Palm Beach (FL) Palm Sale Purchases

[TikiRick]

I drove up to the Palm Beach Palm Sale today. This was being held in Boynton Beach, Florida, some 45 miles north of me. There were numerous vendors selling a great number of species at what I thought were rock bottom prices. I can remember when some of these species would bring upwards of $100 or so, and now, maybe $40.

I saw a container of healthy Veitchia sp., being grown as a triple, about 7' overall in a 10 gallon container for $30! The prices are far below wholesale in my opinion.

Michael Smith's ("Palmsrgreat" in Houston, TX), garden of palms was severely damaged in Hurricane Ike, so picked up some goodies for a care package to be sent to him there.

These are three of many species that I picked up today. Maybe I should be asking prior to purchasing them, but does anyone have any growing information regarding any of these three species?

The first that I have no growing knowledge of is Hydriastele dransfieldii. Very attractive palm!

The second was an attractive species, Aloschmidia glabrata.

A close up of the fronds of this species.

A close up of the lime green crownshaft of Aloschmidia.

And finally one of my picks for a try in Houston, Beccariophoenix alfredii.

[Walter John]

That Beccariophoenix alfredii looks divine.

[Daryl]

They ALL look great...what a score! The Alloschmidia (Basellinia) glabrata is one of the easier New Caledonian palms to grow IMO. They seem to grow well in my climate, as long as they get watered consistently. I did kill one that was a little smaller than yours one year on a 44C day. It was a bit dry and the heat just vaporised it, along with other stuff like Verschaffeltia. I can't wait for my B.alfredii to get to that size.

regards,

Daryl

[bubba]

I got there this afternoon and bought a number of exotic items from one William Deboe.Also a couple of great specimens from Mike Harris.Got to meet Kitty(Palmermaid)and Betty.Picked up an unbelievable old book on the Genus/Copernicia with old names,incredible black and white photo's of Cuban Copernicia's taken in the 40's with extensive maps.Rather outstanding stuff.

[palmsrgreat]

Those look great Rick! Nice score, I got a couple of large items today that I will take a pic and share with you tomorrow

BTW, really cool of you to pick something up for me, thanks!

[Kris]

Dear Rick

thanks for the stills and those plams are all looking fine !

love,

Kris

[Jeff Searle]

I got there this afternoon and bought a number of exotic items from one William Deboe.Also a couple of great specimens from Mike Harris.Got to meet Kitty(Palmermaid)and Betty.Picked up an unbelievable old book on the Genus/Copernicia with old names,incredible black and white photo's of Cuban Copernicia's taken in the 40's with extensive maps.Rather outstanding stuff.

Bubba,

Thats a great book, as I bought my first one probably 10 years ago or more. I'm still quite shocked to see that they still have these to offer at every sale there. They must of had hundreds of them to begin with.

Jeff

[bubba]

Jeff, I was reading where a Foundation had been formed to establish a Palm Sanctuary in a particular area of Cuba for Copernicia's but a "political situation" made it impossible.I hope that Raul does not make his last act burning the Copernicia's.Incredible pictures.Iwish I could post them here!

[palmsrgreat]

Rick, here is what I was mentioning I scored yesterday from Tad. The weight on these things was unbelivable. I have never moved palms so big and heavy without equipment. The two small mules are blocking the view of some enormous root balls.

[TikiRick]

WOW...I can't believe that you are moving those without help or equipment. I hope you are not planning on having any children!

[palmsrgreat]

Well, I won't say how much they cost me here, but let me say if I had equipment and a u-haul I'd have it filled. These are heading four hours away to my parents house in Baton Rouge. I'm going to replace the entire front yard that was wiped out in Hurricane Gustav. My siblings are going to pay me for a rental truck so that I can bring some of their personal goods back to Houston. I wish I would have known this before Tad came up. I need more Tad!

[pdleft]

It was great meeting TikiRick and bubba this weekend at our sale. We had a nice weekend under the pines and wish everyone had been able to attend. Jeff and Ryan, we'll see you in the spring. I probably spent as much as I made this weekend. There were some great bargins and I am thrilled to have been able to obtain some of them. I usually just read, not talk but I wanted to say how much we enjoyed our new vendors. Where else can you have a vendor with a large screen tv and great music as well as super plants. Bill, give that Phytelephas a lot of room.

[SubTropicRay]

Who was selling the Alloschmidia? That's a great sized specimen.

