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I hope so. Because I just came across a deal I can't say no to. Once things can go outside and stay outside I'm fine, and if I was physically ok enough to drag everything out and back in I'd be fine - but if I was that physically ok I'd be working and would definitely not be this involved anyway

Encephalartos Whitelockii E Kisambo E Nati x Hor ALL SOLD

A surprisingly pleasant 85F at 5:32PM.. Immediate forecast, thru the start of next week at least, looks locked in.. More breeziness tomorrow though. Beyond that... some interesting ( but fun to glare at ) " scare - cast scenarios " being tossed around in the model runs today related to the potential return of the heat later on, ..particularly, today's 18z runs from the GFS, AIGFS, and EC - AIFS.. *** Keep in mind: this far out, while each is something to watch over the coming days, NONE of these particular model run outcomes are to be taken seriously. **** Important reference points, particularly for the AZ low desert cities: 582mb heights = Surface /2m temps generally landing somewhere in the 80s ..maybe a few 90s. 585mb heights = Mid 80s / more 90s.. 588... Widespread, " Somewhere in the 90s " kinda heat, isolated / widely scattered readings reaching 100 possible. 591... Upper 90s likely / 50%+ chance of widespread 100s / Some possible 100+ readings. AIGFS = ..The tamest: Relatively flat ridging across the Southwest / Troughiness over the Pac N.W. helping to keep the ridge subdued.. Would get warm of course, but nothing too crazy.. GFS = Middle of the road: Building ridge but still somewhat subdued ..thru this run at least.. Warm, ..about to where we've been so far, maybe a touch hotter. 588mb heights centered just to our west / southwest rather than overhead. EC - AIFS = What the heck is this model seeing: STRONG and pronounced ridge w/ 591mb heights slung over Eastern AZ / Western NM / and TX, and far Northern MEX.. 585mb height line reaching the SF Bay Area / Salt Lake City area. = Would be pretty early to see such a strong ridge develop over the area. Surface temps in this scenario from both Tidbits and Pivotal reach / breach 100F locally. Should this particular thought become reality, and we saw temps reach / exceed 100F, it would occur a few days earlier than the date it actually occurred, March 26th, 1988. 100F also represents the hottest reading ever recorded in March. ..We'll see which ..if any.. of these scenarios lies just beyond the reliable forecast horizon.. That said, ...the way this year has started off, can't toss this outcome / something close to it in the dumpster just yet, either.

They do look yummy 😄 😄 . So, the inside of the butia seed is edible? I knew that about the fruit but wasn't aware about the inside. I have tens of thousands of them so i will definitely try some.

March 4, 2026 This was a very warm winter, constant heatwaves with temperatures in the 80’s. I only ever used the AC 3 times last summer and I used it with this last heat wave when it got to 90f. This big one shot out a new frond. It’s getting really wide. There was a night where it got to like 44f since I last posted and you might be able to see the bronzing on the older fronds if you look closely. This yellow one is looking really good I think. I have been pumping it full of fertilizer constantly…I think it responds to that. Ever since late January, the White fly for the most part stopped attacking this one. I think that means it’s very healthy because of all of the heat and fertilizer because white fly attack weak plants. I should probably plant it soon in ground. I just have no idea where such a big plant could fit. It might replace the inga in the front. This one has had constant issues with white flies. It’s not growing much but that is what it did last year too.

Am I the only one who thinks these look so yummy? Butia seeds especially if you have tons I’d recommend trying one. There like a more buttery but less flavorful coconut.

You are likely correct. I was moving quickly and have the tendency to sometimes not be precise when it comes to palm identification. When I had decided to target Christmas palms, I did notice that there were numerous tall and slender palms with crown shafts similar to Ptychosperma elegans that I attempted to avoid in this group of pictures. After looking at the particular specimens that you mentioned, I believe that you are correct. What species do you believe this to be?

I don’t think these are Adonidia.

I also have a teddy bear growing in Phoenix it should do fine in your area!!

I bet they do better than expected. The warmth in your climate in Lakeland will overcome that cold event. Best

One of my favorite palms, but here, only 1 or 2 of mine are going to make it. The rate of death here after the last event will be roughly 9 out of 10. The good thing about them is they are easy to replace.

It improves your chances if the north is colder but hardiness can be fickle!! Correlation vs causation and all that. An example of not purely genetics reason is a tropical species might be in a microclimate or heat island that simply allows it to survive better than a spot over where it may struggle. I make 'plant location and climate' one of my selection considerations myself.

20 minutes!

There’s definitely an argument to be made that much of Southern California, is desert adjacent. I remember there was an article claiming LA is a desert and the journalist even did a thorough follow up defending her stance with university professors on biome and habitats. Most said technically it was not a desert, but shares many characteristics. My inlaws live on Edwards Air Force base in the real desert. Im fascinated by the flora. The desert has it own beauty that may not fall into the norms of what is considered a beautiful landscape. But when you experience a desert sunset, or see the beautiful poppy’s swaying in the wind. Its a rough, tough, yet beautiful landscape. Joshua tree national park would be equivalent to Hawaii for a cacti nut. So many varieties SCV is ever expanding as hoards of people move north for suburban life. It’s safe, clean and has good schools. LA after the pandemic got real bad. SCV feels secluded and still close enough. There’s a huge housing tract right behind magic mountain that spans all the way to the 126. Back to the palms. Im purchasing a small teddy bear palm. Anyone familiar? I plan on planting it on a north west facing wall. This area is always shaded by the house and retains moisture. I want an entryway palm.

