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Here’s one I’ve grown from seed. It’s been flowering about four years, and is just now developing seeds. It’s growing away from a big Beccariophoenix, & is surprisingly stout. Nor is it very tall, maybe 2-1/2 meters.

This is a terrible thing to read. I think I first stumbled across this forum (long before I signed up to it) when some palm-related search or other led me to one of his posts, whereupon I found more and more of them, and they were always so useful and thorough and absurdly well-documented. I think it's no exaggeration to say that he was one of the most practically helpful and informative people on here, if not the most. The general principles he employed so successfully with Lytos can be applied to growing all manner of other plants indoors; they were like a revelation to me at the time. I'm very sad I shall be able to read no more secrets from this great sage of indoor palm-growing.

Call it .. " Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Spring 2026, Take ... 2.5 " Various " walking and flying " things seen while roaming the gardens yesterday.... You know it is going to be a good day when the first critter you see after arriving is one of the most tropical - looking hummingbirds one can see in the U.S. Broad Billed Hummingbird, Cyanthus latirostris Presence in this part of AZ has only occurred in the last couple decades. Last time i'd seen this species, 2022 in both Patagonia and Madera Canyon. Plenty of Cardinals up here as well. First AZ Hooded Oriole, Icterus cucullatus encounter / observation since moving here. Scaly friends.. Clark's Spiny Lizard, Sceloporus clarkii Plenty of Greater Earless around yesterday, ...along with un aware of their surroundings people who'd scare them off while in the middle of trying to capture close up shots. Cophosaurus texanus

This is hands down one of my favorite bamboo varieties, its Hinobambusa tranquilans 'Shiroshima'. It's Hardy in zones 6a-8b (Photos from the National Arboretum)

Here’s my Cycas Panz x Debo coming alive. -dale

81F at 6:51PM with a touch of haze / lifted dust in the air from the windy weather across western AZ earlier today.. Forecast for the weekend / headed into next week? ..probably one of the most straightforward forecast we'll see.. Little warmer for the weekend, chop off a few degs. as another trough passes to our north sometime next week. Only question now?, ..When will this " moderated " spring pattern in the low desert end??? .. We'll see, but know it is inevitable. On a side note, CPC released their " April Update Thoughts " for the coming summer ahead.. Salt added, for now, seems the " Wet Monsoon " signal their forecast is increasing. ..We'll see.. Also, ..for those who really < ..really? > want one of those brutally hot n' dry summers? DON"T look over what today's 06Z run of the month to month CFS forecasts on Tropical Tidbits is suggesting for this summer, ..esp once / after July arrives. 😂😁

I have tried growing Vanda coerulea twice. The first one survived a couple of years and the second attempt was similar in duration. They don't seem to like my damp and cool winters. That is a lovely Vanda you have. I am happy that this third attempt with Epidendrum lacustre Panamanian variety is thriving still after 4 years. The flowers aren't especially large or colorful, but I love their structure.

They shouldn't have built that so close to the palm!

One last rant on this topic... Maybe we need to appoint a Palm Ambassador to Queensland...I hear they have palms of many, various and wonderful species up there, but who would know?

....So for as many years as i have been taking mental notes of what grows in the garden here, one of the " standout " rarities, tree -wise, is a small -ish Legume fam. tree from Africa.. One i was somewhat surprised to see growing in the garden at all < ..Was my assumption that AZ might be a touch too dry for the genus. Seems to grow pretty easily in S. Cal though. > Regardless, there they were, growing here and there around the garden, happy as pigs in .... Still, despite near yearly visits in the spring, i'd never seen flowers danglin from any of them, ..until yesterday.. ..I also did not realize the garden has as many specimens as it does ...until yesterday. What is this red flower covered thing lurking behind the Aloes? Well, .... Say 'ello to my little Schotia afra. The highlight of this springs' visit, and a gem of a tree Genus ( Schotia ) . Cat calls n' all r' welcome. As vivid as the " near leafless while flowering " specimens are, no way you or i could miss seeing them.. Far more interesting than flowering Plums / Prune or Quince too. ...Another intriguing ...." What element / combination thereof about this winter triggered these " mystery.. Again, this is the first time i've seen flowers on any of the gardens' specimens. Additional huge plus regarding this Genus ..afra in particular.. Absolute Hummingbird ..and Oriole... magnet.. Hummingbirds were fighting over favored spots in each specimen seen. Would bet Common Yellowthroats, Geothlypis trichas ..a New World, Warbler - esque bird that appears to have recently taught itself how to pollinate Strelitzia while trying to get at copious nectar in the boat - like portion of the flowers in parts of California might also be attracted to these. Other note -worthy species in the genus include S. brachypetala, and latifolia.. Have seen one ..or both?? ..I honestly can't remember.. in flower in S.Cal in the past.. Both are generally taller, and have bigger / wider leaflets than S. afra and it's subspecies. ..Another interesting tree / genus of trees local nurseries should be trialing / have been offering for sale for awhile now. The worn out, nursery ol' timer " ....But, buttt ..it's sloowww.. " excuse? Get over it. Not quite as showy, but pretty interesting itself, Bulnesia retema, a weird Creosote / Guaiacum relative from Argentina that could pass for a Fire Stick -y, South African Euphorb when seedless / not in flower. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Agree with that as well Tyrone. The adversarial approach by AQIS doesn't help matters or encourage people to do the right thing, although I suspect the problem is more about resources than anything else. There's something like 350-400,000 plant species...guess it's pretty much impossible to vet them all for import risk, however you'd think that families with obvious horticultural or economic desirability would be given preference, ie palms, bromeliads, orchids...all the things we love around here! Probably what's needed are deputations to the DAFF by special interest bodies like PACSOA or the Bromeliad Society of Australia presenting a risk matrix of species for import, to help the government make good decisions. But who's going to volunteer for that world of pain, lol?

