Autumn palm sale at Fairchild?

[Creekside]

Does anyone know if there is going to be a South Florida Palm Society-sponsored palm sale at Fairchild (or elsewhere) again this fall?  I didn't see it in their list of upcoming events.    

Cheers,

Catherine Presley

[waykoolplantz]

indeed it seems not to be on their calendar...from the grumblings i heard...it will be at Mongomery, like the last sale

[waykoolplantz]

any confirmation where or when ??  Ken ?

[Jeff Searle]

Last weekend, Bill Olson(Chapter President) and Tim McKernan(show chairman) were over at the house for dinner and mentioned that the fall palm sale will be back at Fairchild Gardens for the fall palm sale. Other details are still being worked out. It appears to be that the long term outlook will be having one sale at Montgomery and the other at Fairchild's.

Jeff

[waykoolplantz]

Date ???

[Ken Johnson]

I will update as soon as I find out.

I am on leave from the board and out of the loop. Sorry. I know they are working on it and that it should be as good or better than ever.

[Creekside]

Muchas gracias, I'll be there!

Catherine

[TikiRick]

The Fall Palm Sale is traditionally the first Saturday and Sunday of November. In this case, it would be November 3/4, 2007. It has been that way for years and years. Are they planning to change the dates this year?

[waykoolplantz]

Rick's correct  Nov 3/4 @ Fairchild

[Bill Olson]

That is correct. The Fall 2007 SFPS sale will be on November 3rd and 4th at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. There will also be a members only presale event on Friday night the 2nd of November.

See you all there.

Bill Olson

[TikiRick]

Thanks for all of your hard work Bill!

[waykoolplantz]

palm shopping at nite...what will they think of next

[waykoolplantz]

3rd palm sale in a month...what a way to feed an addiction

Looking foreward to seeing some great palms & our wonderful palm community.

Good to be back at Fairchild...i just hope the staff leaves its attitude at home this time  !!

 MK...you know what i mean...you nearly took a swim...drama not needed at a palmsale

[Jeff Searle]

Yes, the sale is coming up, and back at FTG. At least for the fall sales. I was told that there will be no Friday night pre-sale.

  The staff at FTG is still playing hardball with not letting the vendors in at free will during the course of the day on Thursday and Friday. For the life of me.......I just don't get it!!! They make it so hard on the vendors trying to get in and set-up.

Jeff

[palmmermaid]

(Jeff Searle @ Oct. 17 2007,08:24)

QUOTE

Yes, the sale is coming up, and back at FTG. At least for the fall sales. I was told that there will be no Friday night pre-sale.

  The staff at FTG is still playing hardball with not letting the vendors in at free will during the course of the day on Thursday and Friday. For the life of me.......I just don't get it!!! They make it so hard on the vendors trying to get in and set-up.

Jeff

Jeff,

I agree about them being hard to work with.  Betty and I haven't done the sale since it was moved to the lowlands area.  But the last time we were there, the rules were pretty onerous for the vendors.  I think they just want to get the money from their 31,000 members and not have anyone actually come to the garden!  It is just like Disneyworld - costs a lot to get in and everything in it is expensive!

[waykoolplantz]

I am not surprised i'm not the only one to find some of the staff to be rude...arrogant & difficult.

Is it just a few...or do they develop horticultural skills but lack people skills ??

Strange for a publically supported garden to be so rude...especailly to devout followers

[fastfeat]

(Jeff Searle @ Oct. 17 2007,08:24)

QUOTE

Yes, the sale is coming up, and back at FTG. At least for the fall sales. I was told that there will be no Friday night pre-sale.

  The staff at FTG is still playing hardball with not letting the vendors in at free will during the course of the day on Thursday and Friday. For the life of me.......I just don't get it!!! They make it so hard on the vendors trying to get in and set-up.

Jeff

Damn--

Didn't have any problems at all at TFTS sale there in May. They just waved me in through the side gate, both during set-up and the days of the sale. Didn't have to show any credentials or anything!! Maybe my long hair and "Don't F*%K With Me!" attitude helped...

BTW, the yearly pass (like $50) is a bargain. Gets you in to many arboreta throughout the country. If you have a membership from another facility, it may be valid at Fairchild as well. Worth a try...

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Fast Kenny,

I must have missed you at the Mothers Day Sale.  Are you a member of the TFTS?  You should come to the Palm Beach County TFTS meetings.

Jerry

[PalmGuyWC]

I haven't lived in Miami for years, but I used to go there often from California, and I would always visit Fairchild several times when I was there, usually in the company of Paul Drummond.

Each time I would visit, I could detect an "attitude" change at the garden. Over the past several years, they seem to make it more and more difficult for an enjoyable walk through the gardens. They moved the entrance to the back of the garden which is some distance to where the main part of the palms are located, and it's difficult for older people to get there unless they take the tram which can be tedious waiting for.

