2023 mini-biennial to La Reunion

[Peter Timmermans]

On day 2 we visited Bélouve forest in the centre of the island. We saw mountains covered in lush vegetation, sometimes hidden in the clouds, one of the 3 calderas of the island,
tree ferns and Acanthophoenix crinita.

 

[Cindy Adair]

Thanks so much Peter for starting this topic with excellent photos and commentary!

I will first share the coincidental meeting in 2019 of Peter (visiting CA from the Netherlands) and me (from Puerto Rico) attending an IPS Director’s meeting which included a trip to a CA public garden.

We both ended up among the 28 diverse attendees at the sold out Reunion mini Biennial. 

Others in our group were palm lovers from North Dakota, Colorado, Hawaii, California, Wales, Peru and Australia. 

I had intended to post in real time, but we typically were at breakfast at 7 am, on the buses by 8:30 am and finishing dinner about 9:30 pm so I was only ready for bed. 
 

IPS travel adventures often begin with lengthy flights sometimes involving time in multiple airports.

For me after a 40 minute commuter flight to San Juan, PR and overnight there, followed by a 4 hour flight to Atlanta, GA, I had 7 hours in that big ATL airport. 
 

8.5 hours to fly to Paris where I tried to rest on the 9 hour layover there.

I liked the cat nap area!

At CDG airport I connected with the Dransfields, the Jacksons and Pancho Roca and began my daily indulgence in French croissants.

No decent croissants in the mountains of Puerto Rico.

11 more hours of flying and we were picked up at about 9 am by one of our 2 excellent guides who shared lots of details about the island on our hour or so ride to our hotel. 

The bus map was a daily feature describing our travels from Saint Denis in the north to our hotel in Saint Pierre in the south. 

Only about 800,000 people live on this volcanic island yet a very active palm society and many amazing public and private gardens. 

Look closely to see the paraglider, one of many we saw along the drive from the airport.

Day one was arrival day with activities beginning with a very nice reception and meeting the Palmerío-Reunion Board of Directors in the evening. 

Lovely Villa Delisle was our home away from home for the next 8 nights.

Director Laz Priegues helped the bilingual guides throughout the trip with translation.  Thank you Laz!
 

Laz also made connections on the island during a previous visit and thus I was able to join up for a wonderful first afternoon with resident Jean-Francois.
 

We saw some of his amazing seed grown collection including an interesting Madagascar endemic nicknamed fern tree, although not a fern.

 

He has several Hemithrinax ekmanii palms

and a Coccothrinax jamaicensis,

Thrinax parviflora,

Dictyosperma album var. conjugatum

among others.  We were treated to a delicious mango and then a walk through a charming village complete with a public arboretum. 
 

The laser cut outs below were common on fences in Reunion.

We then got to see a public park featuring dramatic water spouts over volcanic rock. 
 

To be continued…

[Cindy Adair]

Day 2 October 31,2023

As Peter’s excellent photos show, on the first full tour day morning we headed to higher elevation to see Acanthophoenix crinita. 
 

As with most adventures, getting there can be half the fun. Some walks began easy as shown below and other days involved pouring rain and rocks and mud. 

 

I don’t know the name of this pretty flower so please post if you can identify it.

Acanthophoenix crinita with me and Director Laz Priegues 

The clouds moved quickly so photos were a bit challenging.

 

This little frog posed for a photo.

Lovely impatiens.

 

More A. crinita with the smallest seeds of the genus, many in flower and fruit.

Tree ferns enjoying the cloudy cool conditions with this one split.

More A. crinita. As we saw later, A. crinita is the high elevation Acanthophoenix. A. rubra prefers lower elevation with A. rousselii in the middle. 

 

[Cindy Adair]

Still more from day 2 with the first of daily lunches. We had 3-4 courses of worth-the-calories meals.
And every day came with just as amazing dinners! 

After lunch we went looking for Hyophorbe indica in habitat. 
 

Somewhere below up a steep hill I was assured they are growing.

I did see some leaflets but my iPhone failed to capture any details.

