The 12th Annual Spring Searle Brothers' Plant Extravaganza!

[Palmarum]

- 12:38PM: I was trying to capture a shot of Frank "Pops" Searle at the table under the barn, but in every shot I had someone walk into the frame, or block me completely. Everyone was hungry and eager to eat some BBQ. I had to take the best one and trim it greatly to get a view of Pops at lunch. This shot was near the end of a long series so the guys already knew I was talking their photo.

- The sales area was now dense with customers and it was getting hard to move through.

- 12:39PM: Hotdogs? Hamburgers? We had plenty. For first timers to the Extravaganza, they often have a great reaction to finding out they don't have to pay for lunch or for a drink.

- An assembly line of BBQ goodness.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 12:40PM: Beans, Beans the magical fruit, the more you eat the more you... The bean recipe is a family secret and it involved a plethora of spices and tasty ingredients. This was Donnie's main project for most of the morning.

- The food was vanishing as fast as it was delivered through the opening. Customers and volunteers alike were getting hungry, including myself.

- 12:41PM: As what happened during the day before on Saturday, seating space was becoming hard to find in and around the barn.

- "Hot beans... lookout please... Hot Beans coming through..."

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 12:42PM: As the line got longer and wrapped around the barn, I took a moment to get some photos. The fans under the barn were not needed for once.

- The beans were attacked the second after Donnie set them down on the bench. I saw one volunteer take a piece of muffin from the tray on the left and dunk it in the beans... I won't say who though.

- 12:43PM: One side of the road became a parking lot for carts, one after the other. Those stick trees on the left are not dead, they are leafless Plumeria varieties.

- 12:56PM: The customer in the tie-dye shirt started to laugh as soon as she spotted me taking her picture. I had noticed her thoroughly looking that Cryosophila sp. over a few times before she finally got it.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:37PM: Ok, here is the photo Bill has been bugging me about. It is the only one I have, and I cropped it down as much as I could to get Bill the image of his new friend. The two of them were inseparable for a while, as Bill took her and her boyfriend around the whole nursery looking at palms. I hardly saw them as I was in the shadehouse eating lunch and helping customers. I think the boyfriend was getting weary of Bill...

- 2:45PM: "Oh yeah, good stuff." Donnie sings along with the radio and almost blows smoke rings from his cigar.

- During a brief break in the lunch line, Andrea Searle gets a hotdog for her grandson, Braden.

- 2:46PM: The crowd continued to grow steadily over the afternoon, as the day warmed up into the low 70sºF (21-23ºC). With an hour and fifteen minutes left in the Extravaganza, there was still a good selection of rare palms left for collectors; as long as they were not looking for the ultra rare.

Ryan

[BS Man about Palms]

Thanks Ryan! Thats her.

Anyway, are you also gonna show that cool jacket Andrea scored from the nicest customer around!!!???

[Palmarum]

- 2:47PM: Outside the shadehouse, the full sun palms get picked through as certain plants have cold damage. One palm was a bit too much for volunteer Shane Tanner. In behind Shane to the right, the Bamboo section was in a new spot this spring and was popular with customers seeking cold tolerant plants.

- 2:48PM: A few of the popular Bromeliad cultivars started to run out and the section started to get condensed towards the front by Mark and other Bromo-volunteers. Larry Searle can be seen under the tent towards the back, talking plants and landscaping with customers. A few of the rarer Bromeliads were under there as well.

- 2:51PM: The three registers were churning away without rest all weekend. Wearing her "Owners favorite daughter" name tag, Kathy completes a sale with the customer as Edy nearby gets ready for the next one.

- 2:54PM: When she gets going and starts talking plants, Andrea Searle becomes a speed machine. She is always moving, showing people around, telling customers about her favorite plants, etc.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

BS Man about Palms

Thanks Ryan! Thats her....

Anyway, are you also gonna show that cool jacket Andrea scored from the nicest customer around!!!???

