cfpacs Central Florida Palm & Cycad Society - Spring 2025 Meeting

[CFPACS]

CFPACS 2025 Spring Meeting

Date: Saturday, March 15^th, 2025

Please RSVP to cfpacs.membership@gmail.com prior to the meeting.

• First Site: A Private Garden in Merritt Island
  • Time: 10:00AM – 12:00PM
  • Address: will be given to those who RSVP.
  • Information about the garden from the owners:
    • We are on a small 10,000 sf lot located in Merritt Island on a canal that leads to the Banana River, USDA zone 10a. We have lived in this house for about 6 years now. I have always held an interest in gardening but rarely have I been actively engaged in it. After picking some Christmas Palm seeds up off the ground in Miami and sprouting them in my garage, my interest in palm trees really took off.
    • I’ve been germinating seeds and growing palms since the winter of 2020.  We planted our first couple of palm trees in January of 2021.  Right now, I have around 57 different species and more than 65 total palms planted in the ground. Most are fairly young but there are a few semi-mature ones and quite a few that reach over the roof. There are also more than 200 palms in pots on the patio and scattered around the yard. If I include the potted palms I would estimate that I’m growing anywhere from 150 to 175 different varieties of palm trees, along with a few other types of plants and trees.
    • After visiting places like Leu Gardens in Orlando and the Brevard Zoo I knew I wanted to create a subtropical oasis to enjoy in my own yard. I joined the International Palm Society and CFPACS and started learning from folks on PalmTalk. I’m really grateful for all the help and knowledge that has been shared with me by other palm nuts and I look forward to sharing my humble garden with other members.
• Lunch on Your Own
  • Time: 12:00PM – 1:00PM
    • The travel time between sites is roughly 1 hour.  The two-hour window should give everyone enough time to stop somewhere to eat and arrive at the second site.
• Second Site: The Michael’s Garden
  • Time: 2:00PM – 4:00PM
  • Address: 1 Earring Point, Vero Beach, FL 32963
    • For those of you who have been before, you know what a treat this is!  For newbies, it is an amazing piece of property along the river with a fabulous history, many wonderful palms, and accompanying flora. 
    • Auction and Vendor Sale after the tour.
• Please Bring:
  • A chair for comfort.
  • An auction plant.
• Additional Links:
  • December 2019 Meeting
  • Photos from the Michael’s Garden

[CFPACS]

There is a little less than 3 weeks until the Spring 2025 meeting.  If you plan on attending, please RSVP to cfpacs.membership@gmail.com prior to the meeting to receive the address for the first site.  We'll send out a communication with the address roughly 1 week before the meeting.  The meeting will showcase one of our new member's garden and one of our longest standing member's garden in one day.

We look forward to hosting you there!

[kinzyjr]

If you're on the membership roster or have sent an RSVP, you should receive an email from the membership account by Saturday, March 1^st, 2025 at 8am.  If you do not, please check your Junk/SPAM folder first, and then let the membership team know by sending an email to the account in the above post if it is not there.  We've agreed to only share the address to folks who plan on attending, and as such, will only send it to folks who RSVP.  If you have already sent an RSVP, you do not need to send another RSVP. 

This tour will contrast the garden of one of our newest members in the area, with one of our Lifetime members.  Both are wonderful gardens with a lot of uncommon species that do well in a barrier island microclimate.

[CFPACS]

A few members have reached out asking if it was too late to RSVP.  No, it is not too late. 

The sooner you RSVP the better.  We'll make every attempt to check for new RSVPs each night and promptly reply with the address of the first site.  That said, the later it is, the higher probability we will not be able to respond in time.  If you do not receive a response, you're welcome to reach out to a member of the leadership team directly or meet us at the second site at 2PM.

We have quite a few people coming to see both gardens, and expect an awesome experience.  There is even a secret third tour that was offered by another individual for any of the attendees who want to make the stop after the first site.  We look forward to seeing everyone again for the first meeting of 2025!

[Central Floridave]

Looking forward to the meeting this Saturday!   

Weather looks to be good.  

 

 

[kinzyjr]

Will be glad to meet you there, @Central Floridave!  I'm currently planning on taking you up on that "super secret third tour' that's been teased.   

It looks like a mild, breezy day at both sites, consistent with barrier island conditions in the spring.  For anyone planning to participate in the auction and sales, it wouldn't hurt to bring some $$$ .  We currently do not have a good way to do electronic funds transfer, so cash is king.  Looking forward to seeing everyone bright and early in Merritt Island, and then meeting back up in the afternoon at the Michael residence. 

[CFPACS]

We would first like to thank our hosts, @D. Morrowii, @Central Floridave, and Anne Michael for starting 2025 off with an incredible slate of tours.  There couldn't have been a more perfect day, with temperatures in the low 80s and a steady wind to keep attendees comfortable.

We enjoyed the company of @kinzyjr, @PalmJuan, @Fishinsteeg234, @Keybmp, @howfam, @RiverCityRichard, @Jdash, @CodyM, and @chuckg, as well as many others who do not use PalmTalk.  With over 40 individuals in attendance and multiple vendors selling palms, cycads, and tropicals, the meeting was a success in every respect.  The auction was fantastic and we hope everyone left with enough plants to satisfy that spring planting itch.

Our next meeting is slated for Saturday, June 7th, 2025, beginning at 10AM on Anastasia Island.  The final details are still in the works and will be communicated once they are finalized.  Below are a few photos from each of the gardens featured for this meeting.

The Garden of @D. Morrowii:

The Garden of @Central Floridave:

The Garden of Anne Michael:

[Central Floridave]

Here are my photos from Dean’s yard.  Nice to meet you all and thanks for coming over!  

[SeanK]

Thanks for sharing. Judicious use of architectural structures for protection.