The Pottery in Williamsburg has a fantastic nursery with lots of tropical plants. Last week I saw maybe 3-4 palms. Last year,I bought a Triangle palm, and a Madagascar Date Palm there. I think I saw Pindo palms, Chinese fan, Travellers Palm,and about 2-3 others last week. They also have lots of other tropical plants...Heliconias,Bananas,Birds of Paradise, Hawaiian Ti,Hibiscus,lots of different Philodendrum (including Pink Princess) Dracaenas, Stromanthe, Mandevilla, Bamboo, Papyrus, and so many others. Right now, they are probaly at about 40-50 percent stocked, but in the spring they are a wonder to visit.

Virginia is a pretty big state--where are you? If you're in northern Virginia you won't find much this time of year but in the spring you should be able to find windmill and needle palms at a nursery called "Holly, Woods & Vines" in Alexandria. I've also seen them being sold at the Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) spring plant sale, although they are usually a bit pricey there.

If you're in southern Virginia you should be able to find them at several nurseries in the Virginia Beach area, including Pungo Palms.

I've seen Windmills and Needle Palms, as well as Med. Fan Palms and Butia capitata (Jelly Palm) at the Newport News Home Depot, KMart and Lowes (this was in early summer - I doubt they'd have them right now). McDonald's Nursery in Hampton and Va. Beach, Anderson's in Newport News, and the Great Big Greenhouse in Midlothian also carry them regularly - I'd call first to make sure any of these places has them in stock.

I've bought a LOT of tropicals from www.stokestropicals.com. Their plants are always health and thrive.

Susan