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I went and talked to Barry at the Kelowna flower "Palm" farm and no palm or yucca shipment this year Last year a shipment was to get here from So California and the Canadian Gestapo agriculture Dept. sent it back to the California nursery. The necessary Phyto certificate was shown but there was a brown snail attached to one of the palms. Barry is a stand up guy so I believe what he says.The Gestapo AG Dept said sorry turn around and take the palms back to So Cal. nursery. I am so pissed right now at the Ag Dept. I always looked forward to what was coming here every year. I was supposed to put some palms at couple of friends places around their pool. Now I have to go Vancouver rent a cube van travel 4hrs and buy a some palms. Might as well buy a s@#t load of Trachy`s cause I don`t think I`m going to see the same selection of palms and price Barry brings in every year. Anybody want some larger T.fortunei or Med fans from Vancouver?

John

That really sucks. I was hoping he would bring in some y. rostratas this year from Cali.

Jay I gave him some info last year on Y. rostrata and Joshua trees and some other cold hardy Yuccas. I`m sure we would have some of these exept for one brown snail.

John

That's really too bad. I was pretty pumped to make the drive from Calgary.



Does every other species imported from the US (which in Calgary, for the big garden outfits, would be almost everything) receive the same kind of scrutiny? I understand the public interest at stake, but.......damn....how many brown snails are unknowingly imported from the US into big garden centers every year just because the species of plant are more conventional ? Someday, hopefully, hardy tropicals will be a far more accessible hobby for Canucks!

Duncan just another in a long list of overzelous Border inspector Clouseau`s. I`ve had plants confiscated because the wording on the phyto wasn`t to the letter. I asked what happened to my seedlings and were told they were thrown out. .

John

Sorry to hear about the denial of the palms and exotics shipment. The big chain stores never seem to have these snags and these plants arrive, semi load after semi load. Next time have 'em send back the brown snail and keep the plants!

I had cycad seeds from RPS held in Ontario for 5 weeks. Each person I spoke to had a different approach or tale to tell. Frustrating because no one had a clue or could tell me why the seed was being held. Even their paper work seemed a bit sketchy. The 'plant import act' was sited while these where seeds being detained. I also got the feeling that if I lost my composure or said anything they didn't want to hear, my seeds would be tossed at their whim.
The seeds where inexplicably released with no explanation after all the unnessesary red tape.


Cheers, Barrie.

Bummer, never did make it down to his place last year.
That snail probably fell out of the driver's hat.

Too bad, have been looking for a trunking yucca i.e. thompsoniana, aliofolia, or rostrata, or elata.

Would Barry ever consider starting from seed? has he got a greenhouse?
Jeez, tell him we'll even come and help! He'd have a market 1,000 miles in three directions.

John, where in Vancouver is there a palm nursery? Minter?
Thanks but unless they have other stuff, not interested in another Trachy or Med.fan.
If the nursery has pics/a list, I'd like to have a look.

Someone's GOT to do this seed thingy...big business in a few years.
I'm too old so don't look at me

Barb
PS---wonder when/from where The Conservatory will be getting their order...that'd be one big truck with room in between!

Barb I`m thinking of starting my own small sideline nursery selling Palms and Yuccas. I enjoy it so much it wouldn`t even seem like work. It would be nice to see more palms and yuccas in the Okanagan and interior of B.C.. I have about 50 small one gal Joshua trees 30 Y.rostrata 15 Y. thomson. I`m going to concentrate more on the Yuccas as they will grow here without any protection. The nursery I`m thinking of is Cedar Rim nursery in Langley. Barrie do you know of a good Nursery in the Vancouver area for wholesale or bulk priced larger palms?Do you have any larger Trachys 15 gal or more?Also is Tropic-cole on the island still in business? Thanks in advance,
John

Okanagan desert-palms wrote:I enjoy it so much it wouldn`t even seem like work. John

Famous last words ... if I could turn the clock back 8 years. There's countless hours involved in even a small scale nursery operation.

Tropi-Cole is in business last I'd heard, but today it appears to be more of an investment firm.
http://www.tropi-coletrading.com/

If you're considering a trip to Vancouver Island, it won't be cheap. A one ton cube at $29.95 a day (insurance extra) equates to about $140 to $200 per day depending on fuel consumpsion and mileage. Add the cost of $200 for a return trip on the ferry, food costs, hotel, etc and the costs can quickly escalate beyond reason.

