Next PSSC Meeting July 17th, 2010

[Phil]

NEXT MEETING OF THE PALM SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN CA IN VISTA, CALIFORNIA

SATURDAY, JULY 17TH, 2010

GARDEN OF DR. MARDY AND CHERI DARIAN

Many members have heard of the famous garden of Mardy Darian and have dreamed of some day visiting it. This is your chance! Dr. Darian and his wife Cherie have agreed to host our next meeting. This will be the first time this garden has been available for tour for over 20 years. The date is Saturday, July 17th at 11:00 AM. Note that only members of the PSSC will be allowed entrance. So, if you have let your membership lapse, renew immediately. Or, if you are not a member, join now. A roster of active members will be checked on everyone entering the garden. It is true that this San Diego County meeting is out of our normal order, but the Board felt that altering our schedule was a small price to pay for having such an noteworthy meeting.

History of the Garden: As many of you are aware, Mardy Darian has been one of the most prominent pioneers of the palms of Madagascar. He has studied them for many decades and has taken numerous trips to Madagascar. Through his persistence and extensive efforts, Mardy has introduced countless species of Malagasy palms into cultivation. Many of these rare species are now growing on his estate and can be seen in their mature form. For approximately fifty years Dr. Darian has been transforming his near ideal location in Vista into one of the premiere tropical palm gardens in the world. The garden’s inception dates back to 1963. Mardy began with 8 months of dynamite and excavation just to get the site right for his garden. At one point, his garden hosted 131 different genera of palms. Not only does this garden feature rare species from Madagascar, but many other genera from around the world can be viewed. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to tour this garden for free!

Date/Time: Saturday, July 17th, general meeting starting at 11:00 Am

Address: 990 Quail Trail Rd, Vista, CA 92081

Attendance Restrictions: Only members of the PSSC will be allowed entrance. Wives are permitted. Children of members who are 15 and older will be allowed entrance. Membership will be checked. So, renew your membership or join now! No guests allowed other than above. New members may join at the gate: one year membership is $40 by cash or check. Or, to join easily on the Internet, go to: http://palmssc.org/m.../membership.htm

Other Restrictions/Requirements: Attendees must stay on the designated pathways. There will be no walking into the planted areas. Seed collection or cuttings are STRICTLY PROHIBITED. The house is off limits to attendees and cannot be entered. Porta-Potties will be outside the entrance gates. Please do not drop garbage or refuge in the garden. All members must exit the garden at the end of the meeting. Attendees must wear appropriate shoes for this tour as there are sloped areas and steps. Do not leave designated paths for viewing the garden. There will be various security personnel watching the garden. We are counting on the integrity of members to follow or enforce these rules of attendance.

Tours: Dr. Darian and several selected docents will be leading groups through the garden. Attendees should select a tour group and stay with this group while viewing the garden.

Potluck: All members are asked to bring a main dish, side dish, or desert for our potluck. Tables will be set up for placement of food. Lunch will begin at 12:30 PM

Parking: There is limited parking on approaching streets to the estate. Attendees should park outside of the gate to the Darian garden or in any nearby location on the street.

Itinerary:

9:30 AM; Board of Directors Meeting

11:00 AM: General Meeting begins, garden tours

12:30 PM: Potluck

1:00 PM: Introduction of our hosts, Dr. Mardy and Cherie Darian

1:20 PM (approximately): Garden tours continue

2:30 PM: Convene in driveway for formal meeting and auction of plants

3:30 PM: Meeting adjournment

Plant Auction: We request that interested members only bring rare and unusual species. Please, no common palms. There is a limit of three plants to be brought per member participating. No exceptions! There will be no raffle. Hopefully this will lead to a quicker and more interesting plant auction.

Directions:

From the West: Take Freeway 5 to Freeway 78 east. Exit at Mar Vista, turning right. Make an immediate left on Thibodo. Turn right on Rolling Hills Rd, then right on Quail Trail to the end of the road.

From the East: Take Freeway 15 to Freeway 78 west. Exit on Sycamore, following signs to Sycamore and turn left on Sycamore. Turn right on Thibodo, left on Rolling Hills Rd, right on Quail Trail.

Questions? Please address all questions to Phil Bergman, phone: 619 291 4605 or email phil@junglemusic.net

This will be a fantastic and memorable meeting. We hope to see many of you in attendance.

NOTE: PLEASE SEE THREAD ON "DISCUSSING PALMS WORLDWIDE" AT THIS WEBSITE FOR COMMENTS BY ANTICIPATED ATTENDEES

[palmazon]

Anyone not a board member care to volunteer checking membership at the gate?

[palmazon]

back on top, baby

[MattyB]

I believe it's Quails Trail Rd. not Quail Trail Rd. Minor difference but it makes a difference on Google Maps.

[John Case]

I have been invited by my brother palmophiles of NorCal to ride with them to the SoCal meeting. Can I join the PSSC at the door? Do I have to learn a special handshake?

Inquiring minds want to know,,,,,,

[JEFF from Trabuco Canyon CA]

Hi John, You can join at the door. Just $40 for the membership. I will have the first journal of the year for all new members who pay at the door. I plan on bringing back issues for the last couple of years to sell. Glad to hear you guys can make it down. It should be a huge turn out.

Jeff Rood

[BS Man about Palms]

Will the "Neighborhood gate" be locked open or will someone be there to let us in? (It's a gated community)

[John Case]

Hi John, You can join at the door. Just $40 for the membership. I will have the first journal of the year for all new members who pay at the door. I plan on bringing back issues for the last couple of years to sell. Glad to hear you guys can make it down. It should be a huge turn out.

Jeff Rood

Jeff,

Thanks. Looking forward to it.

JC

[Phil]

OK Group,

It's this Saturday. Remember, you must be a member to enter. If you've not joined or forgot to renew, pay at the gate: $40. Spouses can enter with a spouse or partner who is either a Member or pays at the gate. Kids 15 and older ok if with parents. Stay on the pathways and no seed collecting.

Bring a food item, preferably a hot item. The Society is bringing a limited amount of chicken and cold drinks. We're losing money on this event, so please bring something.

For those bringing plants to be auctioned, MAXIMUM OF THREE PLANTS! and ONLY GOOD STUFF! No Trachycarpus, Washingtonia, etc. please. Try to bring sizes that people can easily carry. Preferable size is 1g to 5g, not a 200 pounder.

Phil

ps: From the nursery and in keeping with the Madagascar/New Caledonian theme, I'm bringing a nice Ravenea species Giant (maybe like the one you'll be seeing), Veillonia alba, and Hawaiian Punch. I am not sure if Mardy will be auctioning any of his plants. He's still a bit undecided, but I think it would be coolfor him to tell his stories with the plants.

Phil