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Upon request by the owners and IPS president Andy Hurwitz I am posting information about a one of a kind legacy property available for sale in Hawaii. PT is not normally the correct venue for real estate ads, but I believe when you read more you will see why an exception is made here. Although memories of my visit there in 2022 will forever be etched in my mind, please address inquiries to the owners, not to me personally. Please see information and photos from the owners: A New Chapter for Casa de Las Palmas We purchased Casa de Las Palmas in 2017 from the estate of legendary nurseryman Jerry Hunter. Jerry was the owner of Rancho Soledad Nurseries in California, Palms of Paradise in Hawaii, and Mount Soledad in Pacific Beach. Dubbed the "Dean of California Landscape Architects", he held license #33. His designs are found throughout the San Diego area, including San Diego Zoo, Balboa Botanical Gardens, and a host of other public and private venues. Along with collecting and hybridizing many new plant varieties, he built the first plant tissue culture laboratory in San Diego. Casa de Las Palmas was Jerry's private Hawaiian retreat. Over the course of 35 years, Jerry transformed seven acres of upper Hilo farmland into a true garden masterpiece, creating a magical realm of exotic palms, waterfalls, meandering lava-rock paths, water gardens, and flowering tropical plants. Now over 45 years since planting began, it's a vast and mature botanical collection of rare palms, cycads, philodendrons, bromeliads, anthuriums and orchids. We have been honored to be the caretakers, but the time has come for us to move on, so we are offering the property for sale. Before we list it on the open market, we want palm and garden lovers to know it is available, in the hope that we can find a custodian for the future. The property has a 2-bedroom, 2-and-a-half-bathroom house with a separate apartment, and potential for additional dwellings. We currently do private garden tours, film shoots, and small events, and there is plenty of room to grow a successful business here. We had the delight of hosting IPS members for a lunch and tour during the 2022 Biennial in Hawaii. Please do contact us if you would like any further information. Irene Francis & Lars Woodruffe 646-338-7882 irenefrancis@hotmail.com https://houseofthepalms.com/

This is the luckiest palm in my garden. Twice it has been narrowly missed by huge falling trees, surviving without so much as a scratch. It even seems to like the decaying Cecropia trunk 1/4" from its base. Love watching this beautiful baby grow. Do you have Johannesteijsmannia magnifica in your garden? Or a photo of one you have admired on a palm tour somewhere in the world? Post your photos here! Not kidding about it being "in the jungle!"

Nice new Lepidorrachis leaf, always eye catching.

A fantastic time to be germinating palm seeds in summer, for those tropical heat loving palms. A few new varieties have popped up along with a few late comers. I will say licuala palms are slow and sporadic and like heat to really get a move along!

Chambeyronia oliviformis powering on and opening a new frond yesterday despite a maximum of 44C/111F with 75km/h (46mph) winds. Tough palm. The nearby Chrysalidocarpus lanceolatus which also decided to open up a frond in the oven wasn’t so lucky. The heat and wind sucked the moisture from the frond and it wilted quickly.

Two smaller palms are definitely Phoenix palms (most likely roebelenii aka, pygmy date). Tall palm is Syagrus romanzoffiana (aka, queen palm).

A nice little trio of some rare species. I love my palms but cycads are a favourite of mine, for the garden and as a collector of such magnificent plants. It all begins with a seed!

Lars and Irene performed hundreds of miracles in this garden. It had been somewhat neglected between when Jerry passed and when the garden came into their hands. They dug mud from the lily pond and restored it. They brought the palms, anthuriums, bromeliads and other exotics of the garden back to vibrant life, and the overall garden to its full glory, learning everything as they went. I do hope to see this garden pass into hands equally devoted to this masterpiece. Thanks to Lars and Irene for the several wondrous times we have had the pleasure of visiting.

Thank you for doing this. As @happypalms , Richard says , it should go to a person or group that will maintain the botanical integrity of such a beautiful collection . When I first started my palm obsession in the early 1990’s Rancho Soledad was one of my “go to” spots to buy palms even though it was hours away by car ( or van!) . At that time they told me that one of their biggest customers was Disney. I had heard they had a location in Hawaii but never visited when there. I will never forget my first visit to the “Palmatum” greenhouse at Rancho Soledad. Harry

They are suffering from transport shock, basically been held in whatever conditions with out light and humidity. A leaf looks like it’s on the way out. I get a lot of mail order palms and know those signs of to long in a box. Keep them in warm moist place if possible out of the sun. Try not to overwater them let the top of the soil dry if they arrived bare rooted, they are in no condition to suffer overwatering. They are in shock keep them in a greenhouse even and don’t disturb them, let them recover.

