Jump to content

  • WELCOME GUEST

    It looks as if you are viewing PalmTalk as an unregistered Guest.

    Please consider registering so as to take better advantage of our vast knowledge base and friendly community.  By registering you will gain access to many features - among them are our powerful Search feature, the ability to Private Message other Users, and be able to post and/or answer questions from all over the world. It is completely free, no “catches,” and you will have complete control over how you wish to use this site.

    PalmTalk is sponsored by the International Palm Society. - an organization dedicated to learning everything about and enjoying palm trees (and their companion plants) while conserving endangered palm species and habitat worldwide. Please take the time to know us all better and register.

    guest Renda04.jpg

Santa Barbara Garden

tropical bliss

By tropical bliss
in DISCUSSING PALM TREES WORLDWIDE

 Share

Recommended Posts

tropical bliss Rookie

tropical bliss

Posted
Posted

I have a friend who has a few acres in Santa Barbara that is looking to create a Balinese/Thai type garden. He is going to do a mass planting of sorts with all types of exotics but would also like to do so with larger specimens. I am in hopes that I could get him some referrals of nurseries that could handle this type of order. My understanding is he is a Zone 8. He already has mature canopy trees (some 100+ years old) and seems like he would be pretty insulated from cold to an extent. He has the abilities to bring out heaters if need be for palms that may not fit into his type of climate. He is also looking for bamboo, heliconias, gingers, alocasias, bananas, and a host of other tropical varieties. I am uncertain of laws regarding transporting species between states but any information would be greatly appreciated. This would be a dream job for me but I live in Palm Beach.

Peter Grand Master

Peter

Posted
Posted

If he's looking for a landscaper in Southern California, Leon of XOTX Tropico could handle the job, and has all the companion plants as well as palms. I can pass along his information if your friend is interested.

San Fernando Valley, California

DoomsDave Grand Master

DoomsDave

Posted
Posted

tb!

Welcome to our merry band!

If your friend is in Santa Barbara, the city, he's more than likely a zone 10a, maybe 10b, depending on where he is. That's much much warmer than 8. However, keep in mind that this is a Mediterranean climate, which is different from Zones 10 in Florida. Which I suspect you already know.

The canopy will also help a lot.

I wouldn't look for one place to get the plants. There are lots of nurseries out here, including some on this Board, who will be glad to make recommendations.

Unless there's a special reason to be in a hurry, I'd take the time to see things first. Start off with a trip to the Huntington Botanical Garden in San Marino, near Los Angeles (about 10 miles east). There's a lot of great stuff there to see. There's paid admission, but it's worth it.

If you or he have any questions about specific plants, ask away.

We live to help others with their tropical fetish, and several acres is a king-size laboratory.

Or, if you like, shoot me a PM.

best

dave

Let's keep our forum fun and friendly.

Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or lost profits or revenue, claims by third parties or for other similar costs, or any special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of my opinion or the use of this data. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and I disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use my data. Other terms may apply.

John Case Grand Master

John Case

Posted
Posted

Barbara has a ton of water restrictions.....if the garden will be new, or obvious to the water police, he may have to find a water source.

John Case

Brentwood CA

Owner and curator of Hana Keu Garden

USDA Zone 9b more or less, Sunset Zone 14 in winter 9 in summer

"Its always exciting the first time you save the world. Its a real thrill!"

tropical bliss Rookie

tropical bliss

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Wow! Thank you so much for the fast responses. I have managed to gather a few names from the board but I am also in need of contact information. Please do not hesitate to shoot me an email at john_lupoli@yahoo.com. I will need phone numbers, price lists, emails, and any other applicable info regarding purchase and/or delivery. I don't think delivery cost would be too much of a factor so long as it is enclosed to protect the trees/plants. I am familiar with a few larger nurseries like Jungle Music and have seen some amazing specimens on the "for sale" page for surfer jr. and a few others but I know California is a huge state. It is my hopes that I can help many nurseries rather than just one in these times, but again, quantity and quality with inventory list that can meet the job are ideal.

LJG Grand Master

LJG

Posted
Posted

I know Jerry Hunter at Rancho Soledad does big semi truck shipments to some of the more well-off clients in Santa Barbara. A few years ago I witnessed one packed semi. Impressive. He has the largest selection of mature rare stuff you will find. They have a price list doc too:

http://www.ranchosoledad.com/

Tell him Len sent you and you will get .05% off. :)

  tropical bliss said:
Wow! Thank you so much for the fast responses. I have managed to gather a few names from the board but I am also in need of contact information. Please do not hesitate to shoot me an email at john_lupoli@yahoo.com. I will need phone numbers, price lists, emails, and any other applicable info regarding purchase and/or delivery. I don't think delivery cost would be too much of a factor so long as it is enclosed to protect the trees/plants. I am familiar with a few larger nurseries like Jungle Music and have seen some amazing specimens on the "for sale" page for surfer jr. and a few others but I know California is a huge state. It is my hopes that I can help many nurseries rather than just one in these times, but again, quantity and quality with inventory list that can meet the job are ideal.