Your welcome Bill, I was sure it would stir up some memories. Actually I missed out on that moment, I am not sure where I was when it happened. Probably in the shadehouse.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:57PM: Randy Searle was in command of the holding area throughout the weekend. I am sure customers would have a much more chaotic experience at the Extravaganza if it wasn't for the holding area. They know their plants are secure as soon as they can get them inside that orange fence.

- 2:59PM: As Sunday, and the Extravaganza for that matter, was drawing to a close, people started to get antsy. There was talk of a large volleyball game that was going to start soon after the day was over. Thomas was getting way too obnoxious, so Chris has to knock him down a few times.

- 4:10PM: You too, can own your own Sanford planting robot. The Extravaganza ran late as customers continued to arrive past four and many made their way through the shadehouse. For some reason, Bill decided to go for a cart ride, pretending he was being purchased.

- There he goes... The girl Angela, and her family were amused by the actions of the Sanford robot.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 4:14PM: "Weeee!" Bill was rejected at the registers and sent back cause he didn't have a lavender tag.

- Angela was having fun pulling the cart all the way down and back, but I think Bill was enjoying the ride more.

- 4:34PM: The white tent served as the shadehouse outpost for customers and volunteers, and it saw its share of humor throughout the weekend. Donnie was describing something funny he saw, while Shane was instigating Thomas into action. Even the non-plant enthusiastic volunteers can still have fun at the Extravaganza, and that is still one of the long lasting, key aspects of the event. It means they will come back and help at future Extravaganzas.

- 4:35PM: I could not explain what Bill was doing, so I hoped he wasn't having a stroke. You do not have to be worried about being bored around Bill Sanford, especially if you have a camera handy.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 4:39PM: The remaining customers began to eventually make their last minute choices and left the sales area as the volunteers found ourselves alone in the main shadehouse. It was definitely one cold Extravaganza that none of us will forget. Thanks to this past brutal winter, we now have a new freeze benchmark to talk about. Hopefully, it will be a very long time until the next one. Each Spring and Fall Extravaganza heightens and grows the tropical plant enthusiasm for many people. It was seriously needed this Spring as this dreaded winter has caused serious damage to both plants and the planting spirit. The warm summer will show a boon in growth and I can't wait to see what plants will be grown in and around South Florida in the Fall.

- 4:51PM: OK Thomas, that is enough out of you.. [smack]

-4:53PM: The day and Rob's patience had come to an end. He dumped Thomas in one of the porta-potties and locked him in there...

- Bill had a few more days of exploring to do before he would head back to California world. He started a topic already with many photos from those excursions leading up to that crazy Tuesday night dinner at Mike Harris's residence. He and Pops watch the last few customers make their way out the gate to the parking lot... The day was over for customers, but Bill and company had a volleyball rematch to contend with in a few minutes.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 5:23PM: As soon as everyone arrived at Jeff's neighbor Ronnie's volleyball court, plant talk was declared off limits. That decree lasted about two minutes. Jeff made himself look shorter while examining himself in his other neighbor Jill's sunglasses. Bill and Jeff's niece Mandy look on with bewilderment.

- 5:24PM: Other players, consisting of volunteers, family members and friends, were still on the way over so they took time to rake the sand, looking for rocks, etc. Bill began his chameleon camouflage technique and his legs started to match the same color of the sand.

- 5:29PM: Bill and others got in a few practice rounds and he honed his patented 'backbreaker' return shot.

- "Get angry at the ball, Bill."

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 5:30PM: Let the game begin. [thwack!] Bill serves a straight shot over the net, scoring a point for his team. It had been almost a year to the day since Bill had last played volleyball so he had to readjust to the mechanics again.

- 5:39PM: This round, Jeff and Bill were on opposite teams. This lead to some funny trash talking between the two. Jeff delivers his 'Enraged Smash' serve...

- 5:42PM: Bill and his teammates, Tom and Rob, wait for Jeff's other niece Michelle to hit it back over...

