Marco Island Yacht Club

[PalmatierMeg]

Many people in the US have been told Naples, FL, is one of the wealthiest communities in the country. Fewer people have heard of Marco Island, further south of Naples and accessible via car only by way of a 2-lane arch bridge. Marco Island is home of the uber-rich. When Marco Islanders go slumming, they head to Naples or take a safari to Fort Myers. But they wouldn't be caught dead in the pre-platted abomination that is Cape Coral.

So when the German band I play in was hired to play an Oktoberfest gig at the Marco Island Yacht Club (MIYC) I packed my camera along with my clarinet. Surely this place is no mere yacht club but an uber-yacht club suitable for the superwealthy. And it surely is. We arrived early enough for me to stroll around with my Samsung. The palms, all in all, were mostly the "usual suspects" for SWFL but were exceptionally well maintained, as were all the gardens. A real treat for a struggling member of the proletariat like me.

The bridge leading to Marco Island. The MIYC is the first right turn on the island.

The gig took place at the end of a winding drive

Cocos and Washies

A view from beneath one of the Cocos

Palm trunk architecture

Pygmy date palms are like weeds in FL but this group is choice

[PalmatierMeg]

Beside the club gathering spot was this pier and thatched chickee hut.

Right in front of the building dropoff is a clump of Phoenix reclinata(?) - correct me if I'm wrong.

At the end of the drive was this fantastic lone Cocos

Looking back past the parking lot, Washingtonia robustas line the way. If they were taller I could imagine I was in Beverly Hills.

Closeup of a Washy crown

[PalmatierMeg]

I had time to walk back along the drive in my Bavarian peasant costume to photograph more palms. I noticed that the last two Washies in line had a definite lean. I suspect they took a hit when Hurricane Wilma plowed through in 2005. Hurricanes blast rich and poor alike.

Landscaping the concrete block wall that blocks view of the club from passing drivers were groupings of palms.

Cocos

Cocos and Washies

Sabal palmetto

Cocos and Sabals

[PalmatierMeg]

Royal palms

The marina is edged with Adonidias. This is another common-as-dirt palm in SWFL but gorgeous when maintained. Marco Island is so far south that I suspect these palms don't suffer much cold damage.

Adonidia

Crownshaft

Adonidias and Washies

Before heading back to my performance venue, I took this photo of palms and flag

[PalmatierMeg]

I saw what to me was a mystery pinnate palm (Ptychosperma, Veitchia?) growing around the club building. It is medium-tall and slim with a bulging light green crownshaft. Fronds are relaxed somewhat but not overly formal. Any IDs?

Mystery pinnate palm

Pinnate palm crown

Pinnate palm group

Pinnate palms from below

Pinnate palms and larger royals

[PalmatierMeg]

Along my stroll I also photographed non-palmy subjects.

Red mangroves edge the south end of the marina. Red mangrove are highly protected. Snapping even one branch can earn you huge fines and maybe a jail sentence. MIYC must have gotten Federal, State and local permits to give their mangroves flat tops.

Scalped red mangroves

Red mangrove prop roots

Unknown flowering lily-like plant (ID?)

Croton and pygmy date trunk

Caladiums

Ravenala leaf

New Ravenala leaf. They don't open as much as they "unroll"

[PalmatierMeg]

No yacht club is complete without yachts. MIYC is loaded with them.

Yachts and coconuts

Yacht and coconut in front of modest cottages

Yachts and Old Glory

[PalmatierMeg]

I went inside the club to set up in the ballroom on the 2nd floor. I still had time for more photos, so I took my trusty Samsung onto the balcony.

Adonidias

It is not often I find myself face to face with an Adonidia crown

A grouping of Chamaerops. There were also single Chamaerops var. cerifera but those photos didn't turn out well from 25' up.

The rear courtyard was lined with large silver-fronded Phoenix. I don't know my date palms that well but I will hazard a guess that these are P. sylvesteris or some mix (correct me if I am wrong).

Phoenix sylvesteris crown

Phoenix from balcony

Phoenix with bridge in background

Phoenix "pineapple"

[PalmatierMeg]

On a gig we generally take a 10-15 minute break at the end of every set. By then it was dark out but that didn't faze my Samsung. I hadn't taken night time photos before but these turned out well.

Phoenix sylvesteris crown at night

Phoenix pineapple

Phoenix trunks looked cool in the dark. The many little ferns living in the boots really stood out

[PalmatierMeg]

The mystery pinnate palm I'd seen out front was also planted in the rear courtyard. From the balcony I took closer photos of the crown and crownshaft.

Pinnate palm crown at night

Crownshaft

Crownshaft with inflorescence

[FRITO]

Meg Nice photos, Marco Island is Zone 11 I am guessing, so far south and being an isldand I doubt it has temps below 35.

Your Phoenix isnt a slvestris, it looks like a dactylifera. The unknown lily is a Giant Crinum 'queen emma' which does well all over SW fla. lastly the unknown crownshaft palm is P. elegans 'solitare palm'

all 'usual suspects' in the area.

[PalmatierMeg]

Meg Nice photos, Marco Island is Zone 11 I am guessing, so far south and being an isldand I doubt it has temps below 35.

Your Phoenix isnt a slvestris, it looks like a dactylifera. The unknown lily is a Giant Crinum 'queen emma' which does well all over SW fla. lastly the unknown crownshaft palm is P. elegans 'solitare palm'

all 'usual suspects' in the area.

Thanks, Luke. P. dactylifera was my second guess. Maybe the MIYC members eat a lot of dates.