Espalier?

These 2 Cycads basically never stop flushing and flushed right through the winter. Encephalartos Cleopatra x True blue Arenarius.

I have lots of Cycads flushing right now! Like Dale said this is an exciting time of year. Here is Hor Wood x Are Wood(aka bride of frankenstein) I can definately see the Horridus starting to come through.

When I planted the two (another a few plants down the wall), I realized that it could be a temporary planting due to the ultimate size. I'm just enjoying them while I can. I still have a few inches between the footing of the wall and the edge of the plant, so still some room before they cause a problem. Speaking of big green cycads, my wife actually likes the Encephalartos laurentianus on the other side of the wall best. She isn't a fan of getting poked by my cycads, so that says a great deal. One of my favorite greens is starting to flush now. It will never be as giant as the Encephalartos ituriensis, but with time, it can get big.

Looking for a small phoenix reclinata pure or low chance of being a hybrid. Dm me if your selling any

squashed queen palm

It could be. It's puzzling because there is littoral rainforest nearby but here it has always been a lomandra groundcover in my time. I'm sure it's salty winds causing the burn. When they are sheltered by other plants they are fine, but as soon as they reach a certain height they become exposed and the burn is noticeable.

Quarantine didn’t stop shot hole borer from getting here. Funny how it got to Fremantle first. All that wood furniture coming through from Asia through Fremantle. Then you hear of borers in wooden furniture from Harvey Norman. I think big business are more likely to breach quarantine, not little palm collectors who have no interest in doing the wrong thing and don’t want to import pests and diseases either. We absolutely need quarantine and biosecurity in this country. It’s how they go about the process which is maddening. They should be working with collectors not against them. A case in point is all the wrong palm names on BICON. They’ve been approached to help correct them. They’re not in the slightest bit interested.

Oh and I forgot to ask also, did your Butia that transplanted similarly pull through?

Noted. Sorry to hear about yours. What a bummer. Didn't know their root balls were more fragile than other palms. From what I remember we were careful putting it in, but you never really know. Reminds me of what I've heard about parajubea. I planted one of those recently and it seems the consensus is those absolutely hate root disturbances. So far so good on that one. This mule is confusing me because it seems otherwise stable and I just got this picture of the crown and it does seem the spears (it has 2) are pushing, albeit slowly now at day 16 in ground. I just wish the fronds would stop getting cannabalized. It seems to be stabilizing, but I don't want to get my hopes up just yet. Anyway, thanks for your input. It's good to know going forward. Sorry again about yours.

....." Arizona is so dull and boring that even the rocks suck "... Chrysocolla and Azurite in matrix. Wish my Chrysocolla chunks would weep like these do, lol.. We have lots of rocky spires and Hoodoos here but, in this case, these chunky bastards you're looking at are the weathered down bones of old, deep Tufa deposits laid down when this area was extremely active volcanically. No natural Perlite and imbedded Apache tear Obsidian deposits in accessible parts of Magma Ridge within the garden ..that i'm aware of.. but the mine i've visited is within walking distance of this spot in the garden. Yes, i stare at rocks, too.. Very important for plant nerds to know their local Geology. Rocks are fun to collect as well, ha ha. Anyway, ..... Pink -flowered Form of Bauhinia lunaroides Piscidia mollis, our near -native " Fish Poison Tree " A few Standout Texas / N.E.'rn Mexico Specialties we should see a lot more of in drier location landscapes throughout the southwest... Ehretia anacua Standard, white Flowered Bauhinia lunaroides.. Twist -y Vachellia schaffneri lurking above and behind it. Slim leaf / Nuevo Leon Rosewood, Vauquelinia corymbosa, Nuevo Leon, MEX. / Big Bend region of TX. Really nice form. Texas Pistache, Pistacia mexicana ..Really should be utilizing these in local /nearby drier locale landscapes, rather than the non native species from Chyy - naaahh, ...or other parts of the Old World. Full frontals of the elusive Mimosa martin - delcampoi in all it's bloomin' glory.. Cat Calls welcome, lol. Our favorite TX / N.E. Mex region Legume tree w/ golden balls, Leucanea retusa... >>>>>>>>>> >>>

Yeah, it’s growing at a really fast rate. The Maypan Claude is amazing. I took old photos from when it was planted in November 2 today and using the size of the landscape lighting fixture It was able to estimate bole size and current crown diameter and it’s actually projecting that this is gonna have a 16 inch diameter trunk, which is pretty close to its bole size all the way up we even double checked it with a tape measure and gave Claude those measurements and it gave me a two-year estimate and it’s telling us when it’s gonna flower in the fall

Oh Unfortunately it was on purpose but hes thriving thakfully. I got more plants and they are all doing well