Loran Whitelock Garden

[Kim]

The Palm Society of Southern California held the July meeting in a hilltop garden in Eagle Rock, a suburb of Los Angeles, California. Let's get oriented (edit: link corrected):

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Los+Angeles,+CA+90041&hl=en&ll=34.136531,-118.212891&spn=0.034313,0.073557&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=33.626896,75.322266&z=14

When the driveway looks like this, you know you have arrived somewhere special:

Loran Whitelock has been collecting and growing plants, cycads in particular, for more than fifty years. His hilltop garden overlooking the surrounding city has been painstakingly constructed brick by brick, plant by plant over that period. Loran is not only a most extraordinary plantsman, but an artist as well, as I hope to show you with the photos that follow.

Although getting up in years, Loran retains a firm grasp on all the details of his garden as well as a firm and friendly handshake. He gamely wandered the garden with visitors all day long, answering all questions, no matter how many times they were repeated, and held court with cycad aficionados in the shade of the ramada next to the koi pond, a favorite place for his evening cocktail. Here is the man himself in his garden:

First impressions......

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The board chooses the finest seating in the garden and the meeting gets underway...

[Gbarce]

I can't get enough of this garden I need to visit there some day!

[Kim]

Your patience is requested with this post; it's going to take some time to go through the 288 photos to select and format the most representative pics!

While the board meets, the garden is at my disposal to explore.

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It is a web of paths and stairs threading through the thoughtfully planted hillside. The beds are carefully tended and pristine, not a weed in sight, deeply mulched, well watered, and much evident thought given to exposure to sun or shade. There is a definite arts and crafts influence with clear Asian overtones in both the decorative and utilitarian elements. For example, naturally formed rectangular stones are seated upright at strategic points along the walks, serving as unobtrusive hose guides, a subtle detail. More dramatically, huge craftsman lanterns on cobblestone pillars accentuate pathways.

This craftsman style lantern adds weight to the small detached office perched on the steep hillside:

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Don't forget to look up at the canopy pastiche... and down at the colorful accents:

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... and turn to look back for a different view of where you've come from... (note the Rhipsalis, an epiphytic form of cactus collected in Mexico):

[Kim]

Loran's greatest thrill was exploring in the jungles around the globe in search of exciting exotic plants. In assembling his own botanical collection, he sought to recreate that experience concentrating plants from all over the world in a single garden. It comprises many layers, from the overhead canopy, to high intermediate layers, hanging elements, bold species, diminutive species, fluffy and spiky understory. The sky is never blotted out, the plants are never completely obscured by one another; they have room for air circulation, room to breathe, but in places are close enough to create a sense of mystery.

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Descending some steps, one is seized by the sight of this massive thatched trunk. What bold palm is this? Whoever said Sabal are boring should see this striking specimen in person. Turns out it is Sabal 'riverside' given to Loran in a 1-gal. container by a Leucadia nurseryman "some years ago" -- like maybe 40?

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[BS Man about Palms]

Awesome Kim.... I was very happy I made it up to his Oasis..

[pogobob]

Beutyfull photography Kim, you could very well make a pictorial book with your knack with capturing unique angles and light exposures. What a great garden!

[Kim]

Following the traversing path, we see Howea forsteriana fruiting, the crown of a Brahea armata (I think) flashing silver blue, and the morning sun calling our attention to a bright begonia and young cycad with brilliant backlighting.

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The blue sky in the distance contrasts with the shadows; new younger plants find space amid the older established plants.

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[BS Man about Palms]

Late in the afternoon, Loran and I walked around a short while....

I learned this is Chamaedorea rossteniorum. Named after Lois and Kurt, So Cal members...and which Lois' service was held last Saturday..

[OB Burt]

You are getting really good at this photography stuff. Hard to capture the essence of a garden of this magnitude, but you are doing

[Kim]

Kevin Weaver examines the blush of cones on Encephalartos whitelockii, a very large cycad from Mpanga Gorge in Uganda, named for our host.

