The Croton Society of Florida Tour of the Searle Collection

[Palmarum]

If you want to learn more about Croton varieties or join the Croton Society, this is your chance to do so...

The Croton Society of Florida, Garden Tour and Society Meeting

Saturday, November 15th, 2008 - Starting at 12:00PM going to (?)

website: The Croton Society

Location:

Jeff Searle's Residence

18200 SW 52 Lane, Southwest Ranches, FL 33331

Western Broward County, Florida

Contact:

If you plan on attending, or would like more information about the meeting, send Jeff Searle a private message or an email:

PM: Jeff Searle

Email: palms@rainforestcollection.com

The Croton Society only does a tour about three times a year, and often of collections not usually open to the public. This is a rare chance to see a vast collection of hundreds (Jeff says less than the number I do) of croton cultivars in a single collection. There is a long standing history between the Searle name and crotons. Not only has Jeff been collecting and growing crotons for as long as he has been doing the same with palms, but his father Francis "Pops" Searle was one of the first to grow them in South Florida. Jeff has sub-divisions of his croton collection, based upon their history and who first bred them into cultivation, such as collections from Richard Krukonis, Bob Halgrim, and the Thomas Edison Museum. Crotons are a major plant group in his yard, and he has used them to landscape around his ever growing tropical plant collection.

The meeting will start at noon, and keep going until whenever. The tour can continue by flashlight if need be. Light refreshments will be served during the meeting, and any food or beverage you would like to bring would be appreciated. The meeting will include an auction of popular and unusual cultivars, and an unlimited amount of croton knowledge. A good number of Forum members have already said they were coming to attend the meeting. If you are able to come, it ought to be a great time.

Ryan

[TikiRick]

Can't wait. I will be brining along a few goodies for the auction.

[SubTropicRay]

I will be there with a couple of fresh air layers.

[BS Man about Palms]

I will be there with a couple of fresh air layers.

I'd like to be there with some fresh hair layers.

[Jeff in St Pete]

I will be there with a couple of fresh air layers.

I'd like to be there with some fresh hair layers.

[SubTropicRay]

LOL

[Jeff Searle]

I just checked my list of who's who coming, and there are nine forum members including myself that have said their coming. So, I think it might be a Croton Society sanctioned tour with a little International Palm Society thrown in. Sounds great to me!

Jeff

[SubTropicRay]

Jeff,

How about posting a couple of pre tour garden photos?

Ray

[Central Floridave]

Ok, its been 24 hours...where are the photos?

[Walter John]

bump for pics thanks.

[Jeff Searle]

We had a great, unbelievable turnout of people. Ryan (Palmarum) was there and took hundreds of pictures, so I'm sure in the next day or so, he will start posting.

Jeff

[SunnyFl]

We had a great, unbelievable turnout of people. Ryan (Palmarum) was there and took hundreds of pictures, so I'm sure in the next day or so, he will start posting.

Jeff

I'll be looking forward to seeing the pix. I was incredibly disappointed in not being able to go, had been looking forward to it since it was scheduled. It had to have been a terrific event.

[SubTropicRay]

Jeff,

A BIG thanks to you and Andrea for a great party.

Ray

[palmislandRandy]

Jeff and Andrea, Thanks for letting me drool all over your garden. I met a few peeps and actually noticed the crotons!

[TikiRick]

We all had a great time, on a nice, warm, sunny fall day.

What a turnout!

And to think someone would pay $280.00 for a croton in an auction!!??

What recession? Plant folks can always find the money somewhere. Who needs to eat?

I left with a few goodies myself:

"Peace"

"Compt. de Germany"

"Little Lilly's Purple Madness" (who makes this sh@*t up?)

I was able to get away spending only $20! Now, that's a bargain!

[Palmarum]

Hmm, photos what are those things again? The Croton Society meeting at Jeff's house was a good time for me and for others, including the fact I got there a little late because I had to go see a great movie. As I was driving down the street approaching the house, I could see a lot more vehicles I had planned on seeing. I didn't get a final count on how many attended the meeting, but there were about 40-50 people. Jeff might have an even more accurate count than this.

When I arrived at about 12:45, everyone had begun diving into the lunch spread. After they ate, society members were given a tour of the yard by Jeff, followed by a rather heated auction of unusual croton varieties.

- 1:02PM: In addition to the auction plants, Jeff had brought over a selection of crotons from the nursery to sell for those unwavering addicts who can't get enough. The group on the table is being looked over thoroughly by FM. Faith Bishock (budrot).

- Jeff Searle introduces himself and welcomes everyone to his home while officially beginning the meeting.

- The croton tour began at one large group of cultivars close to the driveway. Each grouping around the yard has stories and history attached to it.

- Jeff had everyone's attention as they were hanging on his every word. Actually, he was really hoping for the croton elite to speak up and either identify his unknown cultivars or verify the names they each already had. He had a few unknowns named, but not as many as were hoped.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 1:23PM: Members and attendees were not shy about asking Jeff questions about everything, even non-crotons.

- Jeff kept the tour moving, even though the mob got stretched out as they went through the more narrow sections of the yard. We couldn't help but to point out particular palm species here and there. I was often asked to identify a palm while Jeff was naming a croton or telling its story.

- In one corner of his yard, Jeff describes the many members of his Bob Halgrim collection.

- 1:36PM: The tour continued to weave its way through the different pathways, stopping only to debate an identity or give time to someone to give notes on something. This is where a member drew a gun and held Jeff up, demanding a croton cutting...

