VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

->>HUELL: WELL, HELLO EVERYBODY, HERE WE ARE ON YET ANOTHER ADVENTURE.

OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE TRAVELED TO SOME UNBELIEVABLY FASCINATING PLACES ALL OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

I THINK TODAY IS JUST ABOUT GOING TO TAKE THE CAKE.

WE HAVE COME TO THE LITTLE COMMUNITY OF WESTMINSTER, HERE IN ORANGE COUNTY.

WE'RE ON A QUIET RESIDENTIAL STREET HERE.

WE HAVE COME TO VISIT RALPH VALEZ AND HIS FAMILY.

THEY LIVE ON A CORNER THAT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

LOOK AT THAT.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN AS MANY PALM TREES IN MY LIFE.

THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE, BECAUSE MR. VALEZ IS KNOWN AS THE PALM TREE MAN.

WE ARE GOING TO MEET HIM.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

- >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

->>HUELL: HOW ARE YOU DOING.

I'M HUELL HOWSER, NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE WITH YOU?

- >> THIS IS MY WIFE OF 43 YEARS.

- >> NICE TO MEET YOU.

- >> THIS IS MY MIDDLE SON, - >> THIS IS MY MIDDLE SON, - >> THIS IS MY MIDDLE SON, STEVE.

->>HUELL: YOU KNOW WHY WE'RE HERE DON'T YOU.

- >> PALM TREES.

->>HUELL: YOU ARE KNOWN AS MR. PALM TREE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

HOW DID ALL OF THIS START?

- >> WELL WE BOUGHT THE HOUSE IN 1962.

I MOVED TO CALIFORNIA BECAUSE I WANTED A SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE AND AMBIENCE.

WHEN I STARTED TO LANDSCAPE, THIS WAS WALL TO WALL DIRT AND THEN I STARTED TO PLANT TROPICAL.

TROPICAL FRUIT TREES, AVENUE OWE AVOCADOS.

->>HUELL: YOU QUICKLY SPECIALIZEED IN PALM TREES.

- >> I BECAME VERY EARLY INTERESTED IN RAINFOREST IN 1962, 64.

WHEN YOU COULD HARDLY FIND ANYTHING ABOUT THE RAINFOREST.

IT WASN'T TALKED ABOUT IN THE NEWSPAPER OR MAGAZINES MUCH AT THAT TIME.

AROUND 1966, WELL DURING THAT TIME I WOULD GO TO NURSERIES AND LOOK FOR SOMETHING TO CATCH MY EYE.

->>HUELL: YOU STARTED TO PLANT THEM AROUND THE YARD.

DID YOU HELP HIM ON THESE PROJECTS?

>> NOT REALLY.

->>HUELL: WHAT DID YOU DO OFFER MORAL SUPPORT?

- >> SOMETIMES.

I KEPT QUIET WHEN HE RAN THE VISA CARD.

->>HUELL: WHEN YOU WOULD GO OUT AND BUY THE PALM TREES?

- >> YES, SHE HELPED IN THAT WAY.

->>HUELL: SHE A TLOUD DO IT.

- >> YES.

->>HUELL: YOU HELPED TOO?

- >> I DID.

MOST OF THE PALMS WERE SEED WILLINGS, SO THE VISA CARD WAS NOT MAXED ON THE BLADES OF I CAN'T GRASS.

->>HUELL: DO WE HAVE A PICTURE OF YOU?

>> WE DO.

->>HUELL: IT'S OVER THERE.

WHERE DID YOU START?

CAN YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST PLANTED?

- >> IT THESE TWO MEXICAN FAN PALMS.

->>HUELL: THESE ARE PRETTY TALL UP.

>> STLE TO BE MAYBE 70 FEET HIGH.

ONE GALLON COST ME 707 CENTS.

->>HUELL: STEVE, THIS IS YOU?

- >> THERE YOU ARE AND THERE ARE THE TWO TREES.

->>HUELL: THOSE ARE THE ONES TOWERING OVER US.

I DIDN'T REALIZE PALM TREES GREW THAT QUICKLY.

- >> THE MEXICAN FAN PALM IS THE FASTEST IN CALIFORNIA.

