Palm Society of South Texas

[Fusca]

After seeing some posts in the past regarding the PSST and if it still exists I thought I would start this thread here to get some conversations going since most of the Texas folks post here.  I'm a relatively new member having joined last year.  Most of the members are located here in the RGV where the greatest variety of palms can be grown.  I first heard about the PSST after doing some Google searches about 15 years ago.  Their website at the time was outdated and a couple of attempts to contact members directly did not result in any responses so I gave up trying.  I noticed that there hasn't been any posts in the "Affiliated News and Meeting Dates" regarding the PSST since 2010 and I will soon post the next meeting details there for the April meeting.  Same thing with the Louisiana Palm and Cycad Society (I had no idea that existed before yesterday or if it still exists today).

From what I understand the main method of communication is through the society's Facebook page.  I am not on Facebook so I can't speak for it but I know that many people have Facebook while many don't.  Conversation with IPS President Dr. Andy Hurwitz confirms our hope to have all affiliated palm groups around the world listed here on Palmtalk at some point along with their contact info so that interested folks can get in touch with those societies.  Not a simple task so it will be a while if that even happens.

There used to be a Houston chapter of the PSST years ago.  I know that there are many people here on Palmtalk from Houston and San Antonio as well as Corpus Christi and Louisiana.  Perhaps there is interest in getting a group together again since there are many people within a few hours drive of Houston (or San Antonio/Austin).  

@Ben G. @Robert Cade Ross @Chester Wilcox @Chester B @Dwarf Fan @MarcusH @necturus @Xenon @amh @jimmyt @Matt N- Dallas @DreaminAboutPalms @ntxpalms @Keys6505 @OC2Texaspalmlvr @thyerr01 @NBTX11 @fr8train @PA-TX2024 @Meangreen94z @Chris A @Jules48 @John C @Xerarch @RedRabbit @Swolte @GoatLockerGuns @Collectorpalms @JeskiM @5am @Victor likes palms @FilthyFiveHole @Sabal King @Kenc @buffy @topwater @mulungu @Graydon @WisTex @Little Tex @CTX Palm King

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

1 hour ago, Fusca said:

I'm a relatively new member having joined last year. 

Jon I'm confused I have known you from PT for much longer then a year haha. Definitely would love to get the Houston chapter for a meet and greet someday at my place. Garden still a little bit young at the moment ! Definitely would make a drive out to @Sabal King @Matt N- Dallas either garden @TonyDFW to name a few

T J 

[Meangreen94z]

I signed up at the end of last year as well, when they had an Austin meeting . It would be good to get a core group of people together outside of the RGV area, and regularly meet.

[Chester B]

I'm down.

[Fusca]

1 hour ago, OC2Texaspalmlvr said:

Jon I'm confused I have known you from PT for much longer then a year haha. Definitely would love to get the Houston chapter for a meet and greet someday at my place. Garden still a little bit young at the moment ! Definitely would make a drive out to @Sabal King @Matt N- Dallas either garden @TonyDFW to name a few

T J 

Hey TJ,

I've been an IPS member and here on Palmtalk since 2016 but I just joined the PSST this past year.  There are a couple of PSST members in the Houston area but a bunch of Palmtalk members in Houston and throughout the state that are not in the PSST (I can only think of a handful who are).  We're hoping to either have others join PSST or restart the Houston chapter if there's enough interest.  I definitely would've been interested in a  Houston or San Antonio chapter previous to living here. 

[Dwarf Fan]

Jon thank you for taking the lead in getting this going. I would definitely be up for meeting up to discuss Palms in person at one of the locations that is agreeable for everyone on a semi-regular basis and getting to chat person with other Texas Palm Talkers. 🤙

Dan

[RedRabbit]

I appreciate the effort, but I probably won’t ever attend to be perfectly honest.  There’s just too much on my plate between work and family.

[Dwarf Fan]

2 minutes ago, RedRabbit said:

I appreciate the effort, but I probably won’t ever attend to be perfectly honest. 

Roger that… we will put you down as a maybe. 😉

[Fusca]

Soon I will post some contact info and also more details on the next PSST meeting.  I hope some of you all will be able to attend the April meeting at Dr. Romeo Montalvo's garden in Brownsville.  He has an amazing collection of palms (over 100 species of palms) in spite of losses from February 2021.  He has several mature species of Coccothrinax, Copernicia, Bismarckia, Hyphaene, Medemia, and even Tahina!  Good opportunity to visit the valley and see some incredible palms.

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

36 minutes ago, Fusca said:

I just joined the PSST this past year.

Now i got you, I'm totally down for a road trip ! 

T J 

[Fusca]

37 minutes ago, RedRabbit said:

I appreciate the effort, but I probably won’t ever attend to be perfectly honest.  There’s just too much on my plate between work and family.

Families are welcome!  PSST membership is not just for individuals but includes entire family as well.

[Swolte]

I am definitely open to that, however, I am juggling a tough family situation at the time that restricts me to daytrips and not much long-term planning. Some, and this may have been me, have floated the idea of holding a meeting at the JFGardens in the past which may make travel a bit easier from places to the west. Not sure that is still South Texas, though. 

Put me down for 70% yes!
 

[Victor likes palms]

I would love too but I don’t think i could. I’ll probably have too get used to just viewing images.😭

[thyerr01]

The JFG will have their Budding Out sale on March 15th which might be an easy opportunity to get people in Houston and College Station together.

[Ben G.]

I would be interested in joining the PSST. Like some of the others though, I have a demanding job and a family that will get most of my time. 

If the PSST has something like quarterly meetings, I would probably be able to make it to one or two a year. Travel isn't as big an issue for me as just having very little time.

[Fusca]

27 minutes ago, Ben G. said:

I would be interested in joining the PSST. Like some of the others though, I have a demanding job and a family that will get most of my time. 

If the PSST has something like quarterly meetings, I would probably be able to make it to one or two a year. Travel isn't as big an issue for me as just having very little time.

PSST tries to have monthly meetings but it all depends on the ability to secure a place to hold the meeting.  There are some members in Corpus who make the drive a few times a year for meetings and many local members also have other commitments and only make a few meetings a year.  While it's nice to see everyone at every meeting it's certainly understandable for several to only attend when it's reasonable to do so.

[FilthyFiveHole]

Been a PSST member for over a decade. Haven't been to a meeting in years though. Dr. Romeo Montalvo's has a amazing garden and a even better person! If you can make the trip do it!!! Worth the trip!!

[Fusca]

Meeting notification has been posted with contact info.  Exact date I can probably provide by the end of the week but meetings are always at noon on a Saturday.  I hope to meet a lot of you then - like @FilthyFiveHole said, it's worth the trip!

[kinzyjr]

I took the liberty of pinning the meeting so it doesn't get buried by a barrage of CFPACS posts.  My personal recommendation is for all that can attend to do so.  An easy way to attend a meeting without traveling is to host one

If there is anything that those of us in CFPACS can do to help out, feel free to reach out via PM.

Link to the meeting post: https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/87926-palm-society-of-south-texas-april-meeting/

Good luck to all in getting this ball rolling at full speed again!

[Xerarch]

Our last meeting for PSST was this month, January, at the zoo in Brownsville, took the whole family down and had great time! We'll see if we can make to Romeo's place in April, it's really fantastic.  I hear everyone though, I don't make it to all the meetings, it's hard to give up an entire day as a busy family man, either I leave the family for a whole Saturday, or take the whole family with me.  Either option can be difficult especially with all kinds of obligations for everyone.