Palm Beach Palm & Cycad Society - January Ramble - Stuart, Florida

[Palmarum]

- 12:51PM - If you moved too fast you were going to miss something. The landscape layout had small niches and spots hidden all over. A rare Alpinia rugosa occupied one such spot. It featured thick, wrinkled leaf margins. (B,C) Across the path, a mature Zamia angustifolia was sporting two male cones.

- Watch your step, some palms need more support than others. A leaning Livistona decora was propped up to induce a characteristic bend in the trunk. (B) A wide planting bed bordered the front of the house and contained rare material including a recently-planted Lemurophoenix halleuxii. (B) A few steps away, I noticed a small Gustavia longifolia near the edge of the bed. This tropical flowering tree produces some killer flowers.

- This plant was one of many in the yard that flat-out blew my mind. I got as far as "Wha..?". It screamed at me with the family Araliaceae but the leaf size and the name Trevesia palmata were completely new to me. I can see how it got the common name Snowflake Aralia. The leaf pattern was unique and made one think of cutting paper forms with scissors.

- Further into the area, a Salacca magnifica was putting out one bifid leaf after another. I could picture this palm taking up the entire area with huge leaves and suckers. Host Tracy began to walk through and answer questions as curious Jeff points out a number of smaller plants in the area.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 12:56PM - I was becoming desensitized to the idea of being surprised, but it kept happening anyway. In the back of my mind I thought there couldn't be one in the collection, but when I saw this Red Sealing Wax Palm, Cyrtostachys renda, I had loss all doubts of what could grow in this 'northern' yard. It had a lot of red color for its size and looked perfect. (B,C) A must for fans of big aroids, Philodendron 'Weeks Red Hybrid'. It was a hefty plant already and the leaves were going to get even larger.

- I could hear people beginning to gather by the driveway so I took the long way back, taking shots as I went. (B) I paused for a second to capture a Lanonia dasyantha hidden under other palms and plants. (C) One leaf was out in the open and was showing some nice mottling.

- 12:59PM - By this point, most of the attendees had arrived and were gathering at the driveway out near the street. Terry began to get everyone's attention and herded us into a large group. He then began by introducing Tracy, our host for the third and final garden of the day. Everyone responded (B) with a large round of applause. She introduced herself and continued by welcoming all of us to her home. She went on to describe her passion for palms and tropical plants and gave us details about how her yard was organized, where lunch was going to be, etc. In prepping for the tour, Tracy had gone ahead and made two plant lists, one for palms the other for everything else, and printed out copies for attendees to use (held in her hands). The plants were organized by binomial, then common name, then yard location (looking at my copy right now).

- 1:01PM - After the introductions were completed and lunch info was delivered to the group, we dove right into it. Tracy led us across the front of her yard as she pointed out the inhabitants. The easement of the front yard was packed with attendee vehicles. (B) This section was stacked with large palms and trees. It was tricky to photograph individuals. One plant that caught my attention was this weird Hibiscus (Mallow) family member, Wercklea ferox. It is an exotic ornamental, flowering tree and weird foliage plant all rolled into one. This is a particularly large specimen. The last one I had seen was a few feet in height growing in a three gallon pot.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 1:03PM - This front corner section held our attention for a while as it was loaded with material. As we began to cover territory, the tour turned around and headed back up the driveway. One shaded spot held a Dwarf Betel Nut Palm, Areca catechu cv. 'Dwarf'.

- I had to walk out into the easement to get a good shot of this very familiar Triangle, Teddy Bear Palm Hybrid, Dypsis decaryi × leptocheilos. This palm once resided at Searle Brothers Nursery before Tracy visited one day and arranged for it to be moved. (Jeff was out of town at the time and never knew who had bought the palm). When we drove past the first time on the way to Jack Miller's residence, Jeff commented on how his brother Larry (who took care of the relocation) had mentioned the palm was installed in this area. After I got a closer look at the palm, I knew it had to be the one I had seen for years at the nursery. I found Jeff and dragged him over to look at it again. He was surprised and didn't believe it at first... so he went to go ask Tracy... who confirmed the whole episode.

- The tour was moving up the driveway towards the house. The area surrounding the wide part of the driveway was heavily landscaped and the mass of tour goers fanned out to look it all over.

