For awhile now I've heard much about this place from fellow palm nuts and here on this website. High in the hills of Escondido San Diego, California with good decomposed granite soil and about 10 -12 miles inland, this place has optimuim SoCal conditions for palms. Gary was nice enough to let me come over this Saturday and Here is what I saw. Not the best lighting or season for photography but here goes.

These photos are just a portion of Gary's grove. Many plants left out. When first entering the property this big Dypsis decipiens greets you.

Another bigger one.

Parajubaea sunkha or torallyi....not sure. My ID's are never great.

Closer

Sabal ursana. One of the many palms I have not seen in person before.

Roystonea borinquena

Psuedophoenix sargentii. Freaking wow.

Ravenea xerophila. Had no idea how silver white these are.

Cool Baja plant.

Gary told me this is a Ficus petiolaris that comes from Mexico. I like the white trunk and colors in the leaves.

Nice pictures Vince.... hope there's more to come!!!

It was nice having you Vince.

The Parajubaea is Microcarpa, the baja plant is a Boojum Tree.

Hope to see you again,

Gary

First Allogoptra with size I've seen. A.arenaria.

I forgot what this is. Starts with a 'B' ??

Archontophoenix purperea(s)

The Dypsis 'not so true' ambositrae

Kentiopsis pyriformis

Dypsis sp. slick willie

Some Beccariophoenix alfrediis. Biggest I've seen.

With teddy bears in background.

African sausage tree!?!?!

Pritchardia beccariana

Some Hedyscepe canterburyana. This one's a fatty.

Others

Vince, post number 7 the palm starting with "B" is actually Hyphanae Petersoniana.

The Pritchardia is Viscosa, the becarriana is in the distance behind it.

Gary

Don't know.

A close up of that Jubaeopsis caffra in that last shot. With seed.

Here is the grove of Ravenea glaucas that is so prominent here. Excuse me if these pics get redundant.

Ravenea hildebrantiis.

Great photos of lovely palms! Interesting too because I can see palms that I think in general won't grow well for me. I grow the Roystonia and Teddy Bears and a few others, but most of the other ones would be too cold in Virginia and too wet in the Puerto Rican mountains. So I'll have to admire these species when I visit California. Thanks for sharing.

Group of Dypsis leptocheilos.

Dypsis prestoniana

Some Dypsis onilahensis.

wow! wow!!! wow!!! Gary has an incredible yard! I wish I could see it for myself! One day!

Dypsis baronii

2 mad foxes. Someone give me the right ID?!?!?!

Dypsis lanceolata. Surprised to see these doing this well out here.

Foxy lady freak out. Specific crosses will not be specified!

The fuzz and color!

Here are some close ups of that Dypsis malcomberi by the boulder in that last shot.

Forgot this one. Mealybug palm on the left.

Young jube.

One of the many mule crosses Gary has. I believe this one is called F2.

Thats it for this cycle. Thanks Gary for your time. This place really shows what you what is possible!

Thank you for all of the photos! It was a great sample of palms!

I don't know why you're so hard on yourself Vince,i thought the photos were Outstanding to say the least! .Lovely setting there Gary,good to see the palms growing well especially after that dreadful bushfire you experienced some time ago.A definite Must See if i'm ever able to make it to the USA some day...Cheers Mike Green(Newcal)

Thank you for sharing! Wow, lots of really large, rare palms. The Foxy Lady's are incredible.

really a nice collection of rare palm trees

Thanks Vince for the great pic. Gary you have an unreal place

Thanks vince for some mouth watering pics of Gary's Garden - I can see alot of growth from Sept 2010 - today .

Dypsis decipiens and Hedyscepe is all i can say !

Whoa, I'm speechless (almost). What a great place with fantastic palms. That Pseudophoenix is the fattest I've ever seen. The Ravenea xerophila is the biggest I've seen in the US. I'm surprised at how many Dypsis can grow in an arid climate under blazing sun. Thanks for the photos.

Palms boulders and a mountain background, sweet. I bet keeping all those drip lines going is a full time job.

Edited March 12, 201214 yr by redant

Great pics. That place looks amazing!

An inspiring garden to say the least! Thanks for sharing the pics.

Vince,

Thanks for the great pictures! Gary has an outstanding garden with spectacular palms, and I was fortunate to visit him in early December 2011 so I can relate to your experience.

Bo-Göran

Great pictures Vince. and great palms Gary!

Thanks Vince and Gary, I loved the Raveneas, a great palmscape, all looks terrific. The mad foxes by the way are Dypsis marojejyi.

WOW, what a contrast. Beautiful mature palms & boulders the size of houses. I would have never thought you could grow these in such a harsh environment. I do not see any mulch? What a great garden Gary. Thanks for posting Vince. Love those rocks!

Thanks everyone for the kind words, and Vince for posting the pictures.

Mike, I do not mulch except for areas subject to erosion. Mulch provides a medium for bacteria and fungus to proliferate, I prefer the surface to dry out between waterings.

Gary's garden is a superlative achievement! Someday I'd love to see it.

Vince,

Thanks for taking the time to post all these great pictures. I hope you have more.

Gary,

Since my last visit, I can definitely see the growth that the palms have made. You have some impressive palms growing in the collection. And still love all the big boulders!

Jeff

Nice specimen palms. Thanks for the photos.

I was thinking the same thing. Where's the mulch? " Mulch provides a medium for bacteria and fungus to proliferate" Since when is that a bad thing for plants?

You obviously know what you are doing in growing palms, but mulch would be a little more ornamental and would help the palm stick out better. Plus, less watering requirements and would prevent drying out. Which is what I would think

would be ideal living in a desert climate.

But, I don't garden on a hill with erosion, so excuse my comments if mulch is a maintenance nightmare.