We both know what we are talking about, it’s them crazy Italians who talk with their hands and can’t understand our slang and humour 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I was out on the side of my house and the light rain turned into a deluge so I ducked under my Pritchardia . A perfect umbrella . It was a brief downpour, as soon as it let up I got inside. The only Keridoxa I have seen in person was in a glass house at the Huntington , could’ve put the whole family under that frond . Harry ‘Perfect one person umbrella , Pritchardia H. This one would be for the whole family!

This has basically been my approach so far. I probably won’t change much then for small seedlings. Slow growth is unavoidable for some species in my climate anyway.

Planted 3 L weddellianum together about 4 years ago and they caught my eye today.

Lacospadix, kerriodoxa and a nice little dypsis lantzeana all seem to get my attention!

Some good results with some new seedlings potted up a while back. They are loving the summer heat!

Absolutely one of my favourites in the palm world. And as most people are aware of there is no shortage of joeys in my part of the world. Your one is an absolute treasure and lucky to survive narrowly avoiding a near death situation from a falling tree! They are actually easy to grow and quite tough, just add water!

Only the trachy will survive. If you are serious about palms that will survive in the PNW look into Jubaea chilensis and Butia odorata. I'm also having luck with another species that I'm reserving my opinion on until it gets through a few more winters. Also, there are other types of Trachy to consider like princeps that do very well in the PNW. Chamerops humilis is another good one.

Amazing story of survival in your jungle Kim! I was fortunate to get one of these this past summer since I finally have some canopy to plant it under.

I think about this post off and on and wondered how it was doing. Great to see it alive. I planted one in Pearland I grew from seed , supposedly the ‘Golkoy’ variant. It shrugged off 17°F last winter with frost cloth. Although the initial snow cover and short duration made a huge difference .

Absolutely beautiful, you have put the advertisement in the right place. As you say it should at least go into the hands of a palm enthusiast such as on this forum. I can dream of purchasing such a place!

Try growing anything without it you won’t get too far, how right they were in teaching us the periodic table in science!

@Than surprise surprise...

Not particularly high...but low phosphorus, which doesn't bother me much as generally high soil organic matter equals decent background phosphorus levels. The trick is unlocking it and that's why microbes are your friends. High P fertiliser isn’t friendly to soil organisms ironically.

Good old Aussie humour, send an Australian overseas and nobody can understand us they say we talk to fast and our slang, well let’s say they never understand that. What I was saying gyuseppe was as Jonathan said lost in translation, or just a bit of teasing for fun it’s an Australian thing, @Jonathan does live in a freezer though and they are a funny bunch them Taswegans. They get up to stuff that us mainlanders would never do, but jokes aside we are all friendly people. I might have to send some craft work beads down to him now to appease the palm gods! Or just sell him some seeds $50 bucks a pop🤣🦘

The RPW Is spreading also in Northern Italy and in France, maybe someone can provide the lowest temperature in those places The damage to the large heart of the palm will cause fermenting and provide constant warm temperature for the survival of the larvae even in a colder climate

Good work on the Joey. I didn’t think it was possible. I’ve got a few from seedling around 10 years but they have been fairly slow

