The 22nd Annual Spring 'Ganza - Under the Dark Clouds

[Cindy Adair]

Enjoyed the clip.

Don’t believe I’d ever heard all those lyrics.

Laughter helps!

[Palmarum]

3 hours ago, waykoolplantz said:

You could have been rounded up and taken back to the asylum with the rest of the escapees ...

I wonder what the asylum for Palm nuts would look like. No windows, just small palm photos used as treatment. You get a palm frond for your room with good behavior.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 1:52PM - Another mystery plant, here one minute, gone the next. The tag had vanished on this small flowering tree/upright flowering shrub so when it was pulled for sale we didn't have a name for it. It was flowering quite prolifically, the reason it was pulled in the first place. The flowers and colorful bracts had over-ruled the fact it had no identity at this moment. I knew where the plant had originated and I could figure out the name after the sale, but it sold before the weekend was over.

- A lull began at around an hour after lunch, with about two hours left in the sale day. Traffic was steady, but the line at the checkout had caught up to the flow of orders going through the front area. More time to chat and pull more plants for tomorrow, Sunday.

- 1:54PM - A customer reads the sign card belonging to the "Mystery Citrus", a grouping of fruit trees with an unusual distinction; they were all sans identity. They were originally part of an elaborate decoration scheme for an extravagant Super Bowl party that took place a month earlier. Big money... The scheme included numerous, large containerized citrus trees and many other large potted plant material. During the setup or the take-down of the party, the name tags were lost, if they had them to begin with. After the party was over, all the plants were to be discarded. Trashed. One of the party planners had rescued the plants and made a deal with the nursery to try and find forever homes for the plants, including the citrus trees. They were of mature size and we were able to figure out a group I.D. on some of them, but none with exact certainty.

(B) The description on the card seemed to work as we had sold most of them to this point; they were also discounted due to their lack of identity. I told customers they will bear fruit at that size, so no need to plant them right away. At least wait until you find out what the fruit is like. The named Tropical Fruit Trees were popular as always, as the section never seems to stay packed for long.

- Larry Searle points out plant details and sale facts to a pair of customers as Tim listens in on the left. Volunteers stand at their posts on the right, waiting for the next customer. The sale activity had slowed down to this point to allow these relaxed, friendly gatherings to take place.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:14PM - In an attempt to restock the Full Sun palm section, a group of very-oversized 3 gal. Livistona rigida were selected and pulled. A complete unlisted special. They were erupting with growth. They were featuring the species' characteristic reddish-maroon blush found on juvenile plants.

- A customer readies his stash at his feet... (B) as he turns to his buddy and asks him what he has found, just inside the side entrance to the shadehouse.

- At the same time, another customer exits the shadehouse carrying a tall, thin 1 gal. Roystonea oleracea. He was correctly carrying and bracing the palm with two hands. (B) The second he leaves the shadehouse door, a gust of wind tries to knock the palm over.

- 2:25PM - Over at the other door, Jeff handles sale questions over the phone as Jim guides a 15 gal. Dypsis pembana through the entrance and under the Rainforest Collection sign. (B) Outside along the side road, the customer heads to the front area, palm in tow.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:26PM - If there was a moment we could pull plants, we did. The restocked plants would either be for tomorrow, Sunday, or for the second weekend. Jeff responds to an unending onslaught of sale-related texts and messages on his phone, as Judy writes tags for pulled plants on the table next to him. Jim was figuring out the spelling of a plant name or two for Judy.

- It was business as usual along the main road. It was busy enough for the rest of the day to keep one moving about the sales area. (B) Customers had a decision to make between the Suessenguthia multisetosa on the left with purple flowers, and the three available colors of the Mandevilla on the right.

- 3:13PM - Heavy palm coming through. Customers select a large and heavy 15 gal. Spindle Palm, Hyophorbe verschaffeltii, that is grabbed by Jacob and Amadeo. (B) As they carry it over, they have to lift it up and over the edge of the trailer, which causes the top-heavy palm to lean backwards suddenly...

- They struggle a bit to right the palm, as Tim flies over from the left to help. (B) Using his Jedi training, Tim is able to Force push the palm back upright and onto the trailer.

Ryan

[HtownPalms]

If I lived ANYWHERE near this place I would be completely broke. What an amazing selection of beautiful palms! 

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

56 minutes ago, HtownPalms said:

If I lived ANYWHERE near this place I would be completely broke. What an amazing selection of beautiful palms! 

I agree palm poor for sure 

[weldertom]

11 hours ago, HtownPalms said:

If I lived ANYWHERE near this place I would be completely broke. What an amazing selection of beautiful palms! 

I'm a Brazoria County native (Lake Jackson) and we've been to Jeff's sale. You are right- spent far more than we expected! Nice folks and a treat to be there.

[HtownPalms]

On 4/14/2020 at 8:56 PM, OC2Texaspalmlvr said:

I agree palm poor for sure 

Such a shame. You would think there would be something like this at least down in the valley near Brownsville. They can grow coconut trees down there so why not go all out!? However  from what I have heard even down there its slim pickings for anything exotic.

[HtownPalms]

On 4/15/2020 at 7:52 AM, weldertom said:

I'm a Brazoria County native (Lake Jackson) and we've been to Jeff's sale. You are right- spent far more than we expected! Nice folks and a treat to be there.

If I ever make it to Florida this place will be on my must see list. After spending an hour there I might be heading over to the local Uhaul to bring a truckload of stuff home! 

My wife is a Brazoria County native and I got a job at the Dow plant in Lake Jackson so I guess I'm rooted in here. 

[Palmarum]

5 minutes ago, HtownPalms said:

Such a shame. You would think there would be something like this at least down in the valley near Brownsville. ...