Loran points out a tiny and rare Chamaedorea species (the precise name unfortunately escapes me). We have arrived at the shady corner reserved for the delicate Chamaedorea collection.

The favorite, Chamaedorea tenella, from Veracruz; and the larger form, from Chiapas:

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Kew lists the name tenella as a synonym of C. geonomiformis.

Chamaedorea tuerckheimii, a very tough grow anywhere...

Big seeds for such a tiny plant! . . . . . . . Velvety looking, but leather to the touch, Chamaedorea adscendans:

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Lovely colors of Chamaedorea metallica, and in the second photo, a rarer, more pinnate form.

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Time for a break! Much more to follow...

[Kim]

Gene, this is definitely a garden you would enjoy seeing!

Bill, as always, a pleasure to see you there.

Bob and Burt, thanks for the compliments!

[George Sparkman]

Great set of pictures of Loran's garden.

You really caught the atmosphere of the garden.

Great job Kim !

Happy growing,

George Sparkman

Cycads-n-Palms.com

[realarch]

Just fantastic!. Love the way the hardscape and garden accents are used. The plant material.......well just incredible. Thanks for the fine photos.

[LJG]

Great pictures Kim. I wish I could have went to see this amazing collection.

I understand it that he actually donated to a local botanical garden all his plants once he passes. That is the mark of a true plant lover. I just really hope all his plants actually make it there like intended.

[Kim]

Thanks George and Tim, hope you enjoy the rest of the photos too.

Loran, Steve, Kevin, and Al discussing the small blue cycad at their feet.

Retracing my steps up the hill, the light catches a Rhapis sp. layered between other palms and electrifies the color in various succulents.

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The membership begins to arrive on the scene... but I get distracted again by more fascinating aloes and stone vessels.

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PSSC President and IPS Director Don Martin gets stuck on this very fancy cycad whose name I will find and add later. (Edit: it is Encephalartos latifrons) Mike Hegger, Steve Huston, and a witty guy named George are too awestruck to move upon entering the garden.

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Steve is looking for a door to the interior of this massive Aloe (bainsii?). ......Outside view of the ramada area.

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[Kim]

The pond area gets its own post...

The cast iron fish and the hanging Barkeria orchid are fine symbols for the delightful effect a pool of water can have on a garden, especially in arid Southern California.

The languorous movement of the koi, and the sound of flowing water is meditatively soothing, and the humidity is nurturing to the orchids and bromeliads nearby...

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PSSC business is smoothly conducted pondside.

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Keep a sharp eye out or you'll miss the small blooming tillandsia. A closer look at the Barkeria orchid, grown outside year round with a twice-weekly beating with the hose.

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The shadows in this pic were so crazy I got out the paintbox to play with it --ZZAPP!

[Kim]

This humongous coning cycad certainly attracted its share of attention. (name?) This tiny orchid growing on a beaucarnea trunk was mostly overlooked.

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IPS Director Jeff Brusseau arrives in appropriate palmy attire. BS Man About Palms arrives fresh from ComicCon with a box of VSC -- Very Special Cupcakes. Everyone is excited about the VSCs!

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Word ripples through the crowd about Bill's box of Very Special Cupcakes and Jack Sayers is very interested. They are gone in a flash! Too good to last!

I am advised this nearly 6-ft. tall cycad is extraordinary, Encephalartos inopinus. It did indeed look extraordinary! And this Encephalartos latifrons with tightly stacked leaflets seemed very unusual also.

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[Kim]

The auction presented several opportunities for Vince (palmcurry).

Dave did a pirouette in an effort to hypnotize the crowd into bidding higher. Larry had to take over.

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After buying brake fluid and battling traffic on I-5, BS Man met us for dinner. It sure looked good!

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Many thanks to the hard working members of the Palm Society of Southern California for arranging and presenting this tour, and thanks especially to Mr. Loran Whitelock for his gracious welcome to his spectacular garden.

[BS Man about Palms]

Awesome tour Kim!! Should we add some pics?

