Palm Society
of South Texas
History Notes
The first meeting of the Palm Society of South Texas was held on March 9, 1996, at the home of Lloyd Van Epps, north of Donna, Texas. Bill Bittle of Rockport served as ad hoc chair for the day. Some of the people that attended this meeting were:
Bill Bittle Bob Harris Carol Farrald
Thad & Alice Magyar Rudy & Gloria Rocha Gaby & Gunter Schmidt
Richard Travis Lloyd Van Epps Norman & Cecilia Sluis
Paul Holloway Bill MacWhorter Ken & Selena King
David Bishop Tom & Judy Henderson Ray Keale
Charlie & Lana Vieh
After a short business meeting, the group adjourned to Santa Rosa to see the beautiful grounds at Thad and Alice Magyars home.
Regular meetings were initially held every other month, on the first Sunday of alternate months at 2 p.m. Dues were set at $10.00 per year. Mini meetings were scheduled whenever members were interested. This quickly turned into monthly meetings that were held on Saturdays to accommodate more individuals travel time.
The Palm Society meetings have been held as follows:
1996
March 09 Lloyd Van Epps, Donna, Texas (formation of PSST)
April 14 Mini Meeting Bill Bittle and Bob Harris, Rockport
May 05 Thad and Alice Magyar, Santa Rosa
June 08 Mini Meeting Allens Nursery, Weslaco
July 14 M/M Tom Henderson, Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens
August 04 Mini Meeting Texas A&M University facility, Weslaco
September 15 1st Annual Palm Sale, Valley Nature Center in Weslaco
October 09 Bill Bittle and Bob Harris, Rockport
November 09 Charles and Lana Vieh, San Benito
December Mexico Tour Charles and Lana Vieh
1997
January No meeting was held
February 01 Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens Tour
March 15-16 Weekend of palm sightseeing in the Valley
April 19 Palm Sale Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens
May 17 Jeff Hensley, Corpus Christi
June 14 Thad and Alice Magyar, Santa Rosa
July 12 Gladys Porter Zoo, Brownsville
August 16 Joint meeting with Houston chapter in Rockport and Ingleside
September 20 Palm Acres Nursery, Bob & Carol Farrald, Elsa
October 18 Botanical Gardens, San Antonio
November 15 Tom and Toni Tooker, Rockport
December First Annual Christmas Party hosted by Alice Garza and Mahandran Rajasuriar, Brownsville
1998
January 17 John Dillard and Ed Ladd, Corpus Christi
February 14 Moody Gardens, Galveston
March 21 Third Annual Palm Sale, Stuart Place Nursery, Harlingen
April 18 Thad and Alice Magyar, Santa Rosa
May 09 Joint meeting with Houston Area Chapter of IPS, Brazoria
May 16 Bill Bittle and Bob Harris, Rockport
June 13 San Antonio Botanical Gardens
July 18 Gary and Jana Meiser, Corpus Christi
August 15 Gunter and Gaby Schmidt, Ingleside on the Bay
September 19 Charlie and Lana Vieh, San Benito
October 17 Palm Acres Nursery, Carol and Bob Farrald, Elsa
October 23-25 Mexico Tour Charlie and Lana Vieh
November 07 Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Brownsville
November 14 Arborfest 98, Corpus Christi
December 19 Second Annual Christmas Party John Dillard and Ed Ladd, Corpus Christi
1999
January 16 Jan and Don Cartwright, Rockport
February 20 Alice Garza and Mahandran Rajasuriar, Brownsville
March 20 Fourth Annual Palm Sale, Stuart Place Nursery, Harlingen
April 17 Jeff Hensley, Corpus Christi
May 15 Thad and Alice Magyar, Santa Rosa
June 12 Jason and Mary Ann Swafford, Hobson
July 17 Bill and Norma Baker, Austin
August 14 Lloyd Van Epps, McAllen
