Jungle clearing in Puerto Rico, Part One

[Cindy Adair]

Back from IPS travels I began digging out my farm. Gave up on the manicured look long ago!

Then I had some extra time on my hands so I have cleared some new paths as well. Picture taking is a little easier in those areas now.

I will start with the easy to walk part that used to house a nursery and show some of the things I have added to the wonderful collection already there.

Now that I am clearing to the ugly chain link fence I lose privacy, but gain sun so I expect a growth spurt soon. And I do have lots of privacy in the acres behind the house...

I am sneaking in a few non palms too as they grabbed my attention as well. They are just there as palm accents, really.

Part Two in another thread will be one of my really steep areas that almost no one has walked but me, but has some nice unusual stuff.

Please be patient as I am beginning in slow free wi fi, and although I expect renewed data tomorrow, my response time may not be as rapid as I would like!

First one of my Pelagodoxas at the entrance to this area. The photo does not show the lovely silver underside to the leaves. 

Next is my variegated Caryota mitis.

Here I insert a freely blooming orchid on a non palm across from the Caryota. 

Whew these are slow to download and the place is cold with annoying music too! I will try to persevere to add a few more. 

 

 

 

[Cindy Adair]

I already got these out of order as the first palm I consider part of this area is my largest Cyrtostachys. No sign of flowers yet but lots of runners. I still need to prune more to showcase this beauty.

 

This difficult to see photo gives a hint of the the newly cleared background.

[Kostas]

Very nice Cindy! Love the Pelagodoxa and Phalaenopsis but the whole scenery must be amazing!

[Cindy Adair]

First is Chambeyronia sp. houailouwith a pretty new leaf.

Then Dypsis pusilla.

Next Coccothrinax miraguama v. roseocarpa which had been stuck in way too much shade.

Dypsis boiviniana

Dypsis saintelucei dwarf

Basselinia humboltiana

and lastly for now, Johannesteijsmannia altifrons

and Dypsis sp. dark mealybug or whatever the current name is?

 

 

 

[Cindy Adair]

15 minutes ago, Kostas said:

Very nice Cindy! Love the Pelagodoxa and Phalaenopsis but the whole scenery must be amazing!

Thanks! Yes, I think you would particularly appreciate the craziness of the other less civilized parts of my farm. 

[DoomsDave]

W O W !

[DoomsDave]

how are the Roystoea borquies doing?

[Cindy Adair]

My huge ones look great and make lots of seed but way up high.

Then the small amount of seed that actually hits the ground is mostly rotten or seems to pop into an alternate universe as I don't see it below. I have smaller trees that volunteered, but nowhere near the big fruiting ones. Mysterious.

I am now watching multiple trees around the neighborhood that lean over the street making the small seed easier to find. I will continue to be vigilant as this species is quite majestic.

 

[DoomsDave]

pant pant pant

[Rusty on Pine Is.]

Very cool palms, Cindy, looks like you have bee hard at work...the C. renda is beautiful.    Really like your palm location markers with the flagging tape, bet it really helped when the undergrowth was there.......thanks for posting the pics. 

[Alicehunter2000]

Looks like progress....remind us again what altitude,  lot size and general location you are in. When I lived in Sabana Grand used to love looking at the mountains in the distance. Such beautiful topography there. Can you smell coffee plantations where you are?

[PalmatierMeg]

Looks wonderful, Cindy. Love seeing palms I can't grow here.

[Cindy Adair]

12 hours ago, Alicehunter2000 said:

Looks like progress....remind us again what altitude,  lot size and general location you are in. When I lived in Sabana Grand used to love looking at the mountains in the distance. Such beautiful topography there. Can you smell coffee plantations where you are?

I am at 900 feet and have about 7 acres. I do like the way coffee flowers smell, but can't smell them from my house. Lots of other good smelling flowers though!

Thank you all for your interest and kind comments! Hopefully can add a few more photos tomorrow before starting on Part two of my recent clearing (and path building) efforts.

[Cindy Adair]

First another non palm slips in. I received cuttings as a gift and do not know the name. Please let me know but if I don't hear I will post this properly in the other than palms section.

Next is a Licuala ferruginea planted in July 2014 as a tiny seedling of course.

 

Then one of my two Calyptrocalyx micholitzii. I actually lost the first one in what will be my clearing part two thread. I mean by that not that it was dead but that it was so covered in jungle plants even the PVC pipe was not visible. Obviously a survivor species. I really like this one with its lovely new leaf color and petite size (so far). I would like a dozen more of these.

Oh, my data home internet is slow today with not even my first photo downloaded yet...... Everyone nearby on their computer too? Finally!

Here is one planted in April 2014, Heterospathe barfordii.

 

 

 

[Cindy Adair]

Pinanga kanchanaburiensis planted 2 years ago. Also some nearby invasive gingers and such.

Basselinia pancheri, not looking too good. Hope it makes it!

I am cheating as I still need to clear more here. Dypsis lantzeana beginning to clump just planted 1 year ago.

Pinanga watanaiana also two years in the ground from a baby with some surrounding weeds. Well actually there is a nice terrestrial Sobralia orchid next too it, just the blooms only last one day so none to see now.

