A look at the palms of Florida through the eyes of a Californian

[Hilo Jason]

Back in October I had the privilege to be in Florida for the weekend of the Annual Searle Nursery sale. I flew into Ft. Lauderdale late on a Wednesday night. Then on Thursday I spent the entire day roaming the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. This was my second visit to this garden in the last couple of years and I don't think I could ever get tired of going there! Then on Friday I went to the Searle Nursery Sale and then to Jeff's house that night for a tour of his amazing garden and home and a meal that was top notch! All in all, it was a great trip. It took me awhile to finally go through the pictures and pick my favorites, but I hope you enjoy.

First of all, for those of you who have never been to Florida, I want to set the tone a little bit. Here in California our common palms are Washingtonia and Syagrus, so even the common palms in Florida are quite the treat for me. The roads and parking lots are lined with giant Roystonea, Wodyetia and Bismarckia. Here are a couple of pictures from a random Home Depot parking lot. These are common sights in South Florida:

[Hilo Jason]

Ok, before I go any further I must ask for mercy and forgiveness from our Florida friends here on the board as I do not know the names of all the Palms that I am going to post. I tried to make some notes as I went, but I was overwhelmed so quickly by all the amazing species of Palms at Fairchild, that I just couldn't keep up with everything that I was not familiar with. So I apologize in advance and would love for you to join in to identify anything that I don't know, or that I mess up on! Thanks in advance.

Here we go, into Fairchild Garden....

A beautiful trio of Satakentia Liukiuensis. The Chocolate / Purple crownshaft on these is amazing!

A group of Dypsis Leptocheillos looking striking with the Florida sky setting a perfect backdrop.

My mind was blown by this point, and I had only been in the garden for about 20 minutes so far! A couple of gorgeous Bismarckia Nobilis alongside some robust Wodyetia Bifurcata. Look closely and you can see the Dypsis Leptocheillos behind them from my previous picture.

This shot is looking across what could almost be described as a courtyard area from the previous photo. More amazing Bismarckia with plenty of amazing companion plants.

[Hilo Jason]

A Dypsis Madagascariensis towering up through the dense jungle.

A nice grouping of Gaussia Princeps. I really like the look of this palm and am now trying it in my garden here in Southern California. So far so good this winter! It makes me think of a cross between a Pseudophoenix and Roystonea.

These were a Gaussia as well. Not sure which one though. I imagine these were 40 feet tall at least!

For all my cycad friends out there!

[Hilo Jason]

Another look at some of the breathtaking Bismarckia, along with some cycads, bromeliads and more!

Dypsis Decaryi

A field full of Veitchia! Not sure which species.

A little closer up of the Veitchia.

[Hilo Jason]

This guy was labeled as Dypsis Malcomberi. This definitely caught my eye.

This is just one examples of the many tropical non-palms growing throughout the garden. Stunning!

A very nice grouping of Hyophorbe.

Closer up on one of them (Hyophorbe).

[Hilo Jason]

So many incredible Copernicia's that I am just not real familiar with since we never see these out in California. Since I don't know the names, I will just post them all here and let the experts chime in.

Looking up the trunk of one of the largest ones I saw.

[Hilo Jason]

A nice section of various Coccothrinax

One of the many lizards seen that day

A very tall Pseudophoenix Sargentii.

A variegated Pseudophoenix Sargentii on the left, with a standard one on the right of it. One of my favorite palms!

[Hilo Jason]

Neoveitchia Storckii, I believe. That purple can't be beat!

A trio of Dictyosperma Album.

Cyrtostachys renda!!!!

Closer up on the trunk. Amazing color on this one!

[Hilo Jason]

A couple of monster Borassus. I couldn't think of a better name for these giants!

Acanthophoenix rubra

A huge Attalea making it's companion palms look like dwarfs! (there are many incredible Attalea to be seen at Fairchild). These are truly Jurassic looking palms!

A Hyophorbe trying to get a drink.

[Hilo Jason]

Pseudophoenix, I believe Vinifera

Pseudophoenix Eckmanii

A nice look across the lake!

Hyophorbe Verschafeltii standing at attention

[Hilo Jason]

Dypsis Pembana

That wraps up my favorite pictures from Fairchild. My wife is telling me it's time to go to dinner, so that's it for now. I have a few shots from Jeff Searle's nursery and home garden that I will post later tonight or tomorrow.

Enjoy and thanks for looking!!!

[Stevetoad]

Awww man! C'mon dinner can wait.... Great photos I can't wait to see more!

[Bill Austin]

Thanks Jason really enjoyed that great photos

[DALION]

So many incredible Copernicia's that I am just not real familiar with since we never see these out in California. Since I don't know the names, I will just post them all here and let the experts chime in.

Looking up the trunk of one of the largest ones I saw.

The first one looks like a C. macroglossa and the other pics are of C. baileyana.

[pogobob]

Great pics Jason!

[Trishun]

Thanks for the photos Jason. I can relate to your comments of the palms because I live in central Cali. We had to go to Florida in July lst year for the death of a family member. I was in awww with all the palms. I bought two Veitchia Merrillii and shippped them home. The family kept asking if we had palms in California. I abosolutly adore the Roystonea Borinquena so I ordered 2.

