iDesign Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 Those of us in warmer climates know them all too well... those sad, sickly Syagrus romanzoffiana that infest our neighborhoods. We wince at the sight of them, frantically searching for something - anything - to switch our gaze to. Well, it's time for an attitude adjustment! The purpose of this post is to GLORIFY the homely yet charming neighborhood Queen Palm, and give them their moment to shine. So go seek out that hideous Queen you've been trying not to look out, take out your camera (ideally when the sun is JUST right), and take your best shot. ---- CONTEST RULES: No healthy Syagrus romanzoffiana There are plenty of other posts for the healthy ones. This post is specifically for the struggling underachievers. It does however need to be ALIVE (though "just barely alive" counts). Give it a Name We want to get to know these charmers on a first-name basis. No major Photoshopping Please DO color-correct, sharpen, or whatever will put your entry in the best light... but no extreme Photoshopping (changing leaf color for example). One Palm per Post This will help with the "voting" process. The Contest HAS NO END DATE We want you to have a reason to look at these sad palms in the neighborhood, and get excited when you see a particularly hideous one. Frame Optional (but encouraged) Here's one option I found that's pretty easy, and doesn't require a subscription - https://www.fotojet.com/apps/?entry=edit It will invite you to upgrade, but you don't need to. In my testing, it seemed to work best to add your TEXT first, then add your frame. ---- TO VOTE: Click the "up arrow" (next to the heart) if you like a particular picture a lot. You can vote for as many photos as you'd like. Because there is no "end date" to the contest, no official "winner" will be declared But you can see which ones are doing best by viewing how many "up arrows" a photo gets. ---- Hoping this will become an EPIC thread of Ugly Queen Palm goodness. Have Fun! 5 Stacey Wright | Graphic Designer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iDesign Posted March 9 Author Report Share Posted March 9 My first entry - a particularly yellow (and short) Queen in my neighborhood... 5 1 Stacey Wright | Graphic Designer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iDesign Posted March 9 Author Report Share Posted March 9 And this one has my heart for its valiant efforts to run with the "Big Boys". I love the tiny frond it's sticking up in the air (trying to look taller)... 3 3 Stacey Wright | Graphic Designer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iDesign Posted March 9 Author Report Share Posted March 9 A typical Queen Palm "Sorority House"... 4 Stacey Wright | Graphic Designer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iDesign Posted March 9 Author Report Share Posted March 9 And the extremely popular "Star Treka Borga" Sorority House (there are more Queens on the other side of the house as well). I can't imagine how long that yard takes to trim... Ok, now it's your turn!!! 4 Stacey Wright | Graphic Designer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanK Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 Interesting Post. I hope you get a lot of homely contestants. Queens and robustas are so overplanted that I would only recommend them where they're marginal. Line the robustas on Washington Ave, Augusta GA where you don't expect them. I knew a fellow who had beautiful, silver Queens from northern Argentina. He grew them in coastal GA. I have seen beautiful Washies, but they were around PHX. These examples are exceptions. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Tex Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 The "Queen of Saguaro" credit for photo: @813PalmsnCycads 1 2 Inground- 1x Syagrus romanzoffiana 2x Livingstona Chinensis 5x Phoenix Robelleni In Pots- 3x Sabal Mexicana 5x Phoenix dactylifera 4x Sabal Palmetto 3x Livingstona Chinensis 3x Ravenea Rivularis 6x Cycas Revoluta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim in Los Altos Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 Interesting post but pretty much all the Queen palms in my area look good to great whether they are in well cared for gardens or neglected ones. 1 Jim in Los Altos, CA SF Bay Area 37.34N- 122.13W- 190' above sea level zone 10a/9b sunset zone 16 300+ palms, 90+ species in the ground Las Palmas Design Facebook Page Las Palmas Design & Associates Elegant Homes and Gardens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awkonradi Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 This thread is a crime against palmanity. 