IT'S NAMED AFTER OUR FIRST PRESIDENT IT'S >>HUELL: LOTS OF WATER.

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THE TOUR AND MEET YOU ALL LATER ON.

WHERE SHOULD WE START?

WE NEED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT WHAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO SEE -- THIS IS NOT AN AVERAGE COLLECTION OF PALM TREES.

HOW MANY DIFFERENT PALM TREES DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR YARD?

- >> I PROBABLY HAVE IN THE GROUND IN EXCESS OF 320 DIFFERENT VARIETY OF PALMS IN THE GROUNDS.

>>HUELL: DIFFERENT VARIETIESES?

THERE'S THAT MANY.

>> THERE'S CLOSE TO THREE THOUSAND WORLDWIDE.

WE WENT TO AN ESTABLISHMENT IN THAILAND WHERE A JAP WANTS TWO THOUSAND VARIETIES BY THE YEAR 2000, AND HE'S CLOSE TO IT.

SF >>HUELL: IS THIS A PALM HERE?

- >> THIS IS FROM THAILAND AS A MATTER OF FACT.

THIS IS REALLY VERY BORDER LINE FOR CALIFORNIA.

SF >>HUELL: I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE?

SF >> IT'S VERY UNIQUE.

->>HUELL: HOW BIG DOES IT GET?

- >> 30 OR 40 FEET IN THE TROPICS.

IN CALIFORNIA HERE ITS SLOW, TWO OR THREE LEAVES A YEAR.

->>HUELL: WHAT'S THIS CALLED?

- >> -- >>HUELL: I CAN'T REMEMBER THAT.

- >> A LOT THESE DON'T HAVE COMMON NAMES.

->>HUELL: THIS IS JUST A FAN PALM?

>> YES THIS IS NATIVE TO FLORIDA.

->>HUELL: HOW DO YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NATIVE TO CALIFORNIA OR NATIVE TO FLORIDA?

- >> WE ONLY HAVE ONE NATIVE TO CALIFORNIA, IT'S CALLED THE CALIFORNIA FAN PALM.

->>HUELL: IS THAT FROM THE OASIS IN THE DESERT?

- >> YES.

->>HUELL: DO YOU HAVE ONE HERE?

- >> NO.

IT GETS TO BE VERY LARGE IN THE TRUNK.

I HAD ONE AT ONE TIME IN MY GREEN HOUSE AREA, BUT WHEN I PUT THE GREEN HOUSE IN I TOOK IT OUT.

->>HUELL: WHERE DO WE START?

- >> AT ONE TIME THIS WAS A NORMAL LOOKING YARD.

I HAD LAWN AND SHADE TREES AND A FEW PALMS HERE AND THERE.

I GRADUALLY ENCROACHED ON THE LAWN AND THE TREES GOT LARGER AND LARGER, THE GRASS WAS SHADED AND IT HAD TO GO.

I STARTED TO PLANT IN 62, AND I'M STILL PLANTING TODAY.

->>HUELL: YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH ROOM LEFT.

LOOK AT THIS ONE.

- >> THAT'S A FERN.

->>HUELL: IS THAT CLASSIFY AS A PALM?

- >> NO.

IT'S A DIFFERENT FAMILY.

->>HUELL: THIS IS JUST A BOUT FULL BIG FERN.

LOOK AT THIS.

- >> YES.

->>HUELL: LOOK AT THIS INTERESTING TRUNK.

- >> THIS IS A TALANZIA AND BERMILIA.

THESE ARE AIR PLANTS THAT DON'T NEED TO BE IN THE GROUND.

THEY GROW IN THE RAINFOREST ON TREES.

->>HUELL: WHAT'S THIS?

- >> LIGALARIA.

->>HUELL: WHICH MEANS?

- >> I DON'T KNOW THE COMMON NAMES.

->>HUELL: WHERE ARE THEY FROM?

- >> I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT ONE, I CAN TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THE PALMS.

->>HUELL: I'M GOING TO AWFUL THESE FERNS.

THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL.

- >> ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL.

THAT'S A FERN.

->>HUELL: IT FEELS ALSO LIKE AN EVERGREEN.