The easier to view ones had apparently sadly been recently vandalized and time was too short to explore the area more.

 

We arrived as timed to watch the sunset over the water not far from our hotel.

After a quick shower it was time for more food at our hotel, finishing close to 10 pm. 
 

 

[Cindy Adair]

Day 3 Halloween

I realized that the only free time during daylight most days was before breakfast so I explored the beach and surrounding areas just after dawn.

Not the Caribbean, but still a number of people swimming in the shallow parts with easy access and Phoenix along the walkways.

Most of our other ocean views showed the drama of waves far to big for me to consider swimming.

The shops were closed at this hour.

We all liked the ficus growing out of the tower near our hotel. I later saw artwork featuring it. 


 

Internet too slow tonight so will try again tomorrow…

[peachy]

Thank you for all the fascinating photos Cindy.  I suspect that I will enjoy the future instalments just as much.  Putting captions with explanations under the photos is a wonderful idea too. I must get somebody to show me how to do that.  All the photos I recently posted got jumbled up and I don't think many people could work out what was meant to be what.  Your mystery flower looks like a Vireya to me. (tropical rhododendron) Of course I am probably wrong.  The tree ferns are glorious,  I've never seen any so large. The little town definitely has a charm of it's own and not many people think to include views like that into their palm travel photos.  Your travel horror story is the main reason I stay at home. How did you endure it ? I would have ended up dying or being imprisoned. Again I thank you for posting and allowing me to vicariously enjoy the mini biennial.

Peachy 

[Cindy Adair]

Hi Peachy!

Thanks for all your comments. 

As to posting captions with photos, I can probably help by private message although I am far from tech proficient. 

I love Vireyas, but so far have not had the chance to try them here. 

I found one more photo of the mystery flower. I wish I had taken more, but had to keep up with the group.

As to the tree ferns, I will say that the ones on my PR farm are taller, so I am spoiled. Still I enjoyed seeing different species in Reunion and Hawaii on the IPS trip there.

[Cindy Adair]

Back to Day 3 Halloween

We had the privilege of visiting Thierry Riviere’s estate.

From pet deer from Java

 

to rum making

 

to rare palms like Acanthophoenix rousselii (showing how the underside of seedling leaves are green while A. rubra’s are silver)

his place is amazing. 

Here are two more palm species I don’t recall ever seeing before.

First Wallaceodoxa raja-ampat

 

and next Chamaedorea stenocarpa

I liked the coconut hulls surrounding some of his beauties too.

Here are a trio of happy Chamaedorea tuerckheimii palms.

We all took lots of photos here so I am hoping others on the trip might share their palm portraits.

Back on the bus we made a quick stop to see Raphia farinifera. Members of the local club spent four hours making walkable paths including ropes for us to use as hand holds. I can only imagine how many hours all told were spent on our behalf and I am so appreciative!

 

Not an easy place for photos.

On to a delicious multi course lunch at the Mascarin Botanical Garden. 

Even my table’s beer bottles had a palm themed label.

We got to tour the grounds after lunch 

Next on to Max Galbois’ garden which hosts many wedding and other events.

Below was my favorite palm at that garden which is a super model Pseudophoenix vinifera.

If you look closely you can see a number of attendees from Australia, Hawaii, Wales, California and the Netherlands. 
 

There were lots of “official” group photos taken, but I don’t have copies of any of those. Likely they will show up in future newsletters or emails or our website or here on PT.

Maybe a Hyophorbe indica, dark form.
 

 We were each given our choice of take away gifts that Max purchased from a neighbor. So generous.
 

As I could not easily transport mine home (I traveled only with a carry on and more than 3 ounces), I shared it over subsequent breakfasts at our hotel. Delicious combination of bananas and vanilla.

 

[Cindy Adair]

Day 4 November 1

The planning for this trip was really evident with even many bathroom stops  in lovely settings! 

Those in the know identified this beauty below as Barringtonia asiatica.

 

Our next stop gave us the chance to walk on cooled lava and see the start of nature’s regeneration.