September 18 Gunter & Gaby Schmidt, Ingleside on the Bay
September 23-27 Mexico Tour, Charlie and Lana Vieh
October 09 Jo and Teal Adkins, Beeville
November 13 Celebration of Bill Bittles Life, Rockport
December 11 Third Annual Christmas Party, John Dillard and Ed Ladd, Corpus Christi
2000
January 22 Ruth Merrill, Bayview
February 19 Moody Gardens, Galveston
March 18 Alice Garza and Mahandran Rajasuriar, Brownsville
April 15 Sabal Palm Tract, near Bay City
May 20 Palm Acres Nursery, Bob and Carol Farrald, Elsa
June 17 Charlie and Lana Vieh, San Benito
July 15 Gary and Jana Meiser, Corpus Christi
August 19 John Volk, San Antonio
September 16 Auction at Bob Harris home, Rockport
October 14 Thad and Alice Magyar, Santa Rosa
November 18 Lloyd Van Epps, McAllen
December 09 Fourth Annual Christmas Party John Dillard and Ed Ladd, Corpus Christi
2001
January 20 Richard Travis, Olmito
February 24 Jim and Evelyn Sommerfrucht, Bayview
March 10 Jim McHaney, Victoria
April 21 Palm Sale, Stuart Place Nursery, Harlingen
May 05 Jason and Mary Ann Swafford, Hobson
June 16 Romeo and Linda Montalvo, Brownsville
July 21 Chuck & Chuck McLendon, Dripping Springs
August 18 Gordon and Barbara Creighton, Bayview
September 29 Dr. Roberto and Perla Robles, Brownsville
October Thad and Alice Magyar, Santa Rosa
November Combined with December meeting Charlie and Lana Vieh, San Benito
December Combined with November meeting Charlie and Lana Vieh, San Benito
2002
January 19 Ruth Merrill, Bayview
February George and Audrey Paterson, Los Fresnos
March Sabal Palm Preserve at Brownsville
April 20 Richard Travis, Boerne
May Romeo and Linda Montalvo, Brownsville
June 22 John Dillard and Ed Ladd, Corpus Christi
July 20 Bill and Marilyn Madsen, Mission
August
September John Volk, San Antonio
October 19 Mid Valley Gardens, Paul Crerar, Weslaco
November 09 John and Cynthia Tolbert, Martindale
December 14 Sixth Annual Christmas Party, Ruth Merrill, Bayview
2003
January 18 Lloyd Van Epps and Paul Holloway, McAllen
February Gunter and Gaby Schmidt, Ingleside on the Bay
March Palm Sale, Stuart Place Nursery, Harlingen
April Jon and Suzie Watson, Padre Island, Corpus Christi
May Frank and Frankie Ketchum, Seguin
June 14 Romeo and Linda Montalvo, Brownsville
July 19 Cheryl Crabtree, A Plant Sale nursery, Staples
August 09 YuccaDo Nursery and Peckerwood Gardens, Hempstead
September 27 John and Cynthia Tolbert, Martindale
October 25 Bill and Marilyn Madsen, Mission
November 15 Charlie and Lana Vieh, San Benito
December Seventh Annual Christmas Party, Ruth Merrill, Bayview
2004
January John and Mary Barkkari, Harlingen
February Will Wagner and Jim McHaney, Gordon Ranch, Victoria
March Jon and Suzie Watson, Padre Island, Corpus Christi
April 17 Glyn Whiddons home, Harlingen
May 08 - Thad and Alice Magyar, Santa Rosa
June 12 Romeo and Linda Montalvo, Brownsville
July 17 Grant Stephensons nursery and Horace Hobbs garden, Houston
August Jim and Evelyn Sommerfrucht, Bayview
September Alice Garza and Mahandran Rajasuriar, Brownsville
October 16 John Volk, San Antonio
November 13 John Dillard and Ed Ladd, Corpus Christi
December 11 Eighth Annual Christmas Party, Ruth Merrill, Bayview
2005
January 22 Wally and Lilly Winters, Harlingen
February 19 Charlie and Lana Vieh, San Benito
March 19 Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens, Corpus Christi
April 16 John and Mary Barkkari, Harlingen
May 14 Romeo and Linda Montalvo, Brownsville