New leaves of this one can be a nice pink before turning green like this leaf. The mottling persists though.

Too much to really clear in this former vivero (nursery) area without a chainsaw! Extra huge common palms and nice ornamentals which I already have in other spots. And dropped fronds from big native Royals and a nice Prestonia acuminata v. montana. Big things grown through pots and nice pulasan, jackfruit and rambutans (that all need pruning) along with overly large clumps of heliconias and gingers... And invasive African tulip tree stumps. And lots more big nice cycads and fruit trees and flowers from a wonderful collection (that rooted through pots) to sort out.  

I would not want to be bored.

 

[Josh-O]

On 7/22/2016, 2:28:35, Cindy Adair said:

I already got these out of order as the first palm I consider part of this area is my largest Cyrtostachys. No sign of flowers yet but lots of runners. I still need to prune more to showcase this beauty.

 

This difficult to see photo gives a hint of the the newly cleared background.

wow! looks great Cindy. How long did it take to get it that cleaned up?

[Josh-O]

On 7/22/2016, 2:50:56, Cindy Adair said:

First is Chambeyronia sp. houailouwith a pretty new leaf.

Then Dypsis pusilla.

Next Coccothrinax miraguama v. roseocarpa which had been stuck in way too much shade.

Dypsis boiviniana

Dypsis saintelucei dwarf

Basselinia humboltiana

and lastly for now, Johannesteijsmannia altifrons

and Dypsis sp. dark mealybug or whatever the current name is?

 

 

 

Dypsis sp. dark mealybug  is one of my personal fav's

[Cindy Adair]

Thanks! This part is easy since the shade is so pleasant, no hills to climb and close to the house. The paths themselves were already there just from frequent foot traffic. Quick to get tools or grab water or head for cover if it starts to rain.

So maybe three mornings and one afternoon by myself and a couple of hours of help with what I have done so far. Headed back there in a minute to do more after lunch.

[Josh-O]

29 minutes ago, Cindy Adair said:

Thanks! This part is easy since the shade is so pleasant, no hills to climb and close to the house. The paths themselves were already there just from frequent foot traffic. Quick to get tools or grab water or head for cover if it starts to rain.

So maybe three mornings and one afternoon by myself and a couple of hours of help with what I have done so far. Headed back there in a minute to do more after lunch.

what a fun project

thanks for posting all those fantastic pictures.

[Really full garden]

Cindy your property looks very similar to my highland garden. Most of my garden is on a steep hillside. I never even attempt to climb up there without taking my phone and telling my security guards where I am going. I almost need mountain climbing gear. I actually use a slingshot to shoot hardened rocks of fertilizer near the bases of plants.

Some of my prime growing areas ( slight slope) are filled with some very old diseased citrus that I am slowly removing to reclaim some great palm growing areas.

Ideally some day I would like to build elevated walkways like those in Everglades National Park, but sadly I think that much treated lumber is cost prohibitive in Guatemala.

I am building cobble stone walkways to reach these reclaimed areas and every month they advance by 10-15 feet.

When I lived in Houston I had a very creative friend who used asphalt shingles to make walkways and use as edging for garden beds.Houston had just had a hurricane or tropical storm pass through so many homes were having their roofs repaired and replaced so there was an almost endless supply of old shingles available for free. 

[doranakandawatta]

Pinanga watanaiana also two years in the ground from a baby

Wow, such a beautiful Pinanga I never saw before! thank you Cindy. Your weeds are magnifique !
Coming back from IPS biennal to your private wonderful palm collection and jungle must be so exhausting! isn't it?
 

 

[Cindy Adair]

On July 24, 2016 at 1:25:03 PM, Josh-O said:

what a fun project

thanks for posting all those fantastic pictures.

Thank you Josh!

[Cindy Adair]

23 hours ago, scottgt said:

Cindy your property looks very similar to my highland garden. Most of my garden is on a steep hillside. I never even attempt to climb up there without taking my phone and telling my security guards where I am going. I almost need mountain climbing gear. I actually use a slingshot to shoot hardened rocks of fertilizer near the bases of plants.

Some of my prime growing areas ( slight slope) are filled with some very old diseased citrus that I am slowly removing to reclaim some great palm growing areas.

Ideally some day I would like to build elevated walkways like those in Everglades National Park, but sadly I think that much treated lumber is cost prohibitive in Guatemala.

I am building cobble stone walkways to reach these reclaimed areas and every month they advance by 10-15 feet.

When I lived in Houston I had a very creative friend who used asphalt shingles to make walkways and use as edging for garden beds.Houston had just had a hurricane or tropical storm pass through so many homes were having their roofs repaired and replaced so there was an almost endless supply of old shingles available for free. 

It does seem we can grow some of the same things... If you are ever in PR feel free to stop by and compare.

I do usually have my phone but typically turn on the news to catch up and often run down the battery...

Wow, I do not have or need security guards or mountain climbing gear even in this area so yours sounds more steep. Yes I have the diseased citrus issue for sure. Cobblestone walkways sound lovely though. Not enough rocks nearby to make that possible. There is likely treated lumber but here with any ground contact I am guessing it would not last too long.