Many of us were impressed with this terrestrial orchid (Spathoglottis plicata?) growing in the lava in full sun.

 

 

Our next destination was Anse les Cascades famous for a series of waterfalls. Our visit was at the start of the wet season so could be even more beautiful when the rains get more consistent. 

I had never seen a crab this color.

Anyone know this flower that was abundant there?

Beautiful scenery grabbed our attention.

However we wanted to see the Forest (herd) of elephants (palms)!

This group of Acanthophoenix rubra with aptly named elephant feet was amazing!

 

Gregg Hamann and Andy Hurwitz 

and yours truly and probably most of us could not miss the chance to hug or sit on them.

The rest of the time we gazed upwards and I for one waited until last call for the buses because it was hard to leave them.

We next visited an epic church which remained standing when the surrounding area was enveloped by lava. 

Then we had another splendid lunch, this time at La Cayenne Farm Inn.

This was my view at the lunch table.

We stopped for more compelling scenery after lunch.

This plant caught my eye. Any help naming it appreciated.

Our last tour stop was to see Latania lontaroides in a natural setting. 

Another palm defying the odds and continuing to grow despite trauma.

 Great to see lots of seedlings!

Another 3 course dinner awaited us at our hotel (after a quick shower).

I suspect that like me, most headed to bed right after dessert!

[Max974]

Bonsoir, le nom d'une des plantes inconnues est: Heliotropium foertherianum.

 

[Cindy Adair]

9 hours ago, Max974 said:

Bonsoir, le nom d'une des plantes inconnues est: Heliotropium foertherianum.

 

 Merci beaucoup Max!

Great to know that this one is Heliotropium foertherianum.

[Cindy Adair]

Day 5 November 2

We stopped first to admire architecture. 
 

 This was not part of the agenda, but thanks to Laz’s suggestion and our cooperative guides it was added on.

I loved the elegant staircase which lured many of us upstairs.

Sorry, I did not try to translate this, but I see the date of 1736 and then 2003 for renovation? 

I also loved the clock and the graceful windows and doors!

This meeting room is gorgeous too with the unique flooring.

We were herded back on the buses for the main event which was to visit the very impressive Parc des Palmiers (even I could understand Park of Palms in French) in the Ville du Tampon. 

This is the entrance.

I really like this Dictyosperma album var. conjugatum which is called Palmiste blanc per the sign. 

 

[Cindy Adair]

Day 5 continued

Here is Kathy Grant with a Dracaena draco 

Rows of Chrysalidocarpus onalensis weeping form

Cyphophoenix nucele below

Howea forsteriana

Thrinax excelsa 

 

Another curving easy to walk pathway that I wish I had on my farm in PR!

I am sure you all will see better photographs of our guide at the park and the very special couple below.
 

I will leave details to Andy Hurwitz for the PALMS journal and/or the newsletter. 

Note the wonderful palm leaf design bench too!

The red fruit is on Aiphanes horrida which I grow in PR. 

This park is very well designed and no admission fee!

Bactris grayumii, new to me.

Tahina spectabilis

Ravenea musicalis

 

Interesting sculpture

Licuala distans. 

 

We were corralled to head to a very special lunch with the mayor of Tampon and the Reunion palm society who has much to do with this park and were absolutely essential for making our trip so perfect!

This event was quite crowded with many more official photos, but I grabbed a few.

Here’s the mayor.

We were all given the use of new pairs of gloves and shovels to assist in the planting ceremony of  3 Gaussia maya palms. 
 

Most of us took the opportunity especially since the hole was dug, only a few actually hoisted the very heavy palms and the dirt we were adding was super easy to move. 
 

Not like what I do in PR.

The tag honors the IPS, the Reunion palm club and the community of Tampon. 
 

The IPS does not always get to help with the planting of a palm on our journeys but we try.

Under a tent we enjoyed a delicious lunch with beautiful posters done by the palm club. 

 

Without the time or language skills to read them, I still took photos to enlarge and study later.
 

