The 17th Annual Fall 'Ganza - Enabling the Palm Addiction in S. Florida

[Palmarum]

Searle Brothers Nursery, Inc. &

The Rainforest Collection^®

presented...

The 17th Annual Fall Plant Extravaganza!

October 2nd, 3rd, 4th - 9th, 10th, 11th - 2015

 

October 2nd, Friday morning

The morning of a tropical palm & plant sale. There is nothing quite like it when it comes to stirring up excitement, emotions and plant-induced fervor. I think it is a universal feeling shared around the world when it comes to experiencing the driving force to both showcase unusual species and the search and the desire to procure them. The nursery received an unusual amount of heavy rainfall two weeks prior to the sale and luckily, it was anticipated. The set-up for the 'Ganza was started early so everything could be made ready in the advance of any 'unexpected' events. Like with most fall sales, the availability of species was at a high point. With Palms alone, there were 374 species, varieties and forms spanning different sections of the sales area. They comprised a selection that almost broke the record for an Extravaganza, with close to 500 different size groups, showcasing an in-depth degree of production. A few species were available in four different sizes, for example. With all the plants tagged and ready, signs out, etc. the sales area was ready for customers, and they came in force...

 

- 7:54AM - We all arrived early on Friday morning to get everything ready, pull some last minute plants, place some last second signage and straighten a plant or two. It was a few minutes before we opened and everyone took their positions. Andrea and Kathy talk while 'Pops' moves his golf cart out of the way.  

- 7:58AM - Jeff brings his golf cart around and Andrea and I hop on for the ride to the gate. We are seen approaching the gate, so customers exit their vehicles and spread the word that we were coming. A few finish their coffees and stow their phones as they prepare for the speed walk. The skies were overcast with a chance of rain but we figured any heavy rain would be due later in the day, if at all.

- 7:59AM - We reached the gate and everyone took their positions as Jeff turned the golf cart around...

- 7:59AM - Jeff and Andrea greet everyone as Andrea pulls the chain through and opens the gate. The customers pour through almost overtaking Jeff before he could get back to the golf cart.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 7:59AM - "And Away they go..." The first group of customers waiting at the gate entered the nursery and made their way down the main road. Others who were not in as much of a hurry began exiting their vehicles.

- 7:59AM - "Speed up, slow down..." Acting as pace car, Jeff kept the cart within a good distance so I could take photos.

- 7:59AM - Keeping up with us was Dumbo2, pure breed food hound and one of the nursery guard dogs.

- 7:59AM - We reached the point where Jeff wants to get ahead of the crowd so he take his position in the sales area, and I jump off acrobatically without hurting myself.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 8:00AM - The crowd moves closer to the sales area. Customers begin to plan their routes to their favorite sections. Karen looks on while waiting near the registers as Carlos puts his phone away anticipating the planned chaos.

- 8:01AM - The first part of the crowd reached the intersection and customers began to split off in different directions. Most were either heading towards the Croton section (where I was standing) or moved quickly to the shadehouse side-entrance to get after the palms. Others went after bromeliads, some ran past me to get at the orchids, a few stopped at the tropical fruit trees and some went instantly to the first flowering plant they saw. Lew Burger got ahead of his wife Cathy to look through the Croton selection, with Jose in between them.

- Forum member Randy Wiesner (palmislandRandy) paused for a second to say hello to Jeff.

- Customers continued to enter the sales area as more continued to arrive.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 8:04AM - I was quickly summoned into the shadehouse by collectors looking for specific species. One species was Kentiopsis pyriformis which was located near the end of the sidewalk. Lew grabs a 7 gallon specimen and loads it into his cart.

- 8:13AM - Customers were shown to the species they had on their wishlists and they would often stop along the way to ask, "What is that?", pointing to a palm they didn't have on their list.

- A 7 gal. Johannesteijsmannia altifrons and a 3 gal. Archontophoenix purpurea sit on a customers cart.

