Horticultural Tour of South Florida

[RainForestt Robert]

Attalea crassipatha, a highly endangered palm from a Haiti. IMHO, these palms and the C. fallaensis are the most impressive palms at the center.

[RainForestt Robert]

Caryota sp. that was quite impressive.

I think that this may be a Thrinax sp. The fruit was pretty large.

[RainForestt Robert]

Check out the inflorescences on this Copernicia sp., they are red. The leaf bases are reminiscent of C. prunifera.

Copernicia hospita is a bodacious palm.

Age and strong drink normally have negative effects on spinal alignment.

Coccothrinax crinita

[www.dadluvsu.com]

I think that this may be a Thrinax sp. The fruit was pretty large.

Guessin' Cryosophyla sp.?

[RainForestt Robert]

Thanks for the guess on the palm Bill. I see that it could be Cryosophyla.

There were quite a number of flowering and interesting trees at this facility.

Check out this monster. Bill for scale. We were warned to look out for bees.

[RainForestt Robert]

[RainForestt Robert]

This huge palm was especially attractive, made more so by the presence of FM CuriousPalm.

Check out the black petioles. This palm was in quite a bit of shade. It seems that it should be in full sun.

[RainForestt Robert]

Soon it was time to head to the next stop, but not before a bathroom break. I noticed a name sign that seemed appropriate.

In the parking lot I took this photo which can give you some type of indication of what can occur when you have Royal palms around. Watch out for falling debris.

I noticed cars pulling out heading to the next stop, Redlands nursery, so I hustled to my car. A great tour was about to get even better.

[Moose]

Thanks for the guess on the palm Bill. I see that it could be Cryosophyla.

There were quite a number of flowering and interesting trees at this facility.

Check out this monster. Bill for scale. We were warned to look out for bees.

An interesting side note regarding this tree. It was toppled over in 1965 by Hurricane Betsy - my first hurricane that I was involved in. The photos do not reveal it, the original "base of the trunk" can be seen with some remnants of old roots. This was set to be removed eons ago but because it re-established itself and is connected to an historical event, they have left it. Plus it is kind of weird looking with an interesting story attachment.

Great thread Robert. I would not had bothered to go if I knew you were going to cover it so well! Thanks. LOL

Ron.

[edric]

Great photos, and coverage, thanks for sharing, Ed

[RainForestt Robert]

I'm glad that you guys are enjoying the coverage of the SFPS garden tour. It pales in comparison to the real thing though. I enjoy reliving the moment through photos. Ron, when is the next tour?

The next stop was Redlands Nursery. It seemed as though we were moving further south. I did not notice any signs for the nursery, but a few steps in the palms and cycads were coming fast and furious. They ranged from the common to uncommon to rare.

Zamia maritima, cardboard palms

Encephalartos ferox with cones seem to be everywhere!

E. ferox female

E. ferox male

[RainForestt Robert]

Since the tour was running late there was not much chit chat. We just went straight into the shadehouses.

I just loved the organization and the layout. Various grasses and palms.

[RainForestt Robert]

There were a couple of Cyrtostachys renda off to the side.

This Dypsis crinita had a really nice new leaf.

[RainForestt Robert]

Pigafettas seem to be popping up everywhere.

The planting scheme seemed to be specimens planted in ground with rows of potted palms in between. Here are some juvenile Pseudophoenix.

Bamboo clumps.

To the rear, center of this pool is a maroon Areca vestiara that seemed a little stressed by the exposure.

[RainForestt Robert]

Dypsis decaryi

Orania sp. I did not get the sp., but very attractive.

[RainForestt Robert]

You can get an idea of which palms were most popular among aficionados 10-15 years ago by looking at the mature specimens in their plantings.

Bismarckias. The one on the left is au natural and is the home to much wildlife.

Hyophorbe verschaffeltii

[RainForestt Robert]

A nice Dypsis

There were several cycads around.

I'm always happy to see these brown emergent leaves.

[RainForestt Robert]

Carpoxylon could be seen on both sides of a loop. They got quite a bit of attention.

Around the bend.

Oh yeah, Carpoxylon seeds!

[RainForestt Robert]

Trunking Borrasus?

Nice take home size Encephalartos. Was this field grown?