All the earlier photos are from the original part of the park but now a lot more work has been done with beautiful hardscape and lots of new plantings!

No, not done with posting of day 5 yet!

[Cindy Adair]

I almost forgot to post photos of the high quality distinctive medals protected by plexiglass presented to each of us during our Tampon luncheon. 

 

It is heavy and beautiful and we are very appreciative. 

However I did learn the hard way that it is best to put such an unusual metal item out on the trays for inspection at airport security! 
 

My entire carefully packed carry on was held for hand inspection based on this medal.
 

On the next three flights I took to return home it went in my backpack and then was easily removed for clear view in a tray along with the liquids and gels etc. 

Back to the Park where we went to the nursery not open to the public.

First I saw their seedling/propagation shade house which held many treasures!

Licuala exigua

https://palms.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/v28n1p3-5.pdf

 

Terminalia bentzoe, obviously not a palm but so interesting!

 

Pinanga tomentella 

Arenga stenophylla

 

Lanonia hexapetala

Rhapis vidalii that makes my Rhapis multifida leaflets look broad.

And then to their display house waiting for planting in the park

Calyptrocalyx caudiculatus

Saribus jeanneneyi from New Cal

I will leave Andy Hurwitz to feature this rare one too

 

[Cindy Adair]

As we left the park’s nursery, we said goodbye to Jean-Francois.

 I am highlighting Laz’s pristine T shirt from the New Caledonia 2000 Biennial to remind you that time is short to sign up for the remaining 20 spaces for next Fall’s big event in New Cal.
 

I understand that even for those bus spaces, we are under negotiations for additional lower priced rooms as the reserved block has already been booked. Private message me if registration questions and I will connect you with those who can help.

Our last stop on day 5 was to the Roussel site. We saw the middle elevation Acanthophoenix which is A. rousselii.

Jeff Marcus called this species another holy grail palm.

[Cindy Adair]

On to Day 6, November 3

Our first stop of the day at the Perfume and Spice Park. I love it when the French is easy to understand.

 

More beautiful paths with plant distraction everywhere!

This alocasia is similar but not the same as ones I grow. Any names?

I think this is a very old Longan tree which many of us hugged.

Heliconia caribaea which is a familiar site in Puerto Rico and nearly matched my shirt

I have forgotten the name of this ornamental that I grow but will post it if/when I remember.

 

Phoenicophorium with spines so only a distanced hug

 

Nutmeg/Mace (Myristica fragrans) full of still immature yellow fruit.  Dioecious, but fingers crossed out of my 5 trees in PR that I will someday get fruit. 

Flower bud of nutmeg tree

Lots of vanilla (orchid vine) everywhere 

Thunbergia mysorensis which is aggressive here as you see in the second photo, but so pretty. I am intent on restricting mine to a pergola.

 There were Acanthophoenix rubra here with many ground cover like seedlings. The close up shows the typical soft to touch spines on the crownshaft with smooth trunk below. 

I liked this peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) with larger and narrower leaves and flowers than the ones commonly available in Puerto Rico. Name?

Many of us bought various spices at their gift store including this high priced “crystallized” vanilla certified as grown at the park. 

certi

The wonderful vanilla fragrance is evident even in the closed jar now at my home in PR.  I will be processing my own soon but don’t expect my attempts to be perfect.

On to our next over the top amazing garden and Lauricourt Grosset forest visit!

The sturdy and beautiful walls and paths were all done by the owner by hand stacking the volcanic rocks over many many years! So impressive.

The owner began by collecting orchids and I have dozens of photos of specimen plants.  Here are just a sample.

Just a guess that this is Cattleya mossiae (Easter orchid in the US) although some name changes in this genus and I am not an orchid expert.

Phragmipedium

Paphiopedilum

Dendrobium

Angraecum

Non orchid azalea bloom 

Dypsis pachyramea 

 

An especially gorgeous Hyophorbe indica hugged by Andy Hurwitz

Every space planted with an eye to color and composition!