- ...Rob answers by smacking it back across the net.

Ryan

[Moose]

- 2:37PM: Ok, here is the photo Bill has been bugging me about. It is the only one I have, and I cropped it down as much as I could to get Bill the image of his new friend. The two of them were inseparable for a while, as Bill took her and her boyfriend around the whole nursery looking at palms. I hardly saw them as I was in the shadehouse eating lunch and helping customers. I think the boyfriend was getting weary of Bill...

- 2:45PM: "Oh yeah, good stuff." Donnie sings along with the radio and almost blows smoke rings from his cigar.

- During a brief break in the lunch line, Andrea Searle gets a hotdog for her grandson, Braden.

- 2:46PM: The crowd continued to grow steadily over the afternoon, as the day warmed up into the low 70sºF (21-23ºC). With an hour and fifteen minutes left in the Extravaganza, there was still a good selection of rare palms left for collectors; as long as they were not looking for the ultra rare.

Ryan

Has anyone confirmed that Megan's boyfriend departed the property? Has anyone checked the compost pile?

Bill does drink the California water after all.

[Palmarum]

- 5:43PM: In one highly spirited exchange of volleys, Jeff runs in just in time to hit the ball back over the net, almost hitting teammate Alicia in the process...

- ...White men can jump apparently as Bill hits the booster rockets and goes up and smacks it over again...

- ...After Bill's shot was returned, Rob edges the net and tips it over with his fingers, causing the ball to slide down the net scoring a point.

- Palm strike! The hand palm not the palm tree. Bill slaps one on over to the other team, deliberately aiming for Jeff.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

moose knuckle

Has anyone confirmed that Megan's boyfriend departed the property? Has anyone checked the compost pile?

Bill does drink the California water after all.

Hmm, good question. I did notice the group heading out to look in the field section of the nursery, but didn't see them come back.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 5:46PM: "Ole'!" For a moment after the serve, Bill thinks about getting into bull fighting.

- Close, oh so close...

- 5:49PM: Bill steadies himself to pounce on the ball as soon as Alicia knocks it over...

- ...Jeff easily returns Bills shot which falls between two players for a point.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 5:51PM: This is the 'resting panda' stance...

- 5:54PM: Time to switch sides and the first set led to a battle between Bill and Jeff... Bill lines up a shot and hits it over...

- ...only to have Jeff counter with a light hit, as Bill then flies up to block... It was a good fight back and forth and I forgot who got the point.

- This type of neighborhood volleyball takes place here just about every Sunday afternoon. There is usually a large pool of players to choose from, but this weekend had the benefit of added Forum members.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 5:55PM: I've said it many times before and I will say it again, "Yikes!"

- Rob intercepts one of Jeff's serves that was meant for Bill.

- Bill pushed the air so hard he almost fell over.

- A well made setup was provided by Bill proving he was an asset of the team. Not bad for someone who hasn't played in a year.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 5:57PM: "Listen ball, I don't like you and you don't like me, but we got to work together to win."

- "Oops, sorry... You always had that limp though didn't you?"

- 6:07PM: Bill managed to get quite a few species of palms planted in the nursery landscape over the weekend. He will for ever be identified with those palms as we watch them grow. Out of reflex, the Sanford planting robot started to bury the ball in the sand after missing the dig for it.

- Someone's mp3 music player was plugged into a portable speaker system and was churning out tunes as everyone played. When certain dance songs came on, they inspired Bill to dance... I am so glad I don't do video... It was scary.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 6:09PM: [thwap] Jeff serves the ball over and scores points on several serves in a row. He plays better after a little cranberry and vodka. Somehow, his response time improves with drinking.

- 6:14PM: Jeff and Rob find themselves on opposite sides of the net after a team change. They battle it out a few times through the rotation.