-Some of the larger members of the collection inhabited the planting areas rounding the driveway. (B) Still surprised at the whole episode with the Hybrid Dypsis, Tracy and Jeff were joking back and forth with one another. The tour entered a walkway that led to the backyard along the left (east) side of the house. Space was tight along this narrow walkway, so I had to duck under a unknown fan palm to get a shot of the group.

Ryan

[Jeff Searle]

Hats off to the Palm Beach Chapter for organizing this garden tour of 3 homes that were WELL WORTH the visit. Ryan and I are glad we made the drive and really enjoyed ourselves.  Tracy is really pushing it some with certain species this far north. But after finding out that Pelagodoxa henryana grows nearly this far and now has been seeding, I guess nothing should surprise me now. Tracy......you were the rock star that day. Love your passion!

Jeff

[dmc]

Was a great day with great people. Thanks for documenting Ryan. 

Dominic 

[Tracy S]

Jeff,

Thanks for the kind words. It means so much coming from you. It was a pleasure to have everyone up and to be able to show my garden to fellow palm enthusiasts.

[Palmarum]

- 1:06PM - The tour progressed from the driveway to the back yard, via the east side of the house. This required the group to thin down to a single file to get through. As attendees began to move through the 'east passage' they took turns trying to identify the fan palm next to where I was standing; passing the I.D. possibilities down the line as they went. It went from one person to another until it got to Dominic and then Terry. (B) I felt as if I was missing most of the action and attendee reactions while being stuck in line, so I ran around to the west side of the house and reached the back patio. I crossed over and got near the pool and took this shot of the front end of the tour as they were exploring the east side area. Center of the frame held a mature specimen of Dictyosperma album var. conjugatum as it was flanked by numerous other plants. A Coconut Palm, perhaps a Malayan Tall, rides the left edge of the photo while a Telegraph Pole Tree, Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula, asserts its height on the right.

- Back into the bush. I entered the east side of the house, which consisted of multiple planting beds. As I left sun and entered shade, I passed by this interesting fountain. It is hard to see the trickling water in the photo, but the design was simple and was making a very pleasing sound. It set the mood very well. (B) I stepped ever so lightly through a planting bed to cut across a pathway packed with attendees. This area of the yard was older than some of the others and held larger specimens. Some of the smaller ones, however, were just as striking. An established and perfectly-grown Sabinaria magnifica resided in its own spot near a pathway...

- ... where it was performing as a prime exhibit of its new genus. The tour slowed down as people, with lists in hand, took an extra moment or two to look it over. Listening as I do, I heard that for many this was their first time seeing a Sabinaria magnifica in person.

- As the tour kept following the pathways, I began to bounce back and forth between sections while looking for shooting positions. The sections were densely planted and required a bit of footwork to both maneuver through and take photos. A Calyptrocalyx hollrungii got its timing right and began to show several newly-emergent red leaves simultaneously. (B) Tracy was moving along with the tour pointing out species while going off path here and there to answer a question or to identify a plant. She was answering a question put forth by the young attendee on the left. Those leaf bases (left of center) belong to an elongated Bottle Palm, Hyophorbe lagenicaulis, that was shading part of the surrounding area.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 1:10PM - The surprises kept coming. It was easier to just set one's own face to 'stunned' for the duration of the tour. Not rare, not very rare, not extremely rare, but perhaps ultra to beyond rare was this attractive juvenile Salacca dransfieldiana. This palm is possibly the rarest species in the collection as it is normally impossible to find. At this moment in history, they are only propagated as divisions separated from a clustering mother plant, as all plants known to exist are of a single gender. (C) The underside of the newest leaf had some unusual banding, perhaps caused by constriction on the new leaf spear prior to opening.

- Although labeled as regular Red Ginger, Alpinia purpurata, this bloom was producing even more blooms at its base. I had not seen this before. (B) A new copper-red leaf on another Heterospathe elata.

- A young Borassus aethiopum grows in a key spot with a nice view of the pool.

- Always nice to see, a Mapu, Licuala mattanensis var. paucisecta, was featuring some nice mottling.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 1:14PM - Attendees began to venture off down different paths, but most continued south... down along the east side of the yard on the way to the back corner. Another bloom of the same Red Ginger seen above, but as a pendant bloom. (B,C) A species that would actually benefit from having cooler nights, Welfia regia.

