California’s palm pilot

Only one type of palm tree -- the California fan palm -- is native to

this state, but that hasn’t stopped Southern Californians from lining

their streets with hundreds of varieties from around the world.

Now even more types of palm trees are on their way to our shores,

according to palm expert David Leaser.

As part of its mission to educate people about gardening, Roger’s

Gardens in Corona del Mar hosted a seminar Sunday morning with

Leaser, author of “Palm Trees: A Story in Photographs.”

Leaser highlighted 10 types of palm that only recently have been

introduced into California and fielded questions from the many palm

enthusiasts in attendance.

Leaser, a Westwood resident, works for IBM. He said he travels

frequently for his job and started extending his business trips to

take photographs of palm trees around the world.

“I realized I had the beginnings of what could be a book on palm

trees,” Leaser said. After doing some research, he found that there

wasn’t a photograph book of palm trees that truly conveyed their

beauty. He decided to do a National Geographic-quality coffee-table

book about the trees.

Leaser’s book, which took more than five years to put together,

was released by Westwood Pacific Publishing in March. He said it’s

been selling well and was well-received by the International Palms

Society. He is working on a second book -- a guide for people who

want to grow palm trees in their yards.

“Some of the best palm collections in the world are in Southern

California,” Leaser said. The Hyatt in Newport Beach has a fantastic

palm tree display, as does South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, he said.

Leaser said gardening with exotic plants is becoming more popular

because people always want something their neighbors don’t have.

“Roger’s Gardens is one of the few garden centers in Southern

California that actively pursues new introductions,” Leaser said.

“They really do focus on the rare and unusual.”

Willard Wilson of Long Beach, who goes to Roger’s Gardens often

because of the seminars, said he thought the palm tree presentation

was helpful.

“I couldn’t afford to live in the tropics and make a living,”

Willard said. “So I made my own in the front yard.”

For more information on educational events at Roger’s Gardens,

call (949) 640-5800 or visit o7www.rogersgardens.com.

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* LINDSAY SANDHAM is the news assistant. She can be reached at

[email protected].