Another Fairchild Garden Visit

[Cindy Adair]

I have visited Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami FL many times but always enjoy seeing new additions and checking on “old friends”.

This Sabinaria caught my attention especially since it looks untouched planted outside despite the recent cold spell here. 

I eagerly await mine growing big enough to show off the gorgeous leaf shape and color!

Below are two different Kerriodoxa elegans. Rhino beetles in Puerto Rico love these so not sure if I will get any to trunking size. 
I am really looking forward to seeing them in habitat in Phuket Island.Thailand on the soon to start IPS post tour. 

 

Calyptrocalyx albertisianus is a fairly new addition to my own farm after I saw a beauty at Dean Ouer’s place in HI a few years ago. Here is one at FTG reminding me that they are likely to be much taller than my other more shrub size Calyptrocalyx. 
 

 

I am including a striking cycad that I wish I grew. Microcycas calocoma. 

[Cindy Adair]

I took a pass through the butterfly collection and this papilio lowii posed for me.  

Pigafetta elata (I only saw one) seemed fine outside. I am down to 2 of these from 5 I grew from seed and planted out in PR. Another rhino beetle delicacy.
 

I now have some seedling Pigafetta filaris (the white one) gifted to me by PR00360 from RPS seeds. Hoping I can get some to trunking size when my beetles seem to ignore them. 

 

Mine are at the very dangerous to touch stage but eventually the smooth trunk becomes huggable. 

This Calyptrocalyx hollrungii is much bigger than mine. Such a nice palm. 
 

Sommieria is another species I “met” at FTG many years ago and am so happy to now have in PR. 
 

 

Next some classic FTG views. 
Entrance to the conservatory:

[happypalms]

Wow some beautiful palms there, when I first got into gardening the Fairchild garden was one of my first OMG gardens that inspired me to get that tropical plant garden, looking up to that garden set me on my way to Palm addiction!