2014 Spring Sale - South Florida Palm Society

[Leonard Goldstein]

Please mark your calendar for this year's Spring Sale of the South Florida Palm Society. The dates are May 3 and 4, and the location is Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd. in Coral Gables. You'll find a great variety of desirable and well-grown palms -- as well as vendors eager to answer your questions. And while you're at the Garden, you may want to visit the popular butterfly collection.

[Mandrew968]

I marked mine!

[waykoolplantz]

Andrew...I'm sure the lure of the Butterfly Garden has made you anxious for the sale.

[Mandrew968]

Andrew...I'm sure the lure of the Butterfly Garden has made you anxious for the sale.

Mike, when they put that thing in, I swear I thought they had built it solely for me!

[redant]

Nice, although I really enjoyed the sales at Montgomery in the past.

[Leonard Goldstein]

The Spring Sale will set a record: As of the close of registration, vendors had listed more than 710 palm taxa to be offered May 3 and 4. The South Florida Palm Society's first 'modern' sale was held in November of 1979. No one thought to make a species count until two years later, when the total was a then-impressive 150. Growth has been steady since then, but this year's record count represents a sizable jump over past numbers.

[Mandrew968]

Great to hear, Lenny! I know I am excited.

[waykoolplantz]

Now if the said vendors will only bring what they say..........

howbout a list ??

[palmislandRandy]

$25.00 admission should keep all the riff raff away.

[Leonard Goldstein]

There will also be 50 species of cycads available. The list of palm and cycad taxa is being formatted for the Palm Report. It will be distributed by April 30.

[waykoolplantz]

$25.00 admission should keep all the riff raff away.

nonsense ill be bringing all the raff you can handle

[Jeff Searle]

Almost finished pulling and tagging the palms I'm bringing. And as usual, I have found some real goodies that wouldn't be listed in the booklet. Even some palms I didn't considered selling at my recent Extravaganza Sale.

[BS Man about Palms]

$25.00 admission should keep all the riff raff away.

[Jeff Searle]

Lenny,

Any list yet of the vendors that will be selling palms?

[waykoolplantz]

Almost finished pulling and tagging the palms I'm bringing. And as usual, I have found some real goodies that wouldn't be listed in the booklet. Even some palms I didn't considered selling at my recent Extravaganza Sale.

Put my name on one or two. Didn't find as much as I'd like at the Extravaganza..Andrea's banana bread helped...but still have unfulfilled palm needs.

[Leonard Goldstein]

We are pleased to enclose the Spring Sale issue of the Palm Report. It includes information about this year's theme, The Palms of Cuba, and, of course, the much-anticipated list of plants to be offered at the sale. For best resolution of the printed material, be sure to hit the Download button.

Below is the list of vendors who will be at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden on Saturday and Sunday:

#4: Bill Olson

#26: Susan Casey

#31: Albert Livingston

#35: Steve Stern

#50: Faith Bishock

#57: Jeff Searle

#59: Botanics Wholesale Nursery

#66: Ron Croci

#67: Claude Roatta

#68: Ellis Brown

#69: Richard Lyons

#72: MB Palms

#84: Linda Apriletti (artist)

#88: Patty Suau (artist)

#92: Scott Cohen

#99: Rick Johnson

2014 Sale issue.pdf

[david1156]

Great list of palms, I am going to need a bigger truck!

I only wish the WPB Palm Society would go back to using lists of palms available at the sale it would be a big help to both venders and buyers.

[Moose]

Wow - I was there yesterday evening. Tons of incredible looking palms. Saw many good bargains too. We will be heading there this morning.

[waykoolplantz]

We were there first thing...didn't see the Moose...got some nice palms

The same loser vendor as usual didn't bring the plants he listed. After 8 years of the same crap I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

Maybe Lou should say something. It doesn't help the credibility of SFPS.

[Leonard Goldstein]

With respect to your comment on May 3, I would agree that misrepresentation in any sales environment is unpalatable. However, I disagree that what you may have experienced with one grower reflects badly on the credibility of the SFPS. Here's why:

First, we have allowed growers to list species since about 1980, and because our sales are run by a small number of volunteers without the luxury of an investigative arm, we must always rely on the honor system in accepting and publishing vendors' plant lists. We never accede to a grower's request to "just use my list from last year," but we are in no position to inventory plants as they come into the sale to ensure that the grower's list is accurate. We encourage, but cannot guarantee, any individual's integrity.

Second, having felt that you were misinformed seven times in the past by a particular grower, you might have exerted some pressure this time by phoning or e-mailing him or her in advance to make sure that what you wanted would be put on the truck.

Third, a consumer's best remedy upon discovering this sort of business practice is to stop patronizing him or her and turn to vendors whom you find reliable. You acknowledge having bought some nice palms at our event, so you must have found other growers' lists to be fair and accurate. Hopefully, your experience with one grower is an anomaly.

Finally, I would trust that because of your concern over a vendor's marketing tactics, we can count on you to volunteer to devise, implement and monitor a foolproof solution for our next sale. We count on the involvement of our members to improve every aspect of our plant society.

[waykoolplantz]

I would hope a well placed word from the "organization" might be the most efficient solution.

Indeed...our funds have been spent elsewhere...tho below the amount allocated.

By now I would have expected a PM from you...which i feel would have been better than posturing here.

It might show genuine concern

[Mandrew968]

Mike, Lenny basically put this palm sale out there on his own--considering, he did a fantastic job. I admit, the last paragraph was a reach/poke, but it is the SFPS's stance to implore our members to be a part of what is an all a volunteer situation. I maintain to all who listen, that Mike Harris "waykoolplantz" volunteers with the SFPS in huge boat loads, when he graciously invites our society to his World Class Garden. I personally, appreciate your criticism and have since sent you a PM so as we can hash this out the best way we can--no one likes to drive all the way out for something that is not there! I understand and wish I could have made it out...