Fort Myers / Naples, FL

[tropical1]

Attached are some recent pictures from the Fort Myers and Naples area. Definitely a good area to grow palms.

Here are some coconut trees along the calooshatchee river.

[tropical1]

Here are some nice royals, delonix regia, and some coconuts in the background.

[tropical1]

My son next to a Wodyetia at the Edison estate

[tropical1]

Nice royals and fruiting archontophoenix at Edison estate.

[tropical1]

Bactris gasipaes at ECHO farm

[tropical1]

Coconuts field grown at a nursery

[tropical1]

The Naples pier.

[spockvr6]

Great pics Tropical1.

Where in NW Hillsborough are you?

[DoomsDave]

tropical1!

you lucky [expletive] that close to Naples . . .

dave

[tropical1]

Larry-

I live in  the Keystone/Odessa area south of Tarpon Springs rd.

[Walter John]

The Archos and Wodyetia appear to be grown to potential heights, marvellous.

[spockvr6]

(tropical1 @ Aug. 11 2006,07:20)

QUOTE

Larry-

I live in  the Keystone/Odessa area south of Tarpon Springs rd.

You are not far from me.  I live about a mile south of downtown Tarpon off of Alt 19.

I drive through your area every day on the way to work (as I work in Temple Terrace).

[Alan_Tampa]

You are not far from me either, I live in Hutchison, just south of the veteran's.  

Alan

[amazon exotics]

At the Edison home did you notice the very large arenga pinnata? Did you get a photo of it. If you did and could post it for everybody that would be great. It is a awsome tree.

[Rusty on Pine Is.]

Wow, thanks allot for those pics......although I live really close to those locations (I'm on Pine Island, another great palm growing location!), it's always nice to be reminded of just how fortunate i am to live in SW Fla.  ....if you took more photos post 'em if you get the time!

[tropical1]

Alan-

I am off boy scout road, I go down hutchinson every day. Larry you are close too. I will post some pics of my collection. I built the house in 1999 so some things are getting to be of nice size.

Amazon-

I did not get a pic of the arenga pinnata, but there are very large ones in St. Pete I will post a picture of.

Rusty I am planning on buying some land on Pine Island.

Here is a pic from Siesta Key a barrier island adjacent to Sarasota.

One thing that is really nice in Naples are the number of tall variety coconuts. Apparently, LY was not as bad in Naples. Unfortunately, I dont have any really good photos.

[Jeff Searle]

Thanks for posting your pictures. Boy....I can remember when people used to say,whats a Foxtail palm? I always enjoy seeing a large one doing so well.

[Dave Butler]

I agree with jeff those foxtails are nice, But there slowly turning into what we call down south as a belly button everyone has one.

[spockvr6]

(Dave Butler @ Aug. 11 2006,21:38)

QUOTE

I agree with jeff those foxtails are nice, But there slowly turning into what we call down south as a belly button everyone has one.

Yep....Foxtails are the new Queens around here.  Just about everyone has one.

But.....one doesnt see too many of the size posted in the pic above!  Those are some real beauts.

[SubTropicRay]

Hi Rusty,

We will be neighbors soon as I just bought a 1/2 acre in Bokeelia.  The island is a solid 10b.

Ray

[Palmateer]

(Ray @ Tampa,Aug. 15 2006,09:21)

QUOTE

Hi Rusty,

We will be neighbors soon as I just bought a 1/2 acre in Bokeelia.  The island is a solid 10b.

Ray

Bokeelia? That's the NORTH end of Pine Island - why didn't you buy in the warmer SOUTH end?

Just kidding - glad to hear you made your move!

[Rusty on Pine Is.]

Hi Ray….congratulations on making the move south!  I really like living on the island, and there are allot of things that can be grown here, that cant just traveling 5 miles  due east…..hope to meet you when you make the move!

    BTW, Tom, i live in the polar middle of the island, since there's more H2O on the north and south ends....darn, my A. catechu and P. pacifica sure are glad to see summer and the rainy season!

Rusty

[spockvr6]

(Ray @ Tampa,Aug. 15 2006,09:21)

QUOTE

Hi Rusty,

We will be neighbors soon as I just bought a 1/2 acre in Bokeelia.  The island is a solid 10b.

Ray

I just checked an amateur station on the south end of the island (St. James City) and here are the lows for the past three years (which is as far back as data goes)---

2004 - 41.3F

2005 - 39.2F

2006 - 41.2F

For comparison, here are Tampa AP's reported values--

2004 - 34.0F

2005 - 31.0F (This seems suspicious to me...)

2006 - 37.9F

You rat!

[BobbyinNY]

Hi Rusty,

We will be neighbors soon as I just bought a 1/2 acre in Bokeelia.  The island is a solid 10b.