- Near the edge of the property, a more moderately-sized Triangle, Teddy Bear Palm Hybrid, Dypsis decaryi × leptocheilos, marked the end of one path and the beginning of another. (B) A genus, let alone the species, seldom seen in palm collections: Socratea salazarii. It was tucked under a banana and had a decent compliment of stilt roots.

- I was trying to look at everything, although I was noticing the palms more than anything else. I couldn't forget about the tropical flowering trees as they were well-represented in the collection. This Amherstia nobilis was small but was going to become a great tree. (B) The label does it all for me.

- Every collection has its beginnings and they are always important. This Spindle Palm, Hyophorbe verschaffeltii, was located near a pathway intersection and was flawless in all regards. Lower left, same Calyptrocalyx hollrungii seen earlier. In the center background, attendees began to circle the patio looking at the ever expanding spread of food, as lunch was about a half hour away.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 1:19PM - "A breadfruit?! Are you kidding me?" The ongoing demonstration of expert zone-pushing was not limited to just palm species. Before reaching the end of one path, we were surprised to find this broad Breadfruit Tree, Artocarpus altilis, growing out in the open without any physical protection. To my knowledge, specimens (with a history of cold sensitivity) are very scarce throughout S. Florida, except a few individuals in the Florida Keys and Naples. To see one this far north, just bewilders the mind. (B) Even without the crowded pathways, it was tricky to capture overall shots. The pathway ended at a small greenhouse, part of which can be see through the canopy in the lower right corner of the image and among other things, the back of Jeff's head.

- The greenhouse was a deluxe model of a prefab design. Aluminum frame with clear polycarbonate panels. I was unsure as to the dimensions but there was enough space for many small plants and for one person standing in the middle. It was perfect for seedlings and small palms. We each took a turn to enter and look around. The stepped shelving made it easy to view and reach each plant.

- I made a full circle while looking at everything, halfway around I was looking back out of the greenhouse; with the Breadfruit on the right and a group looking over a very old Saw Palmetto, Serenoa repens, on the left. While looking straight ahead, you can see the trunk with leaf bases running almost horizontally from right to left. (B) A view of the crown, as people were looking it over, albeit a tad overexposed.

- Leaving the greenhouse, I ran into another traffic jam. The next path over that circled the backyard and led back to the patio was packed with attendees. There was so much to see that the line wasn't moving very much, which is just part of the experience. (B) I double backed once again and headed for the patio to cut across to the west side of the back yard. I reached the back porch, where lunch was going to be held, and came face-to-face with this perfect Kentiopsis oliviformis. The robust and heavy, dark olive-green crownshaft was hard to ignore. The full-diameter trunk had beautiful, broad internode rings.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 1:24PM - Near the base of the K. oliviformis was another blue pot with a mix of different colorful plants. (B) As I went back across the patio, I captured one corner of the yard near the pool. It was very dense, as you can hardly see anyone in behind. I noticed another, even larger Red Sealing Wax Palm, Cyrtostachys renda, just past the pool edge (right side of photo).

- I ran around to the back edge of the property to find attendees moving in a slow single-file. I made my way through against the current and found a group hanging around a huge Pelagodoxa henryana. It had tremendous leaves that were just screaming out of the lower foliage. (B) This palm was spectacular and I kept moving closer and closer against the motion of the tour. By the time I reached it, attendees were already moving on down the path or looking at something else. Dominic, Rick and Jeff were fixated on something that Tracy was pointing out on the right. On the left, a pair of old Christmas Palms, Adonidia merrillii, were in the middle of heavy fruit production featuring their namesake holiday season, green and red-colored fruit.

- The Pelagodoxa henryana was a lot of eye candy to absorb all at once. (B) The space covering one step down the path held at least two plants, if not more. I became really impressed when I found this Areca macrocalyx var. 'Mariae' near the back edge of the property. This specimen was well-established in the ground and the variety is notorious for being cold sensitive. There was something else going on in this photo, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. (C) With my back against two other plants, I photographed a rather large leaf of a Hydriastele pinangoides.