- >> IT'S NOT A TRUE FERN IT'S CALLED THE ASPARAGUS IF YOU FERN.

GETS BERRIES.

TRUE FERNS DON'T GET FRUIT.

->>HUELL: NOW LET'S LOOK AT PALMS.

->> THIS IS NATIVE TO MEXICO, I PLANTED IT IN 1967 AS AN ONE GALLON, IT'S WHAT -- 30, 33 YEARS OLD.

HASN'T FLOWERED YET.

THIS TALL PALM IS NATIVE TO PARAGUAY.

AND HERE IS A ROYAL PALM.

THAT'S NATIVE TO THE CARIBBEAN, FLORIDA, PUERTO RICO, ESPANOLLA.

->>HUELL: THERE ARE PALMS IN ALL OF THE WARM AREAS OF THE WORLD?

- >> GENERALLY.

->>HUELL: LOOK AT THIS.

I'M AWAY FROM THE PALMS AGAIN.

YOU HAVE MIXED ALL OF THIS IN TOGETHER.

- >> I WAS VERY FORTUNATE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT THIS WAS ALL GRASS AS ONE TIME.

IN THE FRONT IT WAS ALL GRASS IN THE PARKWAY.

THERE WAS A BRAZILIAN PEPPER TREE IN THE FRONT, IT WAS A DIRTY MESSY TREE AND NOT ATTRACTIVE AT ALL.

I CUT IT DOWN AND DRAGGED IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING ON A SATURDAY.

MY WIFE COMES OUT AND SHE'S HYSTERICAL.

SHE THINKS THEY'RE GOING TO COME AND LOCK ME UP BECAUSE IT'S A CITY TREE.

->>HUELL: THE CITY TREE OF WEST WESTMINSTER.

- >> YES, THE PARKWAY BELONGS TO THE CITY.

->>HUELL: WHAT DOES THE CITY THINK ABOUT THIS?

- >> ESSENTIALLY CITY CAME AROUND AND I HAD A FEW PALMS PLANTED ON THE PARKWAY.

WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT, I GOT THEM TO AGREE TO LET THEM ALLOW TO PLANT PALMS IN THE PARKWAY.

SO I TOOK OFF.

->>HUELL: WHAT'S THIS?

IS THIS A PALM?

- >> THAT'S A RUBBER TREE.

IN THE FICUS FAMILY.

->>HUELL: WHERE IS THAT NATIVE?

- >> THE TROPICS.

->>HUELL: WHAT'S THIS?

- >> CICAD.

->>HUELL: AND THE CLIMATE OF ORANGE ORANGE COUNTY IS OF THE SAME SORT THAT THESE WOULD OF BEEN USE TO GROWING UP IN.

- >> A LOT THEM, YES.

FOR EXAMPLE, THIS CLIMATE IS CLASSIFIED AS MEDITERRANEAN.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PALMS AND PLANTS THAT ARE SUB TROPICAL AND MEDITERRANEAN, SOUTH SOUTH AFRICA, CHILE.

->>HUELL: IS THIS A BANANA TREE?

- >> NO BIRD OF PARADISE.

->>HUELL: THIS IS LIKE BAMBOO.

- >> BAMBOO PALM.

->>HUELL: I HAVE NEVER SEEN A BAMBOO PALM BEFORE.

- >> THIS IS NATIVE TO COAST A RICA, IT PREFERS THE SHADE.

->>HUELL: IF I WANT TO GROW THIS IN MY YARD, COULD I DO IT OR DOES IT TAKE A SPECIAL GREEN PALM THUMB?

- >> THE SUCCESS IS TALKING WITH PEOPLE, READING ABOUT IT, A LOT TRIAL AND ERROR.

I GOT A HOLD OF A TRIANGLE PALM BACK IN 67, THERE WASN'T ANY LITERATURE ON GROWING THIS THING.

I PLANTED IT IN THE FRONT YARD WITH A LOT OF SHADE AND I TEND TO WATER A LOT.

THIS POOR PALM LINGERED ON FOR MAYBE FIVE YEARS LOOKING VERY WEAK AND NOT VIGOROUS AT ALL.