- 6:18PM: Jeff's neighbor, sports fanatic and owner of the volleyball court Ronnie arrives to join in. He made a key dig to keep the ball in play, but it went too far out of the reach of Jeff.

- 6:20PM: At this time of the day, whenever there was cloud cover it greatly reduced the light I had to work with. The shutter speed reduced greatly, causing me to settle for less than perfect conditions.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 6:27PM: "Whoa.. Time out!" I forgot why he called time out, but Bill was animate about it.

- 6:29PM: "Wait, wasn't I supposed to hit that rounded white thing going past me?"

- 6:31PM: "WHAT?!"

- 6:50PM: The sun was falling over those trees too far for me to continue shooting, but it was a fun time photographing volleyball. It was a great way to end the day, and the Extravaganza. They would go on to continue playing until they could no longer see the ball in the darkness. I was invited over to Mike Harris's place for dinner on Tuesday night and I knew a good part of the gang would be there...

Ryan

[BS Man about Palms]

I'm speechless. At least for a minute or two...

[freakypalmguy]

- 6:27PM: "Whoa.. Time out!" I forgot why he called time out, but Bill was animate about it.

Ryan

Sheesh, do I allllllways have to point out the obvious?

[Palmarum]

freakypalmguy

...Sheesh, do I allllllways have to point out the obvious?

I can believe the reason being the lack of Dr. Pepper. I wouldn't want to see him jonzing for lack of soda.

Palms and food, how can anything go wrong with that combination? During the Extravaganza, Mike Harris invited a small group of us on over to his place for food and time amongst his growing collection of palms, bamboo and tropical plants.

FM. Mike Harris (waykoolplantz) Residence

- Tuesday, March 9th, 5:09PM: I was first to arrive, by only a few minutes, followed by the Dypsis twosome Jeff Searle and Bill Sanford. As soon as Bill hit the lawn, he made a dash to Dypsis land where many of Mike Harris's Dypsis species have been planted.

- This telescoping palm has been involved in some discussion as of late. It has been grown as Dypsis madagascariensis for many years locally in South Florida, but the name is now an illegitimate one. The mystery continues as one possible name that came up was D. ankaizinensis, but that palm hasn't been seen in the wild by botanists in over 80 years and the description is still fuzzy as to what exactly that species looks like, minus a few affinities. It will be one of those palms that remain a mystery for a while.

- 5:10PM: The world as if it was ruled by Dypsis. The Triangle Palms, D. decaryi, are prominent in the collection as everyone should have a Triangle somewhere in their yard. There is a D. carlsmithii with long leaves on the right and a D. onilahensis to the left of Bill scratching his head.

- FM. Bill Sanford (BS Man about Palms) poses with either a D. prestoniana or D. canaliculata. Those silver endowed fan leaves behind him belong to a Cryosophila stauracantha grouping.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 5:18PM: Mike went to continue preparing food for dinner and to listen for the gate bell, while Bill, Jeff and myself went touring along the north edge of the property. This is the largest known Dypsis bejofo in South Florida, and it is growing very well in Mike's collection. Unfazed by the cold, as many of the Dypsis went unscathed by the freezing weather. Bill stated that this is one of the 'forms' by California standards.

- A Pinanga philippinensis gets looked over while Bill almost steps on a Chamaerops humilis var. argentea.

- Hmm... what to call this palm is still an open book. Beccariophoenix sp. 'Windows' will have to do for now and this grouping was growing near the eastern edge of the pond; while catching the setting sun very well.

- "Freeze!" Bill holds it in while I shoot away while we took turns identifying the Crotons in the back part of the yard. We were killing time waiting for Andrea Searle and Ron Kiefert to make their way over to us, as we could hear them coming from the other direction.

Ryan

[Moose]

moose knuckle

Has anyone confirmed that Megan's boyfriend departed the property? Has anyone checked the compost pile?

Bill does drink the California water after all.

Hmm, good question. I did notice the group heading out to look in the field section of the nursery, but didn't see them come back.

