CDRI, the Bat Conservation International, and the Agave Restoration Project. We'll have more information about the collaboration in a future Desert NewsFlash article as the project develops. These agaves were donated by an Alpine resident and planted by CDRI volunteers Greg Brock, Warren Shaul, Sherry Cardino, and Head Gardener Faith Hille.
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Images by Sherry Cardino.
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New Interpretive Panel at Garden Entrance
A beautiful, new interpretive panel describing the intricate layout of the Botanical Gardens was installed just inside the Botanical Gardens entrance gate. The panel was designed by Jim Fissel. Kipp Harlow constructed the frame and installed the exhibit.
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Adaptations: Nature is so cool!
The following image is reminiscent of "Hidden Pictures" in the children's monthly Highlight Magazine. Can you find the moth camouflaged against the rock?
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Image by Faith Hille Dishron.
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Photo break!
We hope you enjoy these images of cacti in full bloom inside the greenhouse this week.
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Look what's new in the Gift Shop!
The Gift Shop has a new mug -- just in time for Spring Break! This may be the best souvenir yet with its color-revealing photo of Mitre Peak. The gorgeous image is by Andy Morgan of Andy Morgan Photography. Make a note to pick one up the next time you're visiting the nature center. We guarantee that you'll enjoy Far West Texas every morning when you pour your coffee or, for you non-coffee drinkers, when you sip your cup of hot tea. Price: $18.99.
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Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup
Volunteers met in February for the first of four highway cleanups for 2024. CDRI participates in the Texas Department of Transportation's Adopt-a-Highway program, where we have "adopted" two miles of roadway along St. Hwy. 118. CDRI's designated portion covers one mile in both directions from the front entrance gate.
Participants included volunteers Sherry Cardino, Warren Shaul, Annette Carter, Thomas Adams, Krystl Campos, Hoot Baez, Cameron Adams, and Executive Director Lisa Gordon (not in the picture).
If you would like to find out more about volunteering at the Nature Center, please contact programs@cdri.org.
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Welcome Road Scholar:
Educational Travel & Learning Adventures
The Road Scholar travel group brought two groups to visit CDRI in February! The groups toured the Botanical Gardens, followed by lunch on the Visitor Center porch.
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In closing, to each of you coming this way over
Spring Break,
We wish you
safe travels and happy trails!
Image of Northern Cardinal by Alan Wintz.
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Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute, P.O. Box 905, Fort Davis, TX 79734
432.364.2499
www.cdri.org
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