Now one is hearded through a gift shop, a concession, selling a lot of expensive junk. Even the entrance to the building is not clearly marked. It's very "business like" these days, and I'm surprised they haven't installed a metal detector to walk through.

Fairchild is making tons of money, as it seems like every time I go there the entrance fee has increased. Sometimes there are lines of buses filled with Europeans and other tourist and the parking lot is jammed. The last time I was there they were setting up for a fancy wedding, with klige lights in the trees, tents spread around, etc. It looked like a set for a movie. Fairchild makes big bucks for event's like this. I'm afraid Fairchild Gardens has become a commercial enterprise just like Parrot Jungle or any of the other attractions around S. Florida.

The S. Fla. palm sales draws many people to Fairchild, and as I recall, non members of the garden have to pay an entrance fee, so it's not like they are not making money off the Palm Society. I think it's about time, the various plant societies who have supported Fairchild Gardens for years, voice their complaints to the Director and to the fat cat rich people who are on the board of directors, and most who don't know beens about plants. They are mostly just rich people who get tax deductions for giving contributions to the garden, (or promised contributions) and have nice surroundings to have their moon light gallas and exclusive parties.

Fairchild Gardens is a wonderful setting for the palm sale, but it's much less desirable to be pushed into the lowlands and to have the vendors treated the way they are. Maybe it's time for a change. I agree with Waykoolplantz, the folks that run Fairchild Gardens better improve on their "people skills."

Dick Douglas

[palmmermaid]

Dick,

You certainly expressed my feelings very well!  I am a member of Mounts Botanic Garden here in Palm Beach and the people are really nice.  I've used my Mounts card to get in gardens all over the country - Colorado, Arizona, Georgia, California.  But everytime I try to use it at Fairchild, there is some "special event" going on and I can't use it.

I heard they want to become second in the world to Kew Gardens.  Won't happen unless they change their people skills.  What good is a garden if no one shows up?

[PalmGuyWC]

Kitty,

I know nothing about the internal workings of Fairchild Gardens, but I've heard some strange stories, but I don't know if their rumor or fact. I wonder if the board of directors are appointed, annointed, or elected by garden members? Whatever the process is, their becoming a little "uppity," and high handed. I always figgure what comes around, goes around, and sooner or later there will be a reckoning.

Dick

[bubba]

I have to say that Fairchild Gardens is one of my favorite places/attractions in South Florida. As an avid Palm person, I probably get to the Garden once a year on average to view those certain extraordinary sights ,such as the grove of mature Copernicia bailyana's, Licula grandis,etc... and faithfully attend the Fall sale. It appears from these comments that a social group has comandeered Fairchild recognizing it's money making potential.I would guess this group has limited interest in the real resource(the Palms) and should be watched closely.I have also observed the changes that are being described but my two visits a year makes the attitude change less noticeable than it would be for vendors,who probably see a very ugly side of the beast. At a minimum, I think all Palm people should band together from all areas because this is a truly phenomenal resource that should not be turned into a commercial (Monkey Jungle) enterprise.

[metalfan]

I have never been the the Palm Sale, but have been to the Ramble a few times. We missed it for 2 years running, and when we went back last year, we were unaware that they had instituted a $20 per person entry fee, JUST TO GET IN. The last time we had been, it was something like $5 or $7. And, to make matters worse, many vendors were boycotting it (we found out later) because of the shoddy treatment they were getting the past few years. There were so few plant vendors there, I almost asked for my $20 back! We had asked a couple we know who lives in Ft Lauderdale to go with us, because they had never been to Fairchild, and it was a stress for them (with a new baby) to pony up $40 just to get in. I felt very guilty and offered to pay their way but they said no. We kind of decided we'd never go again. Marie Selby has a much better sale.

[fastfeat]

(Jerry@TreeZoo @ Oct. 17 2007,17:24)

QUOTE

Fast Kenny,

I must have missed you at the Mothers Day Sale.  Are you a member of the TFTS?  You should come to the Palm Beach County TFTS meetings.

Jerry

Jerry--

I didn't know there was a PB chapter of TFTS. I am (or was--haven't paid my $20 this year yet...) member. When/where do you meet? That drive to Fairchild is no picnic, though it's always good to see old friends. Let me know; I'll bring my $20...

Ken.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Fast Kenny,

We meet on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Boca Raton rec center (by City Hall) at 7pm.  Luc Vanoorbeek is the November speaker and will (presumably) talk about Plumerias.  And have some for sale too!

Jerry

[fastfeat]

(Jerry@TreeZoo @ Oct. 19 2007,20:52)

QUOTE

Fast Kenny,

We meet on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Boca Raton rec center (by City Hall) at 7pm.  Luc Vanoorbeek is the November speaker and will (presumably) talk about Plumerias.  And have some for sale too!

Jerry

Thanks Jerry--

I'll plan on attending.

Do you guys do a plant raffle as well? I usually bring something to donate.

Ken.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Yes we do.  That would be cool!

Jerry