Ray

Ray,

I've been looking at some of the real estate on Pine Island - (after you told me about it)... Looks like you can still get some great deals there.... I have to make a trip down to check it out.

[SubTropicRay]

Hi Tom,

The northern end is the warmer end.  The north wind blows right over Charlotte Harbor before arriving at my location.  It's the same setup as Anna Maria Island with respect to Tampa Bay.  Anna Maria is warmer than Longboat Key further south.

How about posting a nice Borassus trunk photo.  You're still welcome to stop by my place anytime.

Ray

[spockvr6]

(BobbyinNY @ Aug. 15 2006,14:25)

QUOTE

Hi Rusty,

We will be neighbors soon as I just bought a 1/2 acre in Bokeelia.  The island is a solid 10b.

Ray

Ray,

I've been looking at some of the real estate on Pine Island - (after you told me about it)... Looks like you can still get some great deals there.... I have to make a trip down to check it out.

Bobby-

You enticed me to look for myself.

Sure enough you are right...there are some good deals on land down there.  Its far cheaper than land is in Tarpon Springs.  

But hot dang my commute to NE Tampa would s#$@!

[BobbyinNY]

Bobby-

You enticed me to look for myself.

Sure enough you are right...there are some good deals on land down there.  Its far cheaper than land is in Tarpon Springs.  

But hot dang my commute to NE Tampa would s#$@!

Yeah I agree, Larry...... That's why..... When we move, I'm gonna make sure that I have enough put away to not have to work for a year if I have to - Otherwise I'd be forced into a job that I might not like.... Unfortunately, the ONLY good thing I can say about living in New York is the Financial aspect of it - My current job situation is perfect - it's gonna be hard to duplicate that somewhere else.... At least right away.

[spockvr6]

(BobbyinNY @ Aug. 15 2006,15:03)

QUOTE

[Yeah I agree, Larry...... That's why..... When we move, I'm gonna make sure that I have enough put away to not have to work for a year if I have to - Otherwise I'd be forced into a job that I might not like....

Ill bet the difference in housing costs might just cover that and then some Bobby

But, its is quite doubtful that youll be able to earn the same income down here as up there.  

I have co-workers in my group that work up that way and they make far more than the rest of us in other parts of the country.  Id say its at least 25% more as best as I can tell.

And, Florida isnt as cheap as it once was to live in.  Those days are pretty much over unfortunately.

[Ken Johnson]

Hey Guys,

I have seen some great threads about some cool places to see palms posted on this board. This is just one of them. I guess I will need to show my area too.

In S.E. Florida we have, by far, the best  place to grow palms in the (mainland) U.S. The only reason we have this advantage can be attributed to Farchild Tropical Botanic Garden and our climate. If you don't have both of those you don't have a chance!

You should see the cool stuff we have around here, I will make a post. I will set my dang camera on low Res. so I do not have to go through the agony of downsizing my pics.

Just yesterday I saw 6, 10' Clear trunk,  Corypha umbracs in one yard! That is just the tip. Huge specimans abound in the Gables area and every decent gardener in town knows where to buy the rarest of specimens.

I have been growing palms for 43 years in this area and man has it been a ground swell movement. Those of you on the S.W. tip of humanity on the peninsula of Florida have a shot at growing this stuff but you better get a head start 'cause everyone is getting on the band wagon!

[Rusty on Pine Is.]

And, Florida isnt as cheap as it once was to live in.  Those days are pretty much over unfortunately.

Even though things have flattened out allot, real estate all over SW Fl continues to climb, albeit now at a snails pace......and Pine Island is being eyed by the larger developers...the only hold up is a limit on developement based on hurricane evac, and that is up for grabs if the $ are right....

Bottom line.......if you have the $, buy now.

BTW, Bobby, (or anyone else) if you get the itch, I would be happy to send you some island property listings in the local rag......come on down, there's still plenty of room!

Rusty

[Walter John]

ust yesterday I saw 6, 10' Clear trunk,  Corypha umbracs in one yard!

Hi Ken

What size yard would this bloke have ?

thanks

[BobbyinNY]

BTW, Bobby, (or anyone else) if you get the itch, I would be happy to send you some island property listings in the local rag......come on down, there's still plenty of room!

Rusty,

I'd definitely be interested in seeing what's available..... My wife and I are definitely moving south - just not sure where yet.... The more I can convince her that Florida is a great place to live, the better chance I have

[epicure3]

(Ken Johnson @ Aug. 15 2006,15:36)

QUOTE

Hey Guys,

I have seen some great threads about some cool places to see palms posted on this board. This is just one of them. I guess I will need to show my area too.

In S.E. Florida we have, by far, the best  place to grow palms in the (mainland) U.S. The only reason we have this advantage can be attributed to Farchild Tropical Botanic Garden and our climate. If you don't have both of those you don't have a chance!