Here is a cluster of the ornamental Tacca chantrieri AKA Black Bat flower. I can only imagine the beauty when there are multiple simultaneous blooms.

We took the buses to his second forest property which was also wonderful, no surprise!

I liked the Reunion endemic pandanus with dark purple fruit!

Name?

 

Ravenea glauca

Dypsis poivreana 

Hyophorbe ‘maroon’

This is a perfectly healthy palm with distinctive leaf color. 

Tapeinochilos ananassae

 

Jeff and Suchin Marcus as part of the line of us expressing our thanks to the owner, Lauricourt Grosset.

 

[Cindy Adair]

Day 7 November 4

We were delighted to visit Thierry Hubert’s collection in the morning.

We were greeted by a bit of rain, but of course we had been warned and our spirits were not dampened. 

 

Kerriodoxa elegans in fruit

Dypsis glabrescens

Dypsis sp. Ivohibe

Reinhardtia simplex

Drymophloeus litigiosus 

Chamaedorea metallica

Chelyocarpus chuco

Medinilla magnifica 

 

Thierry’s beautiful house. We definitely had a group picture here which will be posted somewhere in the future.

Salacca magnifica 

Licuala sp. concinnus? 

I liked this ti plant with white edges on each leaf. Name anyone?

Zombia antillarum

Aphelandra sinclairiana

Ravenea xerophila

To be continued…

[Cindy Adair]

Here are more photos from the amazing collection of Thierry Hubert where we spent the morning of Day 7.

This clock on his porch caught my eye.
Sorry about the glare in my only photo. 
I have begun the internet search for one like this one to adorn my own porch in Puerto Rico…

Our host, Thierry Hubert in a break from the gentle rain

 

One of my favorite palms, Licuala cordata which has seed protected by a plastic bag.

 

Pholidostachys kalbreyeri

 

Dypsis brevicaulis

 

One last view of another garden we’ll never forget 

 

As happened at many of the host garden’s we were given hard to resist refreshments at the Hubert home. Yet next it was time for lunch.

Worth any weight gain.

I may have failed to mention that a choice of two or more wines was included in every meal on this trip except breakfast!

We had the entire dining room to ourselves at the lovely Cariole Inn. 

I enjoyed the decor including a wall of distinctive hats while enjoying another feast.

I did not ask if these were hats forgotten by guests over the years or owned by the owner.

It occurred to me that my now substantial collection of IPS trip caps (with lovely designs) should be displayed in some fashion rather than stored in a closet.

Our afternoon was well spent at Serge Hoarau’s expansive property. 

Many non palms here that caught my eye including this Kigelia africana AKA Sausage tree that intrigued me first in 1990 at the Fruit and Spice Park in Florida.

Above I am also pointing out that along with intermittent rain it was chilly, at least for me used Puerto Rico.

I had a small umbrella but had worn a sleeveless shirt.

Thanks to the much appreciated loan of the lightweight jacket from Cindy Anderson I was saved from shivering all afternoon! 

I photographed the specs on the Colombia jacket with the intention of ordering one before future travel.

I could have spent all day just wandering these easy to walk paths and roads full of treasures.

Chrysalidocarpus saintelucei 

 

Zombia antillarium

 

Below I am highlighting the umbrella used by one of our guides. The design alone was appealing plus as he used it to block the sun as well it made him easy to locate.

I liked the design representative of Reunion.
 

When dry it was black and white with the colors activated by water.

That means when the colors fade you could tell it was OK to fold and store it again.

It is made by a company called Pardon! and I even tracked down the store via google in the Saint Pierre town center in walking distance of our hotel. 

However with only an already stuffed carry on bag and saving dollars for future travel and plants I passed and will just enjoy the memories. 

Unless of course it shows up cheap on eBay…

 

Look at this huge Copernicia macroglossa with its perfect skirt!

We were once again given impossible to resist food by the host at the end of the tour near this always gets a photograph Amherstia nobilis.

See the handkerchief limp and colorful new leaves

and of course the striking flowers!

Group pictures were taken between the gentle rains as well as photos of our host, but I failed to get any. Hopefully others will post them.

