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Sorry Dick, I've got the pictorial evidence. Here it is a month ago with winter weeds and the gnarly roses. The roses did make it really hard to get a good shot of that beauty. Good call on removing them, that beast needs to be front and center. The lighting was poor in these pics, so they don't show the palms true colors.

We held a work day and board meeting at the palmetum in Oakland today. The mediterranean garden is filling in and is making a nice entrance to the collection.

So as not to be missed, I made this special tip/option into it's own thread. Go to the bottom left corner and use the pull down menu. Then click on "Classic Blue." SURPRISE

Just got back from a trip to Orlando this past weekend. Picked up two nice size Canary Island Date Palms and 1 European Fan Palm. Planted them a couple of days ago and thought I would share some pics. Did I mention my back still hurts from digging the holes? The CIDPs make a nice statement at the entrance to our driveway. I also just ordered a couple of nice green solar spotlights for them. They should look pretty cool at night... View of the two CIDPs at the start of our driveway. If you look close you can also see my largest Mule palm in the background. Close-up of the CIDP on the left. It's a little larger than the other one. Close-up of CIDP on the right. European Fan Palm alongside the front porch.

- 2:21PM: I took advantage of the slower activity to do another sweep of the booths. When I returned I noticed this Lady Palm, Rhapis excelsa, wheeling its way up to the registers, by itself apparently. When it got closer, Ellis Brown's head appeared through the stems and leaves. - 2:52PM: When Ellis's daughter Heather arrived to show her new son Aiden to everyone, I was lucky to have been asked to take a generational portrait of the occasion. During the show, I had Rusty Brown pose with her daughter Heather and her grandson Aiden. You might remember Ellis's topic announcing his birth not that long ago. - 3:09PM: Try to guess the age on this one. In the center of Susan Casey's booth, I saw this very old Coccothrinax argentata with a few feet of clear trunk for sale. - "Hey Man, need a drink?" I got within range of Faith's booth and heard that phrase echo on over in my direction. I turned and captured Jim sitting with vendor Tom Olson. Ryan

You can't beat coco coir lasts longer and less fungus. Post #6 pretty much says it all. Don

No, too much sneezing & coughing in theaters.

Links to a couple of Clayton's photos Seed Leaf Crown regards, Daryl

Wow Bruce...your palms look so well treated !! That fat spindle is awesome. What kind of fert do you use with them and how often? Dave, when are you comming down here for a visit? When will the classic red converse icons finally step the sands of Sirinhaém? Bill, thanks for your comments...our prays for rain are starting to come true...I'll be posting a special Dypsis pictorial in your honor soon. stay tuned Laura, nice garden...neat Latania...it looks like you still have a lot of space to play with, hmm? How about some more photos of your palms and beautiful island scenes?

I have a native patch or two in the forest here that a local friend found before I came, and he has been "babying" it along. He has "forbidden" me from clearing this little patch. It is not particularly fast, or easy to grow. It seems to want a special little niche or partial sun, and to grow as a partial climber - kind of over and over on top of itself, with another bush, shrub, or tree fern to "lean" on. Once its going, it does OK. It is a revered plant here with the leis being very expensive, and used for special occasions. The local friend has taught be how to "pull" the last 3 feet or so of the new growth off the stems to make strands from which to "weave" the lei. As you probably know, it has a pleasant mild aroma. We have harvested seed from a blackish berry - not many per plant - and they have sprouted without too much trouble. Where I live is cooler, but still a lot warmer than SoCal, with temps only to the low 50s in winter. So while it doesn't require true tropical temps, no telling if SoCal is a go. But greenhouse or hot house for sure, but difficult to provide the total "package." One last thing, there are several variations with slight leaf shape differences and scents as well.

- 12:48PM: A quick photo showing one busy instance under and around the register tent. The procedure used in checking out customers has been well practiced for years and ran smoothly during both days of the sale. - This is one tough palm you don't have to worry about damaging with wind. A Cuban Petticoat Palm, Copernicia macroglossa, gets a ride to its new home. - 12:50PM: Forum member and grower Justin Dobbs (JD in the OC) does the popular multitasking of grabbing rare palms while talking on the phone. It was a common event during the weekend. He is carrying a Super Dwarf Lady Palm, Rhapis excelsa cv. nana and a variegated Lady Palm with a nice color pattern. - 12:53PM: "Who Said Red Sealing Wax weren't cold tolerant?" Here is a photo of one growing in Colorado, up in the mountains... Ryan

Yes, there are a few more photos from Saturday and a small amount from Sunday. Sunday was slow so I didn't take that many. - 12:10PM: While positioned in front of the booth, you get a good view of which plants get taken to the registers. Like an overview of what is popular, between species and who's plants are being purchased. This customer moves with purpose, as I think that Licuala sp. was heavy to carry. - 12:25PM: Asking Faith's friend Jim to be in a photo was redundant. He would grab anyone nearby to pose with him as soon as he saw me coming with the camera, in this instance it was Jeff. - 12:45PM: This cart load represented a great start to a Caribbean palm collection, including a Buccaneer Palm, Pseudophoenix sargentii and a Coccothrinax sp., probably an Old Man Palm, Coccothrinax crinita. - 12:47PM: Who needs a cart anyway? These two customers knew how to carry multiple palms at once, and recreated this maneuver at least two more times later in the day. Ryan

Trithrinax campestris

Juania australis grove

Brahea aculeata