I would think that an open house type event could exist there. I haven't been to Southern Texas (just west Texas mostly) but I have heard of a couple nurseries in the Brownsville area that did grow Palms and cycads, I can't think of the names as I've heard the identities have changed over the years. Is/are there any Palm or plant societies in the area? That would be a possible way to have a sale or bring in more exotic stuff.

 

Just now, HtownPalms said:

... After spending an hour there I might be heading over to the local Uhaul to bring a truckload of stuff home! ...

It has happened. More so to the renting of a trunk before hand and then bringing it to the sale. I know of customers that have brought a large trunk with them to load up, just to bring material back over long distances. I know of one that might have been from Texas but I wasn't sure. He had a plain box truck with him (and an accent). More commonly, customers would make a huge order in the holding area with total ambition and fervor, only realizing they had no way of getting the plants home. They would go rent a Uhaul, or Lowes pick-up truck and then come back to get everything. This is also separate from regular and repurposed trailers that were pushed into service for carrying palms and plants. The common exclamation on Friday morning is "Damn, I need a bigger car!"

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 3:14PM - Right after the Spindle Palm was loaded, more elbow grease was needed to move and load an even larger tree. The gang headed over to the Shade Tree section on the left...

- Within a minute, volunteers Jacob and Mark along with Amadeo had carried a 45 gal. Bald Cypress, Taxodium distichum, from deep within the section to a waiting trailer. With the help of a landscape strap, they carried the tree over the ground cloth, road and other obstacles. (B,C) Swearing and grunting with combined strength, they heaved it up and onto the trailers edge. They removed the strap and began to see-saw it back and forth over the edge. The tree was grown in an area that kept the root ball wet most of the time, making it extremely heavy.

- With Amadeo guiding the action, Jacob began to pull and turn it over the edge as Mark was pushing on the pot. (B) Over the edge, the trio began to tilt the tree and roll the pot over to a center spot. (C) With one last shove, Mark pushed the tree to a resting position.

- With the heavy pot loaded, everyone counts their fingers to check if any are missing. The tree, deciduous at the moment, was ready for its trip through the checkout. Although not always considered a Shade Tree, the native didn't fit into any another sale section. It was rather tall to pass under the Royal Poinciana that shades the area so (B) Amadeo had to surf the trailer while holding the tree at an angle.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 3:15PM - Just as the trailer began to move forward, Amadeo looked over and gave a wry smile as he noticed I was taking photos.

- 3:27PM - Later in the shadehouse, a funny moment developed among this family and its members. They were all arguing over what plants to get and how many, using leaf shapes and flower colors as points of argument.

- 3:34PM - Saturday afternoon continued as normal until closing time. Customers arrived in force and perused every section, especially the landscape plants. In the closing moments of the day, I began to wonder what the news was going to be like when I got home.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

Sunday, March 8th

- 7:51AM - The outbreak dominated the news throughout Saturday evening and Sunday morning. The reaction in the southern part of the state was slow but it was noticeable. I left at the same time to be at the nursery at around fifty minutes before opening, (9:00am). The streets were dead; even for early Sunday morning in suburban S. Florida. As a result, I got to the nursery an hour and twenty minutes before we opened. I don't remember hitting a red light, and if I did, I was the only car there. I was killing time taking photos, including one of SW 172nd Ave as the only other two cars I saw, drove by at the same time, passing the speed bump. (B) The banner was ready, but how many customers were going to show up today...?

- 7:58AM - I knew I was early so waiting was part of the deal. As it got close to 8:00am, I noticed the nursery dog Gypsy and Randy Searle heading towards the gate to open up. It was also cold for the second morning in a row.

- 8:50AM - With abundant time available before we opened for the day, we used an hour of it to pull plants and restock wherever possible. One palm species that needed it badly was the grouping of Red Sealing Wax Palms, Cyrtostachys renda. We had to restock all the gallons and pull a couple more 7 gallon-sized plants. (B) The 15 gallon-sized individual, sporting its fair share of red, did its job during the previous two days by showcasing the species and selling all the smaller plants. The grouping had reminded me to take a few photo requests, as this species was one of them.

- Other photo requests, that would still function if the plants didn't sell, included the Areca vestiaria var. 'Maroon Leaf' and an (B,C) unknown Calyptrocalyx sp. The Maroon A. vestiaria was featuring a new leaf near the end of its maroon display. That tray of 4-inch plants was full on Friday morning.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 9:30AM - When we opened, sale traffic was super slow, almost dead. The morning provided the sale with one customer at at time, which isn't unusual, as Sunday mornings are typically slow... but this felt less than usual. After reconditioning the palms along the sidewalk at least twice, I checked on the sign cards along the main road. As I straightened loose or slanted cards, I photographed some of the Palms in the landscape, including one of the Tahina spectabilis. It seemed to growing quite rapidly, pushing other palms and plants out of its way. (B) Not far away along the road, one of two Cuban Petticoat Palms, Copernicia macroglossa, was in the middle of flowering. It had reached the age where it had recently lost the majority of its skirt, retaining just a mini-skirt.

- Right along the edge of the landscaping, a row of boulders had been placed a while back to protect the bed from nursery vehicles. This provided an ideal (yet minute) habitat for one specific palm, Hemithrinax ekmaniana. It was planted as a small, one-gallon-sized specimen a few years ago. It was crammed into a crevice between two of the boulders, with just some pea-rock and gravel thrown in for good measure. It absolutely loves this spot. An alkaline, rocky environment with extreme drainage. The left photo was with flash, right one without.

- 9:45AM - I had more than enough time to polish the tables, more than once at least. Many of the species on the table were unable to be restocked, so no matter how equally the plants were spaced out, large gaps had formed.

