Central Florida Palm & Cycad Society June Meeting

[Palmarum]

Central Florida Palm & Cycad Society Summer Meeting

June 23rd, 2007 -  Ron Eward Sanctuary, Valkaria, Florida

For one brief day, CFP&C Society members, palm enthusiasts, and Forum members traveled from all corners of Florida to meet at the Ron Eward Sanctuary. This meeting held a great time for all and included a garden tour, an auction of rare plants and seed, and a plant sale. It was my second time visiting Ron at his place, and it had changed quite a bit since the last visit, about 2 years earlier. Jeff Searle, Rob Van der Borg and myself traveled from Broward County early in the morning and represented the southern end of the state. We arrived shortly after 10:00 AM and began setting up plants for the sale. When we were finished we began our own brief tour of the garden before the meeting began.

An informing flyer was handed out to people as they arrived and it contained a few facts about the garden. Ron Eward first began planting on the western edge of the property in October 1999. Since then he has worked his way across the 2.1 acres planting numerous natives, exotic palms, countless crotons, tropical bamboo and many flowering trees. Goat Creek wraps around his property, creating a warm micro-climate. With this convenient fact, he has been able to grow many tropical and cold-sensitive plants beyond their normal range. Within the field of native Florida plants, 65% of the genera are represented in the Sanctuary. About 50% of the world's palm genera have representatives in the garden, in the form of about 300 species. One future design goal of the garden includes a viewable array of 100 palm species to be planted along Goat Creek within five years. The idea allows the palms to be viewed by kayak or canoe enthusiasts who travel the creek. The property was hit badly by both Hurricanes Frances and Jean, and it still recovering in some areas. From what I had seen, the garden has made great progress in doing so.

- Rob and I began a brief tour of the garden before the meeting began. One plant that caught our eye was this unusual cactus and its orange-red pendulous flower. Feel free to ID it.

- One of many palms to come, Dypsis rivularis, growing along the edge of Goat Creek.

- Timor Black Bamboo, Bambusa lako.

- A shaded and stretched Teddy Bear Palm, Dypsis leptocheilos, marks the spot where two paths converge.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- The garden is packed with many species and plant varieties. Every time you turn around there is a new plant to look at. There are still more places to stuff a plant or two. Forum member Rob Van der Borg (Borgy230) identifies the plants as he goes down the path.

- A very colorful Philodendron sp. begins its climb up the trunk of a nearby palm. I took the photo slightly different than the rest, with a few stops slower on the shutter speed. It made for a more realistic look of the leaf texture. If you concentrate real hard you could almost feel the leaf through your monitor.  :cool:

- In amongst a grouping of Cordylines, a Dypsis pinnatifrons is growing quite well.

- One of many croton cultivars that occupy the Sanctuary. You can spend many days just enjoying them. I am posting photos of the crotons I did not get, or remember the names of. Fire away and ID it.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- A robust Licuala ramsayi well on its way to becoming a tall palm.

- Another croton in need of an identification. The yellow/green crotons add great contrast to a shaded plant collection.

- While continuing our own tour, Rob Van der Borg and myself hear that the meeting is about to start so we made our way back along this one path.

- The meeting begins! More people had arrived and they gather in the one open area between the Eward house and Goat Creek. Many new guests sign up to become members of the Central Florida society.

Ryan

[TikiRick]

Thanks Ryan....sorry I missed it.

[Palmarum]

- It is now 10:48 AM, and the remaining wandering members begin to find their way to the open area. The usual greeting among fellow palm fanatics is an event onto itself. They might have known each other for years, but in some occasions, they have not seen each other for months. With their back to the camera, Ray and Theresa Gompf can be seen in direct center, wearing matching outfits as usual. Forum member Lucinda McCartney (Lucinda) can be seen walking towards the camera in red and tan.

- Walking out to introduce herself is CFP&CS President Diana Wehrell-Grabowski. She is talking to Forum member and CFP&CS Member Chuck Grieneisen (chuck g) in the light yellow shirt. On the right wearing the Boston Red Sox shirt is Forum member Jason (ibreakforpalms).

- The meeting was officially started and everyone was welcomed by CFP&CS President Diana Wehrell-Grabowski. She gave a tentative timetable of events for the day, along with rules for the sale and auction.