EVENTLY IT DIED.

THEN I WENT TO VISIT A FRIEND IN LONG BEACH AND THERE HE HAD A TRY ANING WILL PALM IN FULL SUN AND HE SAID HE WATERS IT ONCE EVERY THREE WEEKS.

IT'S DROUGHT TOLERANT AND LOVES SUN LIGHT, I WAS DOING JUST WRONG THING, THE OPPOSITE.

->>HUELL: I JUST LOOKED OVER AT THIS.

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL, WHAT IS THIS?

>> AGAIN RUBBER TREE FAMILY.

IT'S CALLED A --.

->>HUELL: I BET YOU CAN'T SAY THAT FIVE TIMES.

- >> I FIRST SAW THIS AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO.

IT CAUGHT MY EYE.

I WAS LOOKING FOR, THROUGHOUT THE NURSERIES AND I FOUND ONE.

IT'S VERY RARE.

->>HUELL: THE LEAVES ARE SO INTERESTING, THE FEEL OF THEM.

- >> IT'S INCREDIBLE, THE SIZE OF THESE.

->>HUELL: LOOK HERE, LOUIE.

THERE'S ANOTHER BIRD OF PARADISE UP THERE, A WHITE ONE.

THIS IS JUST SPECTACULAR.

YOU HAVE EVERYTHING OUT HERE, BUT WAIT A MINUTE LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK AT THE TRUNK ON THIS THING.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

- >> THAT'S A PALM NATIVE TO MAD MADGASCAR.

->>HUELL: IT'S BIG AT THE BOTTOM.

IT GOES UP.

- >> THERE'S A LITTLE SUCKER OVER HERE.

->>HUELL: MADGASCAR.

- >> YES.

THIS ONE.

WHAT ABOUT THIS ONE, THIS IS THE ONE I'M LOOKING AT.

- >> THAT'S IN THE YUCCA TYPE FAMILY.

->>HUELL: IT DOES LOOK LIKE A YUCCA DOESN'T IT.

- >> IT'S VERY DROUGHT TOLERANT AND STORES WATER IN THE BASE HERE.

I REMEMBER ONE OF MY SONS, HI THIS IN A POT AND KNOCKED IT OVER.

HE WAS SO UPSET HE THOUGHT HE KILLED IT.

HE WAS ALL "DADDY, DADDY, I'M SORRY."

EVENTUALLY I PUT IT HERE.

->>HUELL: HOW EXPENSIVE ARE THESE.

YOUR WIFE TALKED ABOUT HOW SHE LET YOU USE YOUR VISA CARD.

- >> ACTUALLY THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLANT I EVER PURCHASED, SHE NEVER KNEW THIS BUT SHE WILL KNOW NOW, A RARE MODEL LEAF FROM SOUTH EAST ASIA I PAID 125 DOLLARS FOR.

>>HUELL: THAT'S NOT A LOT MONEY.

- >> IT'S A SMALL PLANT.

THAT'S THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLANT I BOUGHT.

AS MY SON SAID THESE ARE ALL SMALL.

THIS WAS A 70 CENT PLANT.

THAT WAS AN ONE GALLON PLANT.

->>HUELL: I ALWAYS THOUGHT PALM TREES GREW MORE SLOWLY THEN THAT.

- >> A LOT OF THEM, I CAN SHOW YOU A PALM THAT'S 33 YEARS OLD AND MAYBE A FOOT TALLER THAN YOU.

->>HUELL: WHERE IS THAT?

- >> IT'S OVER HERE.

THIS IS PRETTY SLOW, THAT'S 33 YEARS OLD.

->>HUELL: THIS ONE HERE?

- >> NO THIS ONE HERE.

->>HUELL: THIS ONE IS 33 YEARS OLD.

- >> SEE THIS TRUNK HERE THAT'S THE MOTHER ONE.

IT'S THE TALLEST ONE.

I DIDN'T KNOW IT HAD SUCKERS WHEN I PLANTED IT.

I PLANTED IT OVER HERE AND IT PUSHED ITSELF OVER HERE.

->>HUELL: THIS IS GROWING ONLY FOR 33 YEARS?