Wandering past yet another impressive Coast Live Oak livin' its best life on the rocks, i spotted a hole in a perimeter fence, and the ...second.. hint at changing times ahead for this area ..GOOD changes, this time around.. Poking my head through the gap in the fence, some views ...Possibly the first ( ...Definitely for my eyes ) ...from this previously " inaccessible " area on the ridge, above and south east of the boulder field. Yeah, in all the years spent up here in the past, i could've explored this area but, since it sits under those big 'ol PG&E lines, ..you're risking a bit more than just " This here is private property " kinda comments if caught. Regardless, Thinking to myself, i should've risked such pushback for some sneak peeks / poking around for anything good on this side of the fence.. Eyh, i'll live, Ha ha..🤷🏽‍♂️ Guaranteed, this will likely be a very popular sunrise / sunset spot once fully accessible to all, assuming that is the goal implied via the sign.. I mean, being able to view both sides of the valley, at once ..and < eventually > be able to hike / bike the entire length of the ridge, end to end? = a pretty sweet spot right in the middle of the 'hood. Glad to see that specific sign plopped in the ground here. ..More on that in a few.. Northwest, toward where the Golf Course / Lake Almaden ( Below the ridge ) would be located ..and suburb areas like Blossom Hill, northern end of Almaden, ..and even Los Gatos / Campbell out there in the haze.. Hazy as heck west / south west views over Almaden, towards Loma Prieta, Umunhum, Thayer, ....and the rest of the east facing side of the Santa Cruz Mtns. Beaches around the general Santa Cruz / Capitola area would be located somewhere between Umunhum and Loma Prieta ...if you wanted to take a long walk over there from here.. ...Long walk though, lol.. Not too bad on a bike though.. More views w/ Mt. Hamilton ( ...and Mt. Isabel .. ...Peak to the south / right of Hamilton.. ) lurking above... " East " side neighborhoods such as Santa Teressa / Sakamoto < nearer > Silver Creek / Evergreen, < further east, below Hamilton > Seven Trees, Communication Hill and the very hazed out outline of Mission Peak ( above Fremont and Milpitas ) < Last picture > visible in the shots.. Wonder if a dime i buried in a planter near the telescope on the left is still there... Can see downtown San Jo' from up here, but the haze was too thick to get post- worthy shots. Views looking south east, down the ridge toward where Santa Teressa CP is located / heart of our " mini " Hollywood Hills, Greystone Hills, and into the northern end of the Coyote Valley ( left side of the ridge ) Diablo Range above and beyond. Best as i can get through stubborn haze closer up of the Ponderosa Pine - covered ridge inside Henry Coe State Park, up in the Diablos east south east of here / the Santa Teressa / Coyote Valley section of this part of town.. A few, big - eared visitors. Whatcha' lookin at, guy.. ...And some parting shots / thoughts as this reunion comes to an end and i move onto answering that " what looks different " question posed earlier, before wrapping things up. Holly Leaf Cherry, Prunus ilicifolia Ok, ok.. maybe there's enough of a flat area below da' lump to stop it from rolling all the way down the hill.. ...A hint, to the question, perhaps? Reflecting as i near an important landmark near the base of the hill, Whether it is here, back in AZ, or where ever i've been ..or may turn up tomorrow.. there has always been something alluring about rocky places. Encountering what critters / neat < and tough > plants might be found in such distinct habitats? Sure.. Countless views to be seen? ..definitely.. but, When i think about all the things spending so much time in a place like this taught me, finding clarity, peace, and a place to seek answers, above those sometimes rocky High School years moments come to mind. Finding greatly expanded, new perspective through such wide views, and the shifting winds they'd bring in at times, far above the hum drum of daily grind below, up here, where the air is clearer, and what really matters surrounds, if you listen.. Priceless gifts no one can give. Even during the trip, returning to this place provided needed clarity and peace of mind between those important evening visits. While not in the way i'd envisioned, being able to return here was also a full circle moment opportunity not to be ignored ..or put off until later.. I hope you enjoyed returning to your spot, little moon.. Some might roll their eyes, but, they're grossly narrow minded thoughts / opinions and views don't matter -at -all.. I rose wayy above being influenced ...or effected by.... such views ..long time ago.. Thanks for all the lessons, ...and memories.. Years ago... September, 99 April, 2000 ..And today.. ...Well, a couple weeks ago, lol.. Now that you've been preserved, forever, may countless others possessing open minds, ..willing to take a seat, listen, and take it all in, be taught the same amazing, gritty lessons you taught me.. https://www.openspaceauthority.org/whats-new/open-space-authority-acquires-52-acres-santa-teresa-foothills ..Until next time.. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It’s a fun way to garden, and you can always arrange them to your liking on the patio! Richard

I did read (John L Dowe ) they use Johannesteijsmannia leaves in the tropics as umbrellas! So a kerriodoxa would do just as good, but I can’t see the home gardener cutting up his prize palms in s as my hurry!

Same. There have been no real varied plantings of these outside of FL so no clue if these are viable outside of zone 9, so this will be great to figure it out.