 

- 11:46AM - "This one is more full at its base." A customer duo examines the Lady Palms, Rhapis excelsa, in detail as they go about selecting which ones to get. It took another two hours before the sale became busy. The morning was very slow and it crawled out of its slumber like a bear coming out of winter hibernation. As we got closer to noon, the activity level steadily increased.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 11:47AM - Customers from throughout the state and places beyond had made the journey to the Spring 'Ganza. I met a pair from North Florida who were experts on northern climes and cold tolerant species. I didn't catch their names or knew if they were Forum members. My brain was in full plant mode. The one with the hat was grabbing palms that he already knew and selected others that he wanted to experiment with in North Florida. The customer on the left was extremely knowledgeable with the palm tribe Cocoseae, including species and hybrids within the genera Syagrus and Butia; also including many hybrids he has made himself. (B) They had packed a cart with plants. The order they were putting together had since spilled over onto the ground around the cart.

- 11:51AM - A 15 gal. Coccothrinax sp. goes for a ride. It was parked next to the tables as its owners perused elsewhere. I think it was a Coccothrinax alta.

- My collection of sale gear and cards under the white tent. We were going to be light on volunteers and familiar Palm people for Sunday, almost reducing us to a skeleton crew, so empty chairs abound. (B) The Aroids and other exotics had a premiere spot at the shadehouse entrance, and sold regularly through both weekends.

- 11:54AM - Volunteer Mark stands by, stoically, waiting for the next opportunity to either help a customer or attack something. (B) It was almost lunchtime when one of the first customer mobs gathered by the landscape palms.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 11:55AM - The selection of different Sansevieria were being grown not far from the side road, so restocking them was a breeze. We could just walk over and grab more. From the ones that I can see currently on the table, the cultivars on display were: Black & Gold, Starfish, Futura Robusta, Futura Superba and Fernwood, the natural form. (B) Two separate questions had me moving from the Fruit Tree section to the Heliconia & Ginger section, just to the right in the photo.

- I took photos as I was moving through, trying to get an idea of how busy the afternoon was going to be. (B) A few customers were on their second or third day in a row visiting the 'Ganza as they were becoming familiar.

- 12:04PM - I happen to time my lunch when a steady crowd was heading through the shadehouse. (B) The cart on the right held a grouping of different plants, including a 7 gal. Phlogacanthus turgidus showing some early flowers.

- 12:13PM - A collector moves through, steadily looking over each group. His cart held a recently pulled 7 gal. Calyptrocalyx albertisianus.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 12:32PM - With the BBQ area beginning to serve lunch under the barn, the shadehouse began to see an increase in traffic; especially among collectors and enthusiasts. I talked with a few that had the familiar story that they could not make it to the sale on Saturday or Friday. This included long-time veteran palm collector and tropical plant enthusiast Duffy Matson III (center). He has been a regular of palm and plant sales since the early 1990s, including many of the famous South Florida Palm Society sales of that era; that took place at Fairchild Gardens. He has put together some of the most interesting collections since then, including some that span across multiple properties. The palm and plant enthusiasm has run true on through to the next generation. To his left stands his daughter, Malone Matson, who had just recently graduated Harvard University's Graduate School of Design with a degree in Landscape Architecture. She was exploring the plant selection with her dad, letting it all soak in. Jeff was there as well, asking questions and answering others. The lavender tags in his back pocket were at the ready, as we were pulling plants continuously.

- 12:40PM - I had to back up to get out of the way of one customer passing by with a loaded cart. It held mostly palms, but had a few other plants, including a 3 gal. Monstera deliciosa on the far left, a Guava on the far right, with a Purple Prince Rose in behind the Guava. From left to right spanning the center of the load, the palms were: a 3 gal. Pinanga philippinensis (obscured in the back), a 1 gal. Hydriastele sp. 'Highland P.N.G.' in front, a 1 gal. Rhopaloblaste sp. (one of two), a 3 gal. Euterpe oleracea, and a 1 gal. Hydriastele pinangoides (partially obscured in behind). (B) Customers dart through the Fruit Tree section, snagging a 3 gal. Red Lady Dwarf Papaya along the way.

- 12:51PM - A popular sight. A cart stands idle, while waiting for its owner to return, most likely carrying another addition to the order. It was currently ferrying two, 7 gal. Licuala grandis, two, 3 gal. Chamaedorea deckeriana and a 3 gal. Dypsis albofarinosa -- that was showing its namesake white powder-covered crownshaft.

- 12:57PM - 1:20PM - One species at a time. Customers browse the selection, most with carts in tow, selecting palm after palm. (B) A loaded cart flies past on its way to the holding area to unload. At the front of the cart and filling up most of the space is a 7 gal. Chamaedorea hooperiana. It is one of the most adaptable and versatile species in the genus.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 1:25PM - I followed the last palm group featured above to the holding area and found it was part of an even larger order. It started as a group of gallons and grew from there. I had a feeling more would be added in the near future. (B) Going in for a closer look, I noticed this one batch was all palms. From left to right and of what I could make out: a 3 gal. Coccothrinax borhidiana (buried in the back), a tall 3 gal. Chamaedorea arenbergiana (with the broad leaflets), a 3 gal. Syagrus hoehnei, the old Lytocaryum (how I miss the genus) & (front left corner), a 3 gal. Arenga caudata (back row), a tall 3 gal. Orania sylvicola (silver leaf undersides), a 7 gal. Pinanga fractiflexa*, a 3 gal. Hydriastele wendlandiana (out front), a 3 gal. Dypsis psammophila (mostly obscured), a 3 gal. Lanonia dasyantha (way in the back), a 3 gal. Chamaedorea deckeriana (out front), a 1 gal. Caryota ophiopellis, a 1 gal. Johannesteijsmannia altifrons, and a 1 gal. Licuala naumannii. Whew...