I should add that was Kirk and HIS wife Melissa behind Jeff B.

Great fun at dinner and the tour...

[BS Man about Palms]

heck with it, I'm adding some... not nearly as beautiful... but MORE .

Some idea of the scale of some cycads... EVENTUALLY

the Aloe tree Kim mentioned...it now also blocks the path that originally went around it..

E. ino

[BS Man about Palms]

Various... not sure how many cycads I am allowed to name... (or IF I can for that matter.. lol)

I have lately been impressed with the Zamia's and Cycas I have planted as they seem to not be as concerned over my lack of heat as some others..

Some day mine may get as big as some of these...

[bgl]

Kim,

What an absolutely outstanding and unique garden! Would have loved to see it. And what an outstanding way to capture the essence of the garden with your photography and commentary. And all Board meetings should be required to take place in a setting like this one! Wow!

Thanks for a great thread!

Bo-Göran

[Gbarce]

More???

Kim you said you had 288 photos right? Why not post them all! hehe

[Walter John]

Looks like Jack needs a shave and haircut.

So, I gather the non cycad dudes were absent.

[Chris Chance]

I'm bummed that I wasn't able to make it, things came up . Those are some great pics! Looking forward to seeing more!

Chris

[Jeff Searle]

Kim,

Thanks so much for the time posting all of your great pictures. It really gives you a sense of being there for those that couldn't make it. But, I had a rare opportunity a few years back when I made a drive up to visit Loran, and what a beautifully designed and landscape garden he has. Thanks again Kim!!

Jeff

[OverGrown]

Thanks for documenting w/ such beautiful photographs Kim! Keep them coming!

[MattyB]

Great photography Kim, and the commentary was top notch. I'm so glad I didn't go and instead decided to stay home and work on my roof.

[bgl]

Somehow I think that should result in a one week PalmTalk suspension!

[MattyB]

I agree Bo, that was a major blunder. I should have fallen off the roof while I had the chance.

[Tassie_Troy1971]

A big thank you Kim for taking the time to edit and post all those photos - Brilliant job and the Whitelock garden gets better everytime i see it !

[Patricia-CR]

Amazing heavenly garden!!!

[Kim]

Len, sorry you missed it; it is indeed an amazing collection, any botanical garden would be thrilled to benenfit from it.

Bill, thanks for the corrections and for adding your photos. Anyone else with photos to add, jump in. Sorry Gene, I posted the 30% of my photos that were worthy, no more from me, but I was not the only person walking around with a camera. Hope others will post also!

Bo, it seems a trip to California for you is long overdue, so many gardens to visit! Glad you enjoyed the thread.

Chris, MattyB, sorry we missed you, this was a rare opportunity to see an amazing and mature garden up close.

Jeff, lucky you got to see Loran's garden when you were in California, it is a special place. Glad you enjoyed the photos.

OverGrown, thanks for the compliments. Troy, I didn't realize you were able to visit this garden when you were here, that's fantastic.

Patricia, you would love this place in person, it is indeed amazing.

Again, anyone else with photos to post, feel free to add them here.

[Gileno Machado]

Thanks Kim...Whitelock's book on cycads is one of my favs at the moment and I guess it was responsible for this new passion of mine on these great plants. Now I agree with Gene...where are the other 200 photos? haha...

Best regards, Gileno

[Jimhardy]

Man,just think how cool it would be to design,

plant,care for and hang out in a place like that.....

As long as you could just keep going and going.

[sur4z]

Kim- Thanks for the great thread...for me it was a treat to see so many potato chips.

[bubba]

Spectacular Palms and Plants and spectacular photography. Thank you

[Walter John]

Thanks Kim and yes Bill post away, and others..

[BS Man about Palms]

Heres some more Chamadoreas..

I think Loran told me this was Chamadore amabilis...?

[BS Man about Palms]

The very rare Chamadorea sullivanorum.

This is some other unusual Macrozamia...wish I had wrote down what Loran told me it was!