The BACPS Annual Show and Sale was a very special event this year as we scheduled it to coincide with International Carnivorous Plant Society (ICPS) Conference which we co-hosted along with our good friends, California Carnivores.  It was a smashing success.  Our members and guests from other regions and states showed up with beautifully grown plants for the show.  We hosted eleven wonderful vendors in our sales hall that brought such a huge variety of plants and in such great volume that we probably had half the supply of carnivorous plants available for sale in the United States for those two days in Santa Rosa. 

It was really special that so many guests from many different states and from all around the world were able to come to the ICPS conference for three days of presentations on the science of carnivorous plants, photo journals of the varied habitats our plants are found in, and every manner of knowledge in-between.  Our ICPS conference attendees also really added to the fun of our show and sale, bringing their global perspectives in endless conversation with our members.  In short, it was an unparalleled event that surpassed our expectations.  None of this would have been possible without the participation and hard work of a great many people. 
 
Of course the day would be a big huge mess if not for the donated time of our BACPS volunteers!  Big thanks to Tom Kahl that not only helped during the registration of plants for the show but provided security and answered questions from visitors for the entire two days!  Also thanks to Tom Papp for his help in setting up for the sale and caring for donated plants. Thanks to Paul Bourbin for loaning us the PA system.  Thanks to our two photographers Avery Meijer and Chris Lew.  Thanks to every volunteer that showed up for shifts at the show room, plant hotel, and member sales table - especially those that stayed late and/or worked multiple shifts: Lauren Slott, Shannon Jones, and Victoria Paoloni. Our vendors’ participation each year makes having the show and sale possible from a financial perspective.
 
Thanks to the Committee that planned and put on the ICPS conference and the Show and sale: The groundwork for both the conference and show and sale was conceived and deftly lead by Damon Collingsworth and Daniela Ribbecke with lots of help from the crew at California Carnivores.  The planning and organizing for most of the activities surrounding the show, including logistics and volunteer assignments (and a great many other things) was flawlessly handled by Doris Quick.  Thanks to Stephen Davis for his hard work on planning and promotion and for his long time on the archives putting together information for the events and administrating the BACPS Facebook page.  Thanks to Gina Morimoto and Arthur Yin for months of hard work putting together an itinerary for and leading the ICPS field trip, including field visits to scope out lodging, restaurants, routes and sites. Thanks to Barry Rice, Beth Salvia, Luke Balsuto, Harry Tryon, Bob Ziemer, and Lauren Paulson as well for helping lead and facilitate the ICPS Field trip.  Thanks to Josh Brown and Devon Peterson for their contributions to planning for the conference. Thanks to Brian Lipinski who put SO MUCH energy and time into reorganizing the BACPS and laying the groundwork for its rebirth as a non-profit organization.  Thanks to Allison Long of the San Diego Carnivorous Plant Society and Daryt Frank from the Los Angeles Carnivorous Plant Society for their contributions to the ICPS planning, poster design and so much more. Thanks to Rebecca Robinson for her work on the BACPS board and help in planning. There are doubtless so many people who spent their time and expertise to pull of such an amazing 3 days that have been omitted that deserve our thanks, I hope to find them and give them a big hug and tell them thanks in person.  In the days after the conference I spent so many days in deep contemplation with a heart overflowing.  Our community has so many shining stars and so many kind hearts, the plants could almost be seen as an afterthought, but what would we have without them? We all come together to enjoy and learn more about their amazing adaptations and their beautiful forms every day. I can't wait for the next show and the next conference to meet with all our friends again.
                                                                                                                                                -Pablo
 

BACPS Volunteers

 

Security
Tom Kahl
Nate Whitlow
Joe Mazrimas
Larry Logoteta
Mike Ross
Elizabeth Sampson
Gina Morimoto

Photographers
Avery Meijer
Chris Lew
 
Plant Hotel
Larisa Snydal
Bret Cooke
Allison Crisler
Cara Chung
Adam Guap
Kat Cascone
Shannon Jones
Lauren Slott
Zoe Barca
Victoria Paoloni

Show Plant Registration
Tom Kahl
Jessica Ching

Scribe for Judges
Zoe Barca

Club Sales
Michael Kong
Paul Lum
Cara Chung
Curtis Tom

 

Vendors

Barsch Tropicals
California Carnivores
Carnivore Culture
Courting Frogs Nursery
Danny and Chuck Powell
Gardner’s Pride Botanicals
Jeff Greene’s Carnivorous Plants
Los Angeles Carnivorous Plant Society
Phil Faulisi
Predatory Plants
Raccoon Ridge