Len

Vista, CA (Zone 10a)

Shadowridge Area

"Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are."

-- Alfred Austin

DoomsDave Grand Master

DoomsDave

Posted
Posted

tb:

LJG's got a great idea. Rancho Soledad rocks, though they're not cheap. They have BIG plants, 30 feet tall in some cases, in massive boxes. If your friend's got acreage in SB, I suspect money's not a huge problem.

And, yes, you have to be concerned about water in SB. They're the water gestapo there, unfortunately.

That said, some plants look thirsty but aren't.

Keep looking.

And so will we . . . . .

Let's keep our forum fun and friendly.

Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or lost profits or revenue, claims by third parties or for other similar costs, or any special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of my opinion or the use of this data. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and I disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use my data. Other terms may apply.

DoomsDave Grand Master

DoomsDave

Posted
Posted

Shoot down the I-5 to Quail botanical gardens in Encinitas in northern San Diego County. They've got some great bamboo and other tropicals in a nice setting. And, Jungle Music and others are nearby for temptation, of course.

Let's keep our forum fun and friendly.

Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or lost profits or revenue, claims by third parties or for other similar costs, or any special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of my opinion or the use of this data. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and I disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use my data. Other terms may apply.

Venturagreg Rookie

Venturagreg

Posted
Posted

Lots of good suggestions, here's one that's a little more local

You friend should definitely check out Island View Nursery in Carpinteria, it is only about a 10 min. drive from downtown S.B. and has an amazing selection of palms, succulents, gingers, bromeliads and other trops as well as lots of Indonesian/S.E. Asian outdoor furniture, statues, thatched palapas and huts. The owners import shipping containers full of great stuff from Indonesia.

Greg

Greg in Ventura, CA USA Zone 10, Sunset 24

LJG Grand Master

LJG

Posted
Posted

Greg, good info. Never heard of them but it interest me about the shipping from Indonesia. Rancho does that from Hawaii.

  Venturagreg said:
Lots of good suggestions, here's one that's a little more local

You friend should definitely check out Island View Nursery in Carpinteria, it is only about a 10 min. drive from downtown S.B. and has an amazing selection of palms, succulents, gingers, bromeliads and other trops as well as lots of Indonesian/S.E. Asian outdoor furniture, statues, thatched palapas and huts. The owners import shipping containers full of great stuff from Indonesia.

Greg

Len

Vista, CA (Zone 10a)

Shadowridge Area

"Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are."

-- Alfred Austin

MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

Posted
Posted

I think "the dewd abides" on this board has some nice Balinese stuff that he's imported in shipping containers over the years from his trips. Some of the stone carvings and fern trunk carvings for attaching epiphites are amazing. You might PM him to see what he's selling.

the dewd abides profile

Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

Mark_NoVA Proficient

Mark_NoVA

Posted
Posted

I just used one of those zip code zone calculators for 93103 in Santa Barbara City, and it said 8b! Way off. If that's where the zone 8 info came from, you can rest assured that's inaccurate. City of SB is more of a 9b-10a area than 10a-10b, I'd wager, though.

If it's 'County' of SB, there could be quite a difference! The Santa Ynez Valley gets into the low 20s, so that might be a 9a. Hotter in the summer though, which is why wine grapes are grown there (where 'Sideways' was filmed), but not in SB city where it's too cool. Closer to the ocean than the SY valley in Santa Maria is slightly milder. Bougainvillea, Meyers Lemon can be grown there, for example, but they'd need a good microcliamte in the SY valley. (For you wine lovers, Pinot Noir is relatively cool, summer-heat wise, so Santa Maria and the closer-to-the-ocean end of the SY Valley, Santa Rita Hills, are known for their Pinot Noir.) I recall seeing mature Phoenix canariensis in the SY valley.

In some other comments, folks have suggested the tallest Ceroxylon in the U.S. is in Ventura--they would probably do well in parts of SB city (perhaps the foggier ones) as well then--having a lot of those would look spectacular, I'd bet!

Hopefully we will get to see some photos of what your friend does! (Oh, yeah, s/he should check out Lotusland, of course.)

