Alfred's nursery in Tana

[bruno]

This first picture shows you the way in. In the distance, on the hihest hill, you can see Tana and the queen's palace. Just behind the lake is the airport and the grey row are bismarckias in cultivation.

[bruno]

As you get closer, rows of raveneas , just by the lake.

[bruno]

dypsis kindreo in the ground. You cannot see how red the earth is, my camera did not catch it. Laterite.

[bruno]

If I remember well, for a lot of you, this is one of your favourite palms. For me, I like its colour, but it is a bit straight.

Plenty of them, of all sizes.

[bruno]

Just for the picture, the symetry was perfect.

[paulgila]

looks a bit like san diego...

[bruno]

Now, all the dypsis are shaded. Start the visit inside with Alfred's secretary, passing by dypsis Florencei, which does not exceed 2.5m more or less. A very pretty palm. It has a red crownshaft. I bought two of them for my entrance to the house. named after his wife.

[bruno]

This is a similar one to Florencei, called Fanjana.

[bruno]

A funny story for the name of this one. It is called Dypsis Betefaka. "Tefaka" in malagasy means applause. When there is wind, the palms knock against each other and it sounds like applause. Be (pronounce like bay) means a lot of. So the name of the palm in malagasy means a lot of applause.

[bruno]

Here is closer view of Florencei.

[bruno]

Not a dypsis but Orania Ravaka. I bought this one for my garden.

[deezpalms]

Great pictures Bruno!! Much appreciated!

[Matt in SD]

Great photos.  I actually have a seedling labeled Dypsis 'betafaka'.  I hope it turns out to be the palm in your photo, very cool.  The palms are clearly happy in their home country.

Matt

[elHoagie]

Thanks Bruno, those are some great palms!

[bgl]

Bruno,

Fascinating!! Thanks a lot for posting these photos. I hope Alfred is successful in spreading the word about palms in Madagascar! And I'm sure you will do your part!

Aloha,

Bo

[Walter John]

I like that Dypsis kindreo. I want it, and I want it now.

[Matt in SD]

Bruno,

Is there any chance of finding out whether Alfred supplied seeds of these palms to SoCal dealers (Ortanique, Jerry Andersen)?   Seeds of Dypsis 'kindreo', Dypsis 'betafaka' and others (Dypsis 'green boresy', Dypsis 'big fishtail') were recently available at Ortanique and Jerry Andersen was and is still selling seedlings of most of these, and they are pretty much mysteries.  I think it's safe bet that the Dypsis 'kindreo' and 'betafaka' that recently made their way to SoCal are probably the palms you have pictured, and I'm now glad I bought seedlings of these for sure.  I'd love to know what the others might grow up to be.  And also, I think Jerry might get cleaned out of some of these after everyone sees the photos of the adults.

Matt

[Guest]

Bruno:

A lot of "Tefakas" for you...I guess I'd bankrupt in Alfred's hands if landscaping my place there...

The florencei is neat and very decorative. Looks like a miniature multiple extended neck coconut seedling young clump. How old must those be?

I kind of fell in love with the betefakas though...I get applause from the coconuts here when it starts a breeze, but from Dypsis... must be something else...

[bruno]

Wow, thanks for all that applause! More tonight. If you want to ask Alfred here is his email adress:

        mgnflora@wanadoo.mg

bruno

[bruno]

A partial view of the shaded area.

[bruno]

Now we start with the xerophytes. Don't ask me for any names, Alfred was not with me that day so I could not find out what they were and the secretary knew the names of only a few dypsis.

[bruno]

Strange looking plants. In the forefront it looks like an old dried out cheese. But it makes super little flowers.

[bruno]

I really like those small, plump little "things" in a battered old plastic container.

[bruno]

same family I suppose, but different looking, plump little figures.

[bruno]

Aren't they bonsaï looking plants?

[bruno]

more with pretty flowers.

[bruno]

No leaves on this one and the tips are red. Tana in the distance again.

[bruno]

Sorry I had to reduce the image just above, because the original picture is much nicer.

[bruno]

The shape of this one caught my eye.

[bruno]

I remember seeing some of these in the north near Antsiranana, in the "small tsinguy" region. The stem that comes out of the center can be very long, 6/8 meters, a few leaves at the end and a beautiful flower. The soil was rock, cracks in the rocks that are razor sharp sometimes. Very dry area.

[bruno]

Coming out in the palm area again with all the decaryi in cultivation.

[bruno]

Last pic of that series at Alfred's nursery.

If you don't mind, I'll post soon, on this same topic, pics of Anjozorobe, "domaine de la croix vallon", a private reserve where I was a few days ago. I saw 7 varieties of palms, small ones that grow in the shade. There is also a lemur, unique to that area, 3000 hectares saved from the fires because it has been privately owned for the past hundred years or so.

[Walter John]

amazing!!

[JD in the OC]

As always Bruno, your contributions to the forum are priceless!

I just bought a Dypsis "Big Fishtail", and Dypsis "Kindreo" today.   I also have seedlings of Betefaka and Honkona.  To see them as larger plants is truly amazing!

Out of curiosity, how much did you pay for that O. ravaka?  I have a tiny seedling that barely moves.  I'd love to get a 5 gallon, but it would probably cost $500 out here.

JD

[JD in the OC]

I guess "priceless" was a funny word to use.  How about "unrivaled"

Should really proof-read more...

[Dypsisdean]

Bruno,

I am assuming the palms that Alfred has growing in the ground will eventually be dug up and sold. Or are they mainly for seed stock? Many in this forum have remarked about how fragile Bismarkias are when the roots are disturbed. Do you have any idea if Alfred or anyone else has luck with digging and moving larger Bismarkias?

[Guest]

(Dypsisdean @ Jun. 28 2006,03:00)

QUOTE

Bruno,

I am assuming the palms that Alfred has growing in the ground will eventually be dug up and sold. Or are they mainly for seed stock? Many in this forum have remarked about how fragile Bismarkias are when the roots are disturbed. Do you have any idea if Alfred or anyone else has luck with digging and moving larger Bismarkias?

I was gonna ask the same thing.

Bruno, thanks for posting the pics.

Cheers, jam

[bruno]

Well, it did not occur to me that those palms in the ground would be for seeds! I thought they dig them out for clients. I will ask alfred first. I think i paid the orania something like 35 us dollars. Far from your 500!

A new topic after Alfred's nursery is Anjozorobe, 70 km from Tana, a two hour drive. This pic show you the camp, the dining room in a tent. It is a very pleasant place. They are building a "hard" restaurant that will be ready by the end of july they told me.

[bruno]

I forgot to start with this one! I had made an appointment with those two men before going to anjozorobe. They were supposed to bring me 100 kgs of beautiful red earth that I will use on some of the walls of my house. I liked their cart, so here is the pic for you to enjoy.

[bruno]

This is what the forest looks like from the camp. It has nothing to do with Jeff Searle's forest further up north! It is cold here now, because anjozorobe is on the high plateaux, like tana. This morning it was 9°C at 7. The easterly winds are blowing hard. Winter is here too. The australians and south africans are not alone.