Down in the jungle

[Daryl]

Wal,

You sure have some beautiful palms, and thanks for the pics. Since you seem to have just about everything, I was wondering if you have a Livistona alfredii? Or....is anyone growing it? I purchased one about 3 years ago, planted it late summer, only to have the big freeze the following winter. The palm was severely damaged and I thought it was dead, but it has slowly come back. I was told it's a very rare Livistona but the reason I got one is the unusual silver color. I had never seen a Livistona so blue/silver. I'm just wondering if there are many planted around Australia.

Dick

Dick, the seedlings seem to have a high mortality rate. I have lost many over the years. Here is a photo of one in Brisbane (Phil Arrowsmith's garden)

regards,

Daryl

[Tyrone]

Dick, L alfredii is rare because it's a West Australian species that only grows in one little isolated waterway in NW Oz at Millstream, hence it's common name Millstream Palm. The climate up there is warm in winter during the day, and coolish at night in winter. Summer is extremely hot. That area of the Pilbara is one of the hottest places on earth in summer, reaching 50C or more quite frequently, and is normally bone dry. The odd summer thunderstorm goes through there and the odd decaying cyclone too as it's a fair way inland. The coastal areas take the full impacts. This species is rare because getting a seed collecting permit is reportedly quite difficult. That area is a long way from the palm production areas in Queensland, and none really exist in West Oz, so it's never really grown. I got one specimen along with some other WA palms from a Perth Botanic Garden which was closing its palm program, and my alfredii languished for a while and died. The others are going great. I think I'll stick to Queensland Livistona's. If I'm ever up that way I should look at getting a permit and trying this species again, maybe. I think the seed is only available in the cyclone season, in which case it's a little risky up there, considering it's isolation, unsealed roads etc which can wash away in a flash flood, and leave you stuck for weeks, or stuck 30ft in the air in a tree.

Best regards

Tyrone

[Walter John]

Dick, L alfredii is rare because it's a West Australian species that only grows in one little isolated waterway in NW Oz at Millstream, hence it's common name Millstream Palm. The climate up there is warm in winter during the day, and coolish at night in winter. Summer is extremely hot. That area of the Pilbara is one of the hottest places on earth in summer, reaching 50C or more quite frequently, and is normally bone dry. The odd summer thunderstorm goes through there and the odd decaying cyclone too as it's a fair way inland. The coastal areas take the full impacts. This species is rare because getting a seed collecting permit is reportedly quite difficult. That area is a long way from the palm production areas in Queensland, and none really exist in West Oz, so it's never really grown. I got one specimen along with some other WA palms from a Perth Botanic Garden which was closing its palm program, and my alfredii languished for a while and died. The others are going great. I think I'll stick to Queensland Livistona's. If I'm ever up that way I should look at getting a permit and trying this species again, maybe. I think the seed is only available in the cyclone season, in which case it's a little risky up there, considering it's isolation, unsealed roads etc which can wash away in a flash flood, and leave you stuck for weeks, or stuck 30ft in the air in a tree.

Best regards

Tyrone

Well described Tyronne, man I love this country, you want dangerous and hostile ? , we'll give you dangerous and hostile and harsh. Did you know that they now close/ban entrance to the Simpson desert this time of year. Too rugged and too many overseas adventurers try to cross it and we pay to haul them out..........alive or dead.

[brodklop]

Hey Wal, your garden is looking great. I might drop around your place Saturday some time. Dont hang around and wait for me if you want to go out as I have a lot to do and may not turn up. I lost your phone No. . Anyhow we'll catch up soon. I'm interested in those Veitchia. The seed dont look all that large maybe their not Joannis.

[Walter John]

Hey Wal, your garden is looking great. I might drop around your place Saturday some time. Dont hang around and wait for me if you want to go out as I have a lot to do and may not turn up. I lost your phone No. . Anyhow we'll catch up soon. I'm interested in those Veitchia. The seed dont look all that large maybe their not Joannis.

They're not ready yet Brod, I'd give it 2 more weeks for further ripening but please pop in Saturday and see for yourself, I'll be home all day. I'll pm you my phone numbers. The seeds are both joannis and macdanielsii with more of the later.

[ariscott]

That Livistona should do well for me then.....

Regards, Ari

[Walter John]

That Livistona should do well for me then.....

Regards, Ari

It is your duty to grow it Ari. Are you willing to accept this responsibility ?

[ariscott]

Send me some seeds... and we shall see how it goes...

Regards, Ari

[Tyrone]

I'll risk being swept into a tree and get some for you Ari. That and the 50C in the shade temps, IF, you can find shade in the Pilbara. Rarer than rocking horse poop up there. Seriously I'd love to go up there on a seed acquiring expedition with all the necessary permits. If I did that, I'd send you seed for sure Ari. I don't know whether they'd like your humid summer though.

Best regards

Tyrone

[ariscott]

I can only try, Tyrone... you never know with this thing... I have HEAPS OF SUN... don't you worry... so it is only the humidity that MIGHT kill it... and I can plant it away from the irrigation system, and water it with buckets every now and then.

