Welcome to the Bromeliad Society of San Francisco.

We are dedicated to the growth and spread of horticultural and scientific knowledge of the Bromeliad Family (Bromeliaceae) and enthusiasm for the preservation of its species and habitats.

For cultural information about Bromeliads go to BSI

Puya Alpestris in Oakland Garden, June 2009

Watch "Bromeliads in Bay Area Landscapes" powerpoint presentation. (low resolution)

What are your Hardiest Bromeliads for the Bay Area?

Check out our links page latest entries:
Dyckias at The Cycad Jungle, Michael's Bromeliads and Rainforest Flora, Inc.

Be sure to check our Links and Scrapbook.

Membership is $15US per person or $20US per household annually. Membership includes a Monthly Newsletter sent via email or snail mail.

Checks may be payable to BSSF and sent to
Harold Charns Tres.
255 States St.
San Francisco, Ca. 94114
or contact Harold.

Day: 3rd Thursday of the Month
Time: 7:00 pm setup, 7:30pm call to order
Location: S. F. County Fair Building, Recreation Room
9th Avenue and Lincoln Way (entrance to Golden Gate Park), San Francisco
See Maps for directions.

Meetings include a featured speaker, program or discussion topic along with members Show and Tell, refreshments and the very popular plant raffle table and silent bid plant auction. See Programs and Dates. (Note: this year we are having our annual tour in July in lieu of a meeting.)

Our meetings are also listed in the events calendar of the San Francisco Botanical Garden.

June 17th, 7 PM - This month we will be visiting the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. This will be our second visit since the remodeling and the plants have taken over. Mario Vega is in charge of the bromeliads and will be our guide.
We will try to start the meeting at 7 PM instead of 7:30 to maximize the remaining daylight.
We will still have refreshments, show-and-tell plants and a plant raffle table.

July 18th - Marin Garden Tour, Sunday July 18, Featuring the Palm collection of the late plant photographer Don Worth.

August 19th - Kelly Griffin: Veracruz and beyond.
September 16th - TBA
October 21st - Terrie Bert
November 18th - Betty Patterson, tentative
December 16th - Holiday Party

All meetings are on the 3rd Thursday of the month.

January 21th, February 18th,
March 18th, April 15th,
April 30 & May 1 Strybing Spring Sale,
May 20st,

BSSF SALE with SF Succulent and Cactus Society, June 12 & 13, Saturday & Sunday

June 17th
July 18th 2010 garden tour in Marin
August 19th,

BSSF SALE, September 11 & 12 Saturday and Sunday

September 16th,
October 21th, November 18th,
December 16th Holiday Potluck

Sales:

June SALE
June 12 & 13, 2010, Saturday and Sunday. Setup - Friday 13th.
Time: Sat: 9 am-5 pm Sun: 9 am-4:30 pm
Location: San Francisco County Fair Building (Strybing Arboretum) on 9th Avenue @ Lincoln Way, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. See Maps

Once again we will be hosting a Bromeliad Sale along with the San Francisco Succulent and Cactus Society. This is our main money making event of the year where many of our members sale plants along with those the Society buys from nurseries. Even if you do not sell plants there is a lot of work involved and we will need your help at the sale.

If you want to sell bromeliads contact Carl Carter.
We will be needing extra volunteers as clerks and security. If you want to show bromeliads or volunteer contact Roger Lane.

September SALE
September 11 & 12, 2010, Saturday and Sunday. Setup - Friday 10th.
Time: Sat: 9 am-5 pm Sun: 9 am-4:30 pm
Location: San Francisco County Fair Building (Strybing Arboretum) on 9th Avenue @ Lincoln Way, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. See Maps

We have had successful fall bromeliad sales in the past and this year we will also be having a sale and display of plants. This sale is being coordinated with Orchid Fest. Mark 11-13 September on your calendar and set some time aside to help. We will be setting up the display and sale on Friday in the Gallery with the orchid vendors (the same room that we used in June) from 3 to 8 PM. The show and sale will be from 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturday and Sunday.

