Toad of Toad Hole – another Mr Bufo story from Don in Colorado...
Way back in 1993 I participated in a legal Sclerocactus glaucus rescue from a site near the Gunnison River where there was to be a road relocation and gravel pit project. A few of these rescued plants ended up in my garden. One of them died five or six years ago, but not before it had either produced or nurtured several seedlings around its base.
Woodhouse Toads (Bufo woodhousii) are commonly seen throughout the summer in our area. Carol and I have, over the years, developed a certain fondness for these warty little b’s. We've even given them a collective name, Mr. Bufo.
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Mr Bufo’s head just visible (lower, middle of picture) among disturbed Sclerocactus seedlings. |
A couple of days ago I noticed some disturbed soil indicating that Mr. Bufo had dug a 'toad hole' in amongst the seedlings. Mr. Bufo loves to bury himself in soft sandy soil during the day, coming out to prowl the garden by night. He squiggles himself in backwards, using his hind legs and feet. They, (there are many Mr. Bufos calling our backyard home), frequently dig in right at the base of a plant or rock, often burying themselves completely. Sometimes they'll leave a bit of the snout exposed, at least until the afternoon sun gets too hot for comfort. This time Mr. Bufo was totally buried and even though I gently prodded the loose soil, I didn't disturb him enough to prompt him to vacate his sanctuary. The next morning I found Mr. Bufo had returned to the same hole following his overnight exploits. This time, however, he'd left a bit of his head exposed, perhaps to keep an eye on me. |
All of the Sclerocactus seedlings in the pictures, including the two larger ones with hooked spines, came in around the base of the mother plant which was located about where the small white mottled rock is now. (Please don't ask where the hooked spined Scleros came from...hybrids, seed scatter from nearby S. parviflorus or?) There were seven or eight smaller seedlings, two of which are visible in the top picture. Sadly, when Mr. Bufo dug in, he obliterated at least two of the smallest seedlings. He also damaged or broke many small roots as he excavated his 'toad hole'. The photo shows a few damaged roots just above and to the left of Mr. Bufo's head.
| This morning when we looked into Mr. Bufo's 'toad hole'...nothing but a completely dislodged baby Sclero. I removed the little cactus, potted it up and expect to reintroduce it into the garden in a couple of years when it has grown up a bit more. I also sifted some of Mr. Bufo's spoil pile in the vain hope of finding the other two little seedlings...nothing. Later, I refilled the hole, covered all the exposed roots with new soil and placed a rock on top to discourage Mr. Bufo from trying to reclaim this particular 'toad hole'. |
Vacant toad hole with another scattered Sclero. |
A week or so ago, I was preparing to add a few new plants in the garden. I'd dug a small hole and was working a bit of my own special compost into the hole when I heard a soft 'squeak'. Not knowing the source of the squeak, I continued gently tamping compost into the bottom of the hole. Suddenly there was a much louder 'squeak' just as Mr. Bufo exploded out of the bottom of my planting hole and bounded across several very spiny Opuntias. He stopped a few feet away, gave me a reproachful 'toad stare', and promptly 'squiggled' his rear end down into the soil...keeping one eye above ground and fixed on me. With the exception of his springtime serenade of Mrs. Bufo, I'd never heard Mr. Bufo vocalize before.
Rare, protected little cacti have many enemies, but, who woulda thunk the innocuous Mr. Bufo was one of them…
Don
Thanks Don. We can see that cactus growing is very different in Colorado. Also the spelling - As you can imagine Mrs. Dell did not like ‘woulda thunk.’
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The Chairman looks back (and a little forward) Barry Tibbets |
2007 has been my first somewhat nervous year as Chairman, following in the footsteps of David Kirkbright and more recently Roland Tebbenham – what a pair to follow! Roland in particular has left the committee as well, to concentrate on leading the F & GPC special team to review the future of the BCSS, and I hope you have all returned your questionnaires with your individual views and opinions. I am sure you will all join me in wishing Roland success with this project – the future of our Society may depend on it.
Membership of the Branch this year has increased slightly, and attendance at meetings still remains healthy, and we may benefit further from the unfortunate closure of neighbouring Bedford Branch, with two or three of their members now attending our meetings, whom we warmly welcome. One sad loss earlier this year was the death of Fred Braun who, while not actually one of our members, attended most meetings, and always contributed. He was due to talk to us in March, showing the Howard Gates slides of Mexico, but unfortunately passed away a few weeks earlier - he is sadly missed.