BTW, if you are going North.... should head east and keep going to Darwin.

Regards, Ari

[Tyrone]

I'd love to get up to Darwin one day. You're only in the next state, I mean territory. Yes, I would really love to come and see Darwin and catch up with you, see Lichfield, the Arnhem Hwy with all the H ramsayii growing in the hot sand by the side of the road. The danger is, I probably wouldn't want to leave. I hear there's a nursery job going up there too.

Did you get your H ramsayi's?

Best regards

Tyrone

[ariscott]

There is always nursery job going up here.... Although, it is the only capital city where the median prices for houses are still going up . And if you don't want to leave... DON'T. Yes, I did get my palms, but they are delivering on Monday... It is too risky to take on the trailer... I will take photos on Monday for you!!! I was like a kid in a candy store this morning... so many plants, so little money!!!

Regards, Ari

[Walter John]

Hey Wal, your garden is looking great. I might drop around your place Saturday some time. Dont hang around and wait for me if you want to go out as I have a lot to do and may not turn up. I lost your phone No. . Anyhow we'll catch up soon. I'm interested in those Veitchia. The seed dont look all that large maybe their not Joannis.

Hi Brod and others, as Brod pointed out here the joannis fruit/seed are larger than the arecinas of this world. For those who don't know, Veitchia arecinas were compiled together from other named species including arecina itself, montgomeryana and macdanielsii. I still refer to the old names for my planted Veitchias though. Does anyone else do that ?

Okay here's pics of the fruits.

Veitchia macdanielsii on the left and Veitchia joannis on the right.

Joannis top macdanielsii bottom

[Walter John]

Meanwhile, we have lift off with my Rocky buys

The Dypsis crinita is showing off stronger

There's an opening down at the Neoveitchia and Pritchardia remota stores

Bamboo culms are emerging in a flurry.

gracilis

china gold

love the stripes on china gold

[Daryl]

At Wal's request, here are some pics form my 'jungle'...

We have got off to a great start this spring. Hopefully the weather stays wet through summer!

regards,

Daryl

Dypsis crinita

Dypsis fibrosa

Same palm, other side

Trachycarpus latisectus

Livistona speciosa

[Walter John]

Not bad Daryl, is that it ?

That speciosa is looking excellent .

[Daryl]

Hyophorbe indica

Seed on a supposedly Wallichia siamensis

Old fashioned 'Banga' down near the creek

Beccariophoenix 'windows'

Caryota rumphiana

[Daryl]

OK, this is a non-palm photo, but if you want stilt roots in your garden without the pain of cold tender palms, plant Pandanus! This has a nice blue leaf and has been in the ground 4 1/2 years.

Pritchardia hillebrandii

Even the lawn is green...very unusual for this time of year.

[Walter John]

Looking good Daryl, get ready for another bout of rain and warmth next week.

[Walter John]

Just wanted to display this again opened up. That's a great palm Daryl.

[Tyrone]

Awesome garden's Daryl and Wal. Enjoy your perfect weather too, with a few tinnies on the back patio in the evening showers. Nothing better than that.

Best regards

Tyrone

[Daryl]

Awesome garden's Daryl and Wal. Enjoy your perfect weather too, with a few tinnies on the back patio in the evening showers. Nothing better than that.

Best regards

Tyrone

That's exactly what is happening right now Tyrone. 34C and humid , with two rounds of arvo storms today. The second is just about to hit now. Sitting out on the back patio having a couple of coldies and watching the rain water my palms, whilst listening to the thunder...paradise! It is almost pitch black outside, but only 4pm here!

Daryl

[Walter John]

Awesome garden's Daryl and Wal. Enjoy your perfect weather too, with a few tinnies on the back patio in the evening showers. Nothing better than that.

Best regards

Tyrone

That's exactly what is happening right now Tyrone. 34C and humid , with two rounds of arvo storms today. The second is just about to hit now. Sitting out on the back patio having a couple of coldies and watching the rain water my palms, whilst listening to the thunder...paradise! It is almost pitch black outside, but only 4pm here!

Daryl

ditto ditto ditto, I love my place of residence. I'm on the white wine actually, from WA too.

[ariscott]

What are you doing stealing all my rain??????????? Did you loose power, Daryl? Apparently Gold Coast got hit rather bad...

Regards, Ari

[Daryl]

What are you doing stealing all my rain??????????? Did you loose power, Daryl? Apparently Gold Coast got hit rather bad...

Regards, Ari

Hi Ari, no we are OK here. The storm just missed us...about 5 Ks north, but we got some good rain, fortunately no hail or wind. Mt Tamborine got smashed.

Daryl

[palmtreesforpleasure]

Hi Daryl

Looks like great growth this year for year, You, mike and Andy look like having a great growing period there

regards

colin

[ariscott]

I was going to start a new thread, but since Tyrone and I mentioned it here... I would post them here instead....

