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I visited La Carbonera (aka Tochecito) earlier today, and it more than lived up to its billing. These are quick and dirty edits from my laptop, so when I get home in a couple weeks and have my main computer, I'll make sure to update this post with more photos.

And now back to the house, looking over some of the garden from the side lanai. This is where the orchard meets the ornamental: and looking west as the sun sets: Thanks for looking!

In my area , it has been very dry . My daughter in San Diego has had rain already this year but here at our place , it has missed us. Saturday it rained lightly , not a gully washer but steady , light rain. Sunday I went out and just enjoyed the ambiance. The cool , damp feeling of nature watering my garden for me! I am pretty good at watering but I can’t compete with nature and rain. The nurturing of the rain after the brutal , harsh wind we had not long ago is very welcome . I just had to get out and enjoy. Harry it started with a walk down the west side of the house Oh , look! A new leaf emerging on my Pritchardia! The Chrysalidocarpus Lutescens enjoyed the rain as did the front yard!

I usually walk the entire garden in the morning and the evening with the dogs and wanted to share some photos First stop was to check out this massive flowering Chrysalidocarpus. Barely trunking but flowering like crazy and a very large palm already. Check out the size 10 shoe for scale on the second photo. around the corner and lining the fence is a row of Chrysalidocarpus Sp Mayotte and here’s one of them. Most likely a hybrid as I have 2 very different looking palms as Mayotte grown from the same seed batch. This looks like a “white triangle” type hybrid: Chrysalidocarpus Robustus getting to the size that it will really get going now:

Off to the side is this planter with Ptychococus reaching for the sky. Very fast growing palms here. Turning off the driveway to head back into the garden where I did my first rock work to divide what was a hillside into terraces: New Caledonia planter with a couple of Chambeyronia (Kentiopsis) pyriformis on each side or a narrow path through the planter: the Madagascar planter is next to the New Cal planter and a favorite there is this Chrysalidocarpus Robustus Hybrid. Orania Trispatha is on the left of it:

Bumping this thread……my Pyriformis is looking better and better with every leaf. I noticed the new bronze leaf today. This guy was dug from @Dusty CBAD’s pad a year + ago as a nice 5G. Love the shape of this plant. Top 5 for me here in Southern California. Let’s see some updates or New to the Thread Pyriformis people. -dale

Into the “jungle planter” which is the first area planted about 3.5 years ago. This was all just bare grass hillside originally. Filling in nicely and creating pathways through it all now for the dogs and myself: Rocky 2.0 stopped to check out this crazy mutant Chrysalidocarpus Malcomberi Hybrid that has decided to split like crazy: Coming out of the jungle path you see Metroxylon Amicarum: looking down the driveway. Chrysalidocarpus Prestonianus hybrids on each side: further down the driveway are Chrysalidocarpus Hovomantsina on each side:

Today the first fruit and seeds finally produced off the Jubaea Palm I planted from seed in 1984. It took 40 years from seed to mature Jubaea to produce the fruit and seed. 40 years is a long time to get a crop, but thats the way. By the way, can anyone tell me where which eye has the embryo? There are two eyes close together and a third further away.

I have been collecting seeds of this chambeyronia for a seasons now. I have known about this chambeyronia for over thirty years in yard in coff# harbour always admiring it as drove past keeping an eye out for seeds when the time is right. So one day i knocked on the door and was greeted by a elderly lady by the name of Johanna very interesting to talk to originally from California an old hippie lady from way back with many tales of the 70s with a wonderful view of life. As you talk to a person you learn more about them. I offered some gardening services I could do in return for the seeds seeing the job that had to done I turned around to see the most eclectic mosaic that should be in an art gallery amazing what a piece of art. I asked about it did it have a name no she replied just a piece of art from another world that she visited she told me truly amazing what a wonderful lady with such a beautiful life she has lived, it’s wonderful to meet such humble happy people and the best bit was it was from a palm tree that I got to meet her. I could see vision well.

I did the SAME thing this evening! I was working in the garden (new garden so everything is small right now) and it was somewhat cloudy, but getting darker, and I thought the colors looked really nice and snapped a quick picture.... And then I saw this thread.

Roystonea oleracea

Taking a look at this old post. Here are pics of the Rophalostylis sapida Chatham I planted out , after 20 uears

Hello again, I attach some random pictures from the last weeks, so you can have an idea of what has been going on.

