For the love of cactus

(Succulentophile is giving way this week to this article by plant collector and CSSP secretary Becky Buena­ventura.)

Once again, on the invitation of the Philippine Horticultural Society to their 2008 garden show very aptly called “Tropical Convergence, Native Flora and Foreign Introductions,” the members of the Cactus and Succulent Society of the Philippines (CSSP) exhibited their favorite and rarest cacti and succulents. To go with the theme, our landscape architect, coordinator and cactus enthusiast Bimbo Vergara created a novel way of combining  bamboo and antique wooden frames, intricately carved, and used as window décor of the  ancestral homes of Sariaya, Quezon, as a beautiful background to these unique plants.

A more active participation of the members resulted in more awards for plants submitted for competition. The opening ceremony on Jan. 25 was attended by founding chairman of the Manila Seedling Bank Environmental Center and former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos as the guest of honor. We would like to congratulate the people on top of the organizing committee, namely, PHSI president Wendy Regalado, overall chair persons PJ Nepomuceno and Dory Bernabe, the latter also the current president of CSSP.

It was really a show window of nature at its best. MSBF’s Greenhouse 2 was turned into a tropical sanctuary by the landscape architects, and we salute our hall of famer and multi-awarded friend Fred Salud (Best in Landscape awardee and member of PHSI) and  Francis Gener of King Louis Plants and Flowers (Best in Landscape). Other participants were Vic Chin and Rap Eugenio, Rolando Abundo, Serapion Metilla, Constancio Basis, and Reeya and Chito Luna. Guest exhibitors included Fern and Aroid Study Group, Natural Stone Society, Philippine Bonsai Society, Pinoy Aquatics and Lipa Bloom, Floral Designer’s Circle and CSSP.

To our great delight, the much-coveted award was given to the beautiful cactus plant Astrophytum asterias or “Super Kabuto,” owned by Dory Bernabe. It garnered the Best Plant in Show Award for 2008 and also the Best in Cacti Award. What made this award more memorable was the fact that for the first time in the history of this yearly garden show, the top prize was given to a cactus plant.

The garden show runs until Feb. 5.  Be refreshed and invigorated by nature displayed at its best. And for plant hunters, there will always be something new for you.

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