If you wish to sell plants, you will need to barcode your plants. Harold Charns will be making the barcodes. The ones you had for the June sale WILL NOT WORK. Contact Harold as to your needed prices. Harold will be able to mix prices on a single sheet. Please notify Harold as soon as possible about your price needs, so he does not have to print the sheets at the last minute. There will be a 75-25 percent cut as in our other sales.

We need a colorful display of your plants. On our last fall sale, you outdid yourselves! We need an equally fine display this year. Let’s show the orchid fanciers how beautiful our plants can be and how well they work with orchids.

We will not be having a monthly meeting before this sale, so there will be a signup sheet at this month’s meeting. We will need help running our cash register, help in selling the plants, help in educating the public about bromeliads, and lots of boxes, newspapers, and paper bags. Start saving your boxes. This sale is very important for our treasury because our June sale did not turn out as well as most of our sales.

WE NEED HELP FROM ALL OF YOU TO MAKE THIS SALE A SUCCESS!!!!

If you want to sell bromeliads contact Carl Carter.
If you need price labels contact Harold Charns.
We will be needing extra volunteers as clerks and security. If you want to show bromeliads or volunteer contact Roger Lane.

San Francisco Botanical Garden & Strybing Arboretum Society
ANNUAL SPRING SALE
April 30, 2010 - Members-only Preview Sale, 5–8pm
May 1, 2010 - Public Sale, 10am–2pm

Location: San Francisco County Fair Building (Strybing Arboretum) on 9th Avenue @ Lincoln Way, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. See Maps

Members-Only Preview Sale & Silent Auction. Friday April 30, 2010 5-8 pm

On Friday, from 5pm to 8pm is members only and it’s a fun party with beverages including wine and appetizers. Along with this is a wonderful silent auction with one of a kind creations of exotic plants in planters and arrangements, books or other plant related donations. If you would like to be part of this with us, just sign up with Marilyn 2 weeks before and I will place you on the list so you can be admitted. It gives you an added advantage to shop before the public gets in on Saturday. We can use you and your enthusiasm and energy, because it’s a fast paced few hours. It also puts our Society’s name out there to acquaint people with Bromeliads. You must sign up with me and get on the list in order to attend. Only those on the list and members of San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum Society are admitted on Friday. Saturday it is not necessary to get on the list.

Public Sale Saturday May 1, 2010 10am - 2pm

We have participated in this sale for several years along with the other San Francisco plant societies. The Strybing Sale starts on Friday, from 5 to 8 pm. If you want to be included at this special preview sale you can get in with your Strybing Arboretum Society membership card or sign up ahead of time with me to work the Bromeliad Society booth. There is complimentary wine and refreshments, and a Silent Auction where you can bid for prized specimens, etc.

The Public Sale is 1st Saturday in May. It opens at 10 am and lasts until 2 pm. You do not need to be on the list for this sale. Please show up and help out. It is a very fast fun filled few hours. In the past few years we have sold out before closing time.

At this show we get our name out there, introduce people to the wide variety bromeliads have to offer and publicize our show/sale. When the doors open at this event the plant nuts run in like bears to honey. I am happy to say some head straight for our table. It is a very positive experience.

So please sign up and help. To donate plants or volunteer to represent the club contact Marilyn.

Bromeliads at the 2010 SFSCS and BSSF Sale

Quesnelia marmorata (photo: D Arcos)	Aechmea 'Orange Sherbert' (photo: T. Vincze)
Tillandsia Bergeri (l photo: D Arcos)	Neoregelia cynea (r photo: T. Vincze)

 See more photos of the Sale by Tom Vincze

Annual Garden Tour - Marin, Sunday, July 18th. Featuring Don Worth's Garden and palm collection. Details will be on site by July 4th.

Newsletters in PDF:

2010
January | February | March | April | May | June

July | August

2009
January | February | March | April | May | June

July | August | September | October | November | December

Newsletter Archive
Checkout previous newsletter for information and articles about bromeliads and their cultivation.

Watch Flash Slideshow of Hardy Bromeliads in Bay Area

S.F.Chronicle Article

Scrapbook