Interesting about the reclaimed shingles in Houston. Of course no such shingles that I see around here, likely because the storms would toss them as happened in Houston!

[Cindy Adair]

2 hours ago, doranakandawatta said:

Pinanga watanaiana also two years in the ground from a baby

Wow, such a beautiful Pinanga I never saw before! thank you Cindy. Your weeds are magnifique !
Coming back from IPS biennal to your private wonderful palm collection and jungle must be so exhausting! isn't it?
 

 

Thank you for your kind words!

And yes, I do love to stay busy, especially around palm trees, as perhaps my fellow pre and post tour long option hikers can attest....

[Cindy Adair]

On July 24, 2016 at 12:55:09 PM, Cindy Adair said:

Thanks! This part is easy since the shade is so pleasant, no hills to climb and close to the house. The paths themselves were already there just from frequent foot traffic. Quick to get tools or grab water or head for cover if it starts to rain.

So maybe three mornings and one afternoon by myself and a couple of hours of help with what I have done so far. Headed back there in a minute to do more after lunch.

Yes, I did spend another morning cleaning around the shade house/ former vivero area. Then I opted for one of the more challenging portions as I needed more of a challenge. See my part two soon and I'll follow up with more on Part One as I get back to it.

[rick]

Wow Cindy your jungle is looking great! Everything is so lush and green. Reminds me I need to fertilize more.

Your cutting looks like Weeping Blue Ginger (Dichorisandra pendula).

On 7/24/2016, 11:59:20, Cindy Adair said:

First another non palm slips in. I received cuttings as a gift and do not know the name. Please let me know but if I don't hear I will post this properly in the other than palms section.

 

 

[Peter Pacific]

Love it Cindy!

[Cindy Adair]

20 hours ago, rick said:

Wow Cindy your jungle is looking great! Everything is so lush and green. Reminds me I need to fertilize more.

Your cutting looks like Weeping Blue Ginger (Dichorisandra pendula).

 

Thank you for your kind words Rick and also for correctly identifying the flower! I will make a proper aluminum label tomorrow and have even been given more cuttings this week!

[Cindy Adair]

7 hours ago, Peter Pacific said:

Love it Cindy!

Thank you so much. There really are some large beauties here, but my focus was to clear first the small ones that were at risk of being swallowed by the jungle.

[Cindy Adair]

This morning I had hoped to head early to work on my "Part two" area, but instead I spent awhile dealing with a fallen trunk of a white blooming oleander that had blocked my driveway and also the main entrance to my "part one" area.

My handy loppers and a pruning saw cut the pieces into manageable size.

Then a kindly neighbor helped by dragging away the largest part, while I chopped the smaller branches to form another slow compost pile under the coconuts.

I can't plant anything I really like under the coconuts anyway as the fronds and (many missile like coconuts) will flatten them. 

The good thing is that I wanted to chop this oleander way back anyway to get a better view of the Cyrtostachys. It was not tops on my list until it blocked my car in the driveway! As you may be able to tell, I took out the other taller limbs leaving only the sprouts from the base intertwined in a red ixora. 

 

I did make some cuttings and some may sprout from my new compost pile as well.

[DoomsDave]

more more more!

 

[Cindy Adair]

As I just posted here  http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/50458-jungle-clearing-in-puerto-rico-part-two/#comment-770660 , the chance to see more orchids is luring me away today. Back to my jungle later...

[Cindy Adair]

Since this is about jungle clearing, I will add another interruption to my work/fun in this area. Yesterday the power was out even though it was not actually raining.

I decided to take advantage of the situation and cut down the remaining vines wrapped around the power line to my house. That involved using a pruning saw to remove branches from a crape myrtle as well. I am quite cautious around electricity and wanted to do this myself rather than expose anyone else if I accidentally pulled the power line down.

No wasps which was great!

And I saw this snake before cutting its branch. Just a racer snake but still had it fallen on me as I directed the branch away from the nice plants underneath it would not have been pleasant for either of us.

Nothing for scale (pun not intended) in this shot and like a fish story the snake gets bigger in my mind all the time. Yes, I did use the telephoto lens.

Then I thought, well that's done. They probably have territories so in this small tree that's the only one. Yes, you guessed it, the second snake was bigger but actually headed rapidly away along the power line itself.

It did occur to me that when the power came on there might be a surge so I was glad to finish up. Then I went back inside to see that the electricity had returned without my notice. 

Oh, the orchid show was of course worth the drive.Here are a couple of the usual nice displays. And a few more (I did show restraint!) came back with me (not pictured).

 

However I thought you might enjoy some palms I bypassed, the $3 seedling Cyrtostachys renda. Hoping mine will bloom soon and I can start my own! An easy grow around much of the island.

By the time I returned it was raining so no jungle work today! I celebrated guessing the correct turn off the busy roundabout to escape metro San Juan! Not as simple as reversing the drive to the orchid show! I much prefer the curving pothole filled mountain roads closer to the farm...

More palms big and small from this area next post here, I promise!