- 8:24AM - The tables are always a huge draw as they hold the rarest of the rare and those species available in only small sizes. On the right, Volunteer Jim Glock helps customers find the species they are looking for.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 8:24AM - It didn't take long for carts to become mobile holding areas along the sidewalk. This usually happens as it can take too much time for collectors to run to the holding area and back while doing their initial search and grab. We recommend getting your plants to the holding area, if you plan on leaving your cart unattended for long. At this point, the trusty Rubbermaid wheelbarrow contained a group of 1 gallons, including a Calyptrocalyx yamutumene, a tall Lemurophoenix halleuxii, and a Loxococcus rupicola.

- 8:28AM - The 1 to 3 gallon sizes makes collecting fun.

- 8:33AM - A group of brand new carts were added to the ranks this fall. The carts get used heavily during the Extravaganza events and suffer some serious wear and tear. This one was parked along the side road and held a collection of Crotons.

- 8:36AM - The side road quickly became a parking lot for loaded carts. Some were vying for space while others were in the process of being taken to the holding area.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 8:37AM - Some of the largest palms were among the first to sell. The large trunking palm in the center cart is a Bentinckia nicobarica.

- 8:38AM - Looking through the plants on someone else's cart is a common occurrence. It leads to the common phrase, "Where did you get that?"

- One stash grows and grows, no pun intended. The Mt. Lewis King and the Joey were joined by a tall, thin Dypsis pinnatifrons, a Clinostigma sp., a spine-laden and stilt-root-sporting Verschaffeltia splendida, a large Carpoxylon macrospermum, a banded Caryota ophiopellis, a Pritchardia sp., and a Licuala peltata var. sumawongii. This load was slowly on its way to the holding area.

- The entrance to the main shadehouse was a hub of activity -- where the shadehouse Palms, the Crotons, the Aroids, and the Tropical Foliage plants intersect. With his coffee in hand, volunteer and FM. Tim O'Donnel (kwtimo) shows a customer to the section on the right.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 8:38AM - Carts move on to the holding area, towards the right, as more customers arrive.

- 8:55AM - Another large selection of Palms gets collected along the shadehouse sidewalk.

- 9:09AM - The sidewalk intersection by the tent continued to be saturated an hour after opening.

- 9:10AM - The first part of one flagged order gets combined and transferred from carts to trailers. It takes a little while, as the large carts take time to navigate the crowded sidewalks. Jeff assists with loading a 15 gal. Raphia farinifera.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 9:10AM - This load had an incredible selection of Palm species. Some were specimens we only had one of. There are way too many to name here.

- 9:11AM - The load moves out to join the rest of the order, being marshaled by the holding area.

- 9:47AM - Between the two shadehouses, another order gets pulled and placed on a trailer. It included a 7 gal. Licuala peekelii, and a 7 gal. Hyphaene coriacea among other palms.

- 9:50AM - Landscape designer Candy borrows some real estate in the Holding Area to work with a customer on a design idea.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 9:51AM - Trailer by trailer, cart by cart, order by order, plants move through the carefully designed and executed checkout process.

- 9:53AM - Always ready for the camera, Carlos gives a 'thumbs up' as he drives another order up in line.

- Amber Searle writes up the order, or orders, as the case may be.

- Keeping an eye on everything, Larry Searle makes sure the process runs smoothly.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 9:54AM - Often when it gets busy, different lines form on route to the registers. Sometimes they tend to converge all at once and everyone works to keep it all organized. On the far right, Amber separates different orders as Larry and Jaime come over to assist.

- 9:55AM - Customers tend to gather in different spots throughout the sales area as they talk plants with event personnel, friends, family members, etc. This has always been one of the core aspects of the Extravaganza. We will often spend much of the time talking about plants, society events, Biennials, and everything else one could imagine. On the right, Lew and Cathy discuss the plant world with Tim. 

- 9:59AM - Sometimes a certain species deserves a bit more flair and attention than normal. There were only two (2 gal.) specimens of Licuala sallehana out for sale and the species was showcased with three signs. One plant was grabbed quickly during the opening minutes of the sale, leaving one at this point on Friday morning. Now it's three cards for one plant, but the palm deserves it.

- 10:04AM - The three-size grouping of Hemithrinax ekmaniana had a premier spot at the side entrance to the shadehouse. Their curious nature, very slow growth rate and the history behind the species captured a lot of attention for the palm. These details eventually led to the 1 gallons being the only ones left...

