Commemorative Palm Planting at Gardens by the Bay Biennial 2016

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1 JANUARY JULY 2016 NEWSLETTER Commemorative Palm Planting at Gardens by the Bay Biennial 2016 Dr. Soejatmi Dransfield, left, and Dr. John Dransfield with an Adonidia dransfieldii; photos by GBTB staff On the final day of the IPS Biennial meeting in Singapore, two Directors, IPS President Leland Lai and Co Editor John Dransfield, took part in a commemorative planting of two individuals of John s namesake, Adonidia dransfieldii, a species described in the pages of PALMS last year. Leland was assisted by Dr. Kiat Tan, Gardens by the Bay founder and former head of the National Parks Board. John was assisted by his wife, Dr. Soejatmi Dransfield. With gold painted shovels in hand and some behind the scenes preparation by GBTB horticulture staff, the four dignitaries slipped the palms into their planting holes and backfilled with soil. Long may these palms thrive and commemorate the successful and highly enjoyable visit to GBTB by the IPS! Scott Zona

2 Outgoing IPS President Leland Lai, left, and Dr. Kiat Tan, right, founder of Gardens by the Bay and former National Parks Director. Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands Hotel Photo by B.G. Lundkvist Photo by K. Cyr Gardens by the Bay is in convenient proximity to Marina Bay Sands Hotel as seen in the background of the photo above left. This is one place where palms grow poolside on the 57th floor overlooking downtown Singapore, above right. IPS members were able to enjoy both attractions, using Marina Bay Sands as a home base during the few days in Singapore.

3 Gardens by the Bay

4 Nothing written in these pages can possibly convey the extent of the National Parks and botanic gardens visited during this year s IPS Biennial in Sarawak, Malaysia and Singapore. It is a challenge to select photos that can give you even a tiny glimpse of the excitement because nearly every day was such an overwhelming experience. Not only were the locations fantastic, but we were warmly welcomed, and given extensive background information by our hosts and guides, who were extremely well informed about the plants we had come to see. It was such a great pleasure to walk beside these people as they shared their knowledge. We came, we walked, we feasted, we took photos, we walked some more, we were fascinated, we were educated, and we were overwhelmed! Very special thanks and deep gratitude to IPS Directors David Tanswell, Jack Sayers, and their fearless team for arranging this extraordinary Biennial. Clockwise from top, Ross Mylrea in purple shirt, and Brett Emery in striped shirt admire the dense plantings Debby Hamann takes in the Silver Garden during a light shower, our guide Chase leads us through the indoor xeric plant section. Opposite: Aerial view from Marina Bay Sands, IPS group in front of Super Trees Licuala as groundcover Copernicia from above. All photos this page K. Cyr.

5 Bako National Park Left, Eugeissona utilis, photo by B.G. Lundkvist, and one of many Nepenthes species in the forest, photo by K. Cyr The hot dry ascent, below, photo by Guo Lixiu, Ph.D (affectionately known as Lily)

6 It was suspected the stairs and railings were not up to the usual building codes. Catherine Burger steps into dense forest for a closeup. Photos by Guo Lixiu, Ph.D. The hiking was quite steep in sections, and it was imperative to watch your step to avoid tripping over the tangle of roots on the trails, but well worth the effort when reaching the stands of Johannesteijsmannia altifrons straddling both sides of a narrow canyon. Photo below by B.G. Lundkvist.

7 Kubah National Park Kubah, home to Licuala orbicularis and several Pinanga spp., had the cameras going wild. Photos by B.G. Lundkvist and K. Cyr

8 Singapore Botanic Gardens Singapore Botanic Gardens has many venerable old palms and trees as well as many new additions. Left, Borassus flabellifer loaded with epiphytes ; right, Bill Sanford touches one of the smaller Lodoicea maldivica. Below, inspecting Palm Valley with our excellent guide, Felix (white shirt and backpack).

9 MacRitchie Reservoir Right in the center of Singapore is a huge forest preserve around a system of reservoirs for Singapore s water catchment. There are trails around the reservoir where locals walk and jog, and there is a wonderful Tree Top Walk, a hanging bridge complete with macaques to greet you and possibly steal your lunch! Photos on left side from Guo Lixiu, Ph.D.; photos on right K. Cyr. Top left: Mr. Ang Wee Foong, one of our superb guides. Palm lower right is a Plectocomia elongata.

10 Call for Biennial Photos and Stories It s a sure bet our members didn t get enough of the Sarawak and Singapore Biennial from these few photos. Please, all who attended, send your photos, videos, and stories to share either on the new IPS website ( l.geiger@hotmail.com ) or this newsletter ( kimberley.b.cyr@gmail.com ). CAN T WAIT UNTIL NEXT MONTH FOR MORE? VISIT PALMTALK HERE, HERE, HERE, AND HERE! The August Newsletter will again report on the adventures in Sarawak and Singapore, as well as provide pertinent information from the meeting of the Board of Directors. SHARE THE EXCITEMENT OF PALMS FORWARD THIS NEWSLETTER TO A FRIEND! Read the latest issue of LATANIA No. 35 le Magazine de Palmeraie-Union! Visit the new INTERACTIVE FaceBook Group: International Palm Society Follow us on Contact: info@palms.org Visit the discussion board to ask questions about palms: To unsubscribe info@palms.org