Little known public palm garden in Los Angeles

[Applegate]

This is my first post on this site. I hope I'm doing this right.

I recently ran accross a public palm garden in West Los Angeles, at the far west end of Veterans Park.

It is adjacent to the north side of Wilshire Boulevard and starts at the south bound 405 freeway off ramp.

It doesn't look like it is being cared for any more, but most of the palms look okay, just okay.

These are not especially rare, but there are good specimens of things like Phoenix rupicola that while not rare are not very common in good size in this area.

So my question is does anyone know anything about this park. I can't even find a sign or any name for it. I want to know who planted it and for what reason, and when.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Greg Applegate

714-292-7184

greg@arborgate.occoxmail.com

[MattyB]

Hi Greg and welcome! This is why the intrepid palmtalk explorer must carry his trusty camera on his side at all times. I know the area you're talking about but I don't have any pictures or information on it. Looks like some Phoenix canariensis, Butia captitata, Aricauria, and some huge fius!

Here's some googlage:

[Applegate]

Thanks Matt for your response. You're the only guy who responded.

I have some photos. I'll try to attach some for the others. But the main thing I'm after is its history

[MattyB]

Yeah, post the pics, we'd love to see 'em. Thanks.

[avb]

I've heard of this place before, but I can't remember where. Probably someone here on Palmtalk mentioned it last century, but I've never visited.

[avb]

I'm trying to attach a link.

wilshire blvd.htm

[avb]

That was my first try at posting some sort of pic and it sort of worked.

[bgl]

Hi Greg,

And welcome to PalmTalk! Glad to see that Matt and Alan were able to provide a bit of information!

And Alan, that worked great - now you need to post some actual photos (even though I don't think there was much of a choice with that link)

Bo-Göran

[avb]

I didn't realize it , but the link gives you an interactive pic. You can use your mouse to pan, magnify, and move around on the street.

[bgl]

I know, this technology is pretty amazing! You can type in your street address and you should be able to see your house and pan around the exact same way. And you thought you had privacy!

[avb]

Does anybody have any info on this garden? Who, when, etc.?

[Applegate]

On 5/24/2011 at 9:22 PM, Applegate said:

This is my first post on this site. I hope I'm doing this right.

I recently ran across a public palm garden in West Los Angeles, at the far west end of Veterans Park.

It is adjacent to the north side of Wilshire Boulevard and starts at the south bound 405 freeway off ramp.

It doesn't look like it is being cared for any more, but most of the palms look okay, just okay.

These are not especially rare, but there are good specimens of things like Phoenix rupicola that while not rare are not very common in good size in this area.

So my question is does anyone know anything about this park. I can't even find a sign or any name for it. I want to know who planted it and for what reason, and when.

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

Greg Applegate

714-292-7184

greg@arborgate.occoxmail.com

 

[Applegate]

Since my original post I've been working in the area off and on.  You are right, there are few unusual palms, just a lot.  When I first saw them they were in poor condition, lots of dead hanging fronds and it looked like little irrigation.  Since 2011 they seem to have done some trimming.  I think the Phoenix were better off before they were trimmed.  The people I met that did work in the area seemed pretty ignorant on Fusarium and such.  I was working on the subway project and fortunately it seems unlikely to bother this particular area. 

Using Google Earth you can take a street views tour from the perimeter.  Use 11300 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles as the address.