  Dave from So-Cal said:
If your friend is in Santa Barbara, the city, he's more than likely a zone 10a, maybe 10b, depending on where he is. That's much much warmer than 8. However, keep in mind that this is a Mediterranean climate, which is different from Zones 10 in Florida. Which I suspect you already know.

zone 7a (Avg. max low temp 0 to 5 F, -18 to -15 C), hot humid summers

Avgs___Jan__Feb__Mar__Apr__May__Jun__Jul__Aug__Sep__Oct__Nov__Dec

High___44___49___58___69___78___85___89___87___81___70___59___48

Low____24___26___33___42___52___61___66___65___58___45___36___28

Precip_3.1__2.7__3.6__3.0__4.0__3.6__3.6__3.6__3.8__3.3__3.2__3.1

Snow___8.1__6.2__3.4__0.4__0____0____0____0____0____0.1__0.8__2.2

tropical bliss Rookie

tropical bliss

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thank you all for the suggestions. As soon as the project is complete, I will post pics. Your information was tremendously appreciated...

_Keith Grand Master

_Keith

Posted
Posted
  tropical bliss said:
Thank you all for the suggestions. As soon as the project is complete, I will post pics. Your information was tremendously appreciated...

Not being a Californian, I obviously had nothing to offer, but I am looking forward to your pics.

In my post I sometimes express "my" opinion. Warning, it may differ from "your" opinion. If so, please do not feel insulted, just state your own if you wish. Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or any other damages

tikitiki Mentor

tikitiki

Posted
Posted

Mee Too

  Palmarati said:
  tropical bliss said:
Thank you all for the suggestions. As soon as the project is complete, I will post pics. Your information was tremendously appreciated...

Not being a Californian, I obviously had nothing to offer, but I am looking forward to your pics.

With a tin cup for a chalice

Fill it up with good red wine,

And I'm-a chewin' on a honeysuckle vine.

Ryland Proficient

Ryland

Posted
Posted

There's a palm supplier near Santa Barbara that may be ideal for you... it's called Rincon Gardens, and it is between SB and Ventura.

Manchester, Lancashire, England

53.4ºN, 2.2ºW, 65m AMSL

Köppen climate Cfb | USDA hardiness zone 9a

epicure3 Grand Master

epicure3

Posted
Posted

Before I would do anything, I would nail down the hardiness zone. The difference between 10and 8 is huge (regardless of FL or CA). If it is indeed 8, then forget about heliconias, alocasias, and bananas, and I would re-evaluate varieties of palms.

Coastal San Diego, California

Z10b

Dry summer subtropical/Mediterranean

warm summer/mild winter

Phil Veteran

Phil

Posted
Posted

Dear T.B.,

Tell your friend that the key to success in a home "botanical garden" is knowing which species to utilize, appropriate selection of these species, planting correctly and planting in the right locations within the garden, and applying the right culture after planting. And, one must coordinate his choices of species with the exact conditions he has in his garden. There are lots of different growing condition throughout Southern California. I am familiar with a lot of gardens in the Santa Barbara area. But, not all areas of Santa Barbara are the same. So, he must come to learn his precise area and learn the limitations in that area. You can have totally different conditions even within one community. It's not as simple as going through a book and saying "I like this" and "I like that". If he's going to do it himself, tell him to read adequately so that he understands these points. Or, have him utilize someone (nurseryman or landscaper) who knows or can learn these things. Doing this will avoid frustration on his part. I've helped a lot of people create beautiful gardens over the years and there is a learning curve, sometimes for both the nurseryman and the home owner. But, if he approaches it through knowledge or the experiences from others, he will eventually accomplish his dream.

Phil

Jungle Music Palms and Cycads, established 1977 and located in Encinitas, CA, 20 miles north of San Diego on the Coast.  Phone:  619 2914605 Link to Phil's Email phil.bergman@junglemusic.net Website: www.junglemusic.net Link to Jungle Music Palms and Cycads

Kim Grand Master

Kim

Posted
Posted

Phil has made an excellent point. Much as I have learned over the years about growing plants, if I were going to shell out for large specimens to do a mass planting on several acres, I would definitely spend money on a knowledgeable local landscaper who specializes in tropicals to help ensure the survival of my investment.

Has your friend visited Lotusland in Montecito, on the south end of Santa Barbara? (already mentioned above) Lots of inspiration there, you can see what will grow.

Link to some pics I took: http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?sh...mp;hl=lotusland

Kim Cyr

Between the beach and the bays, Point Loma, San Diego, California USA
and on a 300 year-old lava flow, Pahoa, Hawaii, 1/4 mile from the 2018 flow
All characters  in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...