Curse of the Golden Cane

[Walter John 217]

If this is Tuesday, it must be Beerwah. And so as I am on leave , one of the big garden jobs I was to undertake was the thinning out of the very clustered triple planting of Dypsis lutescens out front. These were planted by the previous owner.

This I did, under extreme provocation by the Golden Canes themselves. You see, every time I went in to select a stem for cutting and carrying out that task, the golden canes would whip one of their leaves towards me and try to knock off my hat, and in so doing , slapping me in the face. This happened about 12 times, twice actually removing my hat completely. I soon wised up, and when the outraged palm went for my hat I held on tight and brushed the avenging leaf away.

Then when I had cut the stems and some of the leaves I wanted removed and started loading them onto the Toyota, they again attacked my head, removing my hat several times. The third event was unloading the trimmings at the local dump, and once again these fiendish golden canes tried to flick my hat off.

The final curse of the golden cane though would come later that same day. A couple of hours after returning from dining out with lovey, I became really really ill and was sick all over the place. As I type I am still feeling quite off. The curse of food poisoning it seems is another piece of revenge that these Madagascan palms can debilitate you with. Be warned, if you attempt to thin out golden canes palms, chin strap your hat on and whatever you do, don't go dining out in the same evening. Stay home, eat bbq, anything.

Note to readers, all photos coming in the next 4 posts, I just wanted to get that off my chest first.

[PalmatierMeg 5,646]

At least they weren't armed a la Phoenix. Sorry for your suffering, Wal.

[Walter John 217]

I forgot to take photos right before the thinning out but here's some photos taken throughout 2010 to give you an idea of the clusters. These guys are also starved of a decent feed and that's another reason for getting at these palms to allow room to fertilise them back into shape.

[carver 38]

You sure it wasn't the Stella?

[DoomsDave 8,659]

Ah, yes.

Reminds me of the Curse of the Spiny Palm, that is, spiny palms draw you to them like a magnet. I've never fallen into a non-spiny palm, but Heaven help anyone near a Phoenix, Acrocomia, Calamus, etc.

Then, there's the Poke of the New Spear Into Your Unsuspecting Eye, which got this hot chickie all concerned, and, well, I guess I can tell one once in a while . . . .

[Walter John 217]

The removal complete, with the angry removed canes and leaves aground and waiting to be gathered up and taken to the tip.

[DoomsDave 8,659]

The removal complete, with the angry removed canes and leaves aground and waiting to be gathered up and taken to the tip.

Nice trim job, Wal!

[Walter John 217]

And behold the Golden Cane fury, red with stormy outrage, this cane too was later removed.

[DoomsDave 8,659]

Wal, you need to get yourself a Shreddie, to avoid trips to the tip . . . . (and, I presume, money to have to pay?)

[Walter John 217]

Back from the dump, and nearly exhausted but feeling great, not knowing what fate lay ahead, here's the cleaned up clumps.

[Walter John 217]

And finally for good measure, after feeding some DL around the bases of each clump, I found some broms out back to add some bling to their lives. How was I to know that brom bling would not satisfy them.

Signed, your loving ratpacker Wal, who faced the curse of the golden cane, died, and lived to tell the tale.

[Kim 3,447]

I know just how you feel, Wal. Glad to see from the photos that you were victorious. Nice work!

[paulgila 194]

looks much better trimmed up.

good job,dewd!

[Walter John 217]

Thanks y'all. Come see for yourselves next time you're in the neighbourhood.

[DoomsDave 8,659]

Oh we will . . .

[osideterry 84]

Nice work there. You know when to quit better than I do. I wouldn't have stopped until I had 3-5 trunks per and no yellow fronds.

[Walter John 217]

Nice work there. You know when to quit better than I do. I wouldn't have stopped until I had 3-5 trunks per and no yellow fronds.

Thanks and I understand Terry, I was still after a certain amount of screen effect so that's why I left that many canes, that and any more and the curse could have been greater.

[Daryl 1,501]

Lookin trim Wal. They must have passed on the curse to you, because they are suffering the curse of the Golden Cane in SE QLD...magnesium deficiency...maybe they are trying to tell you something

Daryl

[Walter John 217]

Lookin trim Wal. They must have passed on the curse to you, because they are suffering the curse of the Golden Cane in SE QLD...magnesium deficiency...maybe they are trying to tell you something

Daryl

Quite true Daz, like most golden canes around, nobody cared (s) for them. I'm hoping my dosage of Dynamic Lifter will ease their pain, make them go the distance, if I fertilise them , they will green.

as for curses, I have no doubt they are trying to tell me something.

