The October, meeting in Balboa Park was fun.
Thanks for coming out!

Rodrigo Freitas program
A journey through the highlands of Rio de Janeiro State
​Rodrigo Freitas is a Biology student and park ranger in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In the last 8 years he’s has been documenting the flora in the mountains of Serra do Mar. His work area covers the ecological corridor formed by 3 connected conservation areas - Organ Mountains National Park, Three Peaks State Park and Desengano State Park. Together they protect 425 square miles of the highly endangered Atlantic forest in an area larger than the City of San Diego.

His presentation focused on bromeliads that occur at altitudes between 1700 meters (5,600 ft) and 2360 meters (7,700 ft), the upper ranges of the Atlantic forest biome where winter night temperatures dip to the low 30s F (close to 0 Celsius). 

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 Bromeliads 
pronounced broh-MEE-le-ads

. . . flowering plants belonging to the plant family Bromeliaceae.
There are more than 3,000 species and hundreds of hybrids.
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In a Nutshell: 

Bromeliads are members of a plant family known as Bromeliaceae (bro-meh-lee-AH-say-eye). The family contains over 3000 described species in approximately 56 genera. The most well known bromeliad is the pineapple. The family contains a wide range of plants including some very un-pineapple like members such as Spanish Moss (which is neither Spanish nor a moss). Other members resemble aloes or yuccas while still others look like green, leafy grasses.
In general they are inexpensive, easy to grow, require very little care, and reward the grower with brilliant, long lasting blooms and ornamental foliage. They come in a wide range of sizes from tiny miniatures to giants. They can be grown indoors in cooler climates and can also be used outdoors where temperatures stay above freezing.