3 2 Andrei W. Konradi, Burlingame, California. Vicarious appreciator of palms in other people's gardens and in habitat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnorell Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 Pretty funny topic...they do look pathetic throughout SoCal, I think primarily due to soil conditions combined with highly basic irrigation water. Come on out here to the low desert, and look at the most pathetic, half-dead millions of palms that keep getting planted by developers, landscape architects, homeowners...because they want some sort of pinnate palm other than dates. They would do better to plant foxtails (which are sold and planted here, just on a much, much smaller scale, as I think they're rarely spec'd into jobs by design professionals). Jim, it's interesting that you bring up the generally good-looking queens in the Bay Area (or at least the peninsula where you are)...do you know what the soil differences are in your area? Because they just seem to be so sensitive to mineral issues and probably soil pH, also in the low desert, it's that, PLUS lack of water in summer. Meanwhile, fly over to New Orleans and in the French Quarter you will see the most beautiful, luscious Queen Palms you ever imagined. Note that New Orleans is thick muck, generally acid, and full of nutritional goodies from many millennia of silt from the Mississippi River Valley, daily torrential rains in summer, heat/humidity galore, the whole shebang. The crazy thing is that almost ALL of the other Syagrus do so much better than queens in SoCal, with less in the way of mineral deficiencies, yellowed foliage, etc. But because they are SLOW, the nursery industry refuses to give up their crack-baby Queen Palms. They make so much money off these fast-growing weeds...and the ultra-gorgeous Syagrus sancona just can't compete, neither can S. amara, S. coronata (Caatinga palm perfect for the desert), and the rest of the huge lot of species that could be brought into the trade. In the end, economics rules the roost. Sad but true. So we will be looking at these 'darlings' for quite some time, methinks. 😞 3 Michael Norell Rancho Mirage, California | 33°44' N 116°25' W | 293 ft | z10a | avg Jan 44/70F | Jul 78/108F avg | Weather Station KCARANCH310 previously Big Pine Key, Florida | 24°40' N 81°21' W | 4.5 ft. | z12a | Calcareous substrate | avg annual min. approx 52F | avg Jan 65/75F | Jul 83/90 | extreme min approx 41F previously Natchez, Mississippi | 31°33' N 91°24' W | 220 ft.| z9a | Downtown/river-adjacent | Loess substrate | avg annual min. 23F | Jan 43/61F | Jul 73/93F | extreme min 2.5F (1899) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
813PalmsnCycads Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 It did not take long to find a candidate in the Tampa Bay area. Lucky for her, Clarabel has an attractive friend adorning her head. 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenikakias Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 (edited) Awesome topic lol. Olak its name from almost (surviving) Edited March 10 by Phoenikakias 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenikakias Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 And Weeper, a new droopy form 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iDesign Posted March 10 Author Report Share Posted March 10 That's interesting to hear that the Queens do better in some locations than others. Makes me wonder if it's water restrictions or something else that makes them so fugly in my area. Though in fairness, it's not ALL of the Queen Palms that look bad. The following picture is a bit more typical of the ones near me... with a few glorious queens, next to one that "doesn't look quite right". Feel free to post any "doesn't look quite right" Queen photos... doesn't have to be as extreme as the other photos posted so far (I'm still lol at "droopy form" above). 1 1 Stacey Wright | Graphic Designer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadd Correia Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 Its a big gal, but it gets whacked by strong winds constantly so it always looks a little disheveled. Fun to look at all the same as I ride by on my bike. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenikakias Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 44 minutes ago, iDesign said: That's interesting to hear that the Queens do better in some locations than others. Makes me wonder if it's water restrictions or something else that makes them so fugly in my area. Though in fairness, it's not ALL of the Queen Palms that look bad. The following picture is a bit more typical of the ones near me... with a few glorious queens, next to one that "doesn't look quite right". Feel free to post any "doesn't look quite right" Queen photos... doesn't have to be as extreme as the other photos posted so far (I'm still lol at "droopy form" above). I am very curious to see what kind of soil lies exactly around this yellow Queen. They may be quite tolerant in their soil requirements, but not as tolerant as Phoenix spp from temperate regions. My poor experience is that some specimens react very negatively to alkaline soil and get infested subsequently by soil fungi, which block partially the vascular system. Combined soil acidification, iron chelate application and fungicides may fix problems and save eventually the plant. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iDesign Posted March 10 Author Report Share Posted March 10 1 hour ago, Phoenikakias said: I am very curious to see what kind of soil lies exactly around this yellow Queen... Funny you should ask about the soil because I also wonder what's going on in that particular spot. "Pamela" actually had a yellow-frond sister (shown in the below photo) that went into a quick decline soon after this photo was taken, and died (RIP). Makes me wonder whether that spot on the side of the yard is not compatible with palm life (due to both palms looking bad). The Queens in their front yard look healthy - and the gardeners appear to be taking pretty good care of the rest of the plants - so it could indeed be something icky going on at the soil level. ☠️ 1 Stacey Wright | Graphic Designer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iDesign Posted March 10 Author Report Share Posted March 10 My husband just reminded me that we have photos of the other side of the fence, from being invited to a Dinner Party at this house. Looks like "Pamela" (currently yellow) & "C.J." (turned yellow, then died) are in a small-ish planter. And there is an outdoor stove between them (not sure if that's a factor). The Queens in the front yard have always looked healthy, but these two have struggled. * I didn't intend for this thread to get serious, but if there's useful information to be gleaned (on why some Queens do better than others - even in the same yard), that's of course great info. 3 Stacey Wright | Graphic Designer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fusca Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 Like Jim most of the queens I have seen look pretty good but there's always one... this one is being overrun by some sort of wild vine to show the level of neglect. A Rainha Feia. And poor quality photos make it worse (both are the same palm)! 1 3 Jon Sunder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Posted March 12 Report Share Posted March 12 On 3/9/2023 at 1:05 PM, iDesign said: This is the person who just moved in from the mid-west and thinks to themself "wow, our backyard is a tropical oasis." Hilarious thread by the way. I'll participate at some point as I already have several candidates in mind. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenikakias Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 The bozo squad, planted all at the same time as part of a landscaping project concerning a factory's foreyard. So all three should be considered as a unit. To my surprise they are looking now a bit nicer than they used to initially. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 Hilarious topic! Will start looking around. Most around here qualify! 1 1 What you look for is what is looking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivera Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 Nobody puts Baby in a corner. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlyn Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 Here's my sorta-vaguely-kinda-maybe-perhaps alive contribution. It's got a green frond! I'll name it...SNAG! Some of you may get the joke... 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shminbabe Posted March 23 Report Share Posted March 23 I'll be back with a few pics! (I still love the beleaguered Queens tho!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fusca Posted March 23 Report Share Posted March 23 On 3/10/2023 at 5:08 PM, Fusca said: Like Jim most of the queens I have seen look pretty good but there's always one... this one is being overrun by some sort of wild vine to show the level of neglect. A Rainha Feia. And poor quality photos make it worse (both are the same palm)! Looks like the store owner saw my post! Some serious over-trimming to the queen, the oleander and the vine! I guess this prom queen has been disrobed! 3 Jon Sunder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba Posted March 23 Report Share Posted March 23 This is not the worst but a number of other specimens are not in the same condition: 1 What you look for is what is looking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenikakias Posted March 23 Report Share Posted March 23 26 minutes ago, bubba said: This is not the worst but a number of other specimens are not in the same condition: It is overshadowed by the beauty of the Canary Date in background! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlyn Posted March 23 Report Share Posted March 23 58 minutes ago, Fusca said: Looks like the store owner saw my post! Some serious over-trimming to the queen, the oleander and the vine! I guess this prom queen has been disrobed! Yeah, they might have over-trimmed that just a wee bit! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLM Posted March 23 Report Share Posted March 23 1 hour ago, Fusca said: Looks like the store owner saw my post! Some serious over-trimming to the queen, the oleander and the vine! I guess this prom queen has been disrobed! Maybe they were like, "didnt there use to be a palm tree there?" Well they found it, and for safe measure they decided to practically behead it. 1 Palms - 4 S. romanzoffiana, 2 W. bifurcata, 6 W. robusta, 1 R. rivularis, 1 B. odorata, 1 B. nobilis, 2 S. palmetto, 1 A. merillii, 2 P. sylvestris, 1 Butia x Jubaea, 1 Butia x Jubaea x Butia x Syagrus, 1 X Butiagrus nabonnandii, 2 L. chinensis, 1 Cocos nucifera, 1 Phoenix roebelenii Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fusca Posted March 23 Report Share Posted March 23 Considering that we're currently in severe drought on the edge of exceptional drought and no rain in sight, this queen doesn't have a chance. It gets zero supplemental watering. I might offer them use of my chainsaw. Jon Sunder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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