NCPS "Campout Under the Palms" Vacaville, CA

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Starts: Saturday, July 12th, 2014
and runs until: Sunday, July 13th, 2014
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: 3851 Joslin Lane Vacaville, CA. 95688

Dale Motiska has offered his property for a Full Moon Overnight Campout under the Jubaeas in Vacaville.

Potluck, meeting and auction on Sunday starting at 12 PM. Call Dale at 707-344-8350 to make camping reservations now. $10 nominal camping fee per car. Many sites available.

Situated on 28 acres in the English Hills of Vacaville minutes off the 80 and 505 freeways is the home of Dale Motiska. Many of you have known Dale as a member of our society and chapter for 37 years. You may also know him as the owner of the Neon Palm Nursery in Santa Rosa. Currently Dale owns and operates the Palm Island Nursery . At his home; Dale has amassed an extensive collection of plants that he began acquiring 37 years ago. This work in progress will continue for many years to come as for the size of its plan. You will see scores of rare mature palm and cycad species spread all over the hills as well as collections of bamboo, rare trees, succulents, cacti, bromeliads and all that other good stuff. The climate is benign as indicated by the 25 foot Caryota urens and large Bismarkia palms. The property has rolling hills and valleys at the 500-800 foot elevations. There are interconnected gardens and wild areas as well as new orchard plantings of Avocados (12 varieties), Citrus (17 varieties) and other exotic fruit plantings.

The informal part of the meeting will begin at 10 am Saturday. This will be more of a social event where members and their guests can wander the grounds, chat, swim in the pool (it is big), lounge in the spa (holds 8), barbeque or just hang out in the hammock garden under stately Queen Palms. Camping sites will be made available by reservation, as overnights and RVs will be welcome. Water and toilet facilities will be provided at or near each site. Most of the sites are view sites looking out across the Sacramento Valley to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Hikers are welcome to hike to the summit of the property where the view encompasses vistas across 26 counties of California. Sutter's Buttes and Marysville to the north, Sacramento to Yosemite to the east, Mount Diablo and the Santa Cruz Mountains to the south and San Mateo and the tip of Mount Tam to the west. There will be a FULL MOON July 12 and many of the palms will share their silvery beauty in the night. Vacaville nights are warm with temperatures not usually dropping below 63 degrees. The pool garden will be lit with Tiki torches to add to the atmosphere. Campers will have to bring their own food and drink as limited refreshments will only be provided for the Sunday meeting crowd. Campers need to make reservations no later than May 1. The choice campsites will be given out on a first come first serve basis. There will be a nominal $10 donation fee required for each camping vehicle to offset the cost of services provided.

Arrive early. The Sunday meeting will begin at noon with a guided tour of the grounds by Dale. The gardens are extensive and the tour takes approximately two hours. Bring your comfortable walking shoes. Sunday at 12 PM the regular meeting will begin with the usual pot luck, fanfare and auction. It is intended that the meeting will end at 4 PM, but you know how that goes. There is plenty of parking on site.

This is a meeting not to miss! You will see matureJubaeas in grove plantings and century old Washingtonia and Phoenix species. There are grottos of Livistonas, Braheas, Sabals, Trachycarpus and Syagrus with avenues of Phoenix sylvestris. There are variegated Chamaerops, Rhapis and Syagrus. There is a formal garden with an alley of Brahea armata and roses. The pool garden begins at the spa with several pools and waterfalls that cascade toward the main swimming pool surrounded with lush plantings of palms and cycads. There is a lotus pond. There are hundreds of bromeliads and succulents. There are Protea plantings. You will see subtropical flowering trees like Banksia, Bauhinia, Tabebuia, Chorisia and Jacaranda. There are hundreds of species and varieties of plants. Inspire someone and invite a friend. Bring a plant donation for the auction. Let's raise some revenue for the society and have a great time to remember.

To secure a campsite for the optional first day send a check in the amount of $10 by mail to Dale Motiska 3851 Joslin Lane Vacaville, CA. 95688. For more information call Dale at 707-344-8350. email neonpalmnursery@yahoo.com

Take Highway 80 to Vacaville. Exit Davis St. Turn left onto Davis St. Davis St. ends at Main St. Turn left onto Main St. Go 2 blocks and turn right on Dobbins St. Dobbins St. becomes Gibson Canyon Road. Go about 2 miles on Gibson Canyon Rd. and turn left at Steiger Hill Rd. Go 1 mile on Steiger Hill Rd. and turn left on Joslin Lane. 3851 is the last house on the right at the end of the road. Follow the signs for parking.

For those wanting to see the nursery on their way take the 80 freeway to Vacaville. Exit Pena Adobe Rd. Turn left on Cherry Glen Rd. Turn right at the next road which is Pleasants Valley Rd. Go 1.5 miles to the nursery at 6263 Pleasants Valley Rd. From there to the meeting turn left on Pleasants Valley Rd. Go 2 miles and turn right at Vaca Valley Rd. Vaca Valley Rd. becomes Farrel Rd at the stop sign. Go straight on Farrel and turn left on Gibson Canyon Rd. Go 1 mile and turn left on Steiger Hill Rd. Go 1 mile to Joslin Lane. Turn left on Joslin, go to the end of the road and follow the signs for parking.

Dale Motiska cell 707-344-8350

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Bump!

The English Hills area of Vacaville that encompass Dale Motiska's 28 acres and palm collection are not to be missed! Check with Dale to see if campsites are still available. Saturday night will be a FULL MOON! If camping is full, make sure to come on Sunday to the tour that begins at 12pm.