Tom has been an International Palm Society member for more than 20 years and has attended almost all biennials in that time. A native of Wisconsin, his first exposure to palms was in the conservatories of the Midwest. Visits to family and botanic gardens in Southern California got him hooked on palms. While in Medical school, an externship in a small hospital on the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua was his first exposure to the tropics. Tom moved to San Francisco to continue his education in a more palm friendly climate. While pursuing a career in hospital based pathology and blood banking, Tom and his wife, Kathleen Grant (an MD oncologist), purchased a home in Marin County and started their palm garden. A colleague, Dr. Herb Weber, introduced us to the IPS. Years have passed and the garden has matured. Besides palms it also features succulents, bamboos, ferns and rhododendrons. Tom writes “We have hosted many events including the Garden Conservancy, the American Rhododendron Society, the Northern California Chapter of the IPS and an IPS board meeting. We continue our avid interest in palms and travel to palm habitats. Our most recent trip was a visit to the forests of Borneo this April. I am an enthusiastic supporter of the IPS and look forward to working with the other board members to advance the goals of the IPS and its members.”

Affiliated Organizations: Palm Society of Southern California