PSSC Visits the Haines/Cressey Garden

[Kim]

At the base of the south-facing San Gabriel Mountains lies a tidy enclave of homes with a classic Southern California look. You'll pass the shaded porches of Craftsman bungalows and tiled roofs of Mission Revival homes as you cruise the streets. Turn right on a certain street lined on both sides by tall, wispy Washingtonia robusta, and suddenly the lots are wider and deeper, and the homes become more stately. The home of Greg Haines and John Cressey stands out immediately as being the most 'palmy' while still fitting perfectly into the neighborhood:

There's a nice Howea forsteriana on the left, and a well-grown Parajubaea torallyi on the right:

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P.S. I know there is already a thread about this visit, but I have so many photos, I decided to start my own. Bear with me!

[Kim]

The Spanish Colonial Revival home, built in 1928, has Monterey-style balconies front and back, and preserves many of the original details. Tall Archontophoenix cunninghamiana complement the home with their height:

View from the front door looking out toward the street:

Philodendron leaf:

Bismarckia nobilis along the driveway:

[Kim]

Note the large cluster of Chamaerops humilis taking center stage:

Detail of reed stem orchid with ant:

Moving toward the back of the home where the meeting will take place, we pass through a wrought-iron gate opposite some tall fruiting citrus:

[Kim]

The back of the home features a tiled stairway perfumed by robust plumeria bushes:

[Kim]

A young Cocos nucifera is sheltered in the alcove; a potted Syagrus botryophora nearby:

Across the way, an elegant wall fountain sits between two Syagrus romanzoffianum, and preparations are underway for the meeting:

(Left to right, Alan Brickey, Greg Haines, Dave Bleistein, Rebecca Rodolff, John Cressey)

[Kim]

Small diversion here; I really liked the tiles on the stairway...

[Kim]

Okay, back to palms! A mature Livistona australis lights up the sky, and multiple Thrinax radiata fan out in human scale:

A Ravenea madagascariensis 'Monticola', not yet trunking, thrusts its tall fronds upward:

[Kim]

A pair of massive Dypsis decaryi flank the exit to the tennis court, which is surrounded by very high flowering hibiscus and bougainvillea:

Across the court, a tile welcomes us to the garden and pool area:

[Kim]

Steps lead us down to a covered deck; to the left is a fountain with water lilies and koi; to the right is the pool, as viewed through a drooping Howea leaf.

More, much more, later...

[Jeff Searle]

Kim,

Thanks for the garden tour. You always include all the little extras in a garden, which I like to see. It looks like a beautiful yard. Were there many people that showed up? The weather looked nice.

Say "hey" to Alan......

Jeff

[BS Man about Palms]

Thanks Kim! I was hoping you would start your own thread! You always cover it so well, kinda the west coast version of Ryan, but MUCH prettier.

Jeff- I would think 40-50 people were there. a good amount but not a giant turnout

[Palmgrover]

Thanks Kim! As always you did a great job on the photo coverage. Since I couldn't make it I'm glad you covered it.

How long of a drive was it? And did Steve go?

More pictures soon please.

[JD in the OC]

Cool garden! Always like seeing Cocos in CA

[palmazon]

excellent eye - you deserve an M/E

[yachtingone]

Kim, You took very nice pics! It was nice to meet you there. I had a great time! Regards, Randy

[MattyB]

Great pics and more gooder commentary.

[Hilo Jason]

Hey Kim,

It was great meeting you on Saturday. The pictures are incredible and I look forward to seeing more!

Jason

[paulgila]

is that where cecil b.demille lives?

i'm ready for my close-up!

[gyuseppe]

Thanks Kim, it's always nice to see photos.

[edric]

Very nice garden Kim, thanks, Ed

[happ]

You're such a good photograher, Kim [great 'eye'

I am so bummed that I didn't pay attention & missed this meeting. Altadena is a mere 4 miles away.

[Kim]

Let's see, where was I? Oh...

Nice young Pritchardia adrift in a sea of Tradescantia pallida....Jacaranda mimosifolia making lace before a blue sky...

[Kim]

Rhapis humilis with her delicate fans...a closer look at those huge rounded leaves at the base...Rhopalostylus sapida in the thick of it...

[Kim]

Large fan palm powering upward...

Meanwhile, the Board Meeting gets underway with Holly Clow, Bud Zager, and Don Martin; Ralph Velez considers adding 1000 more palms to his garden:

Alan Brickey checks his watch to see if the meeting should end yet. Jack and Lindsey Sayers give us a grin; Dave Bleistein obliges me as well:

[Kim]

Flowering tree (please supply name) and tree fern overhead... Pool with palm shadows...

[Kim]

Board meeting viewed from a safe distance... Water study in shades of turquoise...

I make my way down to yet another tier of the property...

[Kim]

I met with a striking vivid blue sage... and Schefflera actinophylla...

The pool house is along this path, and this parrot tile caught my eye...

OB Bert caught up with me here, but he just couldn't keep his eyes open. Still, I liked the colors in the photo, somebody please photoshop his eyes open if you would, please...

Even the view from the loo was worthwhile...

[Kim]

Some pleasant Hawaiian-themed art on the walls...

Some hot ti............ and Pritchardia martii

Did you catch that Guihaia argyrata? Discussing the plant with Peter, he figured it to be around 25 years old...

[Kim]

A crinum lily flower nodded... while the aroid leaves stood bolt upright...

Livistona chinensis dominating overhead... A bend in the path -- how many different kinds of leaves do you see?

[Kim]

The party grotto...

Close look at Chambeyronia hookeri leaf...

[Kim]

Warren would have liked it here...

[Kim]

Archontophoenix gone wild...

[Kim]

And now back to our regularly scheduled programme...

Sabal grande! ...across from a place of quiet contemplation... with bells on...

Sweet Heliconia scheidiana

[Kim]

The giant at the bottom of the garden, Caryota gigas (as labeled)... Brahea brandegeei... and Brahea armata...

[Kim]

Some delectable flowers and leaves...

[Kim]

Danny Lewis gamely hoists a large palm for the slow photographer...

Perry Glen is ready for the auction...

Jack Sayers wears his Aussie Rat Pack shirt with pride...

After mulitple detours, Bill Sanford finally arrives...

...and the water lily opens...

[Kim]

Paula finds a serene corner for reading... Randy (yachtingone) and Jason debate something about palms...

The crowd gathers to hear our hosts John Cressey and Greg Haines describe their journey with palms from the fires of Oakland to the serenity of Altadena...

[Kim]

Dave, master auctioneer...

The palms went to the swift and sure. My patience bought me a beautiful weeping Dypsis onilahensis, offspring from Louis Hooper's fabulous garden.

At the end of the day, high from the enthusiasm expressed by attendees, and perhaps a bit tired from being peppered with questions all day, we take leave of our most kind hosts, Greg Haines and John Cressey, here before a favorite Parajubaea torallyi.

[bgl]

Kim,

Thanks for the tour! John and Greg certainly have a beautiful garden and it looks like the perfect day for a garden tour. And board meeting!

Bo-Göran

[DoomsDave]

Wow!

Loved that View from the Loo . . . . .