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What An Ingenious Use for Something We've Been Throwing Away

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage BRE#01732313

Palm Tree FlowersAt the Quilt Show this past weekend at Alden Lane Nursery, I saw some incredible quilts. But I also saw an interesting decorative display.  These oversized 'flowers' were made from the hard shell casing (not sure what they're called - anyone?) from Queen Palm trees.  It looks as if these sturdy, leaf-shaped growths were split, giving them a bit of a frayed edge, and then pieced together to form gigantic flowers.  There must be some sort of soil repository in the middle, as it's been stuffed with a filler of some kind and has cactus-looking plant life growing within. For all of you botanical experts out there, help me out here.

What are these 'petals' and center made from?

Comments (10)

Ken and Leslye Huebsch
3x Individual Agent of the Year, Luxury Homes, First-Time Buyers, Residential Resales, New Construction - Harrisburg, PA
Realtors - Harrisburg Homes for Sale 717.514.1793

I wish i could tell you. I'm not even familiar with your Queen Palm trees! But, that is such a cool and unique idea!

Sep 29, 2011 03:48 PM
Doug Anderson
Tucker Associates Real Estate Services - Danville, CA
Bay Area Real Estate Views

I have had Queen Palms in the past but I am flummoxed on both questions Karen. The arrangements certainly are unique and beautiful.

Sep 29, 2011 03:54 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

What a wonderful use of these plants. Someone is very crafty to say the least Karen.

Sep 29, 2011 06:15 PM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired
Hi Karen This is very cleaver and shows what can be done even with things that might otherwise be trashed, And in an all natural setting, what could be better. Good Shot and the story really sells it! Sent from my iPad
Sep 29, 2011 06:57 PM
Karen Crowson
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA
Your Agent for Change

Ken, I'm not surprised if you don't see many palms in your area - I would think the weather is too cold.

Doug - I tried looking on Google, but didn't come up with anything.

Tom - I think these would be really cool for a big swim party. Wonder if I can get my husband to figure out how to put them together?

William - thanks. I took the photo with my phone, and it was so bright and sunny, that I couldn't see the result on the screen. Didn't know what it would look like till I downloaded it!

Sep 30, 2011 01:38 AM
Than Maynard
Coldwell Banker Heart of Oklahoma - Purcell, OK
Broker - Licensed to List & Sell - 405-990-8862

Certainly interesting. Some people can see the potential in stuff so much better than me.

Sep 30, 2011 04:03 AM
Donne Knudsen
Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA
CalState Realty Services

Karen - WOW!!!  How interesting looking!  My inlaws have a queen palm but I can't think of what those leaves are called either.

Sep 30, 2011 05:07 AM
Chris Alston
Chris Alston (Keller Williams Realty, Silicon Valley, California) - Campbell, CA
Silicon Valley, California

I chuck them too!!! I would have never thought... I usually get mad at them when they scratch my arm when I am cleaning them up!  HA!

Sep 30, 2011 12:34 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Someone is very creative and imaginative. . .They look very tribal in a tropical sort of way!

Sep 30, 2011 12:56 PM
EC, JF, Double R and Zoey the Cool Cat
Russel Ray Photos - San Diego, CA

I don't think those are Queen Anne palms. They look like the base of palm fronds from either date palms or Washington palms. I only think that because I spent many a weekend trimming my parents date palms and Washington palms.

The center is probably some soil mixed with some sphagnum moss. Succulents like that don't need much to grow. My girlfriend's parents have a ton of similar things in their yard, from succulent wreaths to crosses, to squares, and probably more.

Succulent square

Sep 30, 2011 03:53 PM