[www.dadluvsu.com]

I'm no Palmarum with the camera, but I did manage to snap a couple photos of most of the vendors and a couple palms... I'm really disappointed I didn't manage to get a photo of Betty Ahlborn, Palm Beach Palm and Cycad Society's President. She and I did some hardcore horse tradin' and I ended up with a great looking 3g Phytelephas aequatorialis (subsequently I'm certain I got the better end of the deal! ). Apparently this sale was slow compared to some others, but having no other sale experience to gauge by, I felt things were very succesful!! I definately brought home less plant material than I took to the sale. And my back knows it. I need to publicly give thanks to my parents, Tom and Jane, CuriousPalm and Otis (my auto detailer) for all working so hard to help make this sale a success for me. I could not have pulled it off without them. These sales are a whole huge mess of work, and I now have a great deal more appreciation and respect for all the folks who put on these great events. There were well over 400 species of palms and cycads available for purchase this season and I suspect there will be even more next time around. There were some fantastic deals to be had, many vendors were giving palms away at below wholesale pricing in order to make rooms for next seasons material, but enough blah blah out of me... PICS!

This is the front veiw of my booth (of course the predominate sawhorse theme from my shadehouse had to carry into the sale! ) Kitty and Mike were talking palms while TikiRick and another shopper were checkin' things out. The TV was running a slideshow of photographs accompanied by some uplifting reggae music (most pics were lifted from the internet and other sources, TYVM Palmpedia! ).

I brought some great Dypsis leptocheilos and many went off to find new homes.

Several crates of Areca vestiaria.

[www.dadluvsu.com]

My block of Chambeyronia macrocarpa.

I also brought a couple Verschaffeltia splendida

and some Johannesteijsmania altifrons.

[www.dadluvsu.com]

There were lots of familar faces I recalled and a few folks there that I had never had the pleasure of meeting.

Here's a cheery bunch of folks!

Kitty!

Cathy!

Marshall and Dale!

Ron!

[www.dadluvsu.com]

Mike!

Drew!

The other new guys at the sale, Doug and Patrick! (they had some killer deals on large specimen, like that triangle behind them for $55!)

And Mr. too busy for the camera... Steve!

[www.dadluvsu.com]

There were a whole heap of Palmtalkers and lurkers at the sale, some I knew and recognized and some I'm sure I didn't...

Anyone know this guy?

or this one?

These were a couple of my favorite customers, it was a pleasure to have made so many new acquaintances.

As much fun as it was, by the end of it all, it took all of my effort to sit in front of the fan and pose for this picture.

[palmislandRandy]

I also brought a couple Verschaffeltia splendida

A "couple"? That's probably the most Verschaffeltia I've seen gathered in one place at one time! (didn't expect them ALL to germinate, did you Bill)

[palmislandRandy]

A real pleasure meeting other people with the same affliction

[TikiRick]

Thanks guys! I think I may have bought a palm from each vendor...and all well grown palms at even better prices than I expected. Everything is already in the ground enjoying today's autumn rain showers.

[CuriousPalm]

Pious Palms, thank you! It was my pleasure. Look forward to the next time!

[Palmarum]

It's amazing it has been 20 years of great Palm Beach sales and shows. I can still remember some of the early ones way back when I was a lot younger. The photos are great Bill, thanks for posting them I was hoping to see some of the action I missed. It is always good when a sale brings people together. I am glad to see everyone happy and trading palms as usual, the essence of a palm society sale. Seeing such veterans as Ron Schaff and Dale Holton still selling is worth the trip in itself, but at least I got to see them in the photos.

Ryan

[www.dadluvsu.com]

A real pleasure meeting other people with the same affliction

It really was... Ray did you stop by on Saturday? I was hoping you would have introduced yourself. I didn't see or recognize you and wished to have spoken with you. ...My good buddy Bubba from Palm Beach passed through and picked up some rarities, WayKoolPlantz stopped by looking for the most obscure palms in the world and said hello, Bob The Ant Farmer made his rounds purchasing any plant matter he could find, and a lovely young lady from The Ann Norton Sculpture Garden in Palm Beach purchased a very rare V. gerardii among many other fine selections. Looking back, I really would have liked to have been more camera focused...

[bubba]

Bill, Just wanted you to know that all your specimens have been planted.Looking forward to watching all but in particular,that Socratic/Blue boy and the Hawaian Punch look very interesting.Great to meet your parents and was Curious about....

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

There were a whole heap of Palmtalkers and lurkers at the sale, some I knew and recognized and some I'm sure I didn't...

Anyone know this guy?

or this one?

These were a couple of my favorite customers, it was a pleasure to have made so many new acquaintances.

As much fun as it was, by the end of it all, it took all of my effort to sit in front of the fan and pose for this picture.

That second guy in the green shirt sure is a handsome devil.

Jerry

[deezpalms]

Looks like the sale went well!!

Nice selections Bill!!

[palmislandRandy]

There were a whole heap of Palmtalkers and lurkers at the sale, some I knew and recognized and some I'm sure I didn't...

Anyone know this guy?

or this one?