- As I was examining the palm rich order above, another order was being loaded nearby. After it was ready, it headed out to the checkout. I hit the main road and turned in time to get a parting shot of it as it was moving out. In addition to the other Palms and Bromeliads, the trailer carried a 7 gal. Cryosophila warscewiczii on the back, right corner. (B) Turning around, a viewed a common scene along the main road. Clouds began to gather, but they didn't bring any rain.

- 1:38PM - Not the best photo, but bear with me for a moment. I was under the white tent looking through the sign cards when I noticed a Raccoon walking through the shadehouse. I was surprised to see it out in broad daylight. He/she was in no hurry and seemed to be just wandering through nonchalantly. It became aware of me and other people and started to take off. I grabbed my camera and took pursuit. It exited via the side entrance to the shadehouse and dove into the landscaping. By the time I caught up to it, I only got a glimpse of its striped tail (center, right of thin branch). After it vanished, I didn't see it again for the rest of the day.

- 1:43PM - Duffy was in full collecting mode and appeared to be the one gathering the large order seen above. He was making another run through the shadehouse, this time grabing a select group of palms that filled the cart. From background to foreground: a 3 gal. Ptychosperma lauterbachii (mostly obscured on left), a 3 gal. Calyptrocalyx polyphyllus (short, bushy one on right), a 3 gal., skinny Euterpe precatoria var. 'Variegated', (on the left), a 7 gal. Calyptrocalyx aff. fasciculatus (thin trunk on right) and a 15 gal. Cryosophila warscewiczii, featuring the silver undersides and root spines. (B) The batch headed to the holding area to join the other palms. A process Duffy was repeating multiple times during the afternoon. On the right, the Pinanga coronata var. 'Blunt, thin leaflet form' was popular during the sale. We had to restock the group a couple of times.

Ryan

[bubba]

There simply is no event that comes close to providing the range of out of the ordinary palms when compared to any Searles Extravaganza. The photography by Ryan is sensational! Thank you!

[Palmarum]

- 1:52PM -Sunday afternoon still held a bit of a chill in the air, mostly from a significant breeze that would pick up through the nursery. When the air was calm, it was almost warm enough to remove ones jacket. A customer, fully protected from the lingering cold, checks out the old-fashioned White Begonias on the right. (B) Heading back into the shadehouse, I passed a customer at an equal pace going past carrying a 3 gal. Ptychosperma lauterbachii in his right hand while his left held a 3 gal. Arenga caudata.

- 2:16PM - I met up with Duffy once again who was just about finished with his shopping spree through the palm world. I followed him back to the holding area with one of his last loads, which was left on the cart for now. He noticed me as I was taking photos and went to pose near his stash (B) with his daughter Malone, embraced on his left side with his right hand on one of his new favorite palms, Calyptrocalyx aff. fasciculatus.

- 2:21PM - Time to load up. Duffy, along with many of the holding area crew and volunteers, proceeded to transfer his order from within the holding area to a waiting trailer. Duffy handled the Chamaedorea hooperiana himself as Jacob grabbed a couple three-gallon palms, including that one Salacca zalacca, placed in the far left corner. The cart on the right held even more palm favorites, including a 3 gal. Itaya amicorum and a 7 gal. Licuala ramsayi. (B) I began to wonder if the order would need two trailers. Travis was next, carrying over the big 15 gal. Cryosophila warscewiczii. Followed by Mark, who was carrying two three-gallon palms; a Veitchia subdisticha in his right hand and a Pinanga sp. 'Thai Mottled' in his left.

- The loading of the large order continued. As the bulk of the order became apparent, they began to push the plants together, pot-to-pot, to make room. (B) The breeze began to escalate into sudden gusts that threatened to knock the palms off the trailer.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:23PM - It all fit. I was surprised the order didn't need another trailer, but everything fit together like a puzzle. There was a tiny space left in between some of the pots at the rear. A new volunteer makes her way over to the order with an expression of "that's a lot of plants". (B) The entire order slowly moved down to the checkout area. With Duffy looking on, Larry, Travis and two volunteers dove into the order. They proceeded to collect the lavender tag ends and carefully count the plants, as the volunteer in black wrote down the prices.

- 2:27PM - This volunteer made sure to get the tag ends off of each plant, moving them slightly to physically separate them as she went through the group. Every time I stared at the mass of palms I saw new ones that I didn't notice before. Just to the right of the large pot on the left is a 1 gal. Allagoptera caudescens. Two pots down from the one-gallon, is a 3 gal. Licuala parviflora followed by a 3 gal. Coccothrinax crinita × borhidiana.

- There were so many plants, more people had to join in to get all the tags. At one point, all three people in the photo were pulling off tag ends. (B) The volunteers went in a controlled pattern while circling the trailer, making sure not to miss anything.

- On the right in white, volunteer Marco came over to monitor the situation as Carson in the small red sweatshirt 'supervises'. (B) Larry begins to put all the written groups into one large group, then adds them together while finishing the receipt. (C) As I looked through the order, I did notice one non-palm in the group. It was a 1 gal. Ground Orchid.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:31PM - The large order seen above makes its way to the registers as more orders arrive to the checkout. One trailer load is written up and moves down, as a cart-load arrives next, filled with Bromeliads and Heliconias. Marco and Larry work together to write up the receipts. (B) Moving up to the registers, I look back to see how the next two orders are progressing. They are almost ready.