I do have access to larger crated Trachycarpus palms but at $690 each and smaller 15 gallon at $149, I doubt it's worth anyones while to consider from your distance.

Cheers, Barrie.

John, hallelujah, felt sure you were going to step up
I've ordered seeds thinking I'd never get trunking yuccas otherwise...

Cedar Rim's container stock includes 4.5 foot Trachies, didn't see other palms:
http://www.cedarrim.com/availability/fo ... entory.php

Barb

Barrie thanks for the heads up on working a smaller nursery. I will try some nurseries in the lower mainland as opposed to the island. I go the coast quite often to visit familly so I`m going to research the best nurseries to buy what I need. My friends are counting on having palms so I have to deliver what I said. My obsession with palms and exotics shows no sign of slowing down so I`m jumpin with both feet.
John

Sunnyside Nurseries Ltd. Surrey Centre Nursery
2300 56th St, Tsawwassen, BC
(604) 943-9712

Good prices and many palms from April to June. Late summer rebates occur if extra palms are left. Many small sizes for transport. Trachys were so cheap last time I visited that I could not find anything cheaper in the US. Take a look at Cedar Rim then compare prices at Sunnyside. Maple Leaf is great for a mix of exotics.

Good Luck

This really sucks that Kelowna Barry couldn't get his order across the border.

I had a hell of a time getting 2 yuccas and 2 agaves across the border when we came home from Las Vegas last night. My problem was not with the CBSA who were very helpful and let me have my plants on the honor system after a 2 1/2 hour wait at the airport while they tried to find someone at CFIA. If CFIA says the plants have to be destroyed, CBSA will phone me to destroy them.

I jumped through all of the hoops that CFIA required to get an import permit including faxing them all the documents from the hotel in Vegas. CFIA told me that I would get the approved import permit the same day and usually within an hour. I spent Friday morning getting the plants, bare rooting some of them, taking them to the USDA inspector, getting a P Certificate and had the import permit application faxed by 2 PM. I got no response from CFIA before we had to leave Saturday night.

When I gave all of the faxed papers including the cover page and confirmation of receipt to CBSA staff at the Edmonton Airport at 1:30 this morning, they gave me the benefit of the doubt, eventually.

Now that I have been there and done that, it should be easier next time.

Allen

Allen what type of Yuccas and Agaves did you bring back? They must be nice for all the effort you put in. Islander thanks for the info on the nursery I`ll look into it.

John

I brought back 2 Yucca elatas- 1 small 5 gal with 3/8" leaves and 1 5 gal with narrow leaves.
The agaves were Americana marginata 5 gal and parryi 2 gal. The A. parryi had 3 pups with it which I have potted.

I am still getting used to being back and should be able to post pics in a few days.

Allen

Was just there and they have CIDP, Trachies by the hundreds, Butias, Med fans and a few yuccas.

Allen,
Glad it all worked out.
I've heard of border folks who won't bend an inch, so you were fortunate.
Barb

Well folks we have great news Kelowna flower/Palm farm is bringing in a shipment of palms and yuccas. I was up there two weeks ago to get some M.basjoo and now Barry has confirmed today that yes he will have a shipment this week from San Diego. I finally got him to bring in Y.rostrata 15 gal. not sure on price yet. I`m not sure what palms because his son DJ does all the ordering now. I will take photo`s. Lot`s of people must have the palm bug with the hot weather of late and he got it done. Huge smile on my face .

John

Okanagan desert-palms wrote:Well folks we have great news Kelowna flower/Palm farm is bringing in a shipment of palms and yuccas. I was up there two weeks ago to get some M.basjoo and now Barry has confirmed today that yes he will have a shipment this week from San Diego. I finally got him to bring in Y.rostrata 15 gal. not sure on price yet. I`m not sure what palms because his son DJ does all the ordering now. I will take photo`s. Lot`s of people must have the palm bug with the hot weather of late and he got it done. Huge smile on my face .

John

Cool. Thanks for the info John.

I am looking forward to seeing what he gets in.

Thanks John.

Allen

Great news John.
So now I don't have to care that my seedling Y.rostrata are croaking...only 5 remain.

Also haven't received the two from somewhere in the Carolinas (24 ounce size).

Please PM me when they're in.
Husband works in Kelowna, he can pick one/two up ($ ?).

Thanks for the news.
Barb