- "Now that's purdy." The speckled mottling was very apparent on this Pinanga sp. 'Thai Mottled'. There were a couple full-sized stems forming an impressive little palm. The newer leaves had a bit of a bluish, glaucous hue.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 1:29PM - I followed along with the tour as they worked their way around the southern edge of the collection. I took detail shots of the Areca macrocalyx var. 'Mariae' as people went past and I had more room to back up. I was still getting over the fact it was here. The red crownshaft color was developing as the palm was putting on ring after ring of trunk. (C) The underside of one leaf, showing the thin leaflets and the textured rachis.

- I began to keep pace with the bulk of the tour that was keeping in sync with Tracy. She was describing one plant while I was taking photos of another. We came to an interesting specimen I had not seen before. It was a different color form of Areca vestiaria. Instead of an orange or maroon crownshaft, it had a yellow one. It was solitary and was putting out some stilt roots.

- A mature African Oil Palm, Elaeis guineensis, with a huge crown of leaves. It was providing shade for a large area not far from the pool.

- A small section of open land bordered the back of Tracy & Doug's collection. It was just an empty grass field but it allowed me to back up far enough to get a few shots of this Copernicia fallaensis and (B) part of the tour as they passed by.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 1:34PM - A Lipstick Tree, Bixa orellana, was completely loaded with bright and colorful seed pods. They resembled spiky alien fruit. I didn't find any open seed pods to try and get some of the pigment-rich, aril-covered seeds. If I did, I was going to ask for a volunteer...

- More shots of the Copernicia fallaensis. I couldn't resist as the sun was striking the palm in just the right way.

- As a group, we rounded the corner on our way back towards the patio. It was just about lunch time and I could hear people mingling by the pool. A specimen of Dypsis mirabilis, the colorful Candy Cane Palm, was growing right at the corner of the path. (B) As people walked past, some took turns giving the crownshaft an affectionate rub.

- A Farfugium japonicum cv. gigantea was in bloom, while being shaded by the Lipstick Tree and a few other plants nearby. (B,C) Before heading over to see lunch unfold, I photographed this large-leafed tree that escaped my notes. It had tiny red inflorescences near the apex.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 1:41PM - As the attention of the tour shifted from plants to food, those still touring the yard began to migrate over to the patio and back porch. Tracy continued to answer inquires about her collection as attendees took the 'long way'. Watch your step. (B) Seating choices were plenty and the process of selecting ones location began as the buffet took shape just inside on the right.

- Food and more food. Lunch commenced as soon as the first container top came off and layers of cellophane were removed. (B) There was plenty to go around. The first table became full as additional delights began to overflow onto the second table. Entrees that weren't already on display were on their way from the kitchen. They were being prepped, re-heated, unwrapped and so on.

- Desserts were numerous and would have overloaded both tables, so most were kept indoors. There was a lot to try and every type of finger food and party favorite was on hand. There was something for everyone. Home-made specialties bordered custom-ordered delicacies. I did my best to try them all. There was a flavorful, spicy chicken wing that was made by someone's skillful hands that was phenomenal. (B) The line formed quickly as touring gardens can make any plant nut hungry.

- There wasn't a bad seat in the house or lack thereof. One of the round tables inside the porch was chosen by some of the first to go through the lunch line; Dominic, Jeff, Terry and FM. Adam Pollak (LoxahatcheeAdam). Silence echoed the beginning of lunch, as the food was good and attendees were hungry. A short lull in the line heralded my time to get food...

Ryan

[Palmarum]

... After my lunch ...

- 2:16PM - After stuffing myself most enjoyably, I raised my camera while still seated. Most were still eating while others were chatting, both on the porch and outside on the patio.

- The first round table saw its membership change as people finished eating and went back to the yard while others sat down, plates full. As the conversations bounced from one topic to another, attendees began to join in or gather nearby. (B) Across the porch, another seating area enjoyed plant talk at its finest.

- Topics of conversation changed so quickly it was hard to keep up. As I moved around to take photos (or get at the desserts), the topic had changed by the time I returned. Usually it was something palm or plant related. Some of it dealt with plant society events, plant sales and palm-related travel.

- Outside, the scene above was being repeated with more faces, different topics. I was about to continue touring the yard on my own, when I paused to take a panning view of the patio...