With seedlings I’m very very careful with slow release fertiliser. I won’t fertilise with it until they’ve probably used the seed resources up, so at about 2nd leaf stage. Then I only sprinkle a small amount on the soil surface as gravity will trickle it down to the roots. Older plants when potting up I will put about 3cm - 4cm below the surface in a ring around the plant, again paying attention to the size of the plant and how hungry they are or fast they grow. Slow growers eat less. However young seedlings even germinating seedlings I will use a weak fish/seaweed emulsion on. On potting up anything after giving them a good drink I then give them fish and seaweed a few times over a few weeks. It never hurts and promotes root growth.

It does look like chemical burn? I have worked in the orchard industry for a few years and have seen similar looking symptoms.

Foxtail are dead simple around here. Not many around but they are rockets. Take the heat as well.

Plant them next to the neighbours sewerage pipes if they give you any troubles. Here’s an interesting ficus pseudopalma for you in my garden.

I took a pause from thinking about palms until the reality of my return to the north set in. I am very happy that my favorite palm found a home and I can check back in from time to time. I am also closing on a house in a couple of weeks, and I did manage to land in the coastal strip of 7a that I was aiming for. Also, I dug up and brought a Trachy hybrid with me. It got stuck in a shipping container with all of my stuff for over 30 days. What was supposed to take up to 10 days for moving all of my stuff ended up not... Shockingly it didn't seem too upset by the dark, and thr pale fronds it pushed while in storage greened up when slowly transition back to the light. Im going to end up putting it in the ground in a strong bout of zone denial then box it every winter.... I also need to get my hands on some needles, unfortunately I didn't dig up any before leaving NC.

🤗👍

Since it is the dead of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, I wasn't surprised that the first new flush to begin in my garden for the New Year is on the Encephalartos laurentianus. Unfortunately, it will likely get beat up in rain and wind, emerging at this time of year. At least the days are getting a little longer with each passing day, so increasing sunlight for it.

I haven't revisited this topic in a while but this is a good excuse to give a status report / update. As many of us in the PNW probably remember, the 2023/2024 winter was brutal and a real test for anyone growing borderline exotics. it got down to ~10C at my place, but damage was probably compounded due to the fact it never went below 0C until the big deep freeze in January. As far as the Eucalyptus go on my property and the ones I know of in my area, here are my observations: - Eucalyptus rodwayi: Mine got some damage and the top ended up dying, so I cut the whole thing down. My neighbours across the street (which I grew for her with the same seed batch) got some minor leaf burn but otherwise came through fine. The ones across the strait at the UBC Botanical Gardens all got cooked and were cut down. So this is definitely a borderline species for the PNW but possible in the milder, coastal locations. - Eucalyptus perriniana: All 4 I know of came through just fine, including one inland on The Island at the base of Mt Benson (probably 200-300m elevation). A fine choice for growing in the PNW, and probably one of the fastest growing species we can grow. - Eucalyptus gunnii: There are 2 very large ones in Parksville I know of. No damage. Another winner for the PNW. - Eucalyptus pauciflora (all sub species): No damage, an obvious choice for growing in the PNW. - Eucalyptus subcrenulata: I only know of 1 (mine). Had about 20-30% leaf burn but no other damage. Grew out of it just fine the following year. - Eucalyptus dalrympleana: There is a small one in my neighbourhood and a huge one in Nanaimo I know of. All came through just fine. This is the Euc to grow if you want a JUMBO hardy Euc for the PNW. - Eucalyptus parvula: Theres a nice mature one in the middle of a farm near my house. Looks great. - Eucalyptus neglecta: 2 near my house, 1 had minor leaf burn the other no damage. Another fine choice for the PNW if you want a Euc on the "smaller" size. I think thats it for species grown around my place. January 2024 was a good data point for which Eucs NOT to grow for this area. Some losers I won't be growing again include: E. amplifolia, E. regnans, E. viminalis, and E. nitens. Some species I have started growing but have not seen a bad winter yet include: E. mitchelliana, E. kybeanensis, and E. camphora. @Jonathan, E coccifera is not super common around here, although I know they are hardy. There is one at the UBC Botanical Garden (which is a colder location then my area) that survived the January 2024 freeze with minimal damage. The 2 E. rodwayii close to it died to the ground. If I ever came across some seed I would definitely add it to my "hardy species to grow" collection. @Zach K while not reliably hardy for the Eastern part of the Island, check out this chonker of a Eucalyptus nitens on the milder West Coast (Tofino). This picture was taken after the deep freeze of 2024 so obviously it is hardy there. @tarnado you have a nice collection going on, many of which I don't know of any specimens growing in the PNW. Those will be good data points once they get in the ground and you will have to keep us updated. If you haven't checked him out already, Ian at the Desert Northwest in Sequim grows a wide variety of Eucs and is an expert in growing Eucs in the PNW. You should check him out sometime.

