A Very Special Garden

[sur4z]

I am part of a very eclectic group called "the gentlemen of the garden" (GOGS) whose sole purpose (other than to have fun) is to raise funds for the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden in West Palm Beach . Not only does it contain wonderful sculptures and exhibits but it has a collection of palm trees that has few rivals this side of Fairchild Gardens in Coral Gables.

Anyway the GOGS meet monthly at the homes of the better healed members and the rest of us always attend to eat their food and drink their spirits. This months meeting was at the home of Bob Eigelberger and his wife Susie Phipps Cochran. The property has been in Susie's family for 4 generations and consisted of 20 acres. About 15 years ago the family sold 14 acres to a developer who subdivided the land and built homes on 2 new streets...on either side of the remaining 6 acres. Bob, a world traveler and avid palm collector, planted and planted to protect their privacy and has created an amazing oasis. If you did not know this property existed...well you wouldn't know because you can't see it from the outside looking in.

On the night of the meeting or when Bob is entertaining , he opens a gate on the south and you walk through a nature trail to get to the house. Actually, the trail goes completely around the perimeter of the property and it is easy to get lost, especialy after imbibing.

Here are some iphone shots of Bob and Susie's place.

Arenga pinnata, I think...more to come...

[sur4z]

Another A.pinnata

A coco

[sur4z]

Some kind of Dracena

I don't now what these are but there are at least 10 of them planted around a circle standing tall like sentinels.

[sur4z]

Leaving the trail we walked by this pool to get to the house.

Almost at the house was this desert rose.

[sur4z]

...then you see this

...and this

[sur4z]

My favorite aside from the palms, was this plumeria that Bob brought back from a garden near Diamond Head in Hawaii. Bob admits to braking off a branch and shoving in his pants...then sending it home in one of those cylindrical mailing tubes. There were too many people around or I would have done the same thing to Bob's plant.

[sur4z]

This a very cool Coccothrinax borhidiana

...here's another one

[sur4z]

beaked yucca

minature gardinia

[sur4z]

another shot of the yard

more beauty

[sur4z]

Livistona?

T.radiata

[sur4z]

Howea forsteriana...I guess it can be grown here.

This little guy grows along the Nile in Egypt...Bob says it has one stalk but splits into 2 heads...it is not a clumping palm...can anyone name it?

[sur4z]

An aerial of Casa Phippsberger

[bgl]

That's a truly spectacular garden! Thanks for posting. And the aerial view, wow, that really puts it into perspective! Incredible!

[Kailua_Krish]

I think the tall columnar trees are Ashoka trees, Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula.

-Krishna

[Mandrew968]

The Egyptian palm is Hyphaene thebaica.

[Kim]

Looks like fun! No wonder you are aGOG!

This garden is a good illustration of how grass can be useful as negative space. It really sets off the rest of the garden beautifully.

[peachy]

2 words......OOOH AAAH

[bubba]

Pedro, Great shots (Can you say ANTS)and I appreciate the fact that you did not post the Pritchardia pacifica.The colors of the foliage that grows in the beds where the Palms, like mature C. borhidiana are planted, have to be seen to believe. They are so bright they almost hurt your eyes. You missed the C. renda.

[_Rich]

WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! Can't get anything else to come to mind but WOW! Thanks for sharing such an inspirational garden.

Rich

[Stevetoad]

Beautiful garden. Livistona looks like decipiens

Edited June 6, 2011 by Stevetoad

[Jastin]

An aerial of Casa Phippsberger

This looks like my house and garden...only a lot smaller and not as cool

[Wanderanwills]

Awesome!

[Wanderanwills]

Some kind of Dracena

I don't now what these are but there are at least 10 of them planted around a circle standing tall like sentinels.

Looks like a Pacypodium in the first photo and Indian Mast Trees in the second.

Regards

Stephen

[Ken Johnson]

I know he has some huge ANTS there. Any pictures of them?

[EuroPalm]

Some kind of Dracena

I don't now what these are but there are at least 10 of them planted around a circle standing tall like sentinels.

Hi Sur4Z,

These trees are Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula.

You can see them HERE

Phil

[palmislandRandy]

Pedro, That's quite an estate! Your post reminds me I'm due for a visit to the Norton Garden. Thanks for the photos.

Randy

[Dave-Vero]

Whoever's doing the maintenance and planting is doing fantastic work. Carpets of bromeliads are easy to care for, but keeping such massive beds tidy amounts to a lot of work. Not to mention keeping the trees and shrubs in shape.

[sur4z]

Here are a few more photos

a Royal and some kind of Phoenix

Chambeyronia macrocarpa...I think

[sur4z]

varigated ficus

pretty flowers

[sur4z]

For more about the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden visit www.ansg.org

And for Casa Phippsberger visit www.casaphippsberger.org

[sur4z]

try these

http://www.casaphippsberger.org/

http://www.ansg.org/

[bubba]

Ken, Believe or not, they hustled up the ANTS for a showing out in Las Vegas at some fancy art festival. Things are a little shaky around here without the ANTS.

[sonoranfans]

Great garden, I like the textures and mixes of all the flora and fauna, great use of colors and contrasts. The only thing missing is a couple of large copernicia Baileyana or Fallaensis out in the open on the grass there, somewhere... Looking at some of those clumping(?) phoenix, I am thinking I dont want to be the guy trimming that massive and dense garden...

[palmmermaid]

Pedro,

Great pictures. I've visited this garden several times over the years. Bob is very generous and opens his garden to the plant societies in Palm Beach county.

I like those mast trees as well.

BTW - Have you been in the calendar?

[sur4z]

The mast trees are positoned around the circular walk way in the bottom left corner.

[ariscott]

Nice garden.... still a lot of work to maintain the garden to look that perfect Thanks for posting.

Regards, Ari

[MattyB]

wow!

[Tomw]

I’ve always wanted to see that garden, thanks for sharing the pictures!!

[sur4z]

Bubba standing under a very old P.pacifica`

[bubba]

Pedro, Looks like our friend bubba got his green eggs and ham taken away.Please tell Ken that the only "ANTS" in town are now located wherigo his Copernicia fallanse groweth.

Going back through these shots of Bob's Garden, it is a truly amazing spectacle.Those Mast Trees are boldacious.