November Program: John Bleck - Succulents as Bonsai

John Bleck Bio

John Bleck grew up in Lansing, Illinois and attended the University of Illinois where he majored in Horticulture. He graduated in 1957 and arrived in California in 1958. He was employed at the UCLA Botanic Garden and later was the owner of Abbey Garden from 1974 to 1978. He worked at UCSB as manager of the research greenhouses starting in 1978 until retiring in 1992. John became very well know when he did early hybridizing of small Aloes, one in particular Aloe 'Lizard Lips' and Dyckia 'Naked Lady' with leaves lacking marginal spines. He is very knowledgeable in succulents of a wide range of plant family's throughout the world. Widely traveled to South Africa, Australia, Mexico and South America.

John has had a long interest in the art of bonsai, and will be presenting how they can become living sculptures in a short amount of time.