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:18PM - ... continuing to pan to the right. Attendees not on the porch or patio had left to continue touring the collection. There were areas of the yard I hadn't seen so it was easy to surmise that others had more to see as well. The end of lunch didn't mean the end of the tour or the day, as I do not remember any actual end time.

- I had to take a closer look at the larger Red Sealing Wax Palm, Cyrtostachys renda, that was growing behind the pool. It was doing quite well. It had a lot of red for its size, as the brilliant color had saturated entire petioles and rachises. I could not back up any further without getting wet and the palm was completely obscured from the other side. (B) Turning around carefully, I got a good view of the spherical Japanese Fern Tree, Filicium decipiens, that bordered the porch and west side of the yard.

- There was enough food for attendees to go back for seconds or thirds, desserts included. It was not uncommon for some to walk, talk and view palms at the same time.

- I knew the west side of the property had yet to be explored by me or most of the tour, so I decided to save that for later. As I ate early, I figured the tour would continue when most were ready. I decided to back track over my steps and look for stuff I missed, which included this Licuala ramsayi. It was enjoying its partial sun location.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:21PM - I got a second look under canopy and areas of the understory that were otherwise blocked by a mob of attendees. The point of one bed was anchored by a Metroxylon vitiense. It was extending its leaves up into the sun as much as possible, appearing to grow extremely fast.

- I headed over to the 'Shell Area' that bordered the west side of the patio. It held a number of palms and plants, both planted and growing in pots. A Chamaedorea ernesti-augusti featured its popular tuna-tail shaped leaves. (B) Next door, a nice Alocasia was growing in another cool blue pot.

- The shells as ground cover hindered weeds and increased drainage. This Old Man Palm, Coccothrinax crinita, could not have looked better.

- Showcasing a couple of old inflorescences and some serious internode trunk rings, this Buccaneer Palm, Pseudophoenix sargentii, was growing with impunity.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:25PM - Across the path, opposite the P. sargentii seen above, a Rainbow Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus deglupta, was positioned perfectly along the western edge of the property. The majority of the crown was over the fence while it was shading most of the backyard from the afternoon sun.

- Following the western path leading back to the front yard, I discovered the tell-tale conical spines of a tall Silk Floss Tree, Ceiba speciosa. (B) I had to back up a bit just to get the trunk in one shot...

- ... before looking up into the crown. It had only one flower open.

- This was one of the funny moments of the day. As I and a few others were looking through the west side area, we came across this cool flowering shrub. A group of us tropical and sub-tropical plant people began to look it over. One by one, we couldn't figure it out. So we invited more people over. We still couldn't figure it out. It was something we just hadn't seen before. As a mass of attendees was looking the plant over, Tracy came by and I asked her what it was...

... an azalea. Just an azalea. We don't see them down south very often so it was funny to see a group of seasoned plant enthusiasts get stumped on, of all things, an azalea. Tracy's place seemed to be on the southern edge of the range for them to flourish and flower.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:29PM - The tour resumed, to a point. As most were finished with lunch or were still browsing the desserts, they took to the yard once again. They focused on the west side of the property and the front yard. With attendees concentrated in the front yard, I ran through the backyard once again, looking for plants I missed or to take advantage of empty pathways. A clearer shot of the Pelagodoxa henryana seen before surrounded with attendees. (B) A tiny but still mature Potato Chip Palm, Chamaedorea tuerckheimii.

- I completely missed this colorful clumping Pinanga the first time through. It was loaded with infructescences and soon-to-be-ready seed. It is hard to see with the flash, but the leaf sheaths have a dark brown, chocolatey coloration on their lower basal edges. It was labeled as Pinanga cochinchinensis which is now synonymous with Pinanga sylvestris, but looks a little different than other plants known as P. sylvestris. It is a great Pinanga regardless of name.

- Another palm known for its chocolate brown colors, Geonoma macrostachys var. atrovirens. It should benefit from the cooler weather. (B,C) One of a couple Verschaffeltia splendida found in the collection, this one resides near the corner of the pool. First photo was as far away as I could get, the second was as close as I could get.