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 10:18AM - The ground orchids were a popular plant throughout the 'Ganza, especially so on Friday morning. This group of 'Berry Banana' was pulled for restocking at 10 o'clock in the morning to replace those already sold...

- Amadeo had to wait for a lull in the crowd to pull the trailer to the spot.

- 10:43AM - A customer grabs a Normanbya normanbyi and hauls it to a waiting cart along the side road.

- The parked carts began to take up more space in front of the Croton section. Tim keeps the spacing manageable.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 10:45AM - "Hey Candy, how many customers are you helping at once?" I caught a instance of Candy as she was moving through the shadehouse. She was helping at least two groups, maybe a third, simultaneously.

- 10:54AM - She would typically assist with one customer's design idea at a time, but she would sometimes have more than one in queue. She was describing the height of a plant with her hand.

- Sometimes, just having your stash close to the holding area was sufficient. Some were in too much of a hurry to run the cart in through one of the Holding Area entrances and unload. 

- 10:57AM - I was moving back towards the shadehouse when I saw a wall of color coming towards me.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 10:57AM - On the right, volunteer and FM. Ron Kiefert (Moose) was moving his collected stash of Crotons towards the holding area. He had an entirely new batch of plants for entry into Mooseland. In center frame, collector Steve was carrying a 3 gal. Reinhardtia latisecta.

- 11:01AM - Moving to and fro through the shadehouse, one would have to meander through carts and customers. I was guiding a collector to a species along the sidewalk when we passed a cart loaded with various Palms and plants, including a 7 gal. Kentiopsis oliviformis, a 7 gal. Beccariophoenix fenestralis, and a 3 gal. Saribus rotundifolius, among others.

- 11:25AM - In one trip back towards the entrance, I came across an enthusiast that preferred the larger sizes while collecting. One of the first grabs was a near full-size and mature, 10 gal. Calyptrogyne ghiesbreghtiana, the popular Vampire Palm. It was quickly joined by three small Talipot Palms, Corypha umbraculifera. 

- 11:55AM - Working as an efficient duo, the two collectors went through and grabbed many of the larger, specimen Palms. On the center cart on the left side, lain a much larger Talipot Palm, followed by a 10 gal. Tahina spectabilis on the right, and the previously shown 10 gal. Hemithrinax ekmaniana on the left corner. They came knowing what they wanted and where to get it.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 11:55AM - Time to move it all to the registers. Two, 3 gal. Coccothrinax borhidiana were added at the last minute.

- 11:58AM - Tim helps with that other loaded cart while Jim walks past on the left, heading towards the Heliconias.

- 12:01PM - Inside the Holding Area, Jeff gets assistance with tallying up an order.

- 12:02PM - The other larger specimen order gets transferred from carts to a trailer and takes a position in line at the checkout.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 12:03PM - A large, 15 gal. Cuban Petticoat Palm, Copernicia macroglossa, was one of the last specimens to be transferred to the trailer...

- There was a bit of a traffic jam at the checkout so the movement slowed down a bit.

- 12:05PM - It was up to Amber to add up the large specimen order.

- It was lunch time on Friday, and many involved with the event, including Michelle, never saw a break all morning.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 1:12PM - After lunch time, [burp] the activity level continued to be quite busy for most of the afternoon hours. Occasionally, a special loading route is required through the Holding Area. A customer will create a stash of large material that is not easily transferred to a waiting golf cart or tractor. A path is made through the Holding Area and the tractor (with trailers) is driven through an entrance and to the stash, where it is loaded. Antonio carries and loads a 7 gal. Old Man Palm, Coccothrinax crinita.

- 1:13PM - You want Triangle Palms? We had them until they all sold. One customer wanted five at a time. (Dypsis decaryi)

- I turned around from taking the shot above to see the procession of the tractor and trailers slowly inch forward through the Holding Area; getting loaded with more and more plants.

- 2:21PM - That's red. A specimen of Areca macrocalyx var. 'Mariae' was put on display to showcase the intense red color of the lower crownshaft. This individual had just shed an old leaf sheath (we actually kept it on longer, just for the sale) and the bright red band proceeded to sell the smaller members of the group.