[Jerry@TreeZoo 360]

Wal,

If you were wearing that hat you have on in your avatar, I can understand why the lutie was trying to knock it off your head. Just saying.

[Kumar 150]

That's why I stay away from these clumping palms!

[John in Andalucia 623]

Well done Wal. I would like to hereby award you the Hergé topic title of the week!

[palmcurry 57]

I know better than to mess with the golden canes.

Looks like you had your way with them though. I can see them seething in the first pic of post 11...just waiting for you to step closer.

[Walter John 217]

Well done Wal. I would like to hereby award you the Hergé topic title of the week!

That's a ripper John

[ariscott 48]

Good thing I only have 1!! And not a multiplanted one at that too, thanks to Helen

Regards, Ari

[Nigel 50]

You sure it wasn't the Stella?

Nahhh it wasnt the stella, the whole country is throwing up. 3 innings defeats is too much for any aussie stomach.

[The Germinator 86]

It looks like the Plumies circled ranks to protect thier buddies. Did you happen to snap any of thier bracches in your rage. We call that collateral damage, i would not have the heart to thin out my Golden cane even though it is in dire need of a haircut. Why to do they plant these in masses when they already clump?

[Walter John 217]

It looks like the Plumies circled ranks to protect thier buddies. Did you happen to snap any of thier bracches in your rage. We call that collateral damage, i would not have the heart to thin out my Golden cane even though it is in dire need of a haircut. Why to do they plant these in masses when they already clump?

I would love to grow just one lutescens plant so it can clump au naturel. There are single lutescens out there as well. I must admit, this palm is one of the best plants on the planet, should never be under rated.

And Nigel, what can I say, congratulations, well done, and don't let the aussies tell you it was because OZ had a crap team, not true at all, the England side have simply been outstanding and the best England cricket side I've seen in many a long year. It'll be all over early tomorrow,..excuse me for a second.....

[Nigel 50]

And Nigel, what can I say, congratulations, well done, and don't let the aussies tell you it was because OZ had a crap team, not true at all, the England side have simply been outstanding and the best England cricket side I've seen in many a long year. It'll be all over early tomorrow,..excuse me for a second.....

Believe me after more than 30 years of watching nobody is more shocked than me ........

[aussiearoids 334]

Damn that stupid run out was a pain to watch on the news last nite Wal did you notice the great look of the ancient clumps in Rocky ? Looks like a viscous clean up every 20 years or so gives a 'great balls of golden cane' effect .. you know a high ball a few meters of trunks , a mid ball , and then a ground ball . Church on the hwy on south side of Rocky has/had? best example.

[Walter John 217]

Damn that stupid run out was a pain to watch on the news last nite Wal did you notice the great look of the ancient clumps in Rocky ? Looks like a viscous clean up every 20 years or so gives a 'great balls of golden cane' effect .. you know a high ball a few meters of trunks , a mid ball , and then a ground ball . Church on the hwy on south side of Rocky has/had? best example.

I can't recall Michael, I was "driving with the ratpack", probably laughing at the Greens, but I suppose they'd be all slosh balls now, like dirty old sea mines.

In my experience of watching cricket sides under the hammer, dumb runouts are likely to occur, I'm taking it all in......for the next time the ashes are decided, lest we forget...

[Mike in Nelson 6]

It looks like the Plumies circled ranks to protect thier buddies. Did you happen to snap any of thier bracches in your rage. We call that collateral damage, i would not have the heart to thin out my Golden cane even though it is in dire need of a haircut. Why to do they plant these in masses when they already clump?

I would love to grow just one lutescens plant so it can clump au naturel. There are single lutescens out there as well. I must admit, this palm is one of the best plants on the planet, should never be under rated.

And Nigel, what can I say, congratulations, well done, and don't let the aussies tell you it was because OZ had a crap team, not true at all, the England side have simply been outstanding and the best England cricket side I've seen in many a long year. It'll be all over early tomorrow,..excuse me for a second.....

True, England have a good side but you have to admit it's the worst Aussie team since 86/87. Kind of reminds me of our cricket team......