Plant-out at the Newcal corral

[Walter John]

Hi, another wonderful plant-out mission was carried out successfully over the weekend by palm society members in particular the ratpackers at Mike Greens (Newcal) residence in downtown Bonogin in the Gold Coast hinterland. The weather was great and much was achieved. Colin Wilson drove up from Kiama for the event, well done Col.

I took a few general photos of Mike's already established garden as well as some plant-out activities so let's roll the tape and get these pics up on screen, if you want to find out the species names, just ask.

[Walter John]

more.......

[Walter John]

more..

[Walter John]

I don't know what happened to the photos in post # 1.

Let's try again shall we ?

[Walter John]

looking into Mike's place, java and timor black bamboos planted near the gate.

Piggie

Marojejya living close to a Beccariophoenix

[surferjr]

Wow :drool: this place looks like Hawaii.

Nice pics Wal and great job to all involved!!

[Walter John]

last ones for tonight

at the front gate a lovely hibiscus near a bizzie.

hill planting

[Palm Guy]

Wow, nice pics! Very natural looking garden.

What are the palms in the last photo on post #4? Also, why is there aluminum/metal wrapped around the Archontophoenix? Bug detterant?

[BS Man about Palms]

[Walter John]

another look at that Pigafetta.

Amongst some others, and the crown, she's a beauty this one and getting real big.

[Walter John]

Plants getting ready for planting.

African oil palm is a monster.

Here's my fav spot of the lot, includes 3 Archontophoenix pupurea, a couple Licuala ramsayii, various broms etc.

not all palms

movin' mulch

movin' rocks, Mike is a specialist rock wall builder

[ariscott]

It looks like you all had fun!! So, where is the reserved spot for H. Ramsayi? In the Australian section too? The palms are back out in the sun now, out of the shadehouse. I would hate for them to rot in the wet season, although we haven't got a very good one this year so far... enough rain, but not as good as some years. Everything is still growing though.

Regards, Ari

[Jeff in St Pete]

Excellent photos Wal. Looks like paradise! I wish I could ship out African Oil palms, there must be 200 that size growing all over the property now. You can't give them away here.

Mike, fantastic job on the rock walls! They really enhance the overall beauty of your place.

[paulgila]

what an awesome garden! thanks for letting us tag along,wal!

[Walter John]

It would be remiss of me if I did not show the wonderful potted Rhapis adorning the earth level verandah of the house. These are all different potted specimens by the way.

There's a Licuala here too.

And what about this species, Rhapis sp.kawasakiyamaha

[Walter John]

The SS Colin Wilson never stopped, from dawn to dusk, from here to eternity, from a jack to a king, I bet he's still raking leaves as I type.

Give us a smile Uncle Col, there you go folks.

[Walter John]

Okay, let's get these plants in the ground, the plant-out picked up momentum when it was announced there was to be a huge bbq with rump and tbones and free beer all afternoon, but first the planting.

Lovely soil.

Ratpack Rob gets pumping with the tougher bigger plantings.

[Walter John]

Looks sweet, mulching nearly complete here.

That Elaeis guineensis is finally in the ground with some company.

Time to tackle sugar cane mulching on the aussie livistona and black palm tree hill, this is an example of a palm society plant out, featuring the ratpackers of Darwin. We are available for hire, anywhere, anytime, except dinner.

[Walter John]

Here's my last set of photos, hopefully Daryl or Colin can chime in with some of their photos, didn't anybody get a photo of me working ? bloody typical.

Colin was unstoppable and planted some bangalows near the top neighbour boundary.

Mike already has "spectacular spectacular" playing in the garden, here's a pair of Adonidia at the walkway flowing to a nice teddy bear palm.

It's still rockin' walls to me (go Mike)

How good does this look ?

There you go folks, I hoped you liked that. Over to you, comments welcomed

[brodklop]

It was a great time with mates planting and weeding getting ready the OZ palm section.

This spot will be bursting at the seems with livistonias and blacks.

Weeded and prepared for the big sunday plant out

[brodklop]

More pics of Mikes (newcal) garden

Hydriastele something or other

[brodklop]

Foxy

[brodklop]

highland redneck

[brodklop]

D. decipiens

[Daryl]

Here's a few photos taken after the work was done...

Beer O'Clock for Col and Wal

"What do you say Mr Hand? Time for another coldie??"

mmmm...smell those onions!

Wal's 'Stubby Lastelliana' stash

Most of the Ratpack crew with apprentice ratpacker Steve in the middle For those who are wondering... l to r Wal, Daryl, Steve, Rob, Colin and Mike on his knees

Daryl

[newcal]

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped out on the weekend at the plant out. It meant a lot to have good friends,good food doing what their passionate about(planting palms & cycads) and just enjoying the day! Ari, i still have a spot earmarked for that H.ramsayii, so i'll just leave it to you to grow it on for me at the moment ok! . Thanks Jeff and Paul for your inspirational comments...it's still a work in progress for me as i still have the dams ,waterfalls and paths around the property to do,not to mention more palm beds as well. Lastly thanks to Wal,Daryl,Brod and Colin for taking some pics of the day's action, as i was preoccupied with other duties(organi.sing bbq,bobcat and planting schedule). Again a big thanks!.....Cheers Mike Green (Newcal)

[ariscott]

Amazing how many you can plant in ONE day when you have a group of dedicated garden people. I remembered when we were just starting out planting our block, and one weekend, we were planting 30 trees between the 2 of us... Now, that almost killed us. Of course, it had to be in the middle of build up with 35 deg with no shade and 90% humidity. Thank goodness.... we don