Ryan

[doranakandawatta]

Ryan, it seems we see a very beautiful Areca macrocalyx colored trunk, isn't it?

[Palmarum]

Ryan, it seems we see a very beautiful Areca macrocalyx colored trunk, isn't it?

Yes it is. I tried to capture and replicate the color the best way I could with a photo. I took several photos and chose this one to post, but it was even more showy in person.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:21PM - The popular size of the group were the 3 gallons, as they were dark green and large for the pot. As you can see in the photo, we had to go to great lengths to make sure the Not-for-Sale specimen with the color was not 'mistakenly' grabbed and bought. The specimen was elevated and sitting on another pot for display.

- 2:50PM - When there was a break in the action, time was spent restocking where possible. A 3 gal. Hemithrinax ekmaniana was pulled as the other one sold along with the larger specimen. The entire grouping of Carpoxylon macrospermum that were positioned in the shadehouse sold -- these two 7 gallon plants were pulled to repopulate the species. The palms laying down were Dypsis mirabilis, the recently renamed plants formerly known as D. paludosa. They are still called Candy Cane Palms as a common moniker.

- 3:44PM - By this time in the afternoon, the pace of the sale began to slow down. Friends and volunteers began to relax by the barn, while making plans for the Post Tour, later in the day over at Jeff's house.

- 3:45PM - The Triangle Palms were loaded with other orders and moved through the checkout.

Ryan

[doranakandawatta]

OMG, I am glad I am living far enough.

Are they Dypsis ??? sleeping on the cart?

[Palmarum]

... Are they Dypsis ??? sleeping on the cart?

Correct again, they were Dypsis mirabilis, or Candy Cane Palms.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 3:46PM - The last photo from Friday shows one large order and a few smaller ones going out on two trailers. It was a very busy first day of the event as we saw collectors, enthusiasts and plant people of all kind throughout the day. We continued to pull more plants were we could, both rare and common, to prepare for Saturday.

Post Tour - Jeff Searle Residence

- 5:28PM - We finished up prepping for Saturday and polished the sales area for another day of organized chaos. As staff members, friends and volunteers finished what they needed to do at the nursery, we all gradually moved over to Jeff's house for the Post Tour. It is a combination 'walk and talk, drink and think' kind of activity involving the plants seen through the yard. It leads up to a traditionally fantastic culinary feast provided by Jim and Judy Glock. I arrived earlier than most and started looking through the yard by myself, starting by the driveway. This is one of the original Carpoxylon macrospermum planted in the yard. It just recently shed a leaf sheath revealing a mixed, yellow/green colored crownshaft. 

- The palm has grown a lot, and has since reached the above tree line. It has started angling itself so it can find a path up and through the canopy.

- 5:29PM - Across the driveway resides this phenomenally-fast growing specimen of Kentiopsis pyriformis.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 5:30PM - This palm is quite happy and it shows. Every time I see it, it seems to be leaping out of the ground.

- When I got closer to photograph, I notice it was working on its first rings of trunk. This is not even the largest example of the species in the yard. The larger one is near the turtle pens, but it has grown quite large and it is in a spot that makes the palm tricky to photograph.

- 5:36PM - I moved inside to wait for everyone else to arrive. Tim says hello to the Glock's dog Belle and gets sniffed thoroughly. 

- 5:51PM - Those interested in walking the yard, gathered outside on the patio. We picked a direction at random and began the tour. We headed towards the full sun area as much of the conversation focused on palms of the Caribbean. We stopped to admire this Copernicia fallaensis that towers over much of the area. It is noteworthy to mention this palm was relocated just a few years ago and it made it through the process. Jeff commented on the showy newer flush of growth at the top.

Ryan

[Carlos Madrid]

Wow! Lots of great pics.

[palmsOrl]

I had a blast at this year's sale and picked up a good number of nice tropical palms for the garden!  I even made it into the photos (I am the one hauling off the Normanbya for my dad's garden).  Below is a pic of one palm I had on my list, Satakentia now happily in the ground.  There is always such a variety of palms available at the sale it is overwhelming, I wish I could buy about half (or more) of the species sold.  In the future I would like to see even more Pinanga species, as well a greater number of the different Clinostigma species.  I wonder why most of the Roystonea species are so difficult to come by?