[DALION]

I was actually there the same day as you. I love that place. I go to Florida twice a year and make sure to visit Faichild and Montgomery every time.

[Hilo Jason]

The following day I went to the Annual Searle Brothers Nursery sale. Ryan (Palmarum) always posts a great thread each year with tons of pictures and details about the sale, so make sure to check that out if you have not yet. That is always a favorite thread for me here on Palm talk, so it was great to be able to attend the sale in person.

Here are a few photos from the nursery. Like I said, check out the full threads from Palmarum for many more (http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=27646&st=0&p=453574&hl=searle%20brothers&fromsearch=1&#entry453574 and http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=30513)

Dypsis Carlsmithii

Dypsis Madagascariensis

Raphia (Farninifera?)

Copernicia, not sure which species

[Hilo Jason]

After the sale Jeff has a group over to his house for a garden tour and dinner. Both were amazing and I'm very grateful to Jeff and Andrea for their hospitality. I don't have a lot of photos from his garden, but here are a few. Definitely one of the nicest private gardens I've had the pleasure of viewing. I would have liked to take many more photos, but it was getting dark and it started raining pretty hard. Hopefully I'll get more next time!

One of Jeff's many Dypsis Carlsmithii

A group of Dypsis Carlsmithii with some wonderful Florida residents for scale :-)

Dypsis Leptocheillos I believe, with what looks like Archontophoenix to me, but I might be wrong about that.

Licuala. Not sure which species, Jeff can comment about that.

[Hilo Jason]

Satakentia Liukiuensis among the many beautiful croton's and other companion plants

Pseudophoenix

Copernicia with Pseudophoenix behind it

Dypsis Mananjarensis with Satakentia behind it. This photo really does not do this palm justice. It was probably taller than me and the colors and form were striking! One of my favorites and I can't wait for mine to be this size one day!

[bgl]

Jason,

Great palms and great photos! Fairchild is a beautiful and incredible garden. And Jeff's garden is pretty amazing as well! Thanks for posting!

Bo-Göran

[Hilo Jason]

I always look forward to seeing other people's dogs when I am away from home and missing mine. Here's one of Jeff's.

An overall look at the backyard pool and landscaping around it. Not a bad place to be!

My last shot of the night, taken from under the back patio as it was starting to rain.

Once again, thanks to Jeff and Andrea for the hospitality and to Ryan as well. I had a great time out there and hope to make it out to Florida again some time soon.

[Hilo Jason]

Now that I have my Florida pictures sorted and posted, I will begin work on my Hawaii pictures. My wife and I were on Oahu and Kauai from Dec 1 - 15, 2011 and we had the pleasure of viewing some amazing gardens. So I will hopefully have a Hawaii thread up within the next week or so.

[Hilo Jason]

Dalion - wow, we probably passed by each other at some point that day. Small world!

Bo - thanks for the compliments. It was a perfect day for taking pictures so I can't take too much credit. The weather was great and the sun seemed just right that day.

[Gonzer]

Jason, hands down, that is one the best pictorial display of the region's palms I've seen. Thanks!

[redant]

Sweet, nice pics.

[Central Floridave]

Thanks for the photos. I need to visit Fairchild again soon.

[Hilo Jason]

Thanks Gonzer, I appreciate the compliment.

[Cindy Adair]

Yesterday I received my Fairchild gardens magazine and today I see your stunning photos! Last night I also saw the Orchid show (at Fairchild) advertised in the Orchid society's newest magazine (yes, I pretty much only get plant related magazines) and tried to figure out a way to travel there in March from Virginia. Probably not in the cards for me to get to Florida this Spring with saving for Thailand so it was especially enjoyable to peruse your photos on this cold winter's day. Thanks!

[BS Man about Palms]

Fantastic Jason!

[Dr. George]

Thanks Jason - thoroughly enjoyed your visit to FL - two great spots - thanks for taking us along!- gmp

[Succulentum]

Great pictures , Jason, thanks

[Tassie_Troy1971]

NIce pics Jason

Jeff's Pool area looks like paradise found !

[Miccles]

Jason - great pictures ! Well done on taking the time to post them, it was very much appreciated.

Best regards

Michael.

[Danilopez89]

Wow! I've been enjoying Jason's pictures of his trips all week long. I really like the pics from Jeff's garden. I need more...

Is there a thread showing off some more of Jeff's garden???

[waykoolplantz]

It may be time for a update on Jeffs garden.

Now that weekend 2 of his extravaganza sales event is over we can persuade Ryan (palmarum) or Travis (copterguy) to start a thread which can include a video.

[jardinierpalmiertrat]

Yes, thanks you very much

Floride is amazing!!!

[Jim in Los Altos]

Plain and simply .

[Peter Pacific]

Thanks Jason! These are great shots especially when we're missing Florida! Fairchild is amazing and Jeff's sale is amazing too and should not be missed if you're in the area. Makes me put a Dypsis carlsmithii on my wish list!! I didn't notice the date until I read that Cindi was saving for Thailand!

Thanks for posting.

Peter

[Peter Pacific]

The group of Veitchia's is famous at Fairchild. They are arecina/montgomeryana.