Ryan

It was reported that Megan's boyfriend has been seen. If they broke up would Bill be willing to relocate back to Florida? BS Man could become Megan's subserviant personal ranch hand.

[Palmarum]

- 5:36PM: The trio quickly became a group as we were joined by Andrea Searle and FM. Ron Kiefert (moose knuckle). The tour continued around the back of the yard and along the edge of the pond. Ron was saying which palm was "#1" in his book.

- 5:38PM: Many of the palms growing along the edge of the pond were using the abundant water to their advantage. Many specimens, such as the American Oil Palm, Elaeis oleifera, were putting on thick, heavy trunks.

- 5:40PM: Bill and Ron tour the pond's edge looking at palms other than Dypsis.

- 5:42PM: We practiced our croton identification as we went through the yard as Mike's collection of the colorful plants have steadily increased in recent years. Both Ron and myself got this one correct, 'Rudy Bachman' in separate attempts. Ron actually knows crotons, I got lucky.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 5:44PM: I put a little instruction into this photo and it turned out just about how I had envisioned it. Well, close enough. The Beccariophoenix sp. 'Windows' made a nice backdrop. The trio were very close to the waters edge and did their best to keep from sliding in.

- Jeff turned to ask Bill something as they slowly made their way back up the bank.

- 5:49PM: The light was going fast and the tour double-backed as we examined the smaller understory palms, including this Pinanga riparia which made it through the cold very well; considering its tropical nature.

- Ron likes to talk with his hands, as I like to describe plants with mine. I was fearing for Jeff's safety though.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 5:50PM: Its hard to describe these two photos, but let's say the topics of conversation ranged all across the spectrum.

- 5:53PM: Bill thought he was back in California for a moment and had to walk up hill.

- 5:57PM: This is 'Rheedii', one of the oldest croton cultivars dating back hundreds of years. It was agreed upon that this specimen was a great example of how good this cultivar can look.

Ryan

[Moose]

Blame it on the very slight incline if that is your story. Actually the "spiked" Diet Dr. Pepper may have been working it's magic!

[Palmarum]

- 6:04PM: The tour continued until we couldn't see, and even past that point. We took Bill to the front part of the yard where he missed out on his last trip to Mike's last year. This very tall Teddy Bear Palm, Dypsis leptocheilos, was up against the screened in patio. We argued the differences between this palm and Dypsis lastelliana.

- 6:09PM: Not far away, this Chamaedorea was taking up residence.

- 6:24PM: Jeff was behind me in this photo doing something, highly unmentionable and I couldn't photograph it, but Bill could...

- 6:31PM: Touring and talking palms makes one hungry. Jeff, Bill and myself joined Ron, Andrea and Mike on the deck for some appetizers as Mike prepared yet another great dinner. Notice the palm tree light fixture in the upper-left corner of the photo.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 6:36PM: Jeff cuts the cheese, really. The meat, cheeses and olive oil Mike provides at his dinners are always good and they hit the spot when your hungry. Mike's dogs often come over to see what is going on, and more likely look to see what food bite they might be able to score. That is a piece of cheese in Bill's mouth, in case you wondered why his tongue turned white.

- 6:37PM: "Hmm, you found a good spot." Ron scratches a good spot on Doofus, Mike's Rottweiler.

- Bill was pouring wine into a glass, but I promise you he wasn't drinking any of it.

- 6:38PM: Mike uses a special marinade on his boneless chicken breasts and pork that brings out the flavor and allows them to taste superb.

Ryan

[Jeff Searle]

Mike,

Thanks again for having us all over in honor of our long-distance guest,BS Man. It was alot of fun, especially when the "thirsty" moose arrived. How a PRA can fast turn into a 3 Ring Circus in a only a matter of minutes.

But once again I found something new in Mike's garden, the Pinanga riparia. And everything else looked remarkably good considering the cold weather we had.