Upon arrival at our hotel, we joined with our Reunion palm society sponsors for yes more food!

Memberships to the IPS were gifted to the Reunión Directors as a token of our appreciation. 

We truly hope to see them again perhaps in New Caledonia next Fall along with almost everyone from the Reunion trip who has or will be signing up. 
 

Don’t be left out!

We said goodbye also to some of the attendees leaving early for adventures in Mauritius and Madagascar so temptingly close.

I hope some photos of their travel will show up on Palmtalk eventually.

One full day left for the epic mini Biennial/first ever IPS premium travel. 

[Cindy Adair]

Day 8 November 5

We headed first to Michel Baret’s estate.

Gorgeous plants greeted us even in the short walk from the buses to his house.

Caryota zebrina? 

 

Johannesteijsmannia altifrons 

More food and drinks while we got a translated introduction.

We did not tour the distinctive (and no doubt stunning) interiors of any of the houses, but the staircase visible from the porch was a work of art.

 

I simply had no room to eat the offered food and drinks which gave me more time to inspect the small plants closest to the porch. 

My eyes jumped to a very distinctive begonia. It looks dangerous, but is soft to the touch and unusual for this genus it’s quite three dimensional.

Name?

I would love to locate one to try to grow in Puerto Rico.

 

 

This one I do have, a favorite. Alocasia portei 

Socratea exorrhiza stilt roots at eye level

Harder to see the leaves up so high.

Syagrus wedellianum

Sabinaria magnifica

 

The extensive property included a then dry river bed with many young Acanthophoenix rubra palms.

Laz Priegues and others helped to translate as Michel explained that this was a “palm pantry”which provides food for harvesting as needed. 

We liked the yard art too.

 

 

Many orchids and aroids too numerous to document here.

 

Below are Jeff Marcus and Michel Baret posing next to Syagrus lorenzoniorum 

Close up of fruit

 

Such impressive views everywhere!

John Dransfield’s happy face exemplifies our opinion of this entire trip!


 Chamaedorea benziei new to me

 

Chamaedorea tenella

Next we headed to lunch even though I was still full from breakfast.

[Cindy Adair]

Lunch was at a five star resort called Palm’s Hotel.

 It looked like a lovely resort next to the ocean.

This was our first course including Acanthophoenix rubra salad. Yes it was delicious.

I just could not finish the equally wonderful fish main dish but found room somehow for this dessert.

They had a gift shop which many of us drifted towards. The distinctive stamps caught my eye and fit my budget to buy a few for keepsakes.

 

[Max974]

Le Bégonia c'est : Begonia ferox.

 

[Cindy Adair]

Merci beaucoup Max974!
 

Another PT friend, PR00636, identified it too and I have found the plant shippable online. 

If asked I will suggest to my family that it could make a good Christmas present.

Begonia ferox

[Cindy Adair]

Day 8, November 5

We spent our last afternoon touring Hugues Adenor’s special collection.

We began with Hugues giving some background information translated by our wonderful guides Amandine and Matt using umbrellas as sun protection.
 

Note Matt’s dry black and white umbrella compared with the colorful version shown earlier.

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis were perfect accents to his pool.

We liked the use of normally discarded palm parts to hold orchids.

This ponytail “palm” (Beaucarnea recurvata) with its multiple branches seemed to pose for photos.

 

Many specimen orchids as accents

 

Volcanic walls effectively displaying planting groups 

I liked the feeling of going from one room to the next with surprises along the way.

A group of beautiful pet tortoises were fun to watch.

A big flowering and fruiting Macadamia nut tree was another attraction

complete with nuts for us to sample 

I loved this grouping of aptly named pig tail Anthuriums (A. scherzerianum) with extra large flowers.

I have many anthuriums, but not this one yet.

See my finger for scale

Another color form

Sabinaria magnifica 

Hemithrinax ekmaniana

I loved this building near the pool with its ocean views, outdoor kitchen and convenient bathroom and hexagonal design.
 