- >> 33 YEARS.

->>HUELL: I DON'T HAVE TIME TO PLANT A TREE LIKE THAT IN MY YARD.

I NEED THE FAST GROWING ONES.

- >> NO PEOPLE WANT THEM BIG.

THIS OTHER PALM IS NATIVE TO THE CARIBBEAN.

NOW IT'S GETTING MORE LIGHT AND BEGINNING TO GROW FASTER.

IT WAS IN A LOT OF SHADE AND NOW I TOOK AWAY A SHADE TREE AND IT'S PICKING UP.

THAT WAS PLANTED IN 67.

->>HUELL: LOOK AT THIS, WHAT'S THAT?

- >> THE TRIANGLE PALM I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT.

->>HUELL: LOOK AT THIS TRUNK.

- >> IT'S THE TRIANGLE BECAUSE IT HAS THREE FLAT SIDES.

->>HUELL: LOOK, LOUIE, OVER HERE.

THERE'S ANOTHER SIDE JUST LIKE IT.

THEN THERE'S ANOTHER SIDE -- >> IF YOU TOOK A SAW AND CUT STRAIGHT ACROSS AND LOOKED DOWN YOU WOULD SEE A TRIANGLE.

->>HUELL: WHERE IS THAT FROM?

- >> MADGASCAR.

I LOST MAYBE SEVEN YEARS BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE IT IN THE RIGHT LOCATION.

->>HUELL: AS BEAUTIFUL AS THIS IS OUTSIDE, THIS IS JUST A PARADISE HERE AND WALKING THROUGH HERE.

- >> HERE ARE FERNS ATTACHED TO THE TRUNKS OF PALMS.

->>HUELL: LOOK AT THIS.

- >> YES.

IN THE RAINFOREST THEY GROW ON THE BRANCHES AND TRUNKS OF TREES.

->>HUELL: AS BEAUTIFUL AS THIS S WE HAVE JUST SEEN A SMALL PART OF YOUR COLLECTION, BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO INSIDE, THROUGH YOUR HOUSE, AND OUT ONTO YOUR -- WHAT DO YOU CALL IT?

THERE'S NOT MUCH ROOM BACK THERE EITHER.

- >> BACKYARD PATIO.

AND BEHIND THE GARAGE SAY TWO STORY GREEN HOUSE ABOUT 20 FEET BY 30 FEET THAT I HEAT IN THE WINTER.

IN THE GREEN HOUSE I GROW THE TROPICALS I CAN'T GROW OUTSIDE.

->>HUELL: GETS I WANT TO SHOW EVERYBODY.

YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS TO BELIEVE IT.

- >> OUT TO THE BACKYARD.

->>HUELL: YOU HAVE PAY TWO STORY GREEN HOUSE.

- >> YES P. 18 FEET HIGH AT THE HIGH END.

->>HUELL: CAN WE GO IN?

- >> SURE.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE'RE GETTING INTO.

THE PLANTS IN HERE DON'T REACH OUT AND GRAB YOU DO THEY?

- >> THERE IS ONE, YES.

->>HUELL: POINT THAT OUT.

- >> IT'S THE RATTAN PALM.

IT GRABS YOU, IT THROWS OUT A STICKER.

->>HUELL: WHAT'S THIS?

- >> A PHILADENDRUM.

IT'S A CLIMBING PLANT.

->>HUELL: WHAT'S THIS?

- >> THE FLOWER OF THE PALM TREE.

->>HUELL: I HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT COLOR BEFORE.

- >> LAST YEAR IT GOT FRUIT THAT WAS BRILLIANT RED, BEAUTIFUL TREE.

->>HUELL: WHAT'S BACK HERE.

IT'S GETTING WET BACK HERE.

- >> I HAVE MISTERS THAT GO ON THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

- >> THIS IS A BANANA TREE.

->>HUELL: LOOK AT THIS WONDERFUL WATER.

- >> I TURNED THE MISTERS OFF, BUT IT COMES ON ABOUT SIX TIMES A DAY TO KEEP THE HUMIDITY HIGH.

->>HUELL: YOU HAVE FISH AND A WATER FALL AND THE WHOLE THING HERE.