- Didn't need much of a reason to photograph the Sabinaria magnifica again and again.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:39PM - As the day had progressed past the point of lunch, attendees took turns strolling through the front yard before departing. This was the end of the day's activities and the finale of another great Palm Beach Palm & Cycad Society event. A few began to hang around afterwards as there was so much to see in Tracy's collection. Milling around after a garden tour is nothing new. She continued to show people around as others came up to thank her for her time and for the opportunity to see such a grand example of plant enthusiasm and a great garden plan turned reality.

- I was among those that had to keep looking. It was really impossible to see everything, even after walking through the same area three times. Specimens were being pointed out as tour goers came up to thank Tracy personally, especially Ruth, who was having a wonderful time. (B) Tracy was super gracious with her time as many attendees (myself included) continued to explore her yard as the majority of attendees had already departed. She was describing something to Jeff as Rick was teasing the leaves on a native Sensitive Plant, Mimosa strigillosa, to get them to react.

- I just kept going. I was looking for things I missed the first or second time through. A single 'scene' might have eight plants to look at, but you only have time to capture one during the first pass. An orchid was beginning to flower, one of many in the collection. 

- Becoming harder and harder to find, a small Guihaia argyrata was a recent addition. (B) Sanchezia munita, a large-leaf tropical that looks nothing like the common landscape Sanchezia. Too bad this plant wasn't in bloom, as I had recently seen a smaller specimen sporting some seriously unreal flower bracts.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:45PM - The very front of the yard was shaded by a number of different specimens, including the Bismarck Palm, Bismarckia nobilis, seen earlier. In addition to shade, they provided a buffer to protect the front yard from cold northerly winds. (B,C) Planted underneath, a grouping of colorful Pavonia multiflora had been added recently. One of many flowering shrubs in the collection.

- Two more views of the Areca vestiaria var. 'Maroon Leaf' seen earlier. This time, from the opposite side. The garden was getting quieter as occupants began to dwindle in number.

- White Candles, Whitfieldia elongata, an exotic flowering shrub that is on its way to becoming more common in the landscape.

- A closer and more intimate view of the unusual hybrid Salacca magnifica × 'Unknown' mentioned and partially seen earlier. The newly emergent leaves have a powdery, whitish-pink color. Of what it got from S. magnifica I do not know, except maybe the armament. (B) This is what is shown when you look up crownshaft in the encyclopedia. This Carpoxylon macrospermum will be the future anchor and focal point of this planting section. It is kinda performing this role already.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:52PM - Taking a moment to highlight the incredibly detailed and constructed irrigation system devised and implemented by Tracy and Doug. When I mentioned that every plant had its own point of water delivery I was not kidding. Every plant, from the tallest tree to the smallest epiphyte had their own drip emitter, bubbler head or sprinkler. The poly tubing ran everywhere. It was buried underground, ran on top of mulch and was even fastened to trees; even splitting off in different directions following each branch of the tree. (C) The main lines ran underground except for a couple locations of recent installation. One point had the main line splitting off to five other sub-lines, controlled by a solenoid valve. Tracy mentioned during the tour that she had (so far) 23 irrigation zones in her yard. That may seem like a lot, but it is required when you have so many planting areas with such a diverse plant collection. Each group, watered a different rate, at a different frequency, for a different duration, at a different time of day.

- A new one for me for sure, Scadoxus multiflorus. I can see why (and felt why) it is called African Blood Lily. I don't know if this is a variegated form or if this is the regular coloration.

- I was standing out in the easement taking photos of the Bismarck Palm and other things when I was buzzed (B) by a low flying jet. It was landing at a small nearby field, called Witham Field I think. A lot of dirt on the lens. It was a long day.

- With my back to the street, I was getting wide shots of the front yard that I didn't take when we first arrived. Many of the attendee vehicles had left by now, leaving just a small group still looking around, chatting, etc. Tracy mentioned she could theoretically plant stuff in the easement, right up to the street, but is wary of possible damage done by speeding cars. The space does make for a handy parking lot for tour goers.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:56PM - A beautiful Kerriodoxa elegans, and I almost missed it. Normally hard to do, but in a collection this complex it's easier not to notice those huge fan leaves. It had its own spot near the front corner of the yard.

- Another wonderful flowering tree on its way to greatness, Gustavia superba. (B) A Foxy Lady Hybrid, Wodyetia × Veitchia, was in a spot that was hard to photograph. I had to contort myself to take photos, as any other spot, further or closer, wouldn't work. It is heavily variegated. The leaflets that are all or mostly yellow suffer from being fragile to sun and wind. Some leaves come out entirely yellow. A common situation I see on my own tree...

