It’s easy to become enamored with the lilliputian Pediocactus despainii seen on our field trip into the San Rafael Swell on May 4th. Once they’ve seen it, many cactophiles develop an irresistible urge to adopt one or more of these little charmers. However, please remember that there is a right way and a wrong way to go about the “adoption” process. The responsible and legal approach is to go through an approved “adoption agency.” Mesa Garden in Belen, New Mexico is one such agency. In addition to P. despainii, they also have P. knowltonii, P. paradinei, P. peeblesianus, P. simpsonii, and P. winkleri. The adoption fees are quite reasonable considering that most of these itsy-bitsy beauties are listed as either threatened or endangered. The wrong approach, of course, is to resort to kidnapping. Mesa Garden can be found on the web at; http://www.mesagarden.com/cacplntn.html or they can be contacted at; Mesa Garden, P.O. Box 72, Belen, NM 87002, (505)-864-3131.

A word of caution for those who may have an arresting urge to plantnap one or more of these little dazzlers. This plant is Federally protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. As such, it unlawful for any person to...”remove and reduce to possession any such species from areas under Federal jurisdiction...or remove, cut, dig up, or damage any such species...” Criminal violations of this Act are subject to a fine of $50,000 and one year of imprisonment.