- Details of society business relating to the sale and meeting were given by CFP&CS Treasurer and Forum member Bob Johnson (Bob Johnson). Theresa & Ray Gompf listen in on the right and right edge of the photo.

Ryan

[weldertom]

More please !

Great photographs. Thanks for posting !

[ibreakforpalms]

Excellent photos Ryan!

[Palmarum]

- I made a rough count of 35 people at this point who were either listening in at the presentation, setting up sale plants, or were just arriving. Even more arrived throughout the day. CFP&CS President Diana Wehrell-Grabowski continued the presentation with society news, including the introduction of their new Seedbank Coordinator John Green.

- Diana gave the floor to our hosts of the day, Ron Eward and his girlfriend Fiona. They gave us a warm welcome and opened their home to all of us. He gave a brief rundown of the Sanctuary's history and announced that he will lead a tour of the garden in a short while. Forum member Jason (ibreakforpalms) stands guard on the right.

- Jeff Searle points the way to the lunch table to newly arriving Forum member Wendi Janvrin (wendisplantation) and her daughter Miranda.

- For those of you who were wondering, yes Rob can smile.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- Plantsman, collector, croton expert, and above all, Forum member -- Ray Hernandez (Ray, Tampa) shows he enjoys his bottled water very much.

- One section of the sales area showing the array of plants for sale. Most were palms and cycads, but there were many other rare and exotics that needed a good home. One of the rules of the sale included that there was no selections made before the end of the auction. So members were limited to just looking.

- 11:12 AM: The meeting comprised of about 50 people near the time the tour began. Many explored the garden on their own, simply because it was hard for everyone to fit down one path. One group followed host Ron Eward [blue] towards the west end of the Sanctuary.

- In the one spot in the garden where full sun peeks through, a collection of Coccothrinax species get as much sun as they can.

Ryan

[SubTropicRay]

Ryan, you are quite the photo journalist.  

I think the Physokentia lost two more leaves while we were talking about it.

[Jeff Searle]

Ryan,

    Did you ever get a final count of how many forum members were in attendence? Maybe you can list them for us, I can't remember all of them. In the last year, I have noticed more and more palm fanatics becoming involved and members on this palm board. The local list here in South and Central Florida has really grown.

Jeff

[Kris]

Dear Ryan  

fentastic coverage of the event.and you seem to be very comfortable with your lens..great work and we all wish to

see more,if possible.

thanks & lots of love,

Kris  

[junglegalfla]

Looks like a great time! I'll have to get to the next one!!

[Palmarum]

Ray, Tampa · Posted on Jun. 25 2007,22:11

... I think the Physokentia lost two more leaves while we were talking about it.

Well don't give up on it, it's not over until the last leaf falls off. Try changing the soil again, making it as well draining as you can, and keep the stilt roots moist.

Jeff Searle · Posted on Jun. 26 2007,08:54

Ryan,

   Did you ever get a final count of how many forum members were in attendence? Maybe you can list them for us...

I looked through my photos and I came up with a list of Forum members that I either photographed, and/or knew were there:

Jeff Searle (Jeff Searle)

Ryan D. Gallivan (Palmarum)

Rob Van der Borg (Borgy230)

Lucinda McCartney (Lucinda)

Jason (ibreakforpalms)

Bob Johnson (Bob Johnson)

Wendi Janvrin (wendisplantation)

Ray Hernandez (Ray, Tampa)

Brad Evers (flskimmer)

Chuck Grieneisen (chuck g)

Tom Broome (cycadjungle)

Kitty Philips (palmmermaid)

Tony Sabeh (PalmTone)

Geri Prall (SW_FL_Palms)

Frank Lozada (Trópico)

Charlene (NatureGirl)

David Martin (Dave-Vero)

There were two other Forum members I heard might have been there, but I never got to meet them:

Tom Jones (weldertom)

Okie (Okie)

This amounts to 19 Forum members, which is a staggering amount for an event. If I missed someone who isn't on this list, please add them to it. In addition, let me know if they are in any of my photos.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- As you were walking through the collection, you had to take note of everything around you, including what might be near your feet. Red emergent leaves causes this Philodendron sp. to stand out.

- Near the western edge of the property, Forum member Brad Evers (flskimmer) shares a conversation with Jeff Searle.

- A large group moves steadily through the Sanctuary down one path. Many ooh's and ahh's originated from them as they walk on by. Cycad grower and Forum member Tom Broome (cycadjungle) can be seen in the center of the group in the light yellow shirt.

