Northern California Chapter of IPS: July 12, 2025 Garden Meeting

[tbearz]

July 12th in Montara, California   Hello Palm Friends! Here is information our next meeting which will be held on:  DATE: Saturday, July 12, 2025 from 12:00 - 4:00 pm LOCATION: The Garden of Jim Sayre in Montara  Jim lives in Montara (unincorporated town located between Half Moon Bay and Pacifica) on a coastal hillside about one mile from the beach. Seven years ago, Jim cleared away more than 100 blue gum eucalyptus which had inundated his near two acre property. With the help and guidance of many—including Jason DeWees, Gregg Opgenorth and John Greenlee—Jim repopulated his garden with palms, ornamental grasses and succulents. Today, more than 150 palms grace the property. Grasses are taking a foothold against the weeds and yuccas, agaves and aloes abound. While still a work-in-process (which garden isn’t?), Jim has no happier place than his temperate climate palm savannah. Jim will also be debuting his newly refurbished meadow garden to the Society: this is a not to be missed event of a garden and gardener who are new to the NCPS. Palms include brahea, butia, parajubaea, jubaea, chamerops, livistona, trachycarpus, dypsis, ceroxylon, hedyscepe, howea, rhopalostylis, archontophoenix, caryota, chamaedorea, allogoptera and many others. The Society event will include a potluck, garden tours and a talk from John Greenlee about ornamental grasses for the Northern California climate and meadow planning, development, and introduction into the palmscape. Known as "The Grass Man" in horticultural circles, John Greenlee is a trailblazing landscape designer, horticultural expert, and author with over four decades of experience in creating sustainable grass ecologies. John founded the renowned landscape design and consulting firm Greenlee & Associates in 2009 where he has worked on projects across the U.S. and globally. His work spans public spaces, private residences, and prestigious institutions, including Disney's Animal Kingdom, the Houston Zoo, and the Getty Center. You can learn more about John here: https://www.greenleeandassociates.com Meeting Specifics: Saturday, July 12 from 12 pm to 4 pm. Potluck: This is a potluck event. Once again, we will have a potluck posting for you to post your contributions. The society will provide beverages—alcoholic and non-alcoholic—feel free to bring what you enjoy the most. https://padlet.com/cvanhowe1/July12meeting Schedule: Noon - 12:45 pm, assemble, take part in enjoying the potluck contributions and socialize. 12:45 pm - 1:30 pm, general address to the Society by Jim about the garden and informed talk by John Greenlee about the integration of grasses into Northern California gardens, landscapes and ecosystems. 1:30 - 3:00 pm, garden tours broken up into groups depending on interest - Jim’s thoughts, John’s insight on grasses, and insight on palms and palm gardens. 3:00 pm - 4 pm, a reconvening of society members for the auction and society notes and announcements. 4 pm - ?? After hours tour of Jim's garden with John Greenlee for a "deep dive" into the creation of palm savannahs, grass meadows and grass ecologies. Share John's decades of plant experience and knowledge and learn about incorporating and highlighting grasses into your own palm garden or outdoor space. We are very excited about opening this garden to the Society for the first time and highlighting the gardening contributions and visions of Jim, John, Jason, and many others. Please note: This garden is on a hillside with uneven grades and surfaces. Please wear appropriate footwear or walking devices to make sure you are safe during the tour. Parking is abundant but “No Parking” signs are posted at the front of the property. Feel free to ignore the signs. Also, feel free to reach out to form car share groups from people who may be attending in your region of the Bay Area. Alternative parking arrangements at the base of the garden will be sent to registered attendees closer to the date. PLEASE REGISTER FOR THE EVENT TO RECEIVE IMPORTANT EVENT INFORMATION INCLUDING ADDRESS & PARKING INFO: REGISTER HERE Rhopalostylis in shady part of the garden Butias backdrop agaves and yuccas with sesleria autumnalis grasses Lower patio with Chamerops Cerifera as a focal point Brahea edulis in their near-native climate Ribbons of redwoods, palms (jubaea and chamerops) and succulents Questions or want to sign up friends for the email list? Please email Caroline at: carocjaeger@gmail.com   Website Palm Society Announcements Lakeside Palmetum Membership Species List Please forward on to any palm friends.  You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of every email.

