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View of palms along the Kona shoreline from the whale watching boat... ...and my lucky shot of a humpback breeching. Have fun!

-Did you know PalmTalk now supports the uploading of multiple photos? You can choose 4 at a time to upload. (I may change that to 5) When posting a photo look for "Help with attaching files" Try our advanced uploader which supports multiple file uploading (modern browser required)" Then proceed and look for "Enable Flash Uploader." Check it and you will then be able to choose multiple files to be uploaded all at once. -Did you know there appears to be an option for a "skin" that makes using the Forum from mobile devices easier and faster. A PalmTalk Lite, so to speak. Has anyone tried PT from an mobile device yet? I'm not sure if it is activated. -Did you know multiple members can now join in your PMs, since they now take the form of a regular thread? -Did you know clicking on the PT logo takes you to the Main Page? -Did you know you can get rid of the "new" column on the right (on the Main Page) by clicking on the tiny "x" at the top of the column? If you want it back, look for the very tiny little "gizmo" in approximately the same place. If you find any more tips & tricks, let us know. I'll do the same.

So as not to be missed, I made this special tip/option into it's own thread. Go to the bottom left corner and use the pull down menu. Then click on "Classic Blue." SURPRISE

For those of you who are interested in Jubaeas, go to Travel Logs and check out the attachment that Bruno posted of Jubaeas in habitat in Chile. These are the best photos that I have seen of Jubaeas in habitat. Credit must go where credit is due, and the pictures were taken by Brandt Maxwell from the French palm site, Fous de Palmiers. Several things strike me. I'm surprised that not only do the palms grow in the valleys where it might be expected to be more moist, but also on the mountain tops where it must be much dryer. From the xerophilous plants growing around the Jubaeas, it must be an area where long periods of drought can be expected. I also noticed the blacken evidence of fire at the base of some of the palms. Also, quite remarkable, in most habitat photos of palms, you will see some that have died and only a trunk remaining. I see no dead palms in any of these photos. The palms growing at La Campana have very graceful fronds hanging down below 90 degrees from the trunks and in one photograph they seem to be the silver variety. I have 4 mature Jubaeas and one has a very strict growth habit, while the others are less so, but none of the fronds hang below 90 degrees from the trunk. All of mine are green and the fronds are very rigid and tough. I've experienced 60 mph winds and none of mine have ever had any wind damage. Mine get watered 12 months of the year, so I wonder if the rigid fronds on mine are enviromental or genetic? I suspect genetic, as the plants probably came from the same tree. It's been so long ago I can't remember where my Jubaeas came from, but I suspect from one of the few old trees growing in the Bay Area. I expect the trees growing at La Campana got a good shake in the recent earthquake in Chile but they have withstood many before as they must be ancient. Dick

Mark, Thanks for the tip on Brandt's web site. The guy is a fantastic photographer, and I'm sure I could spend hours on his web. I pulled up his photo of the Mission Bay Jubeas and I see they don't droop very much, unlike the ones in habitat at La Campana. Actually, I prefer the droopy look better and also the silver/blue ones, and wish I had one. Dick

Here's a video... .

Alberto, Your Butia eriospatha is a beauty, and I see the bloom spathes are covered with rust tomentum. I'm green with envy since I don't have one. I planted what was supposed to be B. eriospatha years ago, but it turned out to be something else. Have you tried crossing it with Syagrus yet? I remember you crossed it with Jubaea last year. Dick

Why don't you guys put them in the ground and then they would really take off. Or are you like me, have run out of planting room? I planted two B. archeris last summer and they have almost doubled in size since planted. Butias really like their roots in the ground......as most palms do. Dick

Dave, I bet Nigel or Alberto would have some ideas about your Butia. Seems I heard Alberto had a thornless Butia. I have two small B archeri but they are green and are much more compact than your palm. Dick

I like the look of bark the best however, I find it blows away in the wind easily. I prefer a mulch that compacts slightly so its easier to remove leaves that collect on top of it and also works better at preventing weeds from popping up. I also tend to like the brown and black color mulches because they tend to resemble natural soil. At least thats the color of the soil in my area. Mike

Because I am on 2 acres, I could not afford to buy cypress or anything else for that matter. I get free truckloads from the tree trimmers in my area, and it's free. It can be anywhere from oak, mahogany, ficus or others. It's always very clean with no big limbs or palm leaves. Jeff

Once in a while I have used gravel - the type here is quite coarse - up to nearly a third of an inch. Most are smaller. I use them for drainage (Im on clay) as well as mulch and they do actually reflect sunlight to a slight extent to the lower canopies of the palms. Regardez all Juan

Dave, It looks to me like all the photographs are of male flowers. The female flowers are generally larger and more sparce. Dick

Here's another.... and the third..... Are all three the same? I was hoping to get some seeds.....

I really like this palm as well... got this "clump" (community pot) from a local grower. They made it through the cold here in Riverside ok... There are 9 palms there.. and three are currently showing inflorescense. I don't know anything about flower/seed.. but they all look pretty much the same to me. Are they all the same gender? That would be a shame. Here's one just opening...

Thanks Dave, Fred, Matty, Thats encouraging - out to the sun they go again... How about Obelonga - i got that with the plumosa (makes sense isn't it ?) Old pic. - not a good one, but to show the pots they are in. Thanks, Ronnie