GUESS WHAT ARRIVED THIS MORNING????????????????? Thank you Tyrone!!!!!

Regards, Ari

[Walter John]

What are you doing stealing all my rain??????????? Did you loose power, Daryl? Apparently Gold Coast got hit rather bad...

Regards, Ari

Hi Ari, no we are OK here. The storm just missed us...about 5 Ks north, but we got some good rain, fortunately no hail or wind. Mt Tamborine got smashed.

Daryl

Two guys at work here who live at Ferny Grove got smashed and are at home cleaning up and helping neighbours who lost their roofs, The Gap and Albany Creek areas were also smashed.

I received just under 50 mls of rain here on the bayside, mild to occasional strong winds, no damage except for the palms, which are choking on their own growth spurts.

[Daryl]

Ari, they are great looking palms! I hope they didn't have their roots in the ground at the nursery? They look nice and solid.

Daryl

[Walter John]

I was going to start a new thread, but since Tyrone and I mentioned it here... I would post them here instead....

GUESS WHAT ARRIVED THIS MORNING????????????????? Thank you Tyrone!!!!!

Regards, Ari

Hydriastele ?

[_Keith]

really cool palmscape middle pic of yer latest post wal!

Thanks Paul, here's a large version. It is about 12 hours since this photo was taken, it is now night here and it is pouring rain, temp about 20c (68f). Just wanted you to get a good feel of the happiness of the jungle right now.

OMG Wal, you have resorted to the "big picture." And it worked too. Note the feedback.

[Tyrone]

I was going to start a new thread, but since Tyrone and I mentioned it here... I would post them here instead....

GUESS WHAT ARRIVED THIS MORNING????????????????? Thank you Tyrone!!!!!

Regards, Ari

They look really awesome Ari. I'm glad you got them. I would have killed them. Show us pics once they're planted.

Best regards

Tyrone

[ariscott]

Ari, they are great looking palms! I hope they didn't have their roots in the ground at the nursery? They look nice and solid.

Daryl

No Daryl, that was the first thing I checked when I got there... They got the bags on top of plastic mat, which I would do the same here.

Tyrone,

They are not all mine... I wish I could, but my bank account wouldn't let me. Besides, I don't want to be greedy!!! lol. I am still tossing between 2-3 spots... Not sure where yet... That is the problem with having 5 acres cleared block.

Come on Wal, you know what they are.... A great find....!!!!

Regards, Ari

[Daryl]

Ari, they are great looking palms! I hope they didn't have their roots in the ground at the nursery? They look nice and solid.

Daryl

No Daryl, that was the first thing I checked when I got there... They got the bags on top of plastic mat, which I would do the same here.

Tyrone,

They are not all mine... I wish I could, but my bank account wouldn't let me. Besides, I don't want to be greedy!!! lol. I am still tossing between 2-3 spots... Not sure where yet... That is the problem with having 5 acres cleared block.

Come on Wal, you know what they are.... A great find....!!!!

Regards, Ari

Ari, find a sandy, well drained position. When we looked at the ones in Kakadu, they only grew in the sand. Several metres away in normal soil, there were none. Otherwise, maybe build a raised bed with a sandy mix?

I am almost definitely going to be in Darwin mid December. Maybe we could do a quick trip out to Kakadu to see them?

Daryl

[ariscott]

I will mound some sand... Scott dag some sand from around the house (the builder left them....), so I might just do that. My soil has NO SAND at all. But most places are well drained. The beauty of sloping block!!

Just let me know when you get your dates, and we make a date....

Regards, Ari

Edited November 17, 2008 by ariscott

[Walter John]

Come on Wal, you know what they are.... A great find....!!!!

I know, I just thought that if someone other than you, Tyronne, Daryl or I are reading this thread, that maybe we should consider listing the name of the palm for all to see. On the other hand, Daryl has given enough clues in his recent post.

[ariscott]

Come on Wal, you know what they are.... A great find....!!!!

I know, I just thought that if someone other than you, Tyronne, Daryl or I are reading this thread, that maybe we should consider listing the name of the palm for all to see. On the other hand, Daryl has given enough clues in his recent post.

I know,Wal... They are Hydrastele ramsayi. They look so nice as a trio... I wish I could keep all three!!!!

Regards, Ari

[Walter John]

They look fabulous too. Is it okay to ask how much ? Nah, I better not.

[Jeff in St Pete]

really cool palmscape middle pic of yer latest post wal!

Thanks Paul, here's a large version. It is about 12 hours since this photo was taken, it is now night here and it is pouring rain, temp about 20c (68f). Just wanted you to get a good feel of the happiness of the jungle right now.

OMG Wal, you have resorted to the "big picture." And it worked too. Note the feedback.

That photo is beautiful Wal, it should be on a calendar.

Your gardens all look fantastic!

[ariscott]

They look fabulous too. Is it okay to ask how much ? Nah, I better not.

I can tell you, Wal.. but then I have to kill you.

Regards, Ari