Albuquerque Visit Palms - More

[Desert DAC]

After seeing a past, blurry closeup of a palm trunk from the ABQ Zoo, and rumors of Sabal Mexicana there, I had to look for myself yesterday. Their map: https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/biopark/documents/zoo-map_oct-2024.pdf

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Palms at the alligator exhibit in the reptile area:

Sabal mexicana

 

Sabal minor (?) pre-Photoshop

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A few of many other palms that looked good at the zoo:

Some of the many Trachycarpus fortunei

That's even a Sabal minor towards the bottom of the last photo. On a long-ago visit to the ABQ zoo, I remember those were very common, a number reproducing.

I was already in town for some holiday activities for a firm that I consult for. So, I had to see some of these cool palms you all post on. Plus, other plants I'm interested in and some old projects. More on that another time, which includes some palms.

A worthwhile trip ~

[NMPalmjunky]

On 12/22/2024 at 11:59 PM, Desert DAC said:

After seeing a past, blurry closeup of a palm trunk from the ABQ Zoo, and rumors of Sabal Mexicana there, I had to look for myself yesterday. Their map: https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/biopark/documents/zoo-map_oct-2024.pdf

.

Palms at the alligator exhibit in the reptile area:

Sabal mexicana

 

Sabal minor (?) pre-Photoshop

.

A few of many other palms that looked good at the zoo:

Some of the many Trachycarpus fortunei

That's even a Sabal minor towards the bottom of the last photo. On a long-ago visit to the ABQ zoo, I remember those were very common, a number reproducing.

I was already in town for some holiday activities for a firm that I consult for. So, I had to see some of these cool palms you all post on. Plus, other plants I'm interested in and some old projects. More on that another time, which includes some palms.

A worthwhile trip ~

@Desert DAC The Sabal Mexicana looks great! I remember seeing a Sabal Palmetto inside a monkey exhibit, but I’m not sure if it is still there. Most of the Sabal Mexicana and Sabal Palmettos sailed through Texas palmageddon with minimal damage. I may try both here if I can get some decent size specimens. Unfortunately, I understand that they are extremely slow growers. Do you know of any places in Cruces or El Paso where these are sold at a decent size?

[Las Palmas Norte]

Looks like you got in with the gators for some of those shots. Nice!

[Zone7Bpalmguy]

@Desert DAC They look great. I love the sabals. It's amazing what can be grown in Albuquerque!

[SailorBold]

Did you come across the larger trucked sabal?

[ChrisA]

On 12/30/2024 at 10:48 AM, SailorBold said:

Did you come across the larger trucked sabal?

That's my question too!  

 

David, the big Mexicana is right next to the wall on the outside of the Africa Theater near the Chipmanzees. You can see it on Google maps from 2014, but it was much bigger when I last saw it.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.079252,-106.6619473,2a,75y,253.28h,74.37t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sUjcVuQHuhcV-qWsxO29llw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D15.629049778378686%26panoid%3DUjcVuQHuhcV-qWsxO29llw%26yaw%3D253.28136499979271!7i13312!8i6656?authuser=0&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTIxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

 

 

 

[Desert DAC]

On 12/30/2024 at 9:48 AM, SailorBold said:

Did you come across the larger trucked sabal?

No, but I vaguely remember hearing about it. Without photos or an actual location, I spent my one hour at the zoo in areas closer to the gates.

[Desert DAC]

On 12/31/2024 at 7:13 PM, ChrisA said:

That's my question too!  

 

David, the big Mexicana is right next to the wall on the outside of the Africa Theater near the Chipmanzees. You can see it on Google maps from 2014, but it was much bigger when I last saw it.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.079252,-106.6619473,2a,75y,253.28h,74.37t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sUjcVuQHuhcV-qWsxO29llw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D15.629049778378686%26panoid%3DUjcVuQHuhcV-qWsxO29llw%26yaw%3D253.28136499979271!7i13312!8i6656?authuser=0&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTIxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

 

 

 

Thanks for that location, very helpful! I'll need to make another drive north to see that Sabal Mexicana. It looks like it's in the vicinity of the larger exhibits I saw many years ago, where there were many Sabal minor naturalizing under various trees.

[Desert DAC]

On 12/29/2024 at 11:00 AM, Las Palmas Norte said:

Looks like you got in with the gators for some of those shots. Nice!

Ha ha! Good thing it's winter, as I might not want to get too close with my DSLR camera.

[Desert DAC]

On 12/29/2024 at 10:27 AM, NMPalmjunky said:

@Desert DAC The Sabal Mexicana looks great! I remember seeing a Sabal Palmetto inside a monkey exhibit, but I’m not sure if it is still there. Most of the Sabal Mexicana and Sabal Palmettos sailed through Texas palmageddon with minimal damage. I may try both here if I can get some decent size specimens. Unfortunately, I understand that they are extremely slow growers. Do you know of any places in Cruces or El Paso where these are sold at a decent size?

Sadly, I've never seen any Sabal mexicana sold in Las Cruces or El Paso. Are there any growers of it in South Texas and the lower valley there, I wonder? It's tempting to talk with the Deming hotel's manager, to try to collect all the seed there, assuming it's viable.

After the Feb 2011 freeze, which seemed to graze central Texas more than how it hammered much of NM, in Fredericksburg the few Sabal mexicana were slightly damaged or browned and beginning to regrow when I passed through nearing April, while all the Washingtonia robusta looked dead.

[Desert DAC]

From my December 21, 2024 visit

I finally visit this pair of Washingtonia x filibusta hybrids in Seven Bar Ranch, that it seems all of you talk about. Looking good!

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I assume this is a Washingtonia filifera, which I remember seeing as a small 2 ft plant, when I still lived in ABQ but traveled to the west side a few times.

It looks like there are at least three 'Stokes' Dwarf Yaupon Holly shrubs in front, sheared tightly.

Driving around that part of town, between Ladera to Taylor Ranch, there was a surprising amount of escarpment live oaks, Italian stone pine, and other interesting plants compared to what I remember. Most were probably there when I lived in ABQ into 2013, but have simply grown in size over the decade. SOme were Texas and western honey mesquites that were in a 1990's design I specified for a park design, still growing nicely at an overlook of the city and Rio Grande.

I may post on some of those in that subtropical but hardy plants area here.

 

[SailorBold]

I haven't been to the zoo in recent years..  how many mexicanas are there?

[ChrisA]

10 hours ago, SailorBold said:

I haven't been to the zoo in recent years..  how many mexicanas are there?

I only know of the one.

On 1/12/2025 at 3:39 PM, Desert DAC said:

Sadly, I've never seen any Sabal mexicana sold in Las Cruces or El Paso. Are there any growers of it in South Texas and the lower valley there, I wonder? It's tempting to talk with the Deming hotel's manager, to try to collect all the seed there, assuming it's viable.

After the Feb 2011 freeze, which seemed to graze central Texas more than how it hammered much of NM, in Fredericksburg the few Sabal mexicana were slightly damaged or browned and beginning to regrow when I passed through nearing April, while all the Washingtonia robusta looked dead.

They occasionally sell Sabal mexicana (labeled Texana) at Rainbow nursery at Thousand Oaks in San Antonio. If you’ve got time on your hands I can send seed. 😆 

[NMPalmjunky]

1 hour ago, ChrisA said:

I only know of the one.

They occasionally sell Sabal mexicana (labeled Texana) at Rainbow nursery at Thousand Oaks in San Antonio. If you’ve got time on your hands I can send seed. 😆 

@ChrisA I was hoping to find one with a bit of a trunk. I may take you up on the seed if I am unsuccessful. Thank you