You should see the cool stuff we have around here, I will make a post. I will set my dang camera on low Res. so I do not have to go through the agony of downsizing my pics.

Just yesterday I saw 6, 10' Clear trunk,  Corypha umbracs in one yard! That is just the tip. Huge specimans abound in the Gables area and every decent gardener in town knows where to buy the rarest of specimens.

I have been growing palms for 43 years in this area and man has it been a ground swell movement. Those of you on the S.W. tip of humanity on the peninsula of Florida have a shot at growing this stuff but you better get a head start 'cause everyone is getting on the band wagon!

You want expensive. C'mon over to Southern California. That will give you a quick reality check.

[spockvr6]

(epicure3 @ Aug. 15 2006,16:41)

QUOTE

You want expensive. C'mon over to Southern California. That will give you a quick reality check.

Unfortunately, in the past few years certain parts of FL have approached SoCal type of housing costs.

An example is my uncle's house in Coral Gables.  He bought it in 1998 for $200,000 and some change.  He sold it this year for $1.2M.  

That type of appreciation is ridiculous and unwarranted IMO.  But, I am quite sure my uncle feels differently

[Ken Johnson]

(Wal @ Aug. 15 2006,15:46)

QUOTE

ust yesterday I saw 6, 10' Clear trunk,  Corypha umbracs in one yard!

Hi Ken

What size yard would this bloke have ?

thanks

I guess the yard was a 20 acre deal out here in the Redland. Bigger than the yards in the urban areas but some of the guys with "ranch" size spreads realy fill up on palms. Even in Broward County we see the suburbs with BIG gardens.

Here is a picture of a fellow members yard where they have planted a line of C. bailyana.

[SubTropicRay]

Florida will unfortunately be as expensive as California in the next 10 years.  In my neighborhood, 2 bedroom, 1 bath homes are already selling for $300-350K.  Insane but true.

[NBTX11]

(epicure3 @ Aug. 15 2006,16:41)

QUOTE

(Ken Johnson @ Aug. 15 2006,15:36)

QUOTE

Hey Guys,

I have seen some great threads about some cool places to see palms posted on this board. This is just one of them. I guess I will need to show my area too.

In S.E. Florida we have, by far, the best  place to grow palms in the (mainland) U.S. The only reason we have this advantage can be attributed to Farchild Tropical Botanic Garden and our climate. If you don't have both of those you don't have a chance!

You should see the cool stuff we have around here, I will make a post. I will set my dang camera on low Res. so I do not have to go through the agony of downsizing my pics.

Just yesterday I saw 6, 10' Clear trunk,  Corypha umbracs in one yard! That is just the tip. Huge specimans abound in the Gables area and every decent gardener in town knows where to buy the rarest of specimens.

I have been growing palms for 43 years in this area and man has it been a ground swell movement. Those of you on the S.W. tip of humanity on the peninsula of Florida have a shot at growing this stuff but you better get a head start 'cause everyone is getting on the band wagon!

You want expensive. C'mon over to Southern California. That will give you a quick reality check.

You want a REVERSE reality check.  Move to S. Texas.  One of the CHEAPEST areas in the country for housing.  It would give you guys REVERSE sticker shock.  You can still see new housing developments going in with brand new houses for little over 100K.  200K will get you a beautiful 4br, 2.5 or 3ba, 2 car garage, nice lot with decent square footage (2500, maybe even 3000).  I am not kidding.  But they are starting to climb, as developers realize this is the new HOT market, which means fast rising prices.  

Bobby, that is why I suggested S. TX.

So many choices...

[NBTX11]

(Ray, Tampa @ Aug. 15 2006,21:53)

QUOTE

Florida will unfortunately be as expensive as California in the next 10 years.  In my neighborhood, 2 bedroom, 1 bath homes are already selling for $300-350K.  Insane but true.

When I was in Brandon in the mid 90s that same house probably went for 60-70K.  In 1995, In Brandon, I bought a 1200 sq ft 3 br, 1.5 bath, 1 car for 70K, sold it a couple years later before the boom kicked in.  I see now online that the same house is worth way over 200K (300K??).  Why didn't I hang on to that house ???  I could have pocketed some change.

[BobbyinNY]

I don't know who decides these housing prices... But just a Condo in my area (2br, 2bath) is going for between 400,000 - 550,000 depending on amenities...  an average 2br rental is around 2200.00/month..

[Palmateer]

(Ray, Tampa @ Aug. 15 2006,14:43)

QUOTE

Hi Tom,

How about posting a nice Borassus trunk photo.  You're still welcome to stop by my place anytime.

Ray

RaY,

OK, I posted the Borassus pic to the CFPACS Forum. Will try to visit you soon!

Tom