Horticultural Speaker Paul T. Isley III, Topic Singapore’s solar powered “Gardens By the Bay,” Growing Tillandsias in the S.F. Valley

The San Fernando Valley Bromeliad Society has meetings on the first saturday of each month at 10:00am at the Sepulveda Garden Center conference room. 
                         No Admission Fee

Saturday November 3, 2012 @ 10:15 am - 11:15 the speaker will be :  Paul T. Isley III his presentation will show beautiful photos of   Singapore’s solar powered “Gardens By the Bay,”  Growing Tillandsias in the S.F. Valley and he will talk briefly about Harry Luther, taxonomist and 30 year Director of the Bromeliad ID Center at Marie Selby Gardens in Sarasota, FL.  

Paul Isley was introduced to tillandsias (a.k.a. air plants) while a student at UCLA studying economics in the
1960's.  After graduation he and a friend traveled through South America studying, collecting and growing plants which he started selling at swap meets.  Since then he has authored two books on Tillandsias and his hobby has developed into a thriving local and export business. 

Rainforest Flora, Inc. ( RFI ) was formed in 1976 by Paul T. Isley III, Jerry A. Robinson, and William Harris. (Tillandsia Harrisii was named for Wm. Harris ) The RFI nursery now grows everything from seed. RFI; it is a first class demonstration garden/nursery in Torrance.  If you haven’t visited it, you should.  Since opening RFI Paul has traveled the world primarily studying Tillandsias, but also other Bromeliads.  In addition to the Tillandsias, they now grow
Neoregelias, Guzmanias, Vrieseas, Staghorn Ferns, Palms and Cycads.  

You don’t want to miss this speaker.  This is his first time speaking at our Valley meeting and could be the last; Paul said his days for speaking engagements are winding down.  He will have plants to sell including many of his new Tillandsia hybrids. The first book may be out of print but the Tillandsia II book is fairly new and he will have some to sell at this meeting.  Bring your checkbook.  

Join us for Show & Tell,  Mini-Auction,                          $ 1.00 Raffle Plants and Refreshments at the Sepulveda Garden Center, 16633 Magnolia Blvd.  Encino, CA 91416