Lots of learning going on at the 2019 Arbor Day Palms 101 Event:

Rick Kelley gave an introductory talk about HIPS, planting seeds, and basic potted palm care.  He came back later to give a demo on how to attach orchids to palms that generated a lot of interaction with the crowd.  Rick also guided a popular walking tour of the palm collection at the zoo.

Mary distributed horrifying prints of palm pests and diseases from a talk Dr. Nelson Scott gave to HIPS.  Although you may have to enable Adobe Flash in your browser before you can see a recording of his full talk, it is worth the trouble.  You can view the talk and others, at Dean Ouer's Tropiscape website.

Professor Hemmes laid down some science and passed around potted cycads as he encouraged their use as understory plantings in palm gardens. 

Of course, we all were talking about the colorful cones being produced at the zoo's front entrance cycad garden: