CFPACS (Central FL) Meeting & Garden Tour June 8th

[Mike Evans]

Mark your calendar, June 8th. Garden tour and meeting at Walt & Cathy Darnall's garden in Lake Placid, FL. Everyone is welcome. Plant sale and auction. See everyone there!

Central Florida Palm & Cycad Society

1621 Elm Terrace, Lake Placid FL

5.6 acres owned by Walt and Cathy Darnall

The Darnalls are a true inspiration -- they successfully grow about 75 species of mostly mature palms, plus a wide variety of tropical vines, shrubs and flowers in open and semi-wooded areas that typically experience one to three freezes a year. They also have a combination greenhouse-shade house for plant propagation and over-wintering of tender container species.

We will tour the property and learn some of Walt’s secrets, enjoy a picnic lunch, auction off rare and/or unusual plants, then travel about 10 minutes to a three acre sub-tropical peninsula on the northeast end of Lake June. On view will be Cocos nucifera, Ravenea rivularis, Hyophorbe verschaffeltii, Pandanus utilis, plus several bird aviaries.

Here is the schedule:

10:00 a.m. Board meeting

11:00 a.m. Meeting begins

12:15-1:30 p.m. Lunch on-site

1:30-2:00 p.m. Auction

2:00-2:30 p.m. Plant sale

About 2:30: leave for tour of the Lake June property guided by Walt.

The main course, potato salad, dessert and drinks will be provided. Please bring a side dish to pass. And a chair, too, if you can. Non-members are welcome to join us.

Link to map => http://goo.gl/maps/i2ssT

[Central Floridave]

Thanks for the notice. Calender Marked!

[Mike Evans]

See everyone in Lake Placid Saturday.

[SubTropicRay]

I'm looking forward to it. There are two IPS members from Hawaii, currently visiting Miami, that will likely be in attendance.

[Central Floridave]

The wife reminded me a couple days ago that we have to drive to Jacksonville this weekend...so, I'm going to miss this meeting.

SOMEONE TAKE PHOTOS! ..and, lots of them. Thanks.

[Central Floridave]

Any photos of meeting?

[Mike Evans]

Here are a few pics that I took. Walt and Cathy were some of the best hosts. We all ate like Kings. They have a very beautiful and special garden. Good turn out of ~ 40 people. A few IPS members were there from HI, while checking out Miami for the Biennial. Maybe Mary Ann can add a few. I have always driven past Lake Placid going to & from West Palm and never had time to stop. After doing a little exploring around the area, this place has some very unique micro climates from the spring fed lakes. Royals & coconuts in Lake Placid? Yes! Walt is the one w/ a towel around his neck. Walt always reminded me of "Slim Pickens" He is a real hoot. Very fun guy to be around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLPnnPHkIuc

[Mike Evans]

The pics I took do not even describe Walt's garden. The first pic is an African oil palm in Walts garden. Mine even died in St Pete during 2010 freeze, but Walt manages to this type of palm alive along with coconut. Walt took us to a friends of his with the most beautiful lot in Highlands County, and the priciest. It was 2.5 acre peninsula jutting out into Lake June. Last 3 pics. It had mature Majesty Palms and coconut, along with a few bird aviaries. Spring fed and very warm for the area. Sorry I did not take more pics. It was raining when we got there, but that does not stop the PRA. It can be yours for $1.5M

[Central Floridave]

Thanks for the photos!

I like the hedge of bismarckia.

[Walt]

Well, I didn't even know this thread existed until today. I was on master gardener duty today at the Highlands County Extension Office and a master gardener friend who attended the CFPACS meeting at my place pointed it out to me on the computer. Man, I missed the announcement to my own meeting!

In any event, it was nice to see old friends I hadn't seen in 10 years (since the last meeting at my place) and meet new friends, like Mike Evans and his wife, Margie (hope I got her name right. If not, please correct me). Looking at myself in those photos from the ones in 2003, I can tell father time is putting a whooping on my ....! Oh well, I guess it's better than the ultimate alternative.

Mike is correct about the food -- way too much of it! I all but knew that was going to happen.

We got through most of the day without rain. Too bad it had to rain when we went over to the peninsula property, as I wanted to point out some interesting palms and huge banyan trees on the way. But my clothes were soaked even before the rain started as I'm a heavey sweater. Just walking around in the heat and humidity I get soaked. I had to change into dry clothes before we went to the peninsula property.

Below is a pic of the CFPACS cake Cathy (my dear wife) had Publix make up. Also, below are two short videos I took today. Just click on the image to start video.

And Mike, I plan to come visit your garden before the summer is over. I will contact you.

Photo above: Central Florida Palm and Cycad Society cake

Video above: Foxtail and A. alexandrae and cunninghamiana palms (click on image to start video)

Video above: Syagrus botryophora, Ravanala madagascariensis, Livisotona muelleri et al. (click on image to start video)