 

[tbearz]

Hey Folks here is a reminder, this one looks like it is turning out to be a real big event. If you have a last minute change of heart to attend, please click the register link in the original notice to get the specifics of address, sign up for potluck, and join us in Jim's incredible garden:

Reminders for Palm Garden Meeting on Saturday,July 12th in Montara   Hello Palm Friends ~ Some friendly reminders for our meeting this Saturday!    Big Turnout! This will be one of our largest events in recent years with over 50 folks registered so far. Please bring some extra food items and drinks for the potluck and extra plants for the auction for sharing with such a large group.    NCPS July 12th Garden Tour, Auction and Potluck     July 12, 2025 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM + Stay for Extra Grass Tour    @ Jim Sayre's Garden   Google Link:    REMINDERS:  Bring a palm / plant (or two or three) for the auction Bring something for the potluck and extra beverages to share Wear good walking shoes / bring walking sticks as the garden paths are hilly and uneven in places      About the Garden Jim lives in Montara (unincorporated town located between Half Moon Bay and Pacifica) on a coastal hillside about one mile from the beach. Seven years ago, Jim cleared away more than 100 blue gum eucalyptus which had inundated his near two acre property. With the help and guidance of many—including Jason DeWees, Gregg Opgenorth and John Greenlee—Jim repopulated his garden with palms, ornamental grasses and succulents. Today, more than 150 palms grace the property. Grasses are taking a foothold against the weeds and yuccas, agaves and aloes abound. While still a work-in-process (which garden isn’t?), Jim has no happier place than his temperate climate palm savannah. Jim will also be debuting his newly refurbished meadow garden to the Society: this is a not to be missed event of a garden and gardener who are new to the NCPS.   Palms include brahea, butia, parajubaea, jubaea, chamerops, livistona, trachycarpus, dypsis, ceroxylon, hedyscepe, howea, rhopalostylis, archontophoenix, caryota, chamaedorea, allogoptera and many others.   Meeting Specifics:   Saturday, July 12 from 12 pm to 4 pm, plus optional tour of grasses in the garden led by John Greenlee after 4 pm.   Potluck: This is a potluck event. Once again, we will have a potluck posting for you to post your contributions for food. The society will provide basic beverages—alcoholic and non-alcoholic— but please contribute to the overall drinks supplies and bring some of your own favorites. With such a large group, we don't want to run out! https://padlet.com/cvanhowe1/July12meeting   Schedule: Noon - 12:45 pm, assemble, take part in enjoying the potluck contributions and socialize. 12:45 pm - 1:30 pm, general address to the Society by Jim about the garden and a short talk by John Greenlee about the integration of grasses into Northern California gardens, landscapes and ecosystems. 1:30 - 3:00 pm, garden tours broken up into groups depending on interest - Jim’s thoughts, John’s insight on grasses, and insight on palms and palm gardens. 3:00 pm - 4 pm, a reconvening of society members for the auction and society notes and announcements. NEW: 4 pm +, John Greenlee will give a garden tour and talk about the grasses in the garden and share ideas about incorporating grasses in gardens.    Auction: As always, we'll have an auction at the event, so please bring palms / plants for the auction.  The auction is our only fund-raising activity as we do not charge membership fees. Your support for the auction, both in donating plants and bidding on them, is vital in keeping the palm society and our community healthy from a financial perspective.    Uneven hilly surfaces: Please note, the garden is on a hillside with uneven grades and surfaces. Please wear appropriate footwear or walking devices to make sure you are safe during the tour.    Parking: There are “No Parking” signs at the front of the property and we have been assured it is okay to ignore them.   Car Pooling? If you are interested in car pooling - please email Caroline at: carocjaeger@gmail.com or text/call on 415.215.2460.    We are very excited about opening this garden to the Society for the first time and highlighting the gardening contributions and visions of Jim, John, Jason, and many others.    A big thanks to our host, Jim Sayre, for opening up his garden.    For any questions on the day, please call / text Caroline @ 415.215.2460 or Keith @ 415.503.7546.   See you on Saturday.   Best wishes,  Caroline, Keith, and Thom

 

[tbearz]

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday in the amazing Montara garden of Jim Sayre. We spent a wonderful, overcast afternoon discovering Jim's creations, enjoying John Greenlee's insights into creating a palm savannah and enjoying everyone's company.

Join the Northern California Society on September 6 for our next 2025 garden season event in Concord/Clayton. We will be hosted by two gardens which are hybridization sources for cocoides hybrids which began in the legendary Walnut Creek garden of society founder Dick Douglas. Patrix Schafer - the brilliant mind behind the hybrids - will give us insight into hybridization process and theories. Patrix will also have a selection of his hybrids and other palms on hand for you to take home a treasure with a legacy going back to the garden of Dick Douglas.

More news to come!