- At the registers, Mandy Searle has been on duty for hours. The traffic level hasn't been a mob, but enough to see a steady flow of customers through Sunday afternoon and until closing. (B) Another order lies in wait across the nursery parking area for its new owner to return with a larger vehicle. It filled one trailer to the limit and then some. It is a complete mix of plants, including numerous Palms and Cycads. That silver palm leaning over the edge is a Copernicia prunifera with a tall trunk.

- Duffy pulled into the nursery parking area as his order required some specific skill to load. Jacob pulls the order around and readies it nearby. (B) One ready to go landscape design. Another trailer-filled order heads out to the parking lot. The plants were almost arranged on the trailer in their future planting locations.

- 2:35PM - Viewing back down the main road, Jeff was talking with Malone about something interesting, as if he was explaining his crane technique. (B) Dad and daughter was a common theme on Sunday. Larry works the register as his daughter Mandy does the same.

Ryan

[HtownPalms]

I have to say it again "very impressive inventory"! Thats it, once I build my greenhouse I'm planning a trip out there. I might just have to bring back extra plants and make my own Texas plant sale of exotic palms fresh from Florida. 

[Palmarum]

17 hours ago, HtownPalms said:

I have to say it again "very impressive inventory"! Thats it, once I build my greenhouse I'm planning a trip out there. I might just have to bring back extra plants and make my own Texas plant sale of exotic palms fresh from Florida. 

An interesting idea. I know of others who have done similar gathering trips to S. Florida, but none on the scale of doing a sale. Most of the collection or shopping trips have been done as a co-op 'mission' to bring back material for a larger group of interested parties. Most of the plants were sought out on purpose with the key functionaries seeking items on a list for others. Almost like a giant palm and plant scavenger hunt. Suitably, the phrase "Fresh From Florida" is an actual promotional campaign developed by the Florida Dept. of Agriculture to promote Florida nurseries, farmers and their products.

Ryan

[kinzyjr]

On 4/17/2020 at 1:05 AM, Palmarum said:

- 11:47AM - Customers from throughout the state and places beyond had made the journey to the Spring 'Ganza. I met a pair from North Florida who were experts on northern climes and cold tolerant species. I didn't catch their names or knew if they were Forum members. My brain was in full plant mode. The one with the hat was grabbing palms that he already knew and selected others that he wanted to experiment with in North Florida. The customer on the left was extremely knowledgeable with the palm tribe Cocoseae, including species and hybrids within the genera Syagrus and Butia; also including many hybrids he has made himself. (B) They had packed a cart with plants. The order they were putting together had since spilled over onto the ground around the cart.

I don't have permission to disclose their IDs, but they are certainly awesome growers and even better people.

[Palmarum]

- 2:38PM - Duffy's order represented the classic challenge of "will it all fit" when it came to load it into his SUV. Not only has he done this before as a customer numerous times, but our volunteers and staff members are pro's at the art of stacking, placing and loading exotic plants -- sometimes accomplishing the act under the most impractical of situations. With the back of the SUV open, the seats laid down and the application of a protective cardboard layer, it was time to sort and load palms. Many of which had to be individually tied-up to protect their leaves, i.e. the Chamaedorea hooperiana, seen here getting hugged and tied. (B) One at a time, palms were loaded and placed inside the vehicle, based on their height and the size of their pot. Jacob and Gomez take their time to carefully wrap the Calyptrocalyx aff. fasciculatus seen earlier.

-2:40PM - One by one, in they went. Next one up that was fit to be tied, was the Pinanga fractiflexa*. Working from the bottom up, Jacob would circle and fold the fronds upright as Gomez ties the crown together in sections; finishing at the top with a slip-knot. When it was ready, it was loaded head-first into the back. (B) Gomez maneuvers the 7 gal. Licuala ramsayi through the open door and into the back, making sure to carefully guide the crown of compacted fan leaves to a roomy spot. Jacob was not far behind with his next palm, a 7 gal. Reinhardtia latisecta.

- 2:46PM - About ten minutes later, it was all loaded with room to spare. Hard to see, but the space between the two front seats was occupied with numerous fronds that would keep one company during the drive. A few of the shorter palms were sitting upright, but most were laying down, head first, with their pots pointed outwards. This allowed for an easier unload. Now all they need is some good driving music.

- 3:12PM - The last hour of Sunday was predictably slow with a trickle of customers that arrived until closing. We spent most of the remaining sale time discussing what to pull during the four days between weekends and how the outbreak was about to become a pandemic. We had no clue as to what was going to happen, including how the second weekend was going to be. We would continue as if it was going to be a typical second weekend. With Travis off to my left holding Jeff's phone, Jeff decided to pose for a photo with the Red Sealing Wax Palms, Cyrtostachys renda. The species was a popular favorite throughout the first weekend. At times, I thought the entire group was going to sell out. It came close, but we were able to restock fast enough.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

Friday, March 13th

The four days between weekends continued with standard operating procedure. What palms and plants that could be restocked, were, to the best of our ability. What wasn't S.O.P. was the pandemic, which had expanded exponentially during the week. The confirmation of new cases began to spread through the state and it began to take effect on the normal flow of life in the southern end of Florida. Day by day, the state began to slow down. Businesses and schools began to close and the desire to avoid going places was more apparent.

- 2:36PM - The second Friday was dead quiet. We had a trickle of customers during the morning and afternoon, but we also had periods where there was no one in the sales area. There was no activity worth photographing until later in the day, when something special caught my attention. Walking through the shadehouse, I had Dumbo2 running along side. (B) It was just me and the dog. The shadehouse was devoid of anyone else. I stopped to take the photo, soon after she stopped and turned around to see if I was still following.

- 2:38PM - The something special turned out to be a first time flowering event. It involved the Beccariophoenix alfredii that resides in the nursery landscaping by the edge of the main shadehouse. I proceeded to photograph the occasion in detail, later posting the photos that night into a separate topic, the link to which is below.

- Link: Beccariophoenix alfredii in Flower, (in spathe really): https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/62839-beccariophoenix-alfredii-in-flower-in-spathe-really/

- 2:48PM - The effect of discovering the budding inflorescences on the Beccariophoenix alfredii was surprising. Including the fact Jeff didn't know yet. I was still getting over the discovery as I noticed the few customers that were arriving, one of which was being helped by Larry near the landscape plants. (B) I spent the day trimming, cleaning, recovering the shadehouse plants and watering where it was needed, hoping the weekend would have some patrons.

- We started to place plants anywhere in the sales area, even beyond their own sections, just to be different. A Tillandsia xerographica was moved to the shadehouse entrance, while sporting a new bloom. Ironically, it was placed in front of the Croton section sign.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:51PM - After spotting the spathes on the Beccariophoenix alfredii, I was in hyper plant sensitivity mode. I was checking for any little detail of importance, anything photo worthy, anywhere. In behind the white tent, a specimen of a Calyptrocalyx aff. fasciculatus had opened a new red leaf. This was a welcome surprise, as the color was quite intense for this palm. It is usually a washed out pink, not a red color like this.

- A lot of red. The true or actual identity of this palm still remains a mystery. It currently exists as an affinity to an unused or un-authored name. I have been waiting to see what the inflorescence looks like, but none have flowered yet to my knowledge. It continues to look quite different than other members of Calyptrocalyx. I always thought if it isn't a Calyptrocalyx, it could be part of its cousin genus, Linospadix, based on how the palm looks. It might turn out to be a link between the two, causing the two genera to be lumped together, or perhaps a new genus to separate the plant even further.

- 2:55PM - We pulled more one gallon-sized Red Sealing Wax Palms, Cyrtostachys renda, and when I was cleaning and tagging them, I noticed one with a weird protrusion. (B) Upon closer inspection, the protrusion was actually a miniature inflorescence. This was the smallest C. renda I have seen in flower... by far.

- 2:57PM - One plant order of size and diversity began to form in the holding area. It had a mix of Palms along with a spread of different landscape plants and Heliconias. Whoever it belonged to, they had the sales area all to themselves.

Ryan

[HtownPalms]

20 hours ago, Palmarum said:

An interesting idea. I know of others who have done similar gathering trips to S. Florida, but none on the scale of doing a sale. Most of the collection or shopping trips have been done as a co-op 'mission' to bring back material for a larger group of interested parties. Most of the plants were sought out on purpose with the key functionaries seeking items on a list for others. Almost like a giant palm and plant scavenger hunt. Suitably, the phrase "Fresh From Florida" is an actual promotional campaign developed by the Florida Dept. of Agriculture to promote Florida nurseries, farmers and their products.

Ryan

I will have to look into the legality of doing something like that. For some reason Texas has wierd stipulations on what you can bring in from Florida. At least this is true for nurseries, not sure if it carries over to co-ops or hobbyists. 

[Palmarum]

- 2:58PM - Two customers browsed the Bromeliads as I gazed out along the empty main road. The afternoon of the second Friday continued to be very slow, bordering on times of complete emptiness. We were operating with a skeleton crew with fewer volunteers than usual, but this was just part of scheduling and not due to the outbreak, soon to be an official pandemic. The weather was ideal with a possible rain shower later in the day or evening. (B) The huge Carpoxylon macrospermum that stood sentry over the corner acted as a representative; introducing many who were new to the Extravaganza to the world of palms.

- 3:02PM - We had more than enough time to pull plants where possible, including reorganizing certain sections, like the Fruit Trees. We still had our fingers crossed about the coming weekend and whether or not it was going to be busy. (B) The story & description behind the Mystery Citrus seemed to be working, as there were only three trees left.

- 3:08PM - It was time to left Jeff in on the surprise of the day, a Friday the 13th to be sure. Echoing the other topic on the Beccariophoenix alfredii linked-to above, I gave Jeff an easy hint as to what palm was flowering for the first time. He then ran over here and jumped on the ladder. With a few minutes of inspection, we found three more inflorescence spathes emerging from within the crown. (I will have to try and get a visual update in the near future, somehow.)

- 3:32PM - The day ended the same way it started, very slow. The last customer of the afternoon and day for that matter was checking out the fruit trees, before settling on a couple Mango cultivars and a Guava. I had a feeling the news later in the day was not going to be promising. 

Ryan

[Palmarum]

Saturday, March 14th

- 8:55AM - Saturday morning was not much different than the day before. The news on the outbreak overnight was not good, thus many people began to stay away from anything that might be considered a crowd. No exact requirements as of yet, but they were coming. Guidelines referencing the cleaning of any frequently used items did go into effect. There was no action when we opened. Time was spent on pulling plants, cleaning, tagging and the like. It did happen to rain early in the morning, applying a nice coat of moisture to everything in the shadehouse. An hour after we opened, the camera came out. To photograph what, I didn't know, but it was better to be ready. I took time to clean, sterilize and wipe down the tables, trays, cards and anything I thought might be touched by customers. (I always have a lot of those Clorox wipes on hand to clean cards, so they got a new use this morning.) (B) The tables were ready for the day, with the reorganization of the gallons.

- 8:57AM - The Palms were ready, but for what I didn't know. The expectation level for the second weekend is usually decent, but now it was a total unknown. At least the plants got watered. (B) I went outside to try and find some activity. First thing I found was Gypsy getting her breakfast. Funny thing is, I don't remember seeing anyone opening the can...

- The first trio of familiar customers had arrived and began to make their way through the plant selection. No masks or gloves, as it was not required... yet. The idea did run through the minds of those in attendance however. (B) Customers part and make way, as Travis was driving through.

