The Garden 08

[Mike Evans]

We have been getting above average rainfall in West Central Florida this year. The garden is looking great. I thought I would take a few pics before the peak hurricane season. I feel for the palmaphiles in CA & OZ for the low rain fall you have been getting this year. I have seen that here numerous times. Anyway, I always enjoy viewing other peoples gardens around the world on Palmtalk, so feel free to add your own pics. This garden will be on the Central Florida Palm & Cycad Society tour on Sept 20th. Hopefully, this will motivate people to stop by for a tour. Maybe even become a member of your local CFPACS.

[Mike Evans]

Some pics of the cacti garden, one of the cycad berms.

[Mike Evans]

The side of the house, three rednecks in a row, & front part of garden.

[Mike Evans]

Another pic of the front side, royal forest, & the bismarks in the middle of the path.

[Mike Evans]

Whats this?? I found the VP of IPS rooting through the cycad garden with the ranch hand. I need to keep a closer eye on the gardens activities.

[bgl]

Mike,

You've got a great looking place with some spectacular palms! And I like the way you've created the various paths. Very nice!

Bo-Göran

[sonoranfans]

Another pic of the front side, royal forest, & the bismarks in the middle of the path.

wow! Very nice mike! Kind of hard to view those photos and not be just a little jealous of your weather/ ability to grow some nice species to perfection in st pete.

best regards

tom

Edited August 15, 2008 by sonoranfans

[Mike Evans]

Satakentia liukiuensis, Coccothrinax crinita (old man), & Copernicia Alba

[Mike Evans]

Japanese fern tree (Filicium decipeins), Chambeyronia macrocarpa w/ Dioon Spinulosum as under story cycads, & one of the Many Variegated Foxy Ladies..

[Mike Evans]

Middle of circular drive, Travelers, & part of the nursery.

[Mike Evans]

Kerriodoxa elegans, Nice mature Licuala spinosa, & Cryosophila Warscewiczii (root spine).

[Mike Evans]

Syagrus Coronata, Kentiopsis oliviformis, & the very glamorous Neoveitchia Storkii.

[Mike Evans]

The description is not necessarily in the same sequence as the pics. This is hard to syncronize.

Dioon Spinulosum, Gastrococos crispa (cuban belly palm) just starting to leap from the ground, & baby crispa's.

[Mike Evans]

Syagrus x montgomeryana, Bottle, trunks of Livistona Saribus

[Mike Evans]

Bismarks, Royals that are 9 years old from 15 gal containers, & Wallichia Disticha towering over the Raphis.

[Mike Evans]

Crown of variegated foxy ladies, Bismarks towering over the top, part of the jungle, & foxtails & royals at the entrance.

[Mike Evans]

The fire pit & Encephalartos Ferox patch.

[Mike Evans]

There is still much more to see. See everyone for the CFPACS garden tour on Sept 20th in St. Pete Florida. You do not have to be a member to tour, but it helps. This is too much work, time to go dig a hole.

[Tala]

Mike, does the Sy mont. inherit the thorny petioles assoc. w/ schizophylla? I always forget to look when I find one. Am looking fwd to the meeting, you have a beautiful and well organized garden (the exact opposite of mine).

[Jeff Searle]

Mike,

You have a beautiful setting with those large oak trees to compliment your palm collection. It all looks very inviting. I hope you get a good turn out when the tour comes through.

Jeff

[Mike Evans]

Mike, does the Sy mont. inherit the thorny petioles assoc. w/ schizophylla? I always forget to look when I find one. Am looking fwd to the meeting, you have a beautiful and well organized garden (the exact opposite of mine).

Tala, the S. montgomeryana does exhibit the some what "armed" petioles as the schizophylla. They are not as pronounced though. I will see if I can get a close up of it tomorrow. As far as organizition, when you place granite boulders for borders, it keeps things in their place. And me in my place, when I go stumbling through the garden.

[Mike Evans]

Mike,

You have a beautiful setting with those large oak trees to compliment your palm collection. It all looks very inviting. I hope you get a good turn out when the tour comes through.

jeff

Thanks Jeff, I have always wanted to stop by your garden & have a look. Your postings are spectacular! You are always welcome to stop by when you are in the area.

