Saturday, April 20: San Francisco Open Gardens and Meeting Event:
12:30 pm to 2:30 pm: The San Francisco gardens of Darold Petty and Thom Berninzoni will be open from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm for self-guided tours and walk-throughs. The gardens are small city plots and cannot accommodate every one at once, so please choose your own schedule for the 2 hour open window.
The Outer Sunset garden of Darold Petty:
The legendary garden of Nor. Cali. Palm Society President emeritus Darold Petty is located in one of the chilliest corners of the City. Darold has been nurturing this garden since the early ’80’s and today it boasts an impressive array of mature palm species - Ceroxylon, Hedyscepe, Rhopalostylis, and Howea to name a few. In the garden you will also encounter many beautifully grown and rare palm companion plants that are a testimony to the breadth of the gardening knowledge and growing skills Darold has honed for more than four decades.
The Eureka Valley garden of Thom Berninzoni:
Thom Berninzoni and his partner Antonio Cristillo began retaining and building their garden on a steep slope on the East-facing side of Twin Picks above the Castro District in 2005. The garden consists of multi-level decks (three) interconnected by lush planting spaces containing more than 40 species of palms. From mature Rhopalostylis, Livistonia and Howeas to miniature Chamaedorea, Linnospadix and other palm treasures, the garden boasts many pleasant surprises as you work your way down the stairs amongst the four levels. The palm collection is connected by a lush tapestry of palm companion plants - orchids, ferns, neotropical blueberries, bromeliads and more rarities.
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm: Society members will gather at a San Francisco garden center for an introduction to the nursery, a members meeting and auction. Bring bites to share and plants for the auction!
April 20, 2024: Palm Meetings in San Francisco
