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A WONDERFUL 88 -92F / Dew Point at 70 / Humidity at 57% around the neighborhood at 3:38PM under humid, partly cloudy skies after some morning rain. Could that be all we see for the day? While last night's / this morning's widespread rain did work over the local atmosphere / Sun coming out later in the day will limit instability - inducing insolation, a check of the afternoon T.C. Satellite picture across the area reveals a couple things that could ...emphasize ..could result in some nocturnal shower / weak storm activity.. 1: Spinny thing hanging out up in the mountains northeast of the valley.. ...North to south flow around the west side of it could push outflows from storms over the higher terrain east of... ..and/or northwest of the valley, towards the valley this evening. ( #2 ) 3: It's weak and may not have any impact up here but, storminess over S.E.'rn AZ could push an outflow north toward PHX ..which could work with any lingering instability / outflows pushing south / southeasterly from the rim to generate showers.. Guaranteed? Not at all.. Nothing ever is when it comes to what storms do.. That said, some of the HRRR / GFS thoughts have been toying with such an outcome so, ..If we see somethin', consider it icing on the cake. If not.. That's how it goes.. As far as totals from last night? well, ..if you live north / east of a line from San Tan Valley to ..somewhere near paradise valley / Cave Creek, you were in the " got a good soaking " part of town last night.. West of PHX? nothing to some light rain.. same story here until this morning when we saw a couple hours of decent rain.. I'll post totals later, after we see if anything more is added tonight / tomorrow morning. Regardless, Weekend ahead looks ..pretty nice for mid July... Cool -ish highs in the 90s / low 100s hang around ..as does the humidity. Storm chances lurk in the background, but will be highest in the mountains. Valley chances may take the weekend off. ...Could be a different story by the time next week starts.. Not guaranteed but models continue hinting at the easterly wave that has been dumping on Cen. TX shifting toward AZ sometime between Monday and Wednesday or Thursday.. If that occurs, rain chances here would increase again. Beyond that, as we approach the end of July? ..We'll see what happens.. Been suggestions we may experience a legit. 5-10 day break in Monsoon season rain / storm activity ..which normally occurs each year, even during the wetter years. If so, obviously, heat will surge again ..though it may stay humid too ..with -at least- low grade storm chances continuing up in the mountains / across southern AZ. Not all models / model runs present the same " hard break " outcome for that time frame so... Regardless of a dry / dry -ish week to 10 day break in activity, that could set the stage for a very interesting August.. More on that later. Another thing to watch over the next few days, particularly in CA.. While Elida ( ..Can see here coming into view on this afternoon's T.C Sat. view.. ) is forecast to stay far enough away from the state as she heads north, a trough expected to approach the PAC northwest coast over the weekend could steer ..whatever is left of her / deepest pool of moisture associated with.. closer to the coast, which could increase shower / thunderstorm chances, esp. near / north of the Bay Area. ...Is the less likely outcome right now, but is something to watch.. At the very least, you'll enjoy a day or two of extra - nice sunset -scapes, while the Sierras see any storms.. Isn't the only E. Pac. storm that could effect the weather there ..or here.. over the coming days either.. Could see another 2 -4 storms form off Mexico over the next week / 2 weeks. ..And lastly....... While some areas have seen some good downpours, definitely no " Worst Storms in 100 years " event for AZ the last few days.. 🤨🤦‍♂️ Why some people ..very gullible folk'.. willingly slurp down hot garbage like this, i'll never understand, though .....i'm not totally surprised, either.. Do better. Life ain't that hard to figure out.

I really like these palms . Jim, those are beautiful . Your twofer (double , joined at the base ) is like mine . For as much root as they put out , they don’t mind sharing space with others. Harry

That is a very nice Cocothrinax. It is amazing to me that palms can sense the difference between even hand watering and a good rain. I just love to go in the garden after a rain. Harry

As time goes on the difference becomes more dramatic haha. It was always way more vigorous than all the others. It also grows more during winter than the others. The smallest green one doesn’t grow at all during winter and spring so it can’t catchup. Also at this point I imagine the big one takes all the sun, water, and nutrition.

I guess it’s even worse than I thought Tracy, ha ha

Very niceeeeeeeeeeee

Yep he's well within queen palm territory too. Lots of big queen palms pre 21 even way up in Atastcocita and Humble. I don't think Clear Lake is that much warmer, maybe 2-5 degrees. On the lower end if there's an advective freeze. I'm also a fan of 75% off queens. Can't beat $7. Mine from the winter 2023 sale are still alive and kicking in cold ole Katy with no protection ever. Cant wait till people start complaining about the annoying fruit drop from queen palms again 😆

There’s probably a 4-7°F difference between you and certain locations in Clearlake. Queen palms are just as cheap or cheaper than Sabals, I paid $4 for 75% off 5 gallons a few years ago . I say roll the dice.😁

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana normally spread their roots far and wide. They can travel 30 feet (over 9 meters) horizontally from the base of the trunk. Yours is already pushing itself out of the small pot. A healthy one will have 8 to 12 inches (about 25 cm) between trunk leaf scars. Your palm’s are much closer together indicating not optimum growing conditions. These palms need constantly wet soil. I’d suggest getting yours in the ground or, at the very least in a bigger and deeper pot. These are in full sun but deep green due to good soil, occasional feeding, and lots of water.

Another one of my Sabal uresanas . This one sourced from NTCHP right before they went out of business

that looks a lot like the Sabal uresana Pat McNeal grew in Central Texas . Some used those exact containers . After he passed a way I bought a number from his business partner and resold to various members. It could be from elsewhere

Recently planted a 4 foot clear trunk TX Sabal that was field dug I have heavy yellow/brown clay at my property. This Sabal came from the RGV and I was surprised when I cut the plastic back from the rootball and seen it was solid black Texas gumbo clay. I need some watering advice, the nursery I bought it from wouldn’t give any guidance I have lost 2 Pindos that were specimens and a huge Sago that I planted here because of over watering I keep reading water water water but I’m certain watering this a lot will kill it Thanks for any help

Ordered one of these, after some hesitation, because of all the money I already spend on too many plants but am very glad I did. Scott sent a beautifully grown plant. Quick shipping and carefully and well packed too. For those of you who have been down the hesitation road before, take it from me, sometimes it can be a long time before that plant you want is ever available again.

Here is a pic of my five Gaussia gomez-pompeis. Seeds collected by a palm colleague "in a cultivated setting" in Cuba in Nov 2006. These five were planted out in Jan 2010. The Podocarpus trees behind them gave afternoon shade until they were partially cut a year ago. Full sun in the morning and early afternoon. The two small ones in back were in near-total shade until the cut and are much smaller and bent toward the available light. All have been in full sun for the last year. The one on the left has had inflors for a couple years but has not developed fruits.

Bret, I was actually having a little fun before I posted the additional photos of the palm. It is one that has been beheaded but I retained the base because I had the orchid attached to its trunk I experienced the same thing with another Archontophoenix cunninghamiana that I cut down a few years ago, retaining the base of the trunk for another orchid. I know that other people have used trunks for planting orchids and bromeliads on without the palm trunk succombing to pink rot. So my question is whether others have used a flame to sear the trunk closed at the top? I know that a flame is used in sealing tiki trunks. So hear is the full Enchilada so to speak of the beheaded king palm. I will probably remove the orchid grouping soon and cut the remaining trunk back to the ground. Any thoughts on how to prevent pink rot of beheaded palms is welcome.

Yea we had a mild June, and even though im further inland we had a lot of June gloom. But perhaps the high heat shocked it, it’s definitely not a water issue. If anything I’ve overwatered. My other exotic palms look wonderful. Im hoping it pushes these new fronds and then it adapts. I had a similar issue with my king palm, and now it looks amazing.

Update to the C. Revoluta Polaroid type.

I put a bar about a foot down and it was watery and slick when I pulled it out. Maybe I’ve been overwatering? I think I shouldn’t have pruned the fronds. I see a new spear and I think the palm is drying the other fronds to have energy to push the spear out. Ugh valuable lesson I learned. I just hope my HOA doesn’t bitch that it looks like I have a dying palm in the front.

I stuck a reebar about a foot down the soil and it was pure water. Perhaps ive been overwatering? I didn’t think it was possible. Im gonna take a week off watering. Let it dry out a little and then deep water. It’s definitely pushing a new spear so good news is it isn’t dead.

So strange and wonderful for a cycad!

We just had our first good overnight monsoon rain of the season. Coccothrinax borhidiana looks especially happy! aztropic Mesa, Arizona

You keep planting queens, I'll stick with Sabals.

Lots of new queens in the Nasa area today including some self sown queens in place of their dead parents. The rest of Houston is slowly following. Let's make it queen palm country again 🌴. Here's a 21 survivor today near Seabrook/Taylor Lake. Building probably helping. Should have a full 270 degree crown in a few more months, just as good as 2020😎. (Mule palms could never look this good)

Those are some awesome examples. Thank you for posting. Dave said they can lose the bottle effect when they get taller but still have the narrowing crown shaft . I won’t have to worry too much about when they get tall , it will be a slow grower in the garden. Harry