PSSC March 2014 meeting in Orange County

[DoomsDave]

The PSSC’s March 22, 2014 Meeting

The PSSC’s March 22, 2014 meeting will be held in the heart of Orange County at two gardens: (a) the home and garden of Ralph Velez, in Westminster; and ( Palm Island in Mile Square Park, in nearby Fountain Valley.

Garden one: 15461 Devonshire Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92683. Ralph Velez is one of the founding members of the PSSC, and his garden in Westminster shows what you can do on a suburban sixth-acre lot. Ralph is one of the original, dyed-in-the-wool consummate palm nuts. There’s not a lot that’s not on his lot. His garden was started in the early 1960s. Got a seedling Livistna carinensis? Raph’s got one, at maturity, in the ground. He has numerous rare Dypsis, Ravenea, and so much more. And that’s out front. Even if you’ve been to Ralph’s place recently, it’s hard to experience the full impact until you have seen the whole place, including his greenhouse and back yard.

Garden two: Palm Island, Mile Square Park, Fountain Valley, CA. Palm Island is literally an island in a lake at Mile Square Park, with a bridge to it. Many fine specimens of rare palms are planted there, in an unusual display in a public park. We thought it would be particularly appropriate to visit here, since Ralph Velez conced the idea and got the Orange County Parks people to share his vision.
Palm Island has proven to be an unusually favorable habitat for tender palms, in large part because it’s surrounded by a lake. Tender palms like Hyophorbe seem to thrive there, when they fail only a quarter-mile away.

There will be a potluck lunch and plant auction at Palm Island. Chicken will be provided; other courses that you like would be greatly appreciated. Not sure what to bring? If you like it, chances are, so will the rest of us. Salad, side dish, dessert, all are appreciated. You don’t even have to cook it yourself. If you buy it and bring it, we’ll eat it.
There will be seating for all in the parking shelter. Water and soft drinks will be offered at a nominal charge. Restrooms are right nearby. There is a small charge to park in the lot, or park for free at curbside on nearby Edinger and Euclid Avenues.

For the auction please bring rare palms. Please, no Phoenix canariensis, Washingtonia, etc. The best sizes are in 1 to 5 gallon pots. You can donate 100% of the proceeds to the PSSC or 50% for the PSSC and 50% to the donor. Checks and cash accepted.

SATURDAY ITINERARY
- PSSC Board meeting, 9:30 a.m., at Ralph’s place.
- 11:30 end board meeting and go to Mile Square Park.
- Potluck Lunch Begins 12:00
- General Meeting and Plant Sale, 1:30 p.m.
- Meeting adjourns, c. 3:30 p.m.


DIRECTIONS
Garden No. 1:
From the 405 FWY northbound: Exit at Brookhurst, and go right (north) on Brookhurst.
From the 405 FWY southbound: Exit at Brookhurst, and go left (north) on Brookhurst.
Go right (east) on McFadden make a left (north) on Yorkshire, right on Nottingham (east) till you get to Ralph’s place, on the corner of Nottingham and Devonshire. (You should be able to spot it in the distance, Ralph’s palms are so tall.)

Garden No. 2:
Exit Ralph’s place, go right (east) on Nottingham, right (south) on Ward, left (east) on Euclid Street, past Edinger.
There are two automobile entrances to the park. One of them is off Euclid street, a short distance before you get to Warner street, which is the south boundary of the park. (The other is near Edinger and Brookhurst, on the opposite side of the park.)

Note that there is a charge for parking in the park.
Parking lot “F” is nearest to Shelter 14 where the meeting will be. Exit the lot to the north, under a tunnel, then take the path to the right. Shelter 14 is right across the path from the restrooms.

Free parking is available on the street. Palm Island is near the northeast corner of the park; the lake is visible from the street near the intersection of Euclid Street and Edinger.

If you’re very freeway-phobic, you can also go south on Euclid or Brookhurst Streets from cities to the north. However, traffic on main streets in Orange County is often very heavy with long waits at red lights at all major intersections, and use of the freeways is recommended unless you’re in the immediate vicinity.

[MattyB]

[DoomsDave]

Click on the link for pictures:

http://palmssc.org/new-page-2/

[akamu]

:greenthumb:Ralphs house is killer cant wait to visit it again. Plus you get fried chicken whats not to love. If you have not been ""YOU NEED TO GO""

[ghar41]

^{Love to see his place again. Worth the 300+ mile drive from my house!}

[BS Man about Palms]

Who went? Were there pictures involved?