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Common Ground - Lakeland, FL


kinzyjr

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This post is from a local park that includes a walking path, some tennis courts and a playground for the youngsters.  It includes some marginal palm plantings, cycads and creative landscaping that takes full advantage of the steep hills in the area.

The playground entrance:

0000_Entrance.jpg

Some of the experimental palm plantings, including a Licuala, Coccothrinax crinita and a few other local favorites like Dypsis decaryi:

0001_Palms_1.jpg

0002_Palms_2.jpg

0003_Palms_3.jpg

0004_Palms_4.jpg

Walking up the hill around the outside of the park, you can get some sense for the natural grade of the land and a nice view of the cycads on the border:

0005_Sidewalk_Cycads_1.jpg

Palm companions like crotons and bromeliads are represented as well and add color:

0006_Border_1.jpg

0007_Border_2.jpg

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Lakeland, FL

USDA Zone 1990: 9a  2012: 9b  2023: 10a | Sunset Zone: 26 | Record Low: 20F/-6.67C (Jan. 1985, Dec.1962) | Record Low USDA Zone: 9a

30-Year Avg. Low: 30F | 30-year Min: 24F

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A view from the top of the hill:

0008_Top_of_the_Hill_1.jpg

You can see over the whole playground from the fence:

0009_Landscaping_1.jpg

0010_Landscaping_2.jpg

0011_Landscaping_3.jpg

With the use of large stones and the change in grade, this area has a "not in Florida" feel:

0012_Landscaping_Rocks_1.jpg

0013_Landscaping_Rocks_2.jpg

0014_Landscaping_Rocks_3.jpg

 

If you want to Google Maps around the area to get a feel for the rest of the area, you can start here: Common Ground - Lakeland, FL

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Lakeland, FL

USDA Zone 1990: 9a  2012: 9b  2023: 10a | Sunset Zone: 26 | Record Low: 20F/-6.67C (Jan. 1985, Dec.1962) | Record Low USDA Zone: 9a

30-Year Avg. Low: 30F | 30-year Min: 24F

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1 hour ago, TexasColdHardyPalms said:

Looks nice.  I don't remember seeing any hill around that area though...

The whole area is an incline/decline down to Lake Hollingsworth.  Try using the Google Maps link to go down Buckingham Ave. to the lake and you'll see what I mean.  You could also go down Cleveland Heights Blvd. to the Country Club (formerly the Yacht Club).  Same hill, same grade from Edgewood Ave. down to Lake Hollingsworth.  The screen capture below is from the Country Club looking up Cleveland Heights Blvd.  You can "drive" it here: Cleveland Heights

Swing by next time you're in town.

201911162015_ClevelandHts_YachtClub.png

Lakeland, FL

USDA Zone 1990: 9a  2012: 9b  2023: 10a | Sunset Zone: 26 | Record Low: 20F/-6.67C (Jan. 1985, Dec.1962) | Record Low USDA Zone: 9a

30-Year Avg. Low: 30F | 30-year Min: 24F

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  • 1 year later...

A few updates on the palms here after a year and a half.  A few I wasn't 100% sure on so I put asterisks beside them:

Licuala peltata 'sumawongii'

00_Licuala_peltata_sumawongii_1600.jpg

Licuala grandis

01_Licuala_grandis_1600.jpg

Lytocaryum weddellianum *

02_Lytocaryum_weddellianum_1600.jpg

Beccariophoenix alfredii

03_Beccariophoenix_alfredii_1600.jpg

Carpoxylon macrospermum

04_Carpoxylon_macrospermum_1600.jpg

Coccothrinax - unsure of the species, but miraguama is commonly planted in public gardens here

05_Coccothrinax_1600.jpg

Coccothrinax crinita - There is a much larger one just down the street near the Lake Hollingsworth boat ramp.

06_Coccothrinax_crinita_1600.jpg

Thrinax radiata *

07_Thrinax_radiata_1600.jpg

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Lakeland, FL

USDA Zone 1990: 9a  2012: 9b  2023: 10a | Sunset Zone: 26 | Record Low: 20F/-6.67C (Jan. 1985, Dec.1962) | Record Low USDA Zone: 9a

30-Year Avg. Low: 30F | 30-year Min: 24F

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A few more:

Areca catechu Dwarf - these must be a bit hardier than the normal variety since this has been here for two winters already.

08_Areca_catechu_dwarf_1600.jpg

Chambeyronia macrocarpa * double

09_Chambeyronia_macrocarpa_1600.jpg

Caryota mitis variegated

10_Variegated_Caryota_mitis_1600.jpg

  • Like 6
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Lakeland, FL

USDA Zone 1990: 9a  2012: 9b  2023: 10a | Sunset Zone: 26 | Record Low: 20F/-6.67C (Jan. 1985, Dec.1962) | Record Low USDA Zone: 9a

30-Year Avg. Low: 30F | 30-year Min: 24F

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Who plants these palms? Is there a palm lover that works for parks and rec or for the city forestry dept? That is great to see in Lakeland, hopefully it inspires residents to imitate these beutiful plantings. 

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@chinandega81

The names that tend to come up when you nose around city circles is Bill Koen and Pam Page.  They were a big part of starting the Lake Wire palm collection with help from CFPACS members Tom Broome and Doug Morrison back in 2005 when I moved over this way.

https://www.lkldnow.com/transformation-marks-city-beautification-winners/

https://portal.clubrunner.ca/3386/stories/bill-koen-lakeland-s-horticulturist

Bill is still the contact for the city beautification awards.  They award them monthly and give one each for residential and commercial properties that are nominated for the awards.  Some of the properties have more of a "Legacy Lakeland" look to them, while others are absolute tropical jungles.  There is no doubt that the city gardens have helped move the needle.

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Lakeland, FL

USDA Zone 1990: 9a  2012: 9b  2023: 10a | Sunset Zone: 26 | Record Low: 20F/-6.67C (Jan. 1985, Dec.1962) | Record Low USDA Zone: 9a

30-Year Avg. Low: 30F | 30-year Min: 24F

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  • 3 months later...

Wanted to add this to see if I got it right... Kerriodoxa elegans (?)

20211105_123631_CommonGround_Kerriodoxa_elegans.jpg

  • Like 1

Lakeland, FL

USDA Zone 1990: 9a  2012: 9b  2023: 10a | Sunset Zone: 26 | Record Low: 20F/-6.67C (Jan. 1985, Dec.1962) | Record Low USDA Zone: 9a

30-Year Avg. Low: 30F | 30-year Min: 24F

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