Bill...he might admit to looking at other palm species other than Dypsis, but try asking him to id say a Phoenix rupicola, Syagrus or Arenga. He's lost! Come on Bill, take off those Dypsis blinders now. And Ryan, thanks as always....

Jeff

[Palmarum]

- 6:52PM: For this evening, we got to dine on the official palm-related dinnerware.

- 6:54PM: Ron: "Hey Bill, lemme show you something..." Unknowing as to what that could be, Bill contemplates taking out his own eyeballs with a fork.

- Instant Ranch Hand. Ron turned around to reveal a portable ranch hand on the back of his shirt. Ranch hands were one of the main topics of conversation during dinner.

- 7:20PM: [burp] The consumption of alcohol limits the perception and comprehension of palm-related conversation, so they were reduced to using semaphore hand signals...

Ryan

[Moose]

- 6:36PM: Jeff cuts the cheese, really. The meat, cheeses and olive oil Mike provides at his dinners are always good and they hit the spot when your hungry. Mike's dogs often come over to see what is going on, and more likely look to see what food bite they might be able to score. That is a piece of cheese in Bill's mouth, in case you wondered why his tongue turned white.

- 6:38PM: Mike uses a special marinade on his boneless chicken breasts and pork that brings out the flavor and allows them to taste superb.

Ryan

You may have believed I was a bit inebriated, but I do remember the cheese being Manchengo, a special cheese imported from Spain made from sheep's milk. It was absolutely wonderful. The meat was an aged Sopressa which was absolutely exquisite. The Olive oil was triple virgin and was devine. Mike's chicken breasts were so moist and flavorful, they were probably the best I have experienced. To say the food was good is a vast understatement. Mike truly outdid himself in the food and hospitality department!!!

Thanks Mike!

[Palmarum]

- 7:23PM: "Dinner's ready." With a few more turns of the meat and the inevitable flair up, dinner was ready to serve. The chicken and pork were very hot and went straight from the grill to the table.

- To quote Anthony Bourdain, there's nothing like good food porn. The pork was well cooked and didn't need any sauce to go with it and was fantastic. One piece got a bit close to the flame and brought the fire with it to the table. Jeff saw the ignited pork and thought "I got this..." so he stood up, moved right in front of Bill, and extinguished it with his two fingers. [sizzle]... He forgot that fire meant hot...

- 7:24PM: ... "AHH... Thanks for alcohol! ... thanks for alcohol!" Jeff exclaimed while running in place and waving his burnt fingers in the air before dunking them in his drink...

- 7:25PM: Mike made it clear to everyone that the food was very hot, someone didn't get that message.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 7:50PM: That was one fine dinner, indeed. Thanks go out to Mike again for a great spread and for putting up with us crazy palm people. Towards the end of dinner, Jeff said "Hmm, let's call Matty and see what he is up to." With a few rings, Matty answered his phone and a coherent conversation almost took place. I think Matty was working in his yard on something, as Jeff bothered him with questions while Andrea held the phone. A few minutes later they called him again...

- 8:12PM: It was the end of the evening and everyone was saying their goodbyes to Bill as he was flying home tomorrow afternoon. The tour at Mike's was a great way to put a conclusion to the Extravaganza weekend. Bill kept Jeff upright as he and Ron discussed a carry-over conversation from earlier.

- 8:13PM: Everyone was leaving, so we had a few seconds for last minute photographs. I had to get a shot of Bill and Ron together before the evening ended...

- ...and again with the Ranch Hand...

Ryan

--<

[MattyB]

So now I know the look on Jeff's face when he's harassing me on the phone.

[Moose]

So now I know the look on Jeff's face when he's harassing me on the phone.

... with his burn't fingers tucked under his armpit. Makes sense that Andrea keeps Jeff away from the grill back at the nursery!

[MattyB]

I can just hear him saying, with a backwoods hillbilly lisp, "Hedescepy, hedescepy, hedescepy, souuuuuiiiiiiii!"