I have added to my wish list building something like this on my land somewhere (near my non existent pool?) should I become wealthy.

More group photos and closing remarks (with wine flowing) and we departed for our last group dinner.

 

[Cindy Adair]

Back home I slowly adjusted to the 8 hour time difference. I bought some cheap frames and used the inexpensive postcards and stamps (now on my walls) as souvenirs of this amazing trip.

 

 

Please add your own photos of Reunion endemic palms or additional attendee photos and comments/corrections.

I am already looking forward to showing up at the Palm Beach Palm and Cycad Society’s meeting soon

and planning my IPS New Caledonia 2024 epic adventure, hopefully with you and some of our new Reunion friends. 

 

[Dypsisdean]

Wow - thanks for all the great pics and a chance to come along with you vicariously. An epic post.

[Cindy Adair]

Thanks Dean!

It really was a very well organized and memorable trip!

[hery]

Cindy. Thanks a lot to promote the island where I live. Your pictures are gorgeous such as, I hope, make people want to come here to visit sites or discover our palms. It would be a real pleasure to see each of you again here and contribute as much as possibe to make a good stay.

Best regards. Jean François

[Cindy Adair]

1 hour ago, hery said:

Cindy. Thanks a lot to promote the island where I live. Your pictures are gorgeous such as, I hope, make people want to come here to visit sites or discover our palms. It would be a real pleasure to see each of you again here and contribute as much as possibe to make a good stay.

Best regards. Jean François

Thanks so much for your kind words and for allowing us to enjoy your beautiful island. 
 

One of my favorite things about the truly International Palm Society is making worldwide connections with nature loving people thousands of miles away. 
 

[JasonD]

On 11/14/2023 at 2:58 AM, Cindy Adair said:

Hi Peachy!

Thanks for all your comments. 

As to posting captions with photos, I can probably help by private message although I am far from tech proficient. 

I love Vireyas, but so far have not had the chance to try them here. 

I found one more photo of the mystery flower. I wish I had taken more, but had to keep up with the group.

It looks like a Watsonia, which would make sense in that montane climate.

On 11/14/2023 at 2:58 AM, Cindy Adair said:

As to the tree ferns, I will say that the ones on my PR farm are taller, so I am spoiled. Still I enjoyed seeing different species in Reunion and Hawaii on the IPS trip there.

 

[Cindy Adair]

Thanks Jason!

Watsonia it is!

 

[Kim]

On 11/14/2023 at 2:58 AM, Cindy Adair said:

Hi Peachy!

Thanks for all your comments. 

As to posting captions with photos, I can probably help by private message although I am far from tech proficient. 

I love Vireyas, but so far have not had the chance to try them here. 

I found one more photo of the mystery flower. I wish I had taken more, but had to keep up with the group.

As to the tree ferns, I will say that the ones on my PR farm are taller, so I am spoiled. Still I enjoyed seeing different species in Reunion and Hawaii on the IPS trip there.

I'm going to toss out a guess that your orange flower is possibly Crocosmia area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocosmia_aurea  Something similar grows wild in a corner or two of my Hawaii garden, no doubt introduced from elsewhere. They used to turn up in my old San Diego garden, too, probably distributed by birds. But I'm guessing.

[Kim]

Ah, just saw Jason's identification above, and he is undoubtedly correct. 🙂

Cindy, thank you so much for such a wonderful thread packed with photos and information! I almost feel as though I went along on the trip. I really appreciate you taking the time to sort, caption, and post so much helpful material. Wonderful! 🤩

 

[Cindy Adair]

18 hours ago, Kim said:

Ah, just saw Jason's identification above, and he is undoubtedly correct. 🙂

Cindy, thank you so much for such a wonderful thread packed with photos and information! I almost feel as though I went along on the trip. I really appreciate you taking the time to sort, caption, and post so much helpful material. Wonderful! 🤩

 

Thanks so much for your kind words Kim.
 

I know I looked at IPS trip posts on PT before deciding to make my first trip, so that motivates me to document for others.