- He was giving a ride to his son Carson, who is a fan of anything with wheels. I did get an update, as they mentioned more cars were arriving in the parking area.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 9:03AM - In between welcoming early morning customers and answering questions, I patrolled the sales area taking photos. The majestic Syagrus amara has reigned over the side road for years. It has become a landmark, acting as a conversation piece and denoting where the sales area meets the BBQ pathway; the one that leads to the back landscape area off to the right. (B) Even as a large, mature tree, this specimen has retained the dark green color that is the trademark of the species. It seems to be flowering continuously.

- 9:07AM - Backing up a bit, I was able to look over the BBQ area roof and the barn next door to see the Mauritia flexuosa as it continues to grow ever more massive.

- 9:16AM - An excellent flowering shrub that deserves more attention, the Phlogacanthus turgidus were at the beginning of their blooming. The leaf size varies based on light exposure. Specimens in full sun have small leaves, while those in light shade may develop longer, broader leaves.

- 9:21AM - A couple of early birds make their way down the sidewalk. They had the shadehouse to themselves. The second weekend, minus the possibility of a pandemic, has a much slower, relaxed pace than that found during the first weekend.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 9:23AM - We had to restock both the three-gallon and seven-gallon-sized plants for the Licuala grandis group. This species has become one of the most notable of the genus and represents the genus as the most popular member with undivided leaves. (B) Strolling past, I noticed a new emergent leaf on a 3 gal. Kentiopsis pyriformis that was behind the caution tape. Not the brightest of colors, but still different.

- 9:34AM - Can never get enough of those bright purple flowers. The Suessenguthia multisetosa were blooming their proverbial butts off. Another wonderful flowering shrub that requires very little to look great and grow well. Easy to propagate (it is an Acanthe after all) yet I still remember when it was a brand new and rare species.

- Restocking continued. A batch of Alocasia 'Regal Shields' was brought in to restock the group along with the tools to clean and prep the sale section.

- 9:43AM - Restocked just in time, two customers look over the Licuala grandis that were recently added. (B) Certain customers browsed with specific intent, while allows moved through casually, looking over and reading each sign card.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 9:48AM - Outside of the shadehouse, the activity level had increased slightly. One cart would be empty, while another like this one, was packed full of plants. A pair of 7 gal. Orange Bird-of-Paradise, Strelitzia reginae, marked the beginning of a landscape design. They held the back of the aluminum cart while the rest was occupied by a mass of Vietnamese Gardenias and Yellow Bulbine. I got the sense this was a return customer who needed more of the said plants for a landscape in progress. (B) Turning to the right, the popular sounds of a sale could be heard down the main road. The volume was just enough to make one think we were getting busy.

- 10:00AM - The nursery tries to grow as many different sizes as possible when it comes to the palm selection, but it doesn't always happen. Outside of our own sources, seed and plant availability on many species is not always constant or regular or even reliable (as many of you may know). If we could, somehow, magically produce any size specimens we wanted, the results would be a phenomenal sale experience that gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. I always get asked by customers if we have certain sizes of species that are not on display, only to have to tell them no or that they were sold out. The Salacca magnifica pictured on the left and the Pelagodoxa henryana* seen on the right, are two prime examples of species I wish we had regularly in smaller sizes. A whole batch of one-gallon or three-gallon plants would sell like crazy.

- 10:04AM - At the two hour mark, the sale was completely different than when we opened. As I was straightening sign cards, like the one on the left, I began to hear the familiar, flying lawn mower sound that denotes a nearby banner plane. (B) I looked up and to the south to spot one such banner plane flying to the east.

- The banner plane turned inbound and began to make a circle around the nursery. It was carrying a banner that showed affection for the mayor of Pembroke Pines, a neighboring city to Southwest Ranches where the nursery is located. I couldn't understand the need for the message, more so if the city was the one who paid for the advertisement. The drone of the engine became background noise as the sale continued. (B) Upfront by the holding area, Jeff and crew keep things organized as new customers arrive and plant orders head to the checkout. Jeff exchanges a joke with the newly arriving customers, adding levity to the morning as news regarding the growing pandemic was on everyone's mind.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 10:08AM - Amadeo pulls and places a large order of 3 gal. Red Sister Cordylines within the holding area for a customer. I believe this was part of a phone order, which we usually do not do, but due to the pandemic unfolding at this time, many customers were calling and asking if we were open and if we would hold plants for them.

- More plants were being added to the order originating on the aluminum cart pictured above. They were being transferred by Gomez from the cart to the trailer. (B) All done. The order was ready for the checkout. The added plants included a batch of Alocasia Regal Shields (taller items in behind) and a grouping of Water Jasmine, Wrightia religiosa, an interesting and cool plant from S.E. Asia. The tiny flowers are fragrant and smell like fresh water.

- 10:12AM - One second the cart was empty, then boom. Two 7 gal. Bottle Palms, Hyophorbe lagenicaulis, get selected and grabbed in a hurry.

- 10:28AM - Banner planes are a common sight around S. Florida, but this particular pilot didn't seem to have anywhere else to go. They continued to circle the nursery... constantly. We began to wonder if they were told to find populated centers but there were none, except for the Extravaganza. There is a school and college complex almost next door, and even on a normal Saturday has plenty of events going on, but now... with the outbreak becoming a pandemic, the school was abandoned. (B) A collector takes one trip of many via the side entrance, palm in hand.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 10:34AM - The two customers who grabbed the Bottle Palms seen above, made their way to the shadehouse and became overwhelmed at the palm selection. I think it might have been their first visit to the 'Ganza. They were browsing through the tables, one species at a time, with surprised reactions. They had their introduction to the world of palms. (B) We had to move out of the way, as Jeff drove through the shadehouse, with a collector following behind. With no breeze or wind, the humidity within the shadehouse was keeping everything nice and tropical-like.