[Dave-Vero]

I've been tangled up in Christmas lights for the little Heathcote Botanical Gardens in Ft. Pierce.   I perhaps should have driven down for some crotons, to be floodlighted as Christmas ornaments and raffled or auctioned off later on.

[Palmarum]

I had a blast at this year's sale and picked up a good number of nice tropical palms for the garden!  I even made it into the photos (I am the one hauling off the Normanbya for my dad's garden).  Below is a pic of one palm I had on my list, Satakentia now happily in the ground.  There is always such a variety of palms available at the sale it is overwhelming, I wish I could buy about half (or more) of the species sold.  In the future I would like to see even more Pinanga species, as well a greater number of the different Clinostigma species.  I wonder why most of the Roystonea species are so difficult to come by?

Hey William!

When I was photographing during that stretch of the sale, I thought you looked familiar. I think the facial hair threw me off a bit. I am glad that Normanbya is going to a good home, as it was one of the few remaining specimens of that size. As with any Palm or plant species, availability can be totally random and it is hard to known when certain species will become available. I would love to see more Pinanga species in cultivation. With such a diverse genus of (+/-) 151 species and varieties, there is a range between those that just won't grow here and those that really excel. We don't know which ones will adapt until we get a chance to try them. We had nine species and varieties at the sale and all groups sold at least one plant, with some selling out. With time, there should be more domesticated seed sources that will increase availability.

We had four species of Clinostigma across five size groups and they were popular items at the sale. I remember loading the last specimen of two species onto carts. Between C. exorrhizum, C. harlandii, C. ponapense and C. savoryanum, they represented the more widespread of species in cultivation. A fifth, C. samoense, usually becomes available from time to time. A while back, one could run across a specimen of C. onchorhynchum at palm sales in S. Florida, but infrequently. The five other known species are extremely rare and I have never seen them in cultivation or in a collection, but it would be nice if they did make an appearance one day. I think Clinostigma's should be grown and collected more often. I have had conversations with collectors and enthusiasts that seem to show a hesitation in regards to the palms' sizes and rapid growth rates; worried they will become fragile sky-scrapers over night. I can only see their popularity increase over time. I have indirectly identified members of the genus by way of verbal descriptions at the 'Ganza, by customers who remember "these very tall, graceful, elegant palms we saw while traveling through Pacific island vacation spots." -  "Oh, that's Clinostigma."

I have had collectors ask for other Roystonea species from time to time, but I think the lower demand has kept the semi-rare species out of cultivation. Usually it's R. violacea they ask for, which has become rather hard to get. They are not a priority among seed collectors. Many of the Royal Palms look-a-like when they are small, and do not show their key differences until they are mature, large to tall to massive-sized, trees. This fact has put off collectors who have limited space to work with, even though they would grow in Florida without issue. R. princeps used to be around more often in the 1990's. It would show up at sales and at society auctions as seedlings or small plants. I got a report once of a mature, well-aged specimen of the Jamaican Giant Royal, R. altissima, that was growing in a private collection in Central Florida. It had 'supposedly' succumbed to reasons unknown before it had a chance to fully disperse its offspring, but the report was from long ago and I never heard more about it. The remaining members of the 10-species genus might show up in the future.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 5:52PM - We stepped off into one of the few grass-covered areas of the yard and began the tour. People would often join the tour, then head back to the house, or others would join for a few minutes then head back, etc. There was no set pattern. This Cuban Petticoat Palm, Copernicia macroglossa, greets everyone as they step away from the patio. It is rather hard to avoid.

- There was the sudden idea for a group photo, before we all wandered into the jungle. Andre Joris (rarely seen without food), Judy Glock, Tim O'Donnel, and Jeff Searle. Most of us had our beverages of choice.

- 5:53PM - Immediately to my right, Jeff took a second to point out the mature infructescence of a stately Hydriastele beguinii var. 'Obi Island Form' positioned right next to the pool. This is one of the earlier attempts of this palm to produce seed, so hopefully they will germinate. The crown is growing through nearby canopy and it is difficult to photograph.