[RainForestt Robert]

Dypsis leptochielos

Some version of Dypsis madagascariensis

More spindles

Young Dioons

[RainForestt Robert]

Pseudophoenix

Red crinium lillies

Copernicia alba? Well collared and colored.

[RainForestt Robert]

I caught no more visible sign of excitement this day than that of this attendee. The reason for her excitement was the magnificent specimens of Satakentia.

[RainForestt Robert]

This beautiful Licuala seemed almost an afterthought.

[RainForestt Robert]

Variegated foxy lady with full exposure to the sun still was a looker.

[RainForestt Robert]

Another row of seedlings - Pseudophoenix

[LauraAnu]

Great coverage Robert. Did you get any Carpoxylon seeds for your island neighbour?

Laura

[RainForestt Robert]

Back in the shadehouse, Alocasia "Borneo Giant". Literally reaching the roof.

Bill and April either obliging me, or competing for face time.

Alocasia lauterbachii

[RainForestt Robert]

Last post for now.

Gastrococos crispa

These Verschaffeltii splendida looked, well, splendid.

Maroon Areca vestiara

[Lowey]

Caryota sp. that was quite impressive.

I think that this may be a Thrinax sp. The fruit was pretty large.

Wonderful pics, it looks like you had a great time, the palm in this pic is Schippia Concolor, in case you were interested.

Again great visuals.

[RainForestt Robert]

Laura, unfortunately I did not get any seeds. I look forward to the day when Carpoxylon's become like foxtails, people begging you to take the seeds off the ground. I have a few one gallon plants if you are interested. PM me.

Bruce, thank you for the id on the Schippia concolor. It's a cool palm.

Here is another group of Dypsis with reddish new leaves.

Pegalodoxas again.

Licuala grandis. Looks to be a popular palm.

Unsure of ID

[RainForestt Robert]

Chambeyronia macrocarpa. Sr. DeMott indicated that you should plant about 10 to choose the ones with the best red leaves. I noticed that some of the plants were tagged. Hmm, no need to plant ten when you can have the pick of the litter.

[Moose]

Dypsis decaryi

Orania sp. I did not get the sp., but very attractive.

Robert - I believe this may be Orania palidan.

[Moose]

I caught no more visible sign of excitement this day than that of this attendee. The reason for her excitement was the magnificent specimens of Satakentia.

That excited attendee is Gloria. An active South Florida Palm Society Member. Her personal collection is young but is looking better and better with her continued acquisitions. Gloria and I have had quite a few discussions about Satakentia liukiuensis since the tour and are on top of her "next to have" list.

[Paul The Palm Doctor!]

My stars, Robert! What a comprehensive tour you afforded us the opportunity in which to share! I am "floored" as they say. Gorgeous photographs; excellent narration, and very comprehensive. Thank you, Robert, for caring about your fellow Palm Talkers palm-o-logical education! Again, "thank you," Robert!

Paul

[bubba]

What a great Post! Love to see those Pigfettas and numerous other obscure specimens. Something about those Copernicia F's and the way they reflect in the sun.

Great to see all the Palm Talksters having a blast even if it was wet. Having just been to Fairchild, alot of these shots look like Fairchild on steroids. Bury me under a grove of mature C. baileys!

Hope your trip from Trinidad was a Blast. Thank you for the super shots!

[RainForestt Robert]

Paul, Bubba, thanks for the kind words.

Two prime palms.

Areca macrocalyx. It has not begun to exhibit the color for which it is famous.

Dwarf Areca catechu.

[RainForestt Robert]

Kerriodoxa elegans

Spathoglottis ground orchids

Neoregelias

That's it for Redlands Nursery.

At the risk of offending my American friends, I came away from the nursery tours concluding how easy it is to develop a fantastic palm collection. All you need is cash and all the desirable palms are readily available in a variety of sizes. In other parts of the world, like Trinidad, we have to make do with seeds, so developing a collection takes much longer. Hats off to individuals like Gileno.

[BS Man about Palms]

Thanks for the awesome tour Robert!

I have to ask though, first pic in post#97 I don't think is a Dypsis. Is that the right pic? (a repeat?)

Bill

[www.dadluvsu.com]

Bill and April either obliging me, or competing for face time.

Competing... and obliging. Good pics, Great memories!