Do you live in Southern California? Did you ever take a vacation to a place like Hawaii, Florida, Mexico or Thailand, and wonder if any of the glorious palms you see there will grow here? Or, are you weary of hearing the palms-are-ugly remarks repeated by those around you? Or, did you buy a house with a yard full of wonderful palms, and wonder what they are, and how to keep them happy? Or, do you know that there's more to life than Washingtonia, Phoenix, and Syagrus, but don't know where to find alternatives?
Come to a Palm Society of Southern California meeting, and meet others who love palms as much as you.
Are you in Southern California from out of town? Come, join us! Member of the IPS? Great! No? Great, too, come and join us for the meeting, no charge, no need to be a member. The sole exceptions are Members Only meetings, in which case you'll be asked to become a member to attend.
Every other month, in odd-numbered months, the PSSC's members gather at a public or private garden to share palm growing experiences. There you will have a chance to see, "in the flesh" in someone's garden here in Southern California those wonderful palms you may only have seen in pictures. You will also get a chance to see the many ways palms, and other plants can be used in the landscape. Most PSSC meeting garden tours are followed by a talk, and, often, pictures, by palm gurus who range from experienced growers, world travelers, or professors of bontany (sometimes all three!). Most meetings end with an auction and a raffle of rare palms brought to the meeting by PSSC member growers, so you can fall in love with a new palm, and take it home with you that day.
Members-only Meetings Once in a while, we get to have a meeting at a garden so wonderful, admission should be charged. When that happens, we'll say as much in meeting notices. When we do, the garden is a wonderful garden, worth paying to see.
If you are considering becoming a member, please come to a meeting and introduce yourself. You will be among friends. Some of our members have been friends for a lifetime.
Our future meetings will be held:
Saturday May 26, 2012; Encinitas, California
PSSC's Annual Plant Sale, at San Diego Botanical Gardens (formerly known as Quail Botanical Gardens)
We are always looking for new palm gardens to visit. If you would consider sharing the beauty of your garden with the Palm Society, no matter what the size or age, please contact your area chair person, or any board member. Phone numbers are in "The Palm Journal" and on our "About Us" page or email by typing their name or title (no spaces please) @palmssc.org.
Jan. 16, 2010: Annual Banquet, Island
Palms Hotel, San Diego, San Diego County
Nov. 21, 2009: Sims Tree Health Specialists & the Doubravsky home, Riverside, Riverside Co.
Sept. 19, 2009: Palm Garden of Greg Haines and John Cressey, Altadena, L.A. County
July 25, 2009: Solakian & Rees gardens,Camarillo,Ventura County
May 23, 2009: Quail Garden's Annual Palm Sale, Encinitas, San Diego County
March 21, 2009: Ralph Velez Garden and Mile Square Park, Westminster, Orange County
Jan. 24, 2009: Annual Banquet, Hyatt Regency, Newport Beach, Orange County
Nov. 15, 2008: Home of Drew Zagar, Holmby Hills, L.A. County
Sept. 20, 2008: Moebius and Wijnen Homes, Camarillo, Ventura County
July 19, 2008: Homes of Mark &Val Riedler, Greg & Maria Asbagh, Encinitas, San Diego Co.
May 24, 2008: Louis Hooper, Bill Dickenson, and The Fullerton Arboretum, Orange County
Mar. 22, 2008: South Coast Botanic Gardens, L.A. County
Jan. 26, 2008: Annual Banquet at Huntington Gardens, L.A. County
Nov. 17, 2007: Lotusland, Montecito, Santa Barbara County.
Sept. 22, 2007: John Shearson and 'Chip' Arnold in San Diego County.
July 21, 2007: Lorraine Ferguson, Pat Mahoney and Bud Zagar, Orange County
May 19, 2007: Gunther Schwarz Memorial, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County
March 17, 2007: Los Angeles County Arboretum with Bamboo Society, L.A. County
Jan. 20, 2007: PSSC Annual Banquet, Huntington Botanical Gardens, San Marino, L.A. County
Nov, 18, 2006: Fallbrook Garden of Wanda Mallen and Gary Vincent, San Diego Co.
