Palms and cycads in The Tropical Paradise

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Here is a view along the eastern edge of The Tropical Paradise. On the far left, near Macintosh, the good little wiener dog, are two cycads, Dioon edule var. palma sola. They were totally unaffected by the terrible freeze last winter. The palm tree off to the right of them is a Chamearopos humilis (Mediterranean Fan Palm), which was also unaffected by the cold. In front of it, down by the spot light, is a zamia that was taken from a clump by a fellow member of the Arizona Palm and Cycad Association. It was growing strong when the big freeze hit, and it had to be cut down to the ground, but as you can see, it is coming back.

The palm in the center of the photos is my new Phoenix reclinata x rupicola cross, which I just planted yesterday. Even though it isn't a very big palm, it will give some height to this area. The fuzzy green plants in the background are asparagus ferns, which you can get for cheap at Home Depot or Walmart. The small cycad just behind the rupicola x reclinata is another Dioon edule var. palma sola. The cycad in the foreground, in the shade, is a Dioon edule var. edule. The rock that the gecko is on came from near Mount Taylor in New Mexico. The other rocks were donated by neighbors around here in Glendale.

By the way, The Arizona Palm and Cycad Association is having a meeting on Saturday, May 21st, 2011. If you live in the area, come and join us! Or fly in from Australia if that's where you are!

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