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Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens


RainForestt Robert

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I spent a week in Florida in July. Vacation in Florida in July? The heat and humidity was nothing compared to what I experienced in Washington, DC years ago and I do live in the Caribbean. This was a family vacation, wife and kids in tow. Most of our time was spent shopping, a fact which Jeff Searle found incredible. No PRAs? Well, we did check out the palms at the Miami Zoo and had a quick look at the Searle Brothers Nursery before fire and brimestone, no thunder, lightning and torrential rain fell from the heavens. So a couple of days before it was time to leave Jeff offered to give up his Sunday rest and relaxation for a trip to Fairchild's Tropical Botanic Gardens. Got to get the name right.

I have not been to the many botanical gardens, but these 80+ acres have to rank among the best. It was impossible to cover everything in the few hours we were there. It was enough for me to want to return each time I visit Florida.

I'll start with a view that now adorns my desktop.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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These mature Dioon spinulosum show off developing and pendant cones.

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This D. spinulosum flashes a new flush.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Paul, you might want to look away. There are tons of cycads and I love them. Put just for you I'm going to post some palms now.

Zombia antillarum

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Spines

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Guihaia argyrata from southern China. China never really came to mind when I thought about palms.

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Inflorescence

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Wow! Looks like in paradise. Or how I imagine it may be :rolleyes:

Thanks for the pic!

Mpiodi

Wolfgang Hecht, Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo

4°19'54" S, Tropical, dry season June-September, average temperature 22-26°C,

1378mm average rainfall/year

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These Bismarckia noblis sat at the edge of an expanse of lawn, flanking these Aechmea blanchetiana and purple ground cover.

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When it comes to companion plants for palms, bromeliads, especially massed, are at, or close to the top of the list.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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One of the ponds with sculpture and a potted Cyrtostachys renda. Sorry about the loss of clarity, but I was not really prepared for the rain.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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The garden had numerous Ceratozamias, all resplendent in the shade. Here, Ceratozamia mexicana.

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Ceratozamia miqueliana

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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While I was busy checking out palms, cycads etc., Jeff was taking a walk on the wild side!!!!!!!!!!!

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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A beautiful iris, Iris domestica.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Hyophorbe indica

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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While I was busy checking out palms, cycads etc., Jeff was taking a walk on the wild side!!!!!!!!!!!

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i had heard that jeff was a real ladies man...

the "prince of snarkness."

 

still "warning-free."

 

san diego,california,left coast.

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great pix,robert! that h.indica in yer last pic is a knockout!

the "prince of snarkness."

 

still "warning-free."

 

san diego,california,left coast.

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Robert,

Oh, the memories! I thought you would finally get around to posting these pictures. Their very good, and show the garden off really well. I enjoyed our visit very much and glad I had the chance to go down with you. I completely forgot about the picture of me and my "other" lady friend. :drool: Thanks my good friend........

Say hi to the family.

Jeff

Searle Brothers Nursery Inc.

and The Rainforest Collection.

Southwest Ranches,Fl.

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Thanks Paul, I have quite a few more pics.

Jeff, thank you for taking me there. It was welcome relief from the Daddy track, which I thoroughly enjoy, but a little break is often welcome. Say hello to Andrea from everyone.

If you check out Fairchild's website you will realize that they have some festival or plant sale quite often. When in Costa Rica and visiting Chester Skotak the attendees visiting him remarked about the commercial aspect of Fairchild's operation. You could see bricks an benches "in memory of" everywhere! While a little intrusive I guess this helps with maintainence costs. The garden was certainly well kept. I visited on a Butterfly festival day. There were numerous vendors selling plants for butterfly gardens etc.

Plants to attract butterflies

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Spathoglottis ground orchids

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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I was able to get my Alcantera imperialis fix. Can't wait for my grass pups to become big dogs!

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There were some fine Wodyetia bifurcatas around, but then again, in Florida they are everywhere.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Alcantera odorata is a stunning silver bromeliad.

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More bromeliads.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Another nice vista. This garden is meticulously kept. For the $20 entrance fee I guess that is expected.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Kentiopsis oliviformis. Love the upright leaves of this New Caledonia native.

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Gastrococcos crispa (corojo palm), native to the open forests and savannas of Cuba. It supposedly has edible seeds that taste like cocconut and the leaves are used for thatching. These Cuban belly palms look only a little pregnant.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Dioon holmgrenii from Mexico.

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From a distance I thought that this was a really ugly plant. Closer examination revealed that the new leaves of this Zamia standleyi were attacked by caterpillars of some kind. It is part of the cycle of life but they messed up an amazingly colorful flush. I've always loved Zamias, and Fairchild has a great collection.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Pseudophoenix vinifera from the Dominican Republic. One of the native uses is to produce and alcoholic drink. At the Costa Rica biennial there was so much emphasis on the fruit of Bactris gasipes, which was often served in salads or as an appetizer. Maybe at the next biennial there can be different drinks made from palm extracts.

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The palm was very attractive. This was complimented by the varied colors on the infructescence.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Nothing about these bromeliads diminished my attraction to this group of plants.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Cordyline. The rain really caused the leaves to glisten.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Coccothrinax borhidiana. A special palm. Bummer, no ripe seeds. Probably would not be true to kind in that environment.

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Pseudophoenix lediniana, the rarest Pseudophoenix?

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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This Copernicia ekmanii has some seriously silver leaves! Walking through the garden I constantly kept thinking "I gotta to get me a few of these!"

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Robert,

Fairchild is definitely one of my favorite places. Thanks for the tour and the great photos...almost like being there! And including the photo of Jeff with his girlfriend was a nice touch! :lol:

Bo-Göran

Leilani Estates, 25 mls/40 km south of Hilo, Big Island of Hawai'i. Elevation 880 ft/270 m. Average rainfall 140 inches/3550 mm

 

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Thank you for the pictures.It is amazing the numerous specimens that you pointed out.I especially enjoyed Jeff and Ms. Douglas!

What you look for is what is looking

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Burretiokentia hapala

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Same, from a distance.

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The distinctive inflorescence.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Pseudophoenix sargentii, the Buccaneer or Cherry Palm is a Florida native.

Double

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Single

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Variegated

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The variegated P. sargentii was one of, if not the most, distinctive palm in the entire garden.

Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Pseudophoenix sargentii inflorescence.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Love the decorative pineapple, another bromeliad.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Another nice view.

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I did not get an id on this palm.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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I came to the garden specifically to view Copernicias.

Copernicia fallensis did not disappoint. Can't imagine a more spectacular palm. Hope to see these in habitat one day.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Copernicia macroglossa, the Cuban Petticoat Palm.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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A lovely trio of Copernicias.

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Close up.

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Copernicia prunifera, from Brazil.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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Rhapis excelsa.

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Trinidad!  Southernmost island in the Caribbean.

So many plants, So little space.

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