Wild Palms Hotel
I’ve escaped across town with my sister for a stay at the Wild Palms Hotel. We’re attending an annual scrap-booking retreat, a cool 48 hours dedicated to the pursuit of our craft. The Wild Palms Hotel is a small inn in the middle of the suburbs. The facade is nondescript, but the inner courtyard and pool are surrounded by towering bamboo. I’m sure there are “wild palms” somewhere around here, but it’s the bamboo that dominates.
Bamboo is an amazing plant, capable of growing at rates of 100 cm (39 in) in 24 hours. It’s considered the fastest growing plant on earth. This tall, graceful grass can be made into paper, clothing, furniture and building material. Bamboo leaves and shoots nourish the giant pandas of China and the bamboo lemurs of Madagascar.
When we remodeled our home seven years ago, we replaced the carpet with bamboo. The floors are as solid as the hardest wood, but unlike oak or maple, bamboo grows like a weed. Conversely, one of the softest dresses I own is also bamboo.
It’s dark now, but come morning I’ll be able to glance out the window at the towering bamboo. I’ll pretend a gentle panda is nibbling on the leaves, just around the corner out of view.
Bamboo Towers above the Wild Palms Hotel
Bamboo Leaves Closeup
Bamboo
Gardening Nirvana 
A metre growth in 24hrs is unbelievable! I suppose it would have to be pretty rampant to keep up with the hungry pandas!
Have a lovely time Alys and Happy Scrapbooking x
LikeLike
Thank you, PJ.
I know…unbelievable!
LikeLike
I would love to see your bamboo dress. By the way, I love lemurs.
LikeLike
It’s a super soft halter dress in a moss green with ivory trim. I’ll have to get my husband to take a picture for me.
Thanks, Marcella.
LikeLike
I love bamboo, too! And I’m thinking of replacing my carpet with a bamboo floor, once I’ve got the money to do so.
About 10 years ago I lived in Chengdu, where the Chinese have their panda breeding station, so when my parents came to visit, we took a trip there. It was so cool – and the pandas were so cute 🙂
LikeLike
I would love to see pandas in a natural habitat. Lucky you! We love our floors. It’s also durable. We carpeted the three bedrooms and used tile and bamboo everywhere else. Now, 7 years later the carpet is ruined (cats, kids, gardeners…;-) ) I hope to replace it with cork.
LikeLike
Cork is something I looked into and seems a good option if you can get hold of it and someone who can fit it. Your house sounds lovely, anyway.
LikeLike
Thank you for saying so. Yes, it is not as easy to find as other options. It was once quite popular, then fell out of favor. I think it’s making a comeback. The coolest floor I ever saw, was made from copper pennies! Can you imagine?
LikeLike
The floor made of copper pennies does sound amazing. Cold I would imagine, though.
LikeLike
Here’s the penny flooring link: https://pinterest.com/pin/171559067025046220/
LikeLike
That does look really great – must have taken a lot of work!
LikeLike
No kidding!
LikeLike
Did you girls stay up late in your jammies giggling? I remember you telling me you were going to wear a pair of your hubbies silk pajamas….hope you’ll post your projects! That Bambo sounds like the perfect hedge, if only it grew here. I remember the chubby Panda’s munching on piles of it at the San Diego zoo. They looked so perfectly content and I’m sure they thought it was delish. They’d just sit in the pile and chomp away watching us, watching them.
LikeLike
I remember those pandas too.
We did stay up fairly late (for us) and yes, lots of giggling. Did you see my mustached pic on FB?
It was great fun.
LikeLike
Mustached? brb.
LikeLike
:0)
LikeLike
Way fun…did you learn new scrappy tricks or take a project of your own? I need to take some classes this winter and shake things up.
LikeLike
I worked on digital albums all weekend, though I did learn a few card making trips from my sister. She’s making all her Christmas cards using embossing and glitter. They are so…sparkly!
Are you familiar with Creative Memories? They are always coming up with new and innovative storage solutions, tools and of course beautiful paper. I just downloaded digital content called Hocus Pocus. I’ll share a page after Halloween when I have party pics.
LikeLike
Ah yes, Creative Memories! I was initiated by a Rep at a home party. Her husband was also our Realtor. Mr B told him “your wife’s created a monster”. LOL You are so savvy with digital scapbooking, I must get back to it before I forget everything I’ve learned. I’ll look forward to seeing what you conjure up….mwa ha ha (that’s an evil Halloween laugh).
LikeLike
I resemble that monster too! You’re kind to say I’m savvy with the digital scrapbooking. In truth, it took me some time to get the hang of it. I love the tools and the finished results, but I didn’t fine it intuitive at the start. Practice, practice, practice.
Finally, it clicked.
Thank you, Boomdee
LikeLike