Secret Palm garden in Portugal

[palmtreesforpleasure]

When outside the city townhouse there is no EVIDENCE that there is a secret garden in this property.

It is about 4m in the air surrounded by buildings on all but one side.

A morning arrival meant we had plenty of time to enjoy the enthusiasm and passion of the gentleman (and he is a gentleman) who created it only recently (using some advanced specimens as well as young ones)

Being the first to visit the garden has been a privilege and it was the beginning of a wonderful day with him and his hospitable family.

Arcontophoenix species abound, every species is here, the only one not planted is A.maxima.

4-5 Species of Ceroxylon are in the ground, Bismarkia, Sabals, Chamaedorea speciessuch as C.glaucifilia, C. enernesti-augustii, C microspadix and many others are in semi a shaded area near the steps from the house which are adjacent to the raised covered COURT yard.

The covered area has the next generation of palms awaiting planting, some will wait until the canopy has formed as they require some shade. To ensure the passion remains fuelled in the future, he has many packets of seed are in germination.

Look forward to hopefully seeing it again in the future as it grows.

The palms persons name??

maybe next post

regards

Colin

[gyuseppe]

The palms persons name??

maybe next post

regards

Colin

Mr. Colin

not very difficult to guess who it is

just look in:

Recent Status Updates

Rafael :

what a day i spent receiving Colin Wilson (palmtreesforpleasure) and his lovely wife Denise

[palmtreesforpleasure]

Hi Gyuseppe

You are correct

Rafael and his family are wonderful hosts. Clara (4) took Denise inside to read her a book, sat Denise down on a couch and Denise attempted to red the book in Portuguese to her. Rafael children roared with laughter as Denise tried to read her the book just for fun.(unfortunately we only speak English)

Back to palms

A proud Rafael under his Archontophoenix cunninghamiana and his guests

and then off to lunch organised by Rafael and his family before seeing his main garden

Thank you very much Rafael and family for and enjoyable start to the day

Colin and Denise

ps more on the next garden later

[NApalm]

Good times. Just quietly, Rafael's place is gonna be awesome in a few years!!! Some well left space between plantings

[dalmatiansoap]

Bravo!

Intercontinental PRA!

[paulgila]

awesome!!!

[richnorm]

What a sensational microclimate! Love the way you can look down on the garden and those walls could be great for exotic vines and bromeliads. Excellent start and heaps of potential. Well done Rafael you found a little gem.

[palmtreesforpleasure]

Rafael's other palm garden is completely different to the first. The style in this one is a much more formal layout, i am sure with Rafael's creativity that if he had a 3rd one it would be different again.

It is a garden that is still being planted out as you will see in the picture showing the next generation of palms awaiting to be put into the ground.

Sorry about the delay in posting the second garden been in Spain visiting very, very,very hospitable members of the Spanish palm society, no time for posting 8.30 am -12.30am!!

Butia,, Areca, Archontophoenix, Chamaerops humilis var volcano, Livistona chinensis, Syagrus romanzoffiana a couple of palm nuts and a couple of palm nut watch's and the next batch of palms to be planted.

Also note the streetscape plantings

thank you Rafael,,Isabell, Katarina, Simon and Clara for a wonderful day

enjoy

regards

colin

[Walter John]

Fantastic Colin, and thanks for ringing me and sharing the joy. Raf, that walled palm garden man, that is going to be a statement in a few years, you won't be able to kick a football there.

[LJG]

Thanks for sharing Colin.

Rafael, are both gardens at the same house?

[JasonD]

What species of pine surrounds Rafael's garden in the pictures above? Is it Pinus radiata? The whole scene reminds me of Central California - Monterey or Cambria - even the way the palms look.

[stygiana]

What species of pine surrounds Rafael's garden in the pictures above? Is it Pinus radiata? The whole scene reminds me of Central California - Monterey or Cambria - even the way the palms look.

Rafael probably knows for sure, but I guess they are Pinus pinaster (aka Pinus maritima), the typical pine found on the SW coasts of Europe.

Jason, I agree. I also think there is a lot in common between northern Portugal / Galicia and Central coastal California.

[palmtreesforpleasure]

The gardens are in 2 separate locations

regards

colin

[bgl]

What a great occasion! Colin, thanks for posting, and Rafael, excellent job with your gardens. Beautiful!

Bo-Göran

[Peter Pacific]

Colin thanks for posting these wonderful photos. Rafael, a garden AND a secret garden that's everyone's fantasy! Congratulations.

Peter

[Kim]

Sweet! Rafael, your gardens are both looking grand, and I really enjoyed the photos of all the smiling people, too. Thanks for posting them, Colin.

[Jeff Searle]

Very nice Raphael, keep it up. And thanks for posting Colin. And hope to see both of you guys in Miami next year. Or should I say, CAN we expect you?

[palmtreesforpleasure]

Hi Jeff

Looking forward to seeing you in Miami, Rafael may have to work, he is not sure if he can make it.

thanks you all for the nice comments

Had a great time with Rafael and his family, very nice people.

regards

colin

[Walter John]

If Raf's not going, I'm not going, what about our band, "SPI" ?

[palmtreesforpleasure]

Now. Now Wal, Miami what not be the same without another rat packer attending

regards

colin

[Rafael]

These days i have been quite busy and was not able to check regularly palmtalk.

So incredibly i have failed this thread, while my dear friend Colin was posting it here, with so many kind words. And many people posting friendly comments

I was looking for some time to create the thread, but Colin made it first, and i am really touched about that!

We had quite a day here with Colin and Denise. My son and daughters just loved them both and my younger daughter is still asking for Colin

IMG_5926.MOV

Concerning to the gardens, the secret one has a milder microclimate, and Colin you forgot to tell about the cyphophoenix elegans

[Rafael]

And thank you all for so nice words,

Jason i have some pinus pinea and pinus pinaster,

Wal, i am touched with your words,

Wal and Jeff, i will do whatever i have to, to be in Miami

Kim, Bo, Paul, Peter, Len, Ante, Napalm, Rich and Sebastian, thanks for your nice comments about my palm choices

[Rafael]

Colin wondering if it really is chinensis


And a couple of friends


My two daughters

My son

[Alberto]

Rafael,gostei muito de ver os dois jardins e sua linda família! Parabéns !

Daqui a alguns anos você terá uma verdadeira floresta tropical naquele jardim escondido entre os muros.

Quem sabe um dia iremos visitá-lo também!!!

[Tassie_Troy1971]

Great thread Colin . Rafael gardens are going to be something special in a few yrs growth !

I am reover ing from jet lag and touring 24 palm gardens in 14 days

[sergiskan]

wuauhhh!!. nice palm colection Rafael!!

...regards.

[stygiana]

Olá Rafael, Hi everybody,

Foi um autêntico prazer de ver os teus jardims e tua familha.

é a ria de Aveiro, no post n°3?

Both gardens already look great and I'm sure many of us can't wait to see the progress. And I know we can count on you to be delighted.

I love Portugal and your country can be proud to have people like you, who carry on this long Portuguese tradition (picking up the torch) of acclimatization.

Parabéns!

Thanks also, Colin for the photos, it's fantastic to see true "palmy friendship".

Great post!

Much obliged!

[Rafael]

Thank you Alberto, Troy (nice words from a pauleen sullivan visitor), Sergi and Sebastian

And yes Sebastian, that's Ria de Aveiro, we had lunch by the lagoon, in a restaurant with a wonderfull view. It was so special to bring so special people to a special place!