- Another path becomes well traveled as attendees explore the garden. To the left of them is a robust Arenga tremula.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- 11:31 AM: Up close and personal with a Hydriastele beguinii and its delicate brown-scale covered petioles.  The tour is in full swing at this point as we are nearing lunch time. Many attendees, like the Gompfs for example [in the background] seem to never stop looking.

- A single sunlit Dracaena marginata gets a tad over-exposed as the shaded areas of the image are what I wanted to show. A large contingent of attendees work their way around the west end of the garden.

- The way in which palms adapt to low light can make a common species look quite different. A stretched out Princess Palm, Dictyosperma album provides an example.

- Easily recognizable throughout palm societies, due in no small part to his matching outfits and unwavering diligence, collector Ray Gompf poses next to one of the Sanctuary's most exotic members, Pelagodoxa henryana.

Ryan

[BS Man about Palms]

(Palmarum @ Jun. 26 2007,16:17)

QUOTE

Ray, Tampa · Posted on Jun. 25 2007,22:11

... I think the Physokentia lost two more leaves while we were talking about it.

Well don't give up on it, it's not over until the last leaf falls off. Try changing the soil again, making it as well draining as you can, and keep the stilt roots moist.

Jeff Searle · Posted on Jun. 26 2007,08:54

Ryan,

   Did you ever get a final count of how many forum members were in attendence? Maybe you can list them for us...

I looked through my photos and I came up with a list of Forum members that I either photographed, and/or knew were there:

Jeff Searle (Jeff Searle)

Ryan D. Gallivan (Palmarum)

Rob Van der Borg (Borgy230)

Lucinda McCartney (Lucinda)

Jason (ibreakforpalms)

Bob Johnson (Bob Johnson)

Wendi Janvrin (wendisplantation)

Ray Hernandez (Ray, Tampa)

Brad Evers (flskimmer)

Chuck Grieneisen (chuck g)

Tom Broome (cycadjungle)

Kitty Philips (palmmermaid)

Tony Sabeh (PalmTone)

Geri Prall (SW_FL_Palms)

Frank Lozada (Trópico)

Charlene (NatureGirl)

David Martin (Dave-Vero)

There were two other Forum members I heard might have been there, but I never got to meet them:

Tom Jones (weldertom)

Okie (Okie)

This amounts to 19 Forum members, which is a staggering amount for an event. If I missed someone who isn't on this list, please add them to it. In addition, let me know if they are in any of my photos.

Ryan

Man! You are approaching So. Cal. numbers!    Congrats! We usually get 15-25 forum members at a tour. Post as many pics of forum members as you can, its nice to put faces to names....

Thanx Ryan

[Palmarum]

- I had to include just one more photo of the Sanctuary's very-well grown Pelagodoxa henryana. It is a testament to the garden's micro-climate advantage. This species is thriving well north of where I would it expect it to.

- Although not entirely rare to see, a croton in flower. Blooming with potential to create yet another new cultivar. If you haven't guessed yet, it needs to be identified. It is not Ms. Iceton is it?

- New blooms of the White Bleeding Heart Vine, Clerodendrum thomsoniae.

- An oak-leaf croton, showing a range of color.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

BS, Man about Palms · Posted on Jun. 26 2007,23:34

Man! You are approaching So. Cal. numbers!    Congrats! We usually get 15-25 forum members at a tour. Post as many pics of forum members as you can, its nice to put faces to names....

Thanx Ryan

There seems to be more Forum members in the areas of Northern and Central Florida than there are in South Florida. A good portion of the Forum members I met for the first time are from these areas. I went with the mission of 'collecting' as many Forum member photos as I could, and I got a large amount compared to what I am used to. The rate of new Forum members in South Florida will in no doubt increase.

Ryan

[www.dadluvsu.com]

Ryan saves the day with photo journalism again!  I wasn't able to come up and visit this meeting (shhh....  rebuilding a shadehouse tall enough to walk in this past weekend! :: ).  It is really cool to be able to put some faces with names.  Looks like ya'll had a great time...  Maybe in 5 years or something I'll drag my pots up there for sale!  

[Palmarum]

- The paths that divide up the Sanctuary are winding, twisting and really create that jungle feel. Attendees test each other on their naming and identification skills.