Sept. 16, 2006: Home of Ralph Velez & Mile Square Park, Westminster, Orange Co.
July 15, 2006: Home of Drew Zagar, Holmby Hills, L.A. County
May 20, 2006: Homes of John Rees & Robert Solakian, Camarillo, Ventura Co.
Mar. 18, 2006: Gary Michaellis, Jim Wright & Dr. Fletcher's Homes, Mission Bay, San Diego Co.
Jan. 28, 2006: PSSC Annual Banquet, Catamaran Resort & Hotel, San Diego
Nov. 19, 2005: Oceanfront Home of Robert Bunkall, Laguna Beach, Orange Co.
Sept. 17, 2005: The Palm Garden of Greg Haines and John Cressey, Altadena, L.A. Co.
July 16, 2005: Gardens of Bill Hapeman, Pauleen Sullivan & Bob Jenkin, Ventura
May 28, 2005: Quail Gardens Annual Palm Sale, Encinitas, San Diego County
Mar. 19, 2005: Homes of John Boyer & Guy Young, Huntington Beach, Orange Co.
Jan. 22, 2005: PSSC Annual Banquet, Catamaran Resort & Hotel, San Diego
Nov. 20, 2004: Huntington Botanical Gardens, San Marino, LA Co.
Sept. 18, 2004: Homes of Chris & Steve McCloud, Thousand Oaks, Ventura Co.
July 17, 2004: Ouer & Phillipys´ homes, Quail Gardens, Encinitas, San Diego Co.
May 22, 2004: Lutz, Muir & White´s homes, Dana Point, Orange Co.
March 20, 2004: Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, UCLA, LA Co.
Jan. 17, 2004: PSSC Annual Banquet, Hyatt Newporter, Newport Beach
Nov. 22, 2003: Home of Gunther Schwartz, Santa Barbara
Sept. 20, 2003: Jeff Brusseau´s Cuesta Linda, Vista, San Diego Co.
July 19, 2003: Hooper & Dickenson Gardens, Fullerton Arboretum, Orange Co.
May 17, 2003: Friendship Park, Averill Park & Joe and Linda Bird´s Garden, San Pedro, L.A. Co.
Mar. 22, 2003: Ventura College, Ventura County
Jan. 18, 2003: Annual Banquet at the Hyatt Newporter, Orange Co.
Nov. 23, 2002: Bahia Hotel, and the Willoughby, Cox, & Craig Gardens, San Diego
Sept. 21, 2002: The Hartman, Kutas & Gregg Gardens, Huntington Beach, Orange Co.
July 27, 2002: Los Angeles County Arboretum, L.A. Co.
May 18, 2002: The Homes of Robert Solakian & John Rees, Camarillo, Ventura Co.
Mar. 23, 2002: Palomar College, San Marcos, San Diego Co.
Jan. 26, 2002: Banquet, Sam´s Seafood & tour Westmoreland and Snyder Gardens, Orange Co.
Nov. 17, 2001: The DeJong, Luna, Frey & Andersen homes, San Clemente, Orange Co.
Sept. 22, 2001: Leland Lai´s Jardin Topagonia, Topanga, L.A. Co.
July 21, 2001: Gunther Schwartz, Santa Barbara
May 26, 2001: Quail Gardens Annual Palm Sale, Encinitas, San Diego County
Mar. 31, 2001: Lynn Muir & David Culbertson Gardens, Near Dana Pt., Orange Co.
Jan. 20, 2001: Banquet, Sam´s Seafood plus Boyer & Young homes, Huntington Beach, Orange
Nov. 18, 2000: The Foster, Koh and Ruelas homes in Venice, L.A. Co.
Sept. 23, 2000: Keeline/Wilcox commercial Kentia Nursery, Oxnard, Ventura Co.
July 15, 2000: Jim Wright and Gregg Hamann Gardens, Mission Bay & El Cajon, San Diego Co.
May 20, 2000: The Woods´ and The Andersens´ gardens & nurseries, Fallbrook, San Diego Co.