Winter will take the wind out the sails in the garden until then bring on summer. We missed those crazy storms but had the wind it was a terrible few days. Iam used to heat but I fear one day i would want to leave the heat behind and run to Port Macquarie that big retirement village on the coast. Glad your building a bird cage (make it snake proof those carpet snakes) iam sure the birds will enjoy there new home. I cut out a huge clump of black bamboo the other day, oh it never spreads out runners they said yer right 30 years later it wants to take over my garden.Renovation of the garden is fun and you sound like your having fun scratches and all. You should write a book on gardening does and donts. Iam sure we all could provide plenty of material for that book, a true gardener never stops renovating their garden. And whatever happened to a young bloke earning a few bucks on the weekend mowing lawns, oh that’s right there all on their computer games and phones. I dare to say in my day a job was job and a fair days work for a fair days pay was the order of the day, hard work never killed anyone. My first job was 5 days a week for 40 hours and a pay of $20 bucks a day after tax, $95 bucks was mine and straight out of school I was millionaire on that pay! Richard

I got some nice Hedyscepe canterburyana seedlings from Darold recently. Quick shipping, fair price and excellent communication. You can buy with confidence from Darold (plus as many of you already know, he generously shares his wealth of knowledge about palms).

It is and sort of. I get a bucket with a lid. Cover it with burlap and drill 3 2” holes in it. You can order SA palm weevil pheromone online. You fill the bucket up with a few inches of water and toss in some (in my case) apple, guava and dates. Dangle the pheromone pack from the lid above the water and presto. You now have a palm weevil honey pot. I keep my traps away from my yard by hanging them in my palm free neighbors yards. I fear if I hang one in my yard I will just be calling them in for dinner.

uresana Seabrook Bismarck tiki island giant bop Seabrook Webster robsutas young Bismarck Webster

It's a good universal base. When I start planting out in the spring, whoooooo I've got some new stuff to play with. I've been bokashi composting and started a "soil factory" using cheap garden soil, cheap compost, and this stuff. I might even experiment with something indoors but I'm kinda scared to honestly. My bananas, colocasias and alocasias are already getting too big for the grow room.... Sabal seedlings are so slow I dunno if it'd make a difference and I can't think of anything else I'd be willing to sacrifice for science. Maybe a canna bulb or a crape myrtle cutting? Either way I expect 15-20 foot bananas by the end of summer.

I'm glad that I won't be around when they get to the Bay Area.

Yes, Jonathan, translators can sometimes play tricks on you! Richard once said, "Never trust a translator," and he was right. Anyway, Jonathan, you're one of my best friends on this forum.

Probably already there.. Current map: 3 new reports since September beyond the Fallbrook area, inc. from San Onofre < Recorded on 12 -16 -25 ( Purple Circle ) Orange = Coastal San Pedro, 12 -20 -25 Observation.. Yellow = Valley Village area, near Sherman Oaks, 9 -25 -25 Observation.. Listed as SAPW, but the observer really should have moved it into better lighting to get more shots.. Still, if anywhere nearby, ..i'd be watching Canaries, closely..

Not posting a pic of the bokashi because it's disgusting, but I bought a tote and some cheap potting soil and cheap compost to mix it all up. It's in the YouTube though. Ok I just don't wanna open it again. 5 gallon pots showed up. 30 pack..ugh when I put them in my shopping cart they were like $35, they went up to like 50. Another baby mango. This is a Keitt and it's kinda wild how different the initial leaves are on this one from the Tommy Atkins. I guess I need to join PhilodendronTalk because I came home with 2 more today. Golden Crocodile and uhhh Caramel Pluto. One of my bananas is pregnant! Look at the size of this aerial root on my monstera! Humidity is nice in here right now.

Fried 2018.

Almost 2 months in. We are hosting a big party this weekend so I decided to give it a haircut. Most of the bottom fronds had succumbed to transplant shock anyways. also, the first full pinnate has pushed out, featuring its trademark hooks! It’s had noticeable growth day-over-day in the summer. Can’t thank @Joe NC enough for this beautiful plant.