Oh Wow! That's a special place you've made, Patti!

The thought of my wife selling off all of my plants during a divorce sends shivers down my back.

Anyway, I mentioned that Laurel had picked up a fairly rare palm for me when she was down in Miami. Here is my new Phoenix rupicola, aka Cliff Date Palm. I've been looking for it for well over a year so was thrilled when she called me with news of her find. I planted it pot and all so I can pull it is we have a freak cold snap. It will take 26 degrees when it gets bigger but the babies need protection. It is a very tidy, clean palm, smaller than average for a date palm as it only grows to 20 feet.

Jim

It's a sweet little palm! I can see why you'd want it!
Just curious, is it too hot there to grow a trachycarpus? I can't remember if you have one.

The Trachycarpus fortunei or windmill palm will grow here but does better where the summers are not so warm and humid. It is a short lived palm under our conditions. The Trachycarpus martianus seems to be more adaptable to our climate and I like the looks of it better anyway. The rest of Trachycarpus palms are rare and I have little experience with them.

Jim

I used to have a fortunei but it got too big and I gave it away. I miss it some days.

Now I lay me down to sleep, or at least the big Amorphophallas does. It has called it a season and simply flopped over. I will cut the stalks close to the ground and get rid of them. By next March I will have forgotten all about them and then notice this big phallas emerging from the ground. What a plant!

Jim

GOSH!!!

Love your new Palm, Jim!

Jim, thank you for posting that..mine flopped over a few weeks ago and I took it very personally..now I can
see that's just what it does.

Thanks, Janice. I have 26 different species of palms now and find myself looking for a Nannorrhops ritchieana, aka Mazari palm. I want the silver form shown here. There always seems to be just enough room for one more.

Jim

That one is gorgeous!!!!

Yes, Kathy, it's a looker and tuff as nails. It comes from the high plains of Afganistan and I have seen pictures of it growing in snow. It is a clustering palm that grows to about 10 feet. But, and there is always a but, the Mazari palm is susceptible to lethal yellowing and Ganoderma fungus. I am not too worried about leathal yellowing as that disease is still confined to the south Florida area but Ganoderma root rot is a potential problem and it is fatal. As they say, you pay your money and take your chances.

Jim

That is a nice Palm!!
My Amorphophallus folded up like an umbrella ca a month ago. The pot is now in the garage sleeping hopefully to Spring!

Jim, OMG that Palm is absolutely magnificent! Where do you buy it? There are palms that grow here, but not many can survive the winters.

The Mazari is one palm that may survive your winters, Janice. It is not easy to find which is another reason I like it. Landscapers can't make much money on it because it is slow growing so you have to find the hobbyist who has his own little backyard nursery. Try your local palm club and fun in the search.

While we are on palms, let me post a picture of a mature Phoenix rupicola, the palm Laurel found for me in Miami. This is what I'm shooting for.

Jim

While I'm on a palm roll, here are a couple of mature palm pictures of palms I have craved, found and planted. What do you think?

Copernica alba (Caranday palm)

Phoenix sylvestris (Wild date palm)

Beccariophoenix alfredii (High plateau palm)

I could go on and on but I'll spare you. The same thing is true of cycads. I have nine different species of them now and find these ancient plants fascinating. They are also hard to find, making them even more attractive to me. Such fun!

Jim

Wonderful, Jim. If I lived in FL I would definitely get into palms. They are so unusual. I lived in AZ for a few years and woke up to the sounds of quails on the ground and cactus wrens in the palms everyday. Can't imagine a palm without those odd sounds now. Click on their song here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/g...

Jim, they are beautiful!
I like Cycads too!

Wonderful, all, Jim!
If I could choose, my first would be the Phoenix sylvestris, but I'd want them all!
Yes, I, too, like the unusual and hard to find. They are so satisfying when you finally do get them!
So many perfectly wonderful plants are not as readily available as they should be!

I was doing some weeding this afternoon and look at this brave little soul!
"Happy Returns" given to me not too long ago...thank you Susan!