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 1:55PM: The tour found its way through some of the newer areas of the yard, which held some of the more rarer cultivars of crotons.

- 2:09PM: Near the end of the tour, Jeff listens to a few of the Croton Society's regulars as they look over one of his unknowns; trying to figure out what it might be.

- 2:14PM: The auction plants caused a bit of drooling for some of the fanatics. As soon as the tour reached the patio, people took a seat that had a good view of the auction to come. A few members went on with Jeff as there were many more crotons to see in other areas of the yard.

- 2:19PM: "Hello, my name is Rick, and I'm a croton addict." FM. Rick Leitner (TikiRick) shows one of the auction plants he wouldn't mine going home with.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:24PM: I do not remember the name of this croton, but it caught the eye of many during lunch. It got fondled quite a few times as people looked it over and figured how much they would be willing to spend on it.

- Jeff Searle was also the auctioneer of the afternoon. He was handed a plant and did his best to stir up the bidding and get the most for each cultivar. He is handing the first auction plant to its winner, Lemar Sapp, which was the first of many wins to come for him.

- At the same time the auction began, desserts were served. So people risked losing their seat in exchange for some sugary goodness.

- 2:31PM: This is one instant where a few minutes of video of the auction in action would be preferred. Not only were bids shouted in Jeff's direction, but also challenges as to the identity of some of the crotons.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:33PM: "It's mine now!"

- "What?" Jeff asks for confirmation on an identification as people continued to bid on one plant after another.

- The weather was flawless for the meeting and everyone knew it. Twenty minutes did not go by, without someone agreeing how good the temperature and humidity had been for the meeting.

- 2:37PM: When Jeff concentrates on something, he tends to stick his tongue out. I have noticed that more and more about people in general as I photograph them. In the back, Pinecrest Gardens curator Craig Morrell makes a snide remark to break Jeff's concentration, while Rick gives Faith a massage. A typical plant related event in South Florida.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:40PM: FM. Jim Glock (jglock1) had his incredible repartee ready for the quick draw at a second's notice. He shot out a hilarious comment that made everyone laugh, including FMs. Rick Leitner (TikiRick) and Tim O'Neill (ThunderSRQ). I can't repeat it here, but involved his wife Judy's affliction with crotons.

- For the fun of it, Jim outbid his wife on a croton she wanted.

- FM. Ray Hernandez (Ray Tampa) was working security, no one dared to go past him with an unpaid plant.

- 2:47PM: This unusual light colored croton was the first to stir some heavy bidding. Eventually, it went to local horticultural legend David McLean for a sum of $165.00.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 2:59PM: The bidding became more fierce as the supply of plants began to dwindle. There was still a few plants coming up that people were waiting for.

- The croton meeting was definitely educational, for me and for a few other individuals who are mostly new to crotons. It introduced not only what Croton Society meetings were like, but also what collectors seem to look for in their favorite cultivars.

- This large-leaved orange croton drew "Ooh's" and "Ahh's" from the crowd as Jeff placed it on the table.

- 3:08PM: David nabbed it with his final bid, going for a high three digit value.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 3:12PM: The bidding was hectic at best, most bids were elevated by increments, while at the last second one would go up a dollar to try and snag the plant. On the left, FM. Mike Harris (waykoolplantz) bids against the member on the right.

- <drum roll> The last major plant of the auction was introduced by Jeff, as he jokingly told everyone the bidding would start at one hundred. He actually started it at twenty-five, and soon found out the $100.00 starting joke was ironic, as the bidding shot up past that mark very quickly.

- Lemar raised his hand one more time to get it for $280.00 and everyone erupted with applause.

- 3:20PM: He did very well for himself in adding to his croton collection.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 3:43PM: The meeting closed with the end of the auction, and the short sale of crotons afterward. After people paid for their plants, they left with smiles and new found favorites. In my last duty of the day, letting people out of the gate, I said the goodbyes and captured some carrying their plants out.

It was my first Croton Society meeting, and I found it interesting. Many of the cultivars still look the same to me and I respect those who could tell them apart from a distance. I know for a fact the best way to learn crotons is to grow them. If you see the same cultivar every day, you learn it very well. They didn't announce where the next meeting will be, but I am sure it will be on their website.

Ryan

--<

[SubTropicRay]

Ryan,

Nice photos. I'm just making sure noone lifts MY plant.

I can't believe the "Magnificent" croton went for $280.00!! What recession?!

Ray

[BS Man about Palms]

Thanks for the photos Ryan! Lots of color.

To Jeff: You think some of us So Cal Palmophiles see differences in palms that aren't there? Have you looked at your Croton naming lately?

But I still would have liked to attend.

[Jeff Searle]

Thanks for the photos Ryan! Lots of color.

To Jeff: You think some of us So Cal Palmophiles see differences in palms that aren't there? Have you looked at your Croton naming lately?

But I still would have liked to attend.

Bill,

We had some members that covered most of the entire state of Florida come down for this. The Croton Society certainly has a strong following. And it showed with the near 50 people that came out that day.

Many crotons can be very similar in looks to someone that's just starting out and has started collecting some. It just takes time. And even for those of us that have many varieties or have been interested in them for several years, it still can be difficult to tell some of them apart. Kind of like when you FIRST started getting interested in palms. Remember how alot of them looked like others? Same with crotons.

Ryan,

Thanks again for all the great pictures, as usual. And thanks very much to all of those that came to the meeting and helped make it a success.

Jeff

[Moose]

Dang - I missed out

[George Sparkman]

4+ years Ron, what a miss......or just an artistic bump ?