- Ray Hernandez ID'd this croton when I was taking the photo but the name never made its way to the notepad. The coloration I thought was quite unique.

- Another instance where I slowed down the shutter speed a few stops (1/100) to render greater detail. The Philodendron should look soft to the touch.

- I tag along with one group of attendees and follow them through the garden and under this large clump of bamboo.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

PiousPalms · Posted on Jun. 27 2007,00:15

Ryan saves the day with photo journalism again!  I wasn't able to come up and visit this meeting (shhh....  rebuilding a shadehouse tall enough to walk in this past weekend! :: ).  It is really cool to be able to put some faces with names.  Looks like ya'll had a great time...  Maybe in 5 years or something I'll drag my pots up there for sale!  

Hey William,

You were one Forum member I figured had a good chance of being there. (a strong maybe on a list I made the night before.) You would have fit in well with the rest of us crazied palm fanatics. I am sure you will be a vendor at a sale in less than 5 years.

Ryan

[Central Floridave]

Great Shots! That was an awesome garden!  

I picked up some rarities at the sale and auction. Thanks for the people who donated and the vendors for the sale.

Dypsis florencei and robusta, Satakentia, Cham. oreophylla and other rare palms are now in my yard after this meeting.  

Thanks Ron for hosting the event.  What a great place you have!

[SubTropicRay]

Ryan,

The "not Ms. Iceton" croton is "Mosaic", the oak leaf is "Mrs. Snyder's Disreali" and the white/green one is White Eburneum.  The two crotons in post 2 are first, an AFD croton hybridized in Italy and second "John Bender".

Ray

[Palmarum]

Thank you Ray for the ID's, they will come in handy when I ever can get all my croton photos together.

Central Floridave · Posted on Jun. 27 2007,07:01

Great Shots! That was an awesome garden!  

I am glad you were there Dave, too bad I didn't get to meet you. Or if I did, I forgot to ask if you were a Forum member. If you had managed to get into one of my photos, do tell. You bring the total of Forum members to 20 at the moment.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- Speaking of crotons... I found this trio of plants near the mid point of the garden. I knew lunch was starting soon so I tried to work my way back.

- A very large Crinum Lily, Crinum asiaticum. I am unsure of which variety it was but was being well sustained by the nearby creek. In the background a batch of Spanish Moss, Tillandsia usneoides, can be seen in abundance. It is a common sight throughout the Sanctuary and surrounding properties.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- Further towards the front of the garden, an established Kerriodoxa elegans forms a good sized foot print.

- A pair of well known attendees take a short break, in one of Ron's numerous seating areas around the Sanctuary. Long time vendor and grower Betty Ahlborn comments on how close I am to the creek, (which was immediately behind me). She poses for a moment with her good friend and Forum member Kitty Philips (palmmermaid).

- A slender-leaved, spotted croton of unknown name.

- An additional Teddy Bear Palm, Dypsis leptocheilos greets visitors as they walk back towards the entrance area. You can see where it was "felt up" by passersby, each testing if the wax would come off or not. Well it does.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- While on the southern side of the property, I took a moment to showcase Goat Creek. It surrounds the Sanctuary and connects up with the Intercoastal, which allows a wide range of wild life to be found along its course. Ron has mentioned on a few occasions how often the creek around his property is frequented by spawning Snook. You can see dozens of them in the water, and around the fallen branches. If I had a polarizing filter with me, I would have been able to photograph them.

- A large, bright purple Tiger Lily. One of many scattered in the undergrowth. Right when this photo was taken, I heard the 'lunch bell' ring. Basically, a loud voice saying "Lunch is ready!". After that the garden began to shift in sequence as everyone made their way back to the open area at once.

- 12:16 PM: And lunch is served. The outer edge of the tiki bar served as lunch line as everyone took a place. Many were hungry, and the scent of the food selection was delicious.  

- Every picnic favorite you could think of was there, along with a few homemade specialties. Bar-be-que ribs, fried chicken, BBQ beans, salads of all kinds, rice and bean dishes, fresh fruit, and a wide array of desserts were just some of the choices available. I am getting hungry again just looking at the photo. Forum member Ray Hernandez (Ray, Tampa)

was first to figure out there was a second line on the other side of the table. Sarasota member Rob Branch helps himself to some pasta salad (which was very good) in the center of the photo.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- The first run through the lunch line continued unabated. At this point a trio of Forum members; Jeff Searle, Rob Van der Borg (Borgy230) and Brad Evers (flskimmer) had reached the dessert section. Almost overshadowed by the nearby lunch spread, a lone Gastrococos crispa grows in full sun by that one lawn chair.

