A visit to a local farm

[Jeff in St Pete]

Yesterday I was invited to a local farm for a tour.  The farm is owned by an English guy and his wife.  They have lived on this property for over 30 years.  They introduced vanilla into this area back in the 70's and produced it commercially before the plants were wiped out by a disease.  They grow plants that are used to make teas, essential oils, spices, plus they grow heliconias and gingers and supply many of the private homes around here with fresh cut tropical flowers.  If I remember correctly, he has about 70 acres.  I only got to tour a few acres around his house before it started to rain.  Here are some pictures from his garden.  

Areca catechu during some rare sunshine.

A smaller A catechu

[Jeff in St Pete]

Is this a Zamia?  Jeff Searle, can you ID?

The guy was very proud of this plant but wasn't sure of the name.  

[Jeff in St Pete]

Indonesian Wax Ginger

[Jeff in St Pete]

Not sure what this palm is.  I think he said it was native.

[Jeff in St Pete]

Aiphanes?  he called this Macaw Palm

[Jeff in St Pete]

A nice grove of Royals.  I think he called these Florida Royals but they look more like oleracea to me, so I'm not sure.  

Many had bromeliads growing on them.

[Jeff in St Pete]

Ravenala madagascariensis near the front gate.  He had one on each side of the gate.  

To the left is the largest clump of Cyrtostachys renda I have ever seen.  There must be over 100 stems in the clump.  

Unfortunately the picture I took came out blurry.  I will get a better pick of it next time.

[Jeff in St Pete]

Some crotons

I think he said this was a hybrid?  

I was on plant and information overload at this point and now I can't remember many of the things he told me.

[Jeff in St Pete]

A couple more crotons

[Jeff in St Pete]

His fence line along the road

[Jeff in St Pete]

The view from his porch.  We sat there for many hours talking after the rain started.

[Jeff in St Pete]

Their makeshift bird feeder.  They only feed the birds bananas (about 30 per day!).  

His wife would peel a few at a time and put in their bamboo feeder.  

The colors were amazing!

He invited me back, so I hope to see more next time including his "private park" that he made for himself.  And I hope to get to see the heliconia area next time too.

[junglegalfla]

Wow!! So glad you found someone like that in the area. You will learn so much from him! Those birds are amazing, wish we'd get some of those around here instead of the dreaded mourning doves    

Nice indonesian wax ginger blooms too by the way...I am still waiting patiently!  

[deezpalms]

Nice pix Jeff! Those birds sure are colorful!!

[MattyB]

Thanks Jeff. Those birds as so pretty.  I'd say those Royals look like Florida Royals.  Roystonia regia have droopier leaves in the crown whereas R. oleracea tend to hold their leaves above horizontal.

[JakeK]

Jeff, you live in one of the most spectacular places, but the rain this time of year can wipe out several days in a row. Thanks for the tour.

[Jeff in St Pete]

Bren, I'm glad I met him too.  He knows everything there is to know about farming in Costa Rica and he is a nice guy with a great sense of humor.  I really enjoyed the visit and can't wait to go back.  

Thanks Deezpalms.  We sat on the porch and watched those birds for a long time.  I never got tired of it.  

Thanks Matty.  I always did have a hard time telling the Royals apart!

Jake, October is the wettest month of the year.  It rains almost constantly with a break now and then in the mornings.  I have always loved rain, but it is starting to get on my nerves now!  It will be over soon though as the Dry Season is just around the corner!

[DoomsDave]

Well, my fat arse has shattered my Swooning Sofa, and those birds make me wanna scream! At the glorious colours!  (He's English, right?)

The royals look like R. regia.

More pictures [expletive expletive expletive . . . ]

[expletive] dave

[Jeff in St Pete]

Dave, I hope to get a lot more pictures the next time I visit.  I only saw a small fraction of his property.  I could see tons of anthuriums, philo's and all kinds of cool plants on down the path and hillside but we didn't make it that far down the property.  

Thanks for confirming the id on the Royals!  I can't seem to be able to tell them apart, although Matty's explanation has helped!

[Kris]

thanks jeff,

i loved the travellers palm,crotons & the cycas..

lots of love,

Kris  

[OldNed]

Great pix!

The native palm (post 4)...maybe a young Manicaria saccifera ?...looks like remnants of the "Monkey Cap" in the 2nd picture.

Birds:

1st picture...Red-legged Honeycreeper with Yellow-crowned Euphonias

2nd picture...Baltimore Oriole and Palm Tanager

Note: Baltimore then Northern and now back to Baltimore Oriole again (lumpers and splitters in bird names too)

[Jeff in St Pete]

Kris, I wish I would have stepped back and taken a pic of both of those Travellers.  They looked really cool on each side of his brightly colored front gate.

Ned, thanks for the id on the birds!  I will look up info and pictures on Manicaria to try and id the palm.

[estan]

Jeff,

Great photos and what a great place! Maybe I'll be there for your nesxt visit?  I really can't wait now, just seeing the vegetation. Post # 5 I believe is Ailphanes caryotafolia.  we had one at Lancetilla.  M. saccifera has an entire leaf at least.

[BS Man about Palms]

Officially Swooned.

[Jeff in St Pete]

(estan @ Oct. 18 2007,17:27)

QUOTE

Jeff,

Great photos and what a great place! Maybe I'll be there for your nesxt visit?  I really can't wait now, just seeing the vegetation. Post # 5 I believe is Ailphanes caryotafolia.  we had one at Lancetilla.  M. saccifera has an entire leaf at least.

You might be Stan!  Looking forward to your visit!

Thanks for the palm id.