June 11 George and Virginia Haynie Gause, Texas Travel Information Center, Harlingen
July 09 Esmie Rivera, San Benito
August 20 San Antonio Botanical Gardens
September 24 Uvaldo and Gemma Cantu, Harlingen
October 22 Jack and Linn Keller/Rod and Donna Patten, Bayview
November 19 Darryl and Stacey Smith, Corpus Christi
December 10 Ninth Annual Christmas Party, Ruth Merrill, Bayview
2006
January 21 Wally and Lilly Winters, Harlingen
February 18 Fox Nursery Palm Farm, Robstown
March 18 Romeo and Linda Montalvo, Brownsville
April 08 Elizabeth Burns, Santa Elena
May 06 10th Anniversary Luau, Wes Popejoy & Jana Whalen, Mustang Island, Port Aransas
June 10 -John and Mary Barkkari, Harlingen
July 15 - Jon and Suzie Watson, Corpus Christi
August 19 - Uvaldo and Gemma Cantu, Harlingen (with a visit to Rick Bassett's gardens)
September 09 - John Volk, San Antonio
October 07 - Bill and Marilyn Madsen, Mission
November 18 - John Dillard and Ed Ladd, Corpus Christi
December 09 - 10th Annual Christmas Party, Ruth Merrill, Bayview
2007
January 20 - Renata Blocker, Markham
February 17 - Jim & Evelyn Sommerfrucht and Jack & Linn Keller - Bayview
March 15 - Tad and Jack Dyer - Weslaco
April 21 - Romeo & Linda Montalvo - Brownsville
May 12 - Rick Bassett - Harlingen
June 23 - Mercer Arboretum - Humble (Memorial Dedication to Robert Riffle)
July 21 - James McInnis - Hilltop Gardens - Lyford
August 18 - R. L. Frasier & Clay Fischer - Austin
September 22 - Mary and John Barkkari - Harlingen
October 20 - Alice Garza and Mahandran Rajasuriar - Brownsville
November 17 - Frank Manning and Kathy Johnson - Corpus Christi
December 15 - 11th Annual Christmas Party, Longhorn Cattle Company and a visit to the Vieh's - San Benito
2008
January 26 - Wayne Bartholomew - Villa de Cortez & Frontera Audubon - Weslaco
February 23 - Jim Sommerfrucht & Sandra Moraw - Bayview
March 15 - Jana Whalen, John Dillard & Ed Ladd - Corpus Christi
April 19 - Romeo & Linda Montalvo - Brownsville
May 17 - Jon & Suzie Watson - Corpus Christi
June 21 - Elizabeth & Steven Burns - Santa Elena
July 12 - Leo Perez - San Antonio
August 09 - Randy & Cathy Smith - Austin
September - Cancelled due to Hurricane Ike
October - Luke & Marian Oliver - San Benito
November - Ed & Mary Ayers - Brownsville
December - 12th Annual Christmas Party - Ruth Merrill - Bayside
2009
January - Don Dionisi, Louis Forrai - Brownsville
February - Tad Dyer, Jack Dyer - Weslaco
March - Robert & Perla Robles - Brownsville
April - Morris & Amanda Clint - Brownsville
May - Port Royal Resort - Corpus Christi
June - Curtis and Marsha Attaway and Charles and Patrizia Hatch - Aransas Pass
July - Romeo and Linda Montalvo - Brownsville
August - Lunch at Baja Restaurant and tour of gardens at TAMU-Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi
September - Glenn and Rose May Head - Arroyo City
October - Jerry's Jungle Garden - Houston
November - Bob and Sandra Tumberlinson - San Benito
December - Christmas Party - Romeo and Linda Montalvo - Brownsville
2010
January - Sergio and Dolores Zarate - Brownsville
February - John and Mary Barkkari and Billy and Delana Darling at Stuart Place Nursery - Harlingen
March - Don Dionisi, Louis Forrai - Brownsville
Our Fearless Leaders
Our organization has been chaired as follows:
March 1996 February 1999 Bill Bittle
March 1999 July 2001 Bill Baker
August 2001 May 2008 John (J.V.) Volk
June 2008 - Present - Jon Watson
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