- Many continue through the lunch line as the rest look for a place to sit, as seating in the shade was at a premium.

- After eating lunch myself under the tiki bar, I got a pair of Forum members to pose for a second. Landscape designers and collectors Jason (ibreakforpalms) and Tony Sabeh (PalmTone) had just finished lunch and were planning on which dessert to start with.

- The auction was about to begin as attendees were enjoying a dessert and perhaps a beer, or two. Many came together under this one shaded area to get a good view of the auction material to come.

Ryan

[junglegalfla]

Is the croton in # 27 a Franklin Roosevelt Ray? Looks like the one I have

[Palmarum]

- On the far right out of view, CFP&CS President Diana Wehrell-Grabowski greets newly arriving attendees and introduces the auctioneer for the day. She reinstates the rules for the auction and sale and reminds everyone if they want to join the society today, they are more than welcome to do so.

- Remember when I mentioned seating in the shade was at a premium? Well that doesn't stop Forum member Brad Evers (flskimmer) from finding a spot.

- 1:11 PM: The auction is underway, with member and auctioneer Neil Yorio at the helm. He does an excellent job in selling the seed and plants to people, without dropping his beer. A requirement for being a palm society auctioneer. Keeping track of who gets what, is Forum member Chuck Grieneisen (chuck g) on the left. Looking in on the auction on the far right is Forum member Charlene a.k.a 'Xena' (Naturegirl). Seated on the right, in the first row are Betty Ahlborn and Forum member Kitty Philips (palmmermaid) with book in hand.

- A reverse of the above shot, showing the group of auction plants with would-be owners looking on. Southwest Florida member David Prall [right wearing hat] assists in sorting plants and ferrying them to the winning bidders.

Ryan

[Jeff Searle]

(junglegalfla @ Jun. 27 2007,14:54)

QUOTE

Is the croton in # 27 a Franklin Roosevelt Ray? Looks like the one I have

This is a Franklin Roosvelt.

Jeff

[junglegalfla]

Jeff thank you, I am slowing learning my crotons. So nice to see everyones faces in this post. Fantastic journaling of the event!

[RainForestt Robert]

Ryan, kudos to you as usual.  You set the standard on reporting these palm related events to far flung forum members.  Greatly appreciated.

Robert

[Palmarum]

- Member and auctioneer Neil Yorio continues with the beginning of the auction, selling mostly bags of seed and a few small plants. The palm on the far right waiting to be auctioned is Syagrus botryophora.

- Our host for the day, and keeper of the Sanctuary, Ron Eward takes a short break to pose on his recently constructed dock. As the auction continued, I worked my way around looking for other potential photos.

- On the same end of the dock, host Ron Eward talks with society member Rob Branch as member Linda listens in.

- A view of Goat Creek, looking east from on top of the dock. It curves its way back towards the Intercoastal.

Ryan

[Palmarum]

- A look at the main sales area awaiting customers and members. The majority of plants for sale were located right here. Host Ron Eward and member Rob Branch take a viewing tour of the selection as the auction continues behind me.

- "It gets this big!" Member Rob Branch describes how a plant looks to host Ron Eward. I am not sure to what he was describing.

- A large bag of Chamaedorea sp. seed is being auctioned off to the group. This was one of many species of palm seed that went home with members.

- One of the first palms to be auctioned, a 7 gallon Copernicia sp. Quite a few hands went up for the first time when this palm appeared.

Ryan

[SubTropicRay]

In order, "General MacArthur", "Norma" and "Franklin Roosevelt".

[PalmTone]

Very Interesting Meeting. I never knew that garden was there. Excellent Photos Ryan. Keep them coming, I know you got some more.  

[SubTropicRay]

There was a healthy mullet population in that creek.  I should have packed my cast net.

[Palmarum]

PalmTone · Posted on Jun. 27 2007,20:32

Very Interesting Meeting. I never knew that garden was there. Excellent Photos Ryan. Keep them coming, I know you got some more.  

Hey Tony

It was nice meeting both you and Jason. And yes I do have more photos coming, and I am saving the 'Post tour' for last.

Ryan