Bactris militaris is looking good

Ceroxylon quindiuense, small 5-gallon, March, 1983

Slaving away in the garden, look up, and I thought it would make a purty picture. Chrysalidocarpus (Dypsis!) lutescens “Oddball” (my pet name). Show us yours!

Clinostigma samoense (aka warburghii) Kerriodoxa elegans Chrysalidocarpus pauciflora (I think that is the correct name -- aka "Orange Crush") All these photos are a few years old now, palms have grown. Ask me again tomorrow and I'll have 3 different favorites. 😄

I'm lucky to have acquired these 3 uncommon Syagrus from a dear friend who wishes to remain anonymous. They arrived in pretty bad shape after a long trip bare root, but have recovered nicely over summer in my little greenhouse. (Santosii spent nearly 2 months in customs and arrived barely clinging on to life). I'm bringing them indoors to not risk losing any over winter in Central California 🙃 Has anyone had experience with any of these species? I will keep them potted for some time but I would eventually like to put them in the ground if they seem to be hardy enough.

Los Angeles

I paid an extravagant sum of money for a small start of this plant in 2021, but now I am gratified that I did purchase it. Here is the first flowering. It took a long time to really get established with active growth. It grows over a huge Platycerium bifurcatum in the crotch of a Metrosideros excelsa. My only complaint is that it wants to just sprawl outwards, and less to grow vertically up the tree branch structure.

Coming out of the Madagascar area you arrive at the Jungle Planter that I mentioned previously. This was the first area planted out about 3.5 years ago. There are 5 Areca Catechu in this area, all from dwarf seed and you can see that they are not dwarfs! A couple of them I call semi dwarf due to their tight ring spacing and stockier over all size. more of the Jungle Planter: Once past the Jungle area you arrive at the top of the driveway with these Chrysalidocarpus Lastellianus: Across the driveway and now walking down the other fence line. This is the backside of the planter with the tall Ptychococus shown previously. Verschafeltii Splendida on the right: Heading down the fence and towards the ocean, this fence line is also lined with Pinanga Coronata. On the right are a couple Normanbya and then 3 Hyophorbe Indica Red: A closer look at the Hyophorbe Indica Red: And the final stretch now will one day be a narrow tunnel with P. Coronata on the left and on the right is a row of 10 Euterpe Oleracea: thanks for looking!

Thought I’d post a couple of recent photos of this Australian palm that’s been in the ground for 14 years. It’s been a steady grow here in East Hawaii and is robust in stature. Might be a few years yet before it starts trunking. Check out the shove for scale. Richard posted photos of his sprouts a few weeks ago, the transition is slow, but well worth it. Tim

Pritchardtia “lanaiensis”

Orania trispatha emerging out of the jungle. Tim

Great place and very well taken care of, should’ve came more often. Lots of rare plants and palms such as the Lodoicea maldivica, which I forgot to take a picture of. The butterfly garden was beautiful as well. My only mistake was not taking enough pictures.

Pinanga caesia Lanonia dasyantha Basselinia eriostachys

Here is another of my early days of hunting palms. I took this photo behind Alligator Alley in Oklahoma City in 2010. They had a nice Trachycarpus surrounded by bamboo that had me pretty amazed. I didn't realize just how many Trachycapus killing winters the next 14 years would bring to Oklahoma, of course. I was just excited to see if I could grow something that cool.

Pretty excited about this one - looks like my Hedyscepe is starting to go vertical.

Here is Joey #2 and the last photo shows their proximity. Tim

I just had some guests come by for a short garden tour and my friend Josh noticed something that I missed. My Ravenea julietiae is pushing out it's first flower spathe. Since this genus has male and female plants, it will also be a revelation on which sex my plant is. It will be several years before my other one catches up and i find out if I have both sexes or two of the same.

Here’s my Baueri I planted out about 3.5yrs ago during Covid. It was a nice 15G but as you can see, it’s grown great for me. It’s really starting to fatten up and I think in the next year I’ll have positive ring trunk. Let’s see your Rhopalastylis. little before and after here. First picture is Feb2021, next few were taken last week -dale

As you leave the Pacific Islands planters you approach the Madagascar planter on the right. On the left, next to Rocky 2 is one of three Chambeyronia (Kentiopsis) Oliviformis: Chrysalidocarpus Sp. Ambanja: Chrysalidocarpus ifanadianae on the left and Blue Decipiens / Betefaka on the right, with the Robustus Hybrid behind it: This photo is for @iDesign, Chrysalidocarpus Decipiens Hybrid. Setting seed now and I need to try to germinate to see if it’s good:

I became interested in palms (and plants in general) as a young 20 year old living in Region IV of the Philippines. After my 2 years there I returned to Oklahoma and collected a few tropical house plants that reminded me of the Philippines. It was a few years later, when I was neck deep in a long college program, that I discovered that there were some cold tolerant palms out there. I bought a handful and received more little seedlings from other enthusiasts in the area. Knowing I wouldn't own a home of my own until after college, I planted my first palm in the ground at my parent's house in East Central Oklahoma. It was a triple Sabal minor that I found at a big box store. One of the three growing points died pretty quickly, but the other two live on: It sits on the north side of their home in a zone 7 area. It gets no fertilizer, irrigation, or intentional mulching. About 12 years later though, they are still going strong. If you are able, post pics of the first palms you planted. Feel free to share a little bit about what led you to becoming a palm enthusiast.

TODAY

Today it’s a Metroxylon, L grandis 2x, and L glabra var glabra

@Las Palmas Norte@Scott W@Dwarf Fan@CascadiaPalms@SailorBold@kinzyjr@Fusca Thanks to all for such kind words and thoughts. To be honest I had no idea what I was doing 40 years ago when after buying small plot of land here on the Harbor Bench, that two sprouted Jubaea would ever grow into trees and produce seed nuts. I was told that when the seedlings went into the ground to be sure and give them plenty of room because when they get older they take up space. I planted both seedlings in their own 20 by 20 foot space, and they used every inch of it. The Palms were fertilized twice a year for the first 20 years, after that I stopped fertilizing as the palms were getting bigger and fertilizing them was getting expensive. Without doubt of all the trees, plants, fruit and gardening my wife and I have done, these two Jubaea are the most precious of all. There is never a day that goes by that we don't look and enjoy these two beloved Palms, and that is something all Palm lovers understand.

Southern California Joey checking in! Mine has actually been catching my eye a lot lately. So much so that I'm testing it out in a more prominent place in the yard. I bought it in 2021 and initially had it in an extremely sheltered (and mostly hidden) location. But it outgrew its spot recently, and seems to have grown a lot this summer. Here's another shot of it, taken this morning...

A couple of Caryota , Urens to the left , Obtusa to the righ , and a happy Syagrus Romanzoffiana. Most recent fall pic . Brisk , cool , blue sky. Harry

Chrysalidocarpus albofarinosa.

Hello just wanted to follow up this weekend I did get a chance to tackle the project I got a and anodonia merrillii (front) and bentickia nicobarica (back) with some Chinese ground orchids at the bottom

A tall C.onilahensis weeping form at Wollongong Botanic Gardens regards Colin

One of the prettiest Chrysalidocarpus in my garden is this C. arenarum that i got from Jeff Searle years ago. Thought i would add it to this older post. Trunks are black-green and half the width of a C. lutescens. Leaflets are silvery and very widely spaced apart which is indicative of the true C. arenarum i believe. Only pushes 2-3 leaves a year.

I went thru an old photo album and found the only, albeit rather poor photo, of that Windmill palm from 1982. I was just 23 years old at the time but caught the palm bug even before this pic was taken. (Oct.13 1982)

I went on a bike ride around Fair Oaks Ranch (Boerne area NW of San Antonio) the other day, and here are some of the palms I saw:

Easy answer - Dypsis Chrysalidocarpus (that counts as ONE right?) As much as I love my Licualas, Chambeys, Archies, etc... no one can convince me there's a palm genus with more variety in size, shape, color and cool factor as my beloved Chrysalidocarpus collection. Only one of these is my palm (the mealybug) - and mine might not grow to be *quite* as glorious as these (since I'm in CA not Hawaii). But I still love all of them - especially the colorful ones - and think it's the best genus of them all, when taken as a whole. Palms shown: C. carlsmithii, C. baronii "black stem", C. decipiens, C. mananjarensis ("mealybug"), C. hovomantsina, C. onilahensis ("weepy" type), C. leptocheilos ("teddy"), C. saintelucei, C. paucifolius ("orange crush")

A few low-angle-sunlight photos from the past couple of weeks. Some pre-fall cleaning and some post. Fresno

Ha! The best I could do is snap a quick shot on my way to work today with the morning sun coming up. I’ll see what I can do when I get home.

My little corner of delusion today. 'tis the season for new leaves...biggest Euterpe edulis to date! And my Archontophoenix cunninghamiana seedling is looking less and less cunninghamiana 🙃 (but look at that salmon new leaf!)