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Always good to challenge yourself with new plants. Common sense goes a long way! You’ve got this!

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Bargain at that price, a lot of palm for a small investment!

Some very interesting and unique rainforest tree seeds in this batch. Rainforest seeds are new to me but some commonsense propagation techniques will be applied. Still learning about the process but it’s good to challenge the mind now and then. I seem to do ok with the palm seeds so it will be interesting to see how I go with this batch, either way it’s a good thing to learn!

Pandanus are tough and this one is just as tough, enduring very dry conditions in times of drought. They add that tropical look in any situation, but you do need room to let them grow they are not a small plant when they start to mature. But very tolerant of sun and bright shade. Super tough easy to grow plant!

In your wife’s defense, Queens are well documented to be one of the worst performing overall trees in hurricanes. Looking at them structurally, you’d think they’d do well, but they root shallow and fall over like crazy in high storm winds. In South Florida, it’s recommended to remove any within falling distance of the house. Maybe just plant them far enough away.

Added note to the above - the other negative side of hybridisation is perhaps the case of Chrysalidocarpus. We have a genus with many palms endangered in habitat or even extinct in the wild unable to be found again. Then we have many mystery species and/or hybrids in cultivation. It kind of blurs the lines with some of the hybrids out there and makes everything that bit more confusing. On the flip side, most of the hybrids in that genus are pretty interesting and some, if not most, end up sterile so often the genetic line ends with them (unless cross pollinated with another…and the confusion continues 🤣).

I’ve had the same decision to make. In general my thinking has been that if I only have a male of one species and a female of another, then why not try. Essentially it will be hybrids palms produced or nothing. There’s not really any cost to doing it if it doesn’t replace pure species. For example, I have a lonely Chamaedorea woodsoniana male. I have a Chamaedorea costaricana, oblongata and hooperiana females but no males of those species. I’ve been hand pollinating just to learn what works with what. I have 3 male Chamaedorea klotzschiana and a female so I don’t include these in any experiments and instead focus on isolating to produce pure seed. Perhaps if any of the species in consideration were critically endangered then maybe there’s a deeper debate, especially if the endangered palm is female and it’s worth trying to source male pollen somehow even internationally to continue the pure genetics. But in this case R glauca Isalo are spread around the globe fairly well and in no immediate danger so I don’t see what harm its doing by trying. Ravenea have been known to hybridise so you might end up with something interesting that inspires new collectors who ultimately contribute to palm conservation. I’m thinking of Tribears, Mules etc being introductory palms for people who then go on to become serious collectors and conservationists. That’s just my 2 cents on the topic but I’m happy to hear everyone else thought as it is a controversial topic for which I’ve heard arguments on both sides.

Richard is beautiful! Unspoiled nature

Warm evenings = more visits from the Sphinx ( Hyles sp ) Missed the chance to grab it but, while getting shots of this moth roaming the bigger group of Penstemon, one of our neighborhood Anna's Hummingbirds swooped in and decided the Penstemon were his and his alone. Kind of funny watching the hummingbird chirp at the moth while trying to drive it off before succeeding in his mission. Said, male Anna's Hummingbird on subsequent visits after his argument with the Sphinx.. Hirsute Paradise Jumping Spider, Habronattus hirsutus, one of two species that belong to the species complex H. tranquillus. Many species within this sub family of Jumping Spiders belong to higher complexes. They are also among some of the most colorful of the New World Jumping Spiders as well. As much as people might fear spiders, these are harmless ..and actually won't hesitate to confront ..and consume... the " bad " spiders ...Widows / Recluse species. Compared to most terrestrial invertebrates, Jumping Spiders have exceptional vision capabilities that closely match that of humans and can even clearly detect and discern certain colors and even human movement. Would be interesting to study whether or not they can recognize / easily detect differences between human faces.