- I always hope for a decent variegated mix. Even a mostly yellow mix like this section here is fine. (B) The leaflets on juveniles can be quite broad and tend to overlap.

- Big and robust, this Encephalartos ferox was right out in the open. I do not think anything could bother it, weather or vehicle related.

Ryan

[Jeff Searle]

NIce job Ryan.  Capturing in photos and being there in person are always two different ways to enjoy one's garden. And many thanks to our three host. For those that couldn't make it, you missed a great time!

Jeff

[CB Lisa]

Yes, great and abundant photos of 3 very inspiring gardens/collections! Thanks a lot for your time and efforts in documenting the tour and posting all these photos, and allowing the rest of us to live vicariously! Wow! 

[Palmarum]

On 5/28/2019 at 10:14 AM, CB Lisa said:

Yes, great and abundant photos of 3 very inspiring gardens/collections! Thanks a lot for your time and efforts in documenting the tour and posting all these photos, and allowing the rest of us to live vicariously! Wow! 

It was a great event and garden tour, well-planned and perfectly executed. I found it highly enlightening in all respects. I have been inspired to try new things, plants and growing methods and I have more ideas and knowledge than I did before. Even with 454 photos, the topic still doesn't do justice to those three gardens. I could not capture everything and I tried. As Jeff alluded to above, one should really see them in person.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:59PM - "Ryan! Where'd ya go?" I heard my name echo through the front yard as it was almost time to go. Before following the echo to its source, I had to take more shots of the Triangle, Teddy Bear Palm Hybrid, Dypsis decaryi × leptocheilos, seen earlier. This palm will always represent that funny connection between Jeff and Tracy's collection. As it is mature, I wonder if it would cross further with another nearby Dypsis or back-cross with a regular Triangle or Teddy Bear Palm.

- Following the echo, I found Jeff in the front yard still looking around. I noticed a few more plants I missed before, including this variegated form of Fatsia japonica. The variegation was multi-toned and the leaves seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. This was another unusual representative of Araliaceae in the collection.

- Jeff and I said our goodbyes and went inside the house to grab our coolers. We had a long trip ahead and even though were hanging out for a while, we were still not the last to leave. Before leaving, I took a quick photo of this Hemithrinax ekmaniana, another perfectly-grown palm I had missed the first, second and third time through. What a palm-rich day it was.

 

During our long ride home, I had time to reflect on the tour. I could not wait to look at the photos, so I was browsing through them during the trip south. Jeff and I were both amazed at all three gardens and how they were interesting and unique in their own ways. I learned a lot in regards to how certain species could be grown. I want to try growing some of them now in ways I didn't think they could adapt. To sum up what we saw on the tour would be impossible, as I know I did not see all there was. Experiencing a collection that had both a flowering Azalea and a couple of Red Sealing Wax Palms was certainly a first for me. This is not easily found elsewhere.

It is hard to remember from the photos, but this was the first weekend in January. It is still a surprise to me that this time was chosen for a tour and yet it worked out perfectly. Skies were clear and the temperature was average and the humidity was low. The weather could have been so different including being so cold. This time period for a plant event was also a first for me. Even if it was cold, I still see it being a success, but perhaps with fewer people.

The Palm Beach Palm & Cycad Society did it again. Their attention to detail and efficiency in planning has yet again produced a fantastic event for the palm fanatics in S. Florida. Their events, tours and meetings have become the base for Palm related activities in the area. Between the January Ramble garden tour and the spring plant sales, the society had at least two more events that I know of, including a picnic at Montgomery Botanical Center and a visit to the Kampong. Earlier in this month, the society joined the South Florida Palm Society and the Tropical Flowering Tree Society in a garden tour of the Miami area. I do not know what they have planned in the near future or over the summer, except for their regularly scheduled meetings at Mounts Botanical Garden. For more info on the society, the meetings, or what they might be planning, check out their website:

Link: http://www.palmbeachpalmcycadsociety.com/index.html

 

Ryan

---< CDLIV >---

[kinzyjr]

Great gardens and great documentation.  Almost feel like I was there.  Nice work @Palmarum!