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Doug Rowlands receives his Robert Holt Meritorious Award for services to the BCSS from Roland. |
At short notice, Doug Rowlands of Bedford Branch stepped in to show us his slides of Mexico in the 1970s, and this gave us the delightful honour, on behalf of the BCSS, to surprise him with the Robert Holt Meritorious Award for all he has done over the years for both the Society and Bedford, not to mention supplying many members with seeds of a huge range of cacti and succulents. While on the subject of speakers, I must also thank Roland for organising another year of excellent talks, particularly this year from some of the leading UK cactus explorers – starting with a still very sore Brian Bates, through Derek Bowdery, Paul Hoxey, Martin Lowry and finishing in October with a Graham Charles masterclass on Copiapoas – brilliant! The good news is that Roland has agreed to carry on organising our speakers, and next years exciting programme is already nearly finalised. |
Martin Lowery showed us these Yavia seedlings he had raised when he came to Northampton in August. Click to see more.
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Our annual Branch Show in August gave us some surprises, with four entrants from other branches - unheard of for many years. The result was one of our most competitive shows ever, which gave our excellent Judge, Martin Edwards from Harrow some real headaches. Cathy and Bill Darbon from Oxford took the top prize, but the trophies were well spread, with all entrants winning at least one prize card. Our plant sales and tombola teams couldn’t stop taking money, and, oh yes, it was warm and sunny all weekend. (Next year the show will be three weeks earlier on the last weekend in July to avoid clashing with the National Show). This was my last stint as Show Secretary after ten years (phew! escaped at last), and next year’s show will be in the capable hands of Hugh Balhatchet.
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Mike Stansbie judging our evening show in September. |
In addition our evening Mini-show was
very well attended, despite two senior committee members making some lame
excuse about going to see an ELK in Belgium, (even I know elks come from
much farther north, and if you really have to, you can see one at the
zoo). Nevertheless, our Judge, Mike Stansbie from Coventry, gave a really
enlightening commentary on how and why he made his decisions. In a really
tight competition Roland Tebbenham picked up the silverware by just one
point.
One new event this year was to invite Oxford Branch to visit some of our collections in June. Myself, David Kirkbright and Jeff and Diana Capel spruced up our collections for the day, but unfortunately only a handful of Oxford members made the trip. Next year (date to be agreed) we will have the opportunity to make the return to some of Oxford’s finest collections, so please make the effort when the time arises. |
| As usual, our plant sales team were out and about at an amazing nine plant fairs and country shows this year, with some splendid rewards for their efforts. The Branch funds have never been as healthy, and they are building up a regular customer base at some of the events. The only problem was the weather – I know you shouldn’t over water most cacti and succulents, but sometimes, they were still drying out from the previous weekend. Many thanks for their sterling efforts. |
Part of the sales team - Jack and Jeff at the Kelmarsh Christmas sale with giant 'money plant' Christmas tree in full bloom on the right. |
The best event of the year by far, however, was a simply superb Branch Barbeque in July. There were no thunder storms, no hurricanes, just endless hot sunshine, lots of good gossip and cactus talk, and Jack and Margaret Knights had laid on such superb food, it really was a splendid day.
By contrast, perhaps the saddest event this year has been the selling of Bob Clayton’s entire collection. Bob joined us from Sheffield Branch a couple of years ago, and generously gave the Branch a collection of Lithops he had inherited when he bought a larger collection (Bob is not a succulent man – strictly cacti), and we are still benefiting from sales of these Lithops today. Since then however, due to an increasingly debilitating illness, Bob found he was unable to give his fine collection the care it deserved.
| He decided to dispose of it by giving part to friends, selling the large specimen plants, and offering the remainder to the Branch to sell on the condition that, whatever we sold the plants for, the proceeds would be split 50/50 between the Branch and MND Charity. To date, I believe sales have just exceeded £1000, for which we have happily passed half to Bob for the charity. Bob, the whole Branch thanks you for your generosity, and wishes you the very best for the time ahead. |
Bob's plants at a sales day at DK's |
Looking ahead to next year, we are hosting the Zone 6 Convention on Saturday 23rd February at Giffard Park School, Milton Keynes. We have been very fortunate to obtain two superb speakers: Petr Pavelka from the Czech Republic talking on Madagascar and Namibia, and Marlon Machado talking on two separate areas of Brazil. I am hoping that this will be a unique event, and ask that all members support the Branch on the day, by either offering their help, or at least attending the Convention to make it the success it deserves to be. More details will be sent out shortly to all members.
Finally, I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all of you who have helped in any way to support the Branch throughout the last year. Without your commitment the Branch would not be in the strong position it is now, with a healthy long-term future.
Thanks
Barry