As I sit on rock in the garden looking at what I have created iam amazed. The garden goes from a jungle canopy understory to a very dry hot intolerable in summer heat garden. Yet it all seems to work and grow in harmony with Mother Nature. You can create a garden of your taste to reflect your personality, it just takes time. All you see was basically carved out of the Australian bush, and we’re not talking about tropical cairns or Hawaii where you throw a plant over your shoulder and grows by just looking at them. Its hard country to garden in just add water! IMG_9785.mov

Hybrid palms is a good ethical debate. Myself personally iam against the hybridisation of palms or any other plant. It’s a debate that has the for and against it, Mother Nature does create hybrids but that’s for her to do and who are we to muck with Mother Nature. We know what happens when we do. With land clearing at an alarming rate and forest destruction of native palm habitats we are losing a battle we can all see what’s happening. We all know if it’s lost in habitat we can rely on botanical gardens and gardens around the globe to save a species of palm from extinction. Humankind has a lot to answer for in the destruction of the planet 300 to 500 years what will we leave. This is just my personal view on the subject and I will say iam against hybrids. Let others disagree, everyone has a right to be heard and have a say in this world 🌎

My Ravenea glauca has an inflorescence about to open female flowers. Meanwhile, I have not found a female companion for my Ravenea julietiae male. Should I try using the julietiae pollen on the glauca? What say you?

I understand I plan on buying one of those from PDN soon. Just have to figure out exactly what I want in one box. Yes the shipping is expensive but it's per box. 6 to a box so it averages out a bit . It's hard to narrow to 6

Yes it’s a Chameadorea elegans. And it’s got a bit of age about it, looks like you have repotted it, but the raised mound of soil is a bit incorrect, it should be level with the top of the roots.

Thanks. Wishing you well too. My coconut although growing has oozed out in a few places on the trunk. Like a dime size. I've read that can be ok as long as it is growing. Ugh, not feeling good about it tbh. I lost both plumerias...trunks are turning black. My autograph plant I'm leaving alone for now but saw some oozing for the first time today. So frustrating, all from one night.

Yes. That looks like a Phoenix dactylifera. aztropic Mesa, Arizona

Wow !! What gorgeous Trachys. I looked on street view at Gulley's Nursery and saw other tall Trachy's in front of the business. If you know of other tall Trachys please tell us where or post pics with that information. Thanks.

You feel old now don’t you!

I’d agree Maybe Majesty or Royal Palm. Tip get some drip line irrigation for them Nd drown them in mulch but make sure to put some type of wrapping around the bottom part of the trunk that would be covered by mulch to prevent rot Dry winds are not Majesties friends though so be careful.

ok that’s understandable, i prefer pinnates too. just was making a suggestion. a royal would look really nice if you do get one, as long as you’re willing to deal with the fronds that drop periodically. i was thinking Phoenix rupicola would look great too, but you say you want a statement not an accent

Scream!

I successfully killed a 4 1/2 ft, 15 gallon B. edulis through the course of one winter.

The damage on some palms and cycads seems wildly inconsistent. It's really strange: Dioon Merolae has 8 or 9 totally torched fronds, and one untouched solid green one! Zamia Vasquezii on the N side of an Alfredii is 100% burnt to a crisp, and an identical one 6 feet away looks nearly perfect. More normal is the behavior of some Encephalartos Ferox in the open (exposed to wind) 100% torched, others with some windbreak are lightly damaged. I did pull one spear from a small B. Alfredii today. It is about 3 feet tall, so it is still super skinny near the bud. I haven't tried pulling on many spears yet. I am sure of 100% mortality on all Burretiokentia and Cyphophoenix species, along with several Dypsis/Chysalidocarpus Lanceolata and Pembana. The Lutescens will probably regrow from the roots. A bunch of others probably have bud death and I just won't know for a couple of months. Some stuff I am just going to "edit" out now instead of trying to fix them.

We received half an inch and some change overnight at my location and then an additional tenth of an inch this evening. Surprisingly, it did not rain at all during the plant sale. Hopefully a colder winter means it will actually rain consistently this summer.