- 5:55PM - The Copernicia cowellii is still small... but growing.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 5:56PM - Throughout the day, stories were told from different points of view involving various Caribbean species of Palms. It became the focus of the tour at the beginning. We were guided straight to this Coccothrinax montana that was putting on a clinic on how to grow. Even though it is a rare species, it grows easily in a wide range of situations, seemingly unaffected by changes in its environment.

- It is also "very, cool looking." In addition to its superb crown, it has very thick, broadly-spaced and extremely stiff, leaf base fiber.

- 5:57PM - We were joined by Ron as the tour continued through the full sun area.

- 6:03PM - The conversation drifted from travel stories from Cuba to Biennials, both past and future. I walked over to photograph this Coccothrinax borhidiana that was asking for it.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 6:06PM - We were informed earlier, that the evening's dinner would not take long to prepare so we moved through knowing we might have to cut the tour short at any moment. We entered the jungle heading for one of the palm rich areas of the yard when we came across one of the smaller, but rarer palms in the yard. Jeff likes to use the palm to 'stump' those trying to identify the species in the yard. Everyone had a guess, some closer than others, but in the end they could not get it to genus. It is Wendlandiella gracilis var. polyclada, a cousin to Chamaedorea.

- 6:08PM - A palm one could pick up and hug, carefully. A pot-bound specimen of Johannesteijsmannia perakensis that was quite happy just sitting in this spot. The Joey's do very well when left in containers, along as they are given very good drainage and positioned where they are protected from wind.

- 6:10PM - It was at that rosette stage where the leaves will increase more in width as they grow longer in length. I will never get tired of seeing that leaf shape.

- 6:11PM - We were heading towards the corner of the yard when people hollered for us to come back to the house. We made it back just in time to be greeted by Andrea Searle as she entered the yard, all dressed up. She had a special benefit event to attend later in the evening so she would be leaving soon, missing the Post Tour dinner. She wanted Jeff to take photos of the dinner gathering so she can see what she was missing. Remember that.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 6:16PM - We paused for a moment near Palm Circle and by one of the fire pits to take a closer look at the Aroid growing on the trunk, to Jeff's left. Judy knew the name instantly and it was familiar to Tim. I forgot to write the name down, but the most interesting thing is what they found underneath...

- 6:17PM - Tim had noticed a few old inflorescences deep inside the foliage and when they checked the ground underneath, they found a mini forest of seedlings. Judy goes in for a closer look, while risking exposure to a Moose fart, and I don't mean the cocktail. You can barely see the seedlings, bits of green in the mulch, between Judy's head and Ron's posterior.

- 6:21PM - Deep inside Palm Circle, some of the earliest-planted and rarest species are located here. The dark green leaves of a Licuala sp. 'Timika' seem to absorb most of the light that shines upon it. It is near mature size.

- The leaf segments are distinctly pleated and there are 5 to 7 segments per leaf blade. The center segment is unique, as it has an apical split down the middle, dividing about half the length of the segment in twain.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 6:22PM - The silvery, powder-coated petioles and rachises of the Drymophloeus sp. 'Patipi', sp. 'Irian Jaya'. It is a clumping (and branching) palm of mysterious origin. It should probably be in Hydriastele, whatever the species is. It has flowered, but does so sporadically and I haven't seen it with open flowers, fruit or seed.

- 6:23PM - Nearby, a flowering success on a well-established Calyptrocalyx yamutumene. I witnessed this same inflorescence in flower, back in June of this year, during the Palm Beach Palm & Cycad Society tour. I was wondering if it would produce, and those eight unripe jewels are a comfort to see. 

- 6:24PM - Jeff cradles the fruit in his hand while explaining how well this palm has done in his yard. It has grown dense and tall through periods of shade and sun, and it survived the severe cold spells of 2009 - 2010.

- 6:32PM - We crossed back over to the other side of the yard, listening to our stomachs growl. We knew some of the appetizers were probably ready at this point. I always have to stop at this palm. It is an unknown Licuala sp. It has flowered, but the inflorescences are very small and easy to miss, as they are buried deep in the multiple crowns.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 6:33PM - And then, there were turtles, or more accurately tortoises. We reached the turtle pens to find two of the Spur-Thigh Tortoises, Centrochelys sulcata, in the same pen. They should be in separate areas, but one jumped the grid. The larger one usually pushes and head-butts the smaller one around.