If this is the palm I'm thinking of I believe that it's Livistona decora. L. chinensis and australis typically have white to cream colored flowers. If you can check out the fruits when they ripen this fall I'd expect them to be spherical in shape and shiny black. If it is chinensis the fruits will be somewhat oblong and bluish colored. I recently collected some decora fruits that ripened a couple of months ago.

Very nice palms! It's too bad that they're so hard to find in your area @bubba! 😆

If folks here growing them can get away w/ growing Royals, surviving there should be pretty easy, as long as you provide enough water ( ..which should be a touch easier there since your summers aren't as brutal as ours can be. ) Definitely a nice complement to an alfredii.. Passing through S.C. numerous times, i myself would classify the area ..and anywhere south of -roughly- Ventura, as an " intermediate " mix between really dry / overall warm Mediterranean and desert, leaning " definitely more desert " as you head further inland and further south. Getting out on trails and taking a deep dive into the Flora / animals encountered, you can see obvious connections between both eco- regions in what you'll observe, esp as you move inland from the immediate coast.. While lumped in with " general " Chaparral, the Sage -dominated section of that habitat type that dominates the landscape in S. Cal is considered semi arid / subtropical, rather than a " true " med - dominant Chaparral type. ..Arid in the sense that it gets less winter rainfall compared to Chaparral habitat located further north, subtropical in the sense that many of the dominant plants found in that plant community are frost sensitive and arose in Baja / AZ and mainland Mexico before diversifying as they spread out from places of origin. Look around enough and you'll find various Cacti and " desert -y " plant genus things like Nolina / Agave and Yucca ..Not Just Y. brevifolia ( Joshua trees ) either tucked within all the sage / Sumac, etc " typical " plants you'd expect to see in that habitat type there. When slightly wetter, Ocotillo was another desert -associated plant that could be found in w/ that area's chaparral sub- type, up to about your area, closer to the coast, than they do presently as well. Creosote can be encountered in everything from the hyper -arid deserts near palm springs / areas right next to the north end of the Gulf of CA, to much wetter areas in Mexico, and TX, and has recently shown up near Bakersfield, and east of Reno, NV. All areas it occurs could be considered arid, but not all are considered " desert " We even have remnant chaparral habitat in mid elevation parts of the state w/ numerous plant sps / near relative species that occur both in S.Cal and here. At one time, before the region dried out and the deserts expanded in coverage / acted like a wedge shoved between the " cooler " climate -type habitats across the region, , most of AZ looked like many areas of S.Cal do presently.. ..What you might see growing up in Sedona or Oak Flat now, would have been the dominant vegetation type(s) seen around Phoenix and Tucson when the climate was cooler and more winter precip. dominated. Assemblage of plants you see covering the low desert areas of AZ now have only occupied territory in this area for a few thousand years, with most of the iconic things we're known for originating in N.W.' rn Mexico. Evolutionarily speaking, the genus Saguaro arose somewhere down near the present day Sonora / Sinaloa state line, before rapidly expanding north as the climate up this way became more hospitable for their survival. Same thing w/ our native Parkinsonia, Palo Verde species. In recent years, a few Sags. have been found growing inside / near Joshua tree N.P. ..and in a few other areas further north than their " assumed " current range. Under a warmer climate scenario that includes x or y deg. westward expansion / general intensification of the Monsoon region, their range may expand over a much greater area of the Mojave desert ..essentially replacing Joshua trees ...which will be in retreat as the " more moderate " conditions they prefer retreat from the region in many areas. ..Anyway, lots of interesting things to ingest / digest when it comes to this stuff.. Back to the palms, ....As long as you have the space and can provide what they need, why not give a royal a try.. Lastly, ..I will say one thing about Santa Clarita ..specifically the Valencia area / area near Magic Mtn and the 5. Your streets are NARROW as heck, lol.. ...Pulling in /out of a couple places in a rental car when passing through this past December made me sweat a little. Kept thinking to myself ..." Did they build these streets for dwarfs " 😂 ..Can't believe they're is still major construction going on along the 5, just south of Valencia.. I remember seeing them tearing things up in that same area back in ...2013.

I saw this unique specimen wandering around today. The groundskeeper says that it goes off like this every year. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

For reasons, unknown, this elegant palm does not receive much attention or admiration. I decided to take some shots today of ordinary specimens here in the hood:

Do you know what species of pandanus it was?

I'm almost done with my clean up in the garden. Most plants are already in the recover process, some are still hiding until soil temperature is above 60°F at night. As far as rain goes , doesn’t look too promising. We might get some isolated rain showers up to 0.05" in our area but from my experience it's often less or nothing at all. I can't say it often enough but we're going to continue this cycle unfortunately. Our water reservoir levels are at a steady decline . Guadalupe River level is low so are other rivers , some like the Frio River and Medina River almost vanished like a ghost. River rock beds dominate the landscape. What we need is more than just a storm system .

Do you ever just play the all Metallica channel??? Love that one!

Good information, I didn’t know that about Arizona. My brother lived in Phoenix for many years and my niece was born there. I know some areas are mountainous forests like flagstaff. I would say most of so cal could be considered a desert to many. How it’s differentiated here is rainfall and flora. Desert regions have Joshua trees creosote bush, that don’t grow natively in non desert regions. Non-desert areas have Chapparral and Coastal Sage Scrub. Contrary to popular belief, the beach cities in California have the same flora as the inland valleys. They just have a more temperate climate in the winter. It is fascinating to research the many climates in California. Northern California has rain forests, but also semi-arid dry climates like Stockton. I didn’t know that about Madagascar having opposite rainy seasons. Thanks for the correction. Whats your experience with Royals? Do you think they would compliment a Alfredii?

What is your monthly water bill?