[chris.oz]

Sensational. very exotic looking ..... great choice of palms, Kerriodoxa growing very very nicely in your conditions.

Congratulations !

[FRITO]

stunning garden! love the design and feel

[Gileno Machado]

A very pleasant garden, with a fine landscape. Lovely Chamby/Dioon corner...highly inspirational.

[BS Man about Palms]

Beeyouteefull!! I look forward to the day that when I step to the street, its "different weather".

[Shon]

Just awesome Mike. Thanks for sharing. Love to see more if you got them.

[_Keith]

Well, it is not likely that a plam garden like that will ever exist in Louisiana, it sure is nice to look at.

[paulgila]

wow,thats an amazing garden!!!

[Walter John]

Thanks Mike, that very first pic in this thread of the bizzies is my fav by the way, it came out mystical like, quite wonderful indeed, I'm sure you'll get plenty of visitors, wish I was one.

[Mike Evans]

Thanks Mike, that very first pic in this thread of the bizzies is my fav by the way, it came out mystical like, quite wonderful indeed, I'm sure you'll get plenty of visitors, wish I was one.

I was thinking the same thing Wal. Some of the other pic quality suck though. I think it is time for a new camera. I will save this camera for the Bismarks. BTW, stop by Florida sometime.

[Kris]

Dear Mike

iam speechless and stunned,by seeing this beautiful garden....bismarkia,travellers,exotic cycads etc...has blown my feet from the ground...the collection seems to be meticuliously done_and i admire your taste.

thanks for those beautiful stills...

lots of love,

Kris

[JEFF from Trabuco Canyon CA]

Great garden Mike! Thanks for sharing. Wish I could see it in person.

Jeff

[junglegalfla]

Mike & Margie's place is my favorite jungle in this area hands down! It's even more amazing in person! Mike, sorry I haven't gotten over your way yet. With this storm coming our way, I may need ALOT of new palms in the near future! I'll be in touch & hope to join in on that tour!

[freakypalmguy]

Mike, your place is rockin! Nice work.

Matt

[redant]

Really awesome job. The use of retaining walls and rocks make it look so much more tropical to me.

Where did you get so many rocks like that in FL. It would cost huge $'s around me for them.

What are the stones for the wall, I love the look.

And of course, your palms rock!

[falcon1988]

Hi Mike,

Your garden is fantastic looking it does in fact a jungle type feel very thing nice and green and healthy indeed your right about the

rain makes the plants happy awesome job Mike

[Jeff in St Pete]

Wow Mike! Everything looks great! I love the Kerriodoxa by the patio, that's one of the largest I have ever seen in Central FL. And words cannot describe how beautiful and perfect looking your Bismarckias are.

Say hi to Margie for me!

[Mike Evans]

Really awesome job. The use of retaining walls and rocks make it look so much more tropical to me.

Where did you get so many rocks like that in FL. It would cost huge $'s around me for them.

What are the stones for the wall, I love the look.

And of course, your palms rock!

Redant, I like the looks of different elevations in the garden too. The granite boulders were railroaded down from Wisconsin to north Florida. Then I had 20 tons trucked here. Yes, they are damm expensive. I also keep my eye out for the natural lime boulders around the area. I also work at a place where I have my guys truck rocks back from out West, while they are trucking our equipment. Just a little added surcharge. Oh yes, the stone walls. They are broken up concrete slabs around 6" thick. I sat out there for months breaking slabs of concrete into block size pieces, then stacking them. After they get the aged look from the iron in the well water, they look like they are stone blocks that have been there forever. They also look better than those blocks from the big box stores.

Will trade rocks for palms.

[ariscott]

Very nice garden, Mike. I love all the paths. I am trying to do that with mine... but still a lot of years of work to be done before getting anywhere near finished. I love your shady oak too, I am trying to do that with delonix regia, Lagerstroemia speciosa and Samanea saman. Can't wait till all my plants grow big!!! Then I will complain that I have no full sun spot.

Regards, Ari