- This is a high speed chase if you're a turtle.

- 6:35PM - After a while, they are separated again. They are getting heavier and harder to move. For now, they snack on a ginger bract thrown in by Ron.

- 6:38PM - A small Cryosophila nana was a recent addition to the yard. It was planted out in full sun from a small size and did not skip a beat. You can still see a few of the older, stretched leaves from when it was under shade and grown in a container.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 6:49PM - "Now that is awesome!" Tim reacts to the immensely satisfying appeal of the robust, yet still juvenile Tahina spectabilis. This specimen has been growing like a rocket. It has developed a very showy glaucous underside to the leaves that stands out when lit, in this case by camera flash. It has also developed a dense, waxy coloration on the petioles and leaf bases. The coloration is thicker and more vibrant on newly emerging petioles, then slowly fades from exposure and wear over time. This palm will only get bigger and bigger.

- We were admiring the palm when the dinner bell rang, figuratively. A chain of calls from the house let us know that the appetizers were out and the main courses were almost ready.

- 6:57PM - Now for the food. As soon as I saw this I had to try it, and I was not let down. This was one of the appetizers, a very good Buffalo Chicken Dip that was served with celery sticks or tortilla chips. It was chicken, buffalo wing sauce and blue cheese all mixed together in the right amounts. It was incredible and I more than made a spectacle of myself devouring it.

- 6:59PM - We all made our way back inside the house where we joined the rest of the group. They were already drinking, eating and relaxing. Most were trading stories of the events of the day. Jim Glock was at the helm in the kitchen as he had everything under control as the main courses were almost out of the ovens. The desserts were done and laying across the island counter top.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 7:04PM - The first main course was a multi-layer, Baked Ziti dish that was very good. There was a ton of food to go around and no one went hungry at dinner.

- 7:08PM - I was taking a closer look at the desserts when I noticed someone already got into the Triple Chocolate Torte. They cut off the end piece without anyone knowing.

- The second course (or first, depending on when you started filling your plate) were Spicy Chicken Taquitos.

- 7:49PM - We took turns stuffing ourselves to extremes. We spent the rest of the evening repeating the process while chatting about plants, the news, offshore hurricanes, etc. People continued to arrive throughout the evening.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 7:51PM - One of the last to arrive during the evening was Andrea's daughter Missy, now pregnant and whose arrival prompted excitement from Jim. He got up in a hurry and headed towards her for a hug. He is seen here coming in for a landing.

- 7:58PM - For those of us not staying overnight at the house, we had a drive home ahead of us. We were about to leave for the night when Jeff remembered he had a photo to take for Andrea. With help from a step ladder, Jeff got up higher and directed everyone to group together by the sliding glass doors and to get into ranks. When we got into position, he took a photo, with a few of us 'directing' him.

Most of us then departed for the night and headed home, waiting on the next day of the Extravaganza...

Ryan

[Missi]

I missed this but plan to make the trip to the spring one!

[Missi]

P.S. Always love your photo stories!

[Peter]

Nice photos of Jeff's yard-good that you got there before it got dark this year.  Killer Tahina!

[Palmarum]

October 3rd, Saturday morning

- 8:06AM - The second morning of the 'Ganza and first of the weekend. The amount of available volunteers increases as does the customer traffic. The morning is not as fast-paced as the day before, but we still had people waiting at the gate. There are collectors and die-hard enthusiasts that could not attend on a Friday that are usually first in on a Saturday, mixed with those who just want first dibs on the selection. Travis Searle stands ready while others dive into donut boxes.

- 8:10AM - Nursery patriarch Frank 'Pops' Searle covers his mouth with powdered sugar as he eats his favorite type of donut.

- 8:18AM - Customers split off into different directions as we warmed up the sales area. It did not take long for plants to get moved to the Holding Area.

- 8:21AM - Kylie Searle decided to do a little shopping of her own.

Ryan