These were a couple of my favorite customers, it was a pleasure to have made so many new acquaintances.

As much fun as it was, by the end of it all, it took all of my effort to sit in front of the fan and pose for this picture.

Hey, that handsome guy in the first pic looks a lot like me!

The guy in the last pic has been known to work for palms! (after a long day of moderating!)

[DoomsDave]

That looked like a real [expletive]-screamer of a sale!

Hmm. Should have had an agent come and get and send to Cali . . . . .

Bill, hope you cleaned up.

Yeah, those big sales are a LOT of work, even when you do them from your house. A screaming mob descends on the place, and you run ragged by the end of the day taking care of everyone.

And, the Pseudophoenix you sent is thriving under, well, extreme conditions . . . .

[Caribbean Palms]

I'd like to give a BIG thanks to Kitty Phillips our sales chairman and Ingrid Dewey our treasurer, and of course Prez. Betty and all the other volunteers for putting together a great sale. Yes, attendance was a little off this sale but on the positive side we were all able to spend more time just visitin' and talkin' palms with people.

Our 'new guys' Patrick and Doug, and Bill DeBoe were a great additon to the sale, I hope you guys enjoyed it and will be back. Bill, it was good meeting your mom & dad and thank you guys for volunteering to help me load my truck, it was a tremendous help.

[Walter John]

What a beautiful setting, a neat contrast, selling palms under pines, very pretty. Looks like some real bargains too, I think.

[palmmermaid]

Mike,

Thanks for the kind words! I always need it after one of these! Sorry I had to run on Sunday but I had to drive to Jacksonville on Sunday night.

I think we all enjoyed some new blood! You guys are welcome to come back in the spring.

And it is indeed a beautiful setting for a sale. We had a great time and did get to spend some time with each other. My husband helped on the setup day and on Sunday and he was amazed at how much work it is. I think he now understands why I am exhausted after a weekend sale!

I enjoyed meeting new palm lovers and missed some of the regulars. Save your money until Spring!

[Moose]

I wonder what great deals are being found today at this year's sale?

[peachy]

Thanks for posting this Rick...just helps me realise how palm deprived this place is. Some unusual and hard to find palms at bargain prices. I am going to allow you to be my benefactor anytime.

Peachy

[TikiRick]

Well this year proved to be no exception. Great specimens at ridiciously low prices in my opinion. There were about 12 vendors beneath the pines on a gorgeous fall day! I got a one gallon Actinorhytis, a three gallon Rhapis loensis, a three gallon Pty. waitianum, and a three gallon Areca montana. All for $99. Unusual palms finding a great home at my place! Now, if I could only figure out where..... :huh:

[Dave-Vero]

Rhapis laosensis is thriving in my yard, under oaks. Great landscape plant. Quite a few other PB sale plants in the yard, including a bunch of coonties. And a "Zamia loddigesii" of somwhat dubious parentage that's made a really nice clump with upright leaves. When I bought the plant, it was an oddball choice, but was already showing the nice upright leaves.

Caloosa Park is a great sale site--the pines keep the palms and people happy.

[PalmGuyWC]

Well this year proved to be no exception. Great specimens at ridiciously low prices in my opinion. There were about 12 vendors beneath the pines on a gorgeous fall day! I got a one gallon Actinorhytis, a three gallon Rhapis loensis, a three gallon Pty. waitianum, and a three gallon Areca montana. All for $99. Unusual palms finding a great home at my place! Now, if I could only figure out where..... :huh:

Don't anyone let TikiRick fool you. I've been to many palm sales with him, and he always swares, "I'm just looking. I'm not buying anything," and then he gets that glazed look in his eyes. Soon he's bumping into people, snatching rare goodies as fast as he can. The back of his truck is filled with palms, and when he gets home, he's wondering "Where will I ever put these. It's sad.............he's a total palm addict and can't help himself.

Dick

[Moose]

Well this year proved to be no exception. Great specimens at ridiciously low prices in my opinion. There were about 12 vendors beneath the pines on a gorgeous fall day! I got a one gallon Actinorhytis, a three gallon Rhapis loensis, a three gallon Pty. waitianum, and a three gallon Areca montana. All for $99. Unusual palms finding a great home at my place! Now, if I could only figure out where.....

Don't anyone let TikiRick fool you. I've been to many palm sales with him, and he always swares, "I'm just looking. I'm not buying anything," and then he gets that glazed look in his eyes. Soon he's bumping into people, snatching rare goodies as fast as he can. The back of his truck is filled with palms, and when he gets home, he's wondering "Where will I ever put these. It's sad.............he's a total palm addict and can't help himself.

Dick

Dick - I've seen it personally. Rick's neighbors also wonder "where did that palm come from" ? Clandestine midnight rogue planting of palms usually follows a sale in his neighborhood.