- >> YES.

THIS WAS THE TRUNK OF A TREE FERN THAT HAD NOTHING ON IT.

I JUST LEFT IT THERE AND WITH THE FERNS IN THE GREEN HOUSE, ALL OF THOSE LITTLE PLANTS ARE INVOLVE VOLUNTEERS.

->>HUELL: THEY JUST CAME OUT OF NOWHERE?

- >> YES.

THE ONES ON THE WALLS JUST STARTED ON THEIR OWN TOO.

->>HUELL: IT SOUNDS IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT HUMIDITY, AND ENOUGH WATER THAT THESE THINGS PRETTY MUCH WELL GROW ON THEIR OWN, DON'T THEY?

- >> YES.

->>HUELL: LOOK AT THIS.

- >> YES.

->>HUELL: LOOK AT THE SIZE, WHAT IS THIS?

- >> WELL, AGAIN THERE'S NO COMMON NAME.

THE BOTANICAL NAME IS AKILLA.

->>HUELL: CAN YOU MOVE THAT AROUND FOR US.

I'M AFRAID I WILL TEAR IT UP IF I PULL IT DOWN.

IT'S SO INTERESTING, THE COLORS ON IT.

- >> THERE IT IS.

->>HUELL: DON'T BREAK IT OFF.

- >> IT'S OKAY IT WILL COME OFF SOON.

->>HUELL: IS IT DYING?

- >> AS IT GETS OLDER IT TAKES THE DYING LOOK.

HERE'S ANOTHER LEAF JUST OPENING UP.

->>HUELL: LOOK AT THIS LEAF IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

WHEN THE SUN HITS IT.

LET'S PULL IT DOWN TO LOOK.

- >> IT'S INCREDIBLE.

THERE'S NO WAY TO GROW THAT OUTSIDE.

->>HUELL: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

- >> WELL IT'S VERY TROPICAL.

IF I TRY TO GROW IT OUTSIDE IT WOULD DIE.

->>HUELL: WHAT IS IN HERE?

- >> POTING BENCH AREA.

I DO MY POTING UP HERE AND MY SMALL PALMS AND FERNS.

IT'S JUST WALL ->>HUELL: WILL THIS GROW UP TO BE -- >> THIS IS A GINGER I GOT IN HAWAII.

IT'S GROWING OKAY.

->>HUELL: LOOK AT THIS ONE.

- >> IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

->>HUELL: WHAT IS THIS WEIRD THING HERE?

- >> I DON'T KNOW.

IT JUST -- IT'S JUST STRANGE.

I SAW THAT AT A NURSERY IN LOS ANGELES AND CAME HOME AND THOUGHT ABOUT IT ALL NIGHT AND HAD TO GO BACK AND GET IT THE NEXT DAY.

->>HUELL: YOU ARE HOOKED ON THESE THINGS.

- >> YES.

->>HUELL: YOU GREW UP WHERE?

- >> NEW YORK CITY.

->>HUELL: PROBABLY ON A STREET WITHOUT A PLANT ANYWHERE.

- >> SURROUNDED BY FACTORIES.

I HATED WINTERS, I FROZE TO DEATH.

I USE TO WATCH THE TAR SAN MOVIES WITH SUCH ENTHUSIASM AND I SAID ONE DAY I WILL GROW UP AND LIVE IN AFRICA.

I WENT TO PUERTO RICO AND WE GOT MARRIED, MY FATHER IS FROM PUERTO RICO, SAME TOWN AS MY WIFE.

I WENT THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN JANUARY, I THOUGHT IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

WE MARRIED AND CAME BACK TO NEW YORK AND LIVED FOR FIVE YEARS IN NEW YORK.

I WAS ALWAYS DETERMINED TO MOVE SOMEPLACE WARMER.

I HAVE WAITED SEVEN YEARS FOR THAT TO DO THAT.

IT FINALLY FLOWERED FOR ME.

->>HUELL: THIS IS SPECTACULAR.

NOW, WHY DID IT TAKE SEVEN YEARS?

- >> I DIDN'T HAVE IT IN THE RIGHT LOCATION.