- 10:45AM - 11:20AM - It had become just busy enough to require a cart run to the parking area out front. (B) With help from his neighbor Melissa, Carson is lifted up so he could reach his great-grandfather's (Frank 'Pops' Searle's) wind chime. He gave it a good whack so we all could hear it.

- The sales action for the morning included items from most if not all of the plant sections, especially among the landscape ornamentals. In response to one order, Amadeo had to pull more Small-leaf Clusias. (B,C) A portion was meant for an order, while the rest were destined to restock the group. One customer duo considers their landscaping options as another pair look over the Bromeliads on the right.

- 11:47AM - Location queries and landscape design questions brought me to the end of the main road, where the parents on the left were considering their options. The mom was selecting a few English Ivy plants as the dad was searching through his phone, looking for photos of their house to show me. Their kids on the right rode the cart with their interest elsewhere. This is a common scenario that plays out regularly at the Extravaganza, and plant sales in general. (B) I would say, that this point on Saturday represented the peak of activity for the day. As there was no BBQ on the second weekend, some customers would leave for lunch and then return.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 12:43PM - With the assistance of Travis and Carson, their neighbors Melissa and Jackie found a cart load of plants to bring home. They had a 7 gal. Everbearing Mulberry, a few Oleander plants in three gallon pots, and a grouping of Asian Snow, Wrightia antidysenterica, with the snowflake-like white flowers.

- 1:16PM - Three generations in one shot. The trio of Searles were taking a break under the white tent. (B) Carson studies up on the Haden Mango, an original South Florida cultivar.

- I had noticed the week before, that the popular and often sought-after variegated Ae Ae Banana, Musa × paradisiaca 'Ae Ae', located just outside of the shadehouse, was beginning to bloom. At the start of the second weekend, the bloom had emerged from the (B) crown and had leaned over and hung down. I was on my way to answer questions, so I knew I had to come back and take a closer look.

- 1:22PM - A series of panoramic shots of the Full Sun and Caribbean Palm sections. They had been greatly depleted during the first four and a half days of the Extravaganza. We were able to restock many of the larger palms on the left, but many of the Coccothrinax and Copernicia species on the right were only available in small numbers.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 1:24PM - 2:23PM - A run on one-gallon landscape material required different plant groups to be restocked. The Yellow Bulbine was popular today, along with the Lemongrass, Snowbush, Dwarf Mondo Grass and the variegated or Tri-Color Oyster Plant. (B) Two customers found an interesting way to water a plant. They chose a variegated Ming Aralia and one of them decided to water it by holding it up while standing next to the running sprinklers. The younger one didn't seem as enthusiastic with the idea.

- 2:46PM - Bananas, soon to be. I went back to the Ae Ae Banana and examined the bloom in closer detail. The flowers were gearing up for full reception. (B) Saying that they were ready was an understatement. Notice the nectar dripping from the flowers as a clear ooze.

- 3:20PM - An interesting moment developed as I was taking random photos from within the white tent. I was photographing and calling attention to the Dwarf Betel Nut Palms, Areca catechu cv. 'Dwarf', positioned nearby, when (B) Carson ran over to them. He then said out loud in effect "That there.. in yard!" A Dwarf Betel Nut Palm, of similar size, resides in his front yard; planted by Travis over a year ago... and to my astonishment Carson recognized it as the same palm.

- 4:25PM - Late in the day, a collector spent time putting together a nice order of palms. He covered the shadehouse and the areas outside, carefully selecting species based on what spaces he had available in his yard. (B) He skipped the smaller sizes and committed to just seven-gallon material. From left to right: Kentiopsis pyriformis, Cyphophoenix nucele, Chambeyronia macrocarpa var. hookeri and Pseudophoenix sargentii.

- 4:34PM - The second Saturday was coming to a close. We were happy with the attendance, considering the growing reaction to the pandemic. We had one more day to squeeze in before things got more hectic around S. Florida. Carson was happy while pretending to drive the golf cart, as he is with anything that has a steering wheel. (B) He was frustrated that his feet didn't reach the pedals, but that was a good thing from our point of view.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

Sunday, March 15th

- 9:13AM - 9:52AM - Quiet. Too quiet. The morning of the second Sunday opened to deafening silence as the activity level was nil. We pulled plants and moved others around, with no knowledge or prediction of how the day will be. Overnight the news darkened as a stay-at-home order and eventual lock down was seeming more of a possibility. Street traffic was nonexistent. I switched to my telephoto lens as I figured any activity today was going to happen at a distance. After a quick recovery of the tables, I took a photo to mark the day as the sales area was devoid of customers. I went back to cleaning surfaces until about an hour later, (B) when the first customers began to arrive.

- 9:56AM - I patrolled the sales area, checking on sign cards and the like, when I noticed how tall the Rainbow Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus deglupta, that shades the holding area had become. The 40 ft. (12m) tall power pole in the foreground isn't the best scale object, as it was still a good distance away from the tree. (B) The tree is regularly pruned and has a nearly columnar shape as a result.

- Slowly, more customers began to arrive one at a time. I noticed how the Royal Poinciana, Delonix regia, famous for providing the principle shade for much of the front area, had received its utility 'notch' at the top. The local power company, that shall remain nameless, had been by recently to 'adjust' the tree to their specifications.

- 10:06AM - Sales commencing. It took more than an hour after we opened for the first customers to make their way to the checkout. Staff and volunteers were at a low, due to the nature of the second weekend. I had my post among the plants where as Larry had much of the checkout and front area to himself.

Ryan