HI IT HERE AND THERE.

FINALLY -- >>HUELL: WILL THIS DO THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR?

- >> I THINK SO.

FINALLY.

->>HUELL: I HATE TO LEAVE THIS.

- >> HERE IS A PALM LEAF OPENING UP.

IT'S A NATIVE TO COSTA RICA IT'S OPENING UP WITH A THAT RADIOEN LEAF.

->>HUELL: SO PALMS REALLY HAVE -- WAIT A MINUTE, A SPINY PALM.

- >> YES.

->>HUELL: I HAVE NEVER SEEN A PALM TREE WITH A SPINE LIKE THIS.

THIS IS VERY SHARP?

>> THESE GROW THROUGHOUT CAR CARIBBEAN AND IN SOUTH AMERICA.

VERY FEW WILL GROW OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA.

->>HUELL: YOU HAVE TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.

- >> I HAVE NEVER HANDLED IT TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU DO.

->>HUELL: I LIKE TO TOUCH THINGS WHEN I GET THERE.

WE ARE NOW BACK OUT IN THE BACKYARD.

I HATE TO TELL YOU, RALPH, I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE MUCH MORE ROOM HERE.

- >> I JUST PLANTED 10 OR 12 NEW PALMS THIS YEAR.

->>HUELL: LOOK UP HERE.

YOU HAVE A TRELLIS THING GOING ACROSS HERE.

- >> THE AIR PLANTS.

WHEN I WAS IN PUERTO RICO WE WERE IN THE RAIN FOREST AND THIS COMMON BIRDS NEST FERN, I SAW THAT GROWING ON A BRANCH OVER THE ROAD HIGH IN THE AIR.

I TRIED TO DO IT ON THE TRUNK AND IT'S DONE BEAUTIFULLY.

->>HUELL: ISN'T IT AMAZING HOW ADAPTABLE THINGS ARE.

- >> YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHERE THEY COME FROM AND HOW THEY GROW.

IF YOU CAN DUPLICATE THE ENVIRONMENT YOU HAVE IT MADE.

->>HUELL: I DIDN'T KNOW, I DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE REALIZE THAT PALM TREES PER SE ARE NOT NATIVE TO CALIFORNIA AT AU.

>> ONLY ONE.

->>HUELL: THAT'S THE ONE FOUND IN THE OASIS.

ALL OF THE PALM TREES WE SEE IN LOS ANGELES, SAN FRANCISCO AND SANTA BARB RASHINGS THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSE TO BE THERE.

THEY LOOK GOOD BUT NOT BY NATURE SUPPOSE THOB THERE.

- - >> AS A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT LOVES NATIVE PLANTS, THIS IS FINE, BUT I HAVE SEEN SOME IN NATIVE PLANTS AND MANY LOOK LIKE SCRUB AND JUNKY PLANTS.

I DON'T MEAN TO MAKE THE NATIVE PLANT PEOPLE MAD, BUT HERE IN ORANGE COUNTY FOR SOME REASONS THE LANDSCAPERS FOR THE PARKS AND CITIES AND COUNTIES FOR SOME REASON THEY THOUGHT PINE SDPREEZ SYCAMORES WOULD BE GREAT.

I DON'T WANT TO BE REMINDED OF BACK EAST, I WANT IT TO LOOK TROPICAL.

->>HUELL: SO PALM TREES EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT NATIVE, THEY LOOK GOOD HERE.

- >> THEY DO WELL HERE.

->>HUELL: IN THE GROUND THERE'S ABOUT 320.

->>HUELL: YOU ONLY HAVE 1700 MORE TO GO.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE ENDING UP IN A VERY CALIFORNIA WAY.

YOUR SON STEVE IS AN ACCOMPLISHED CELLO I PLAYER.

NOT ONLY DO YOU SIT OUT HERE IN YOUR HAMMOCK AND DREAM ABOUT THE TROPICS BUT YOUR SON COMES OUT AND PRACTICES AND PERFORMS.

SO WE END OUR PROGRAM LISTENING TO STEVE PLAY FOR US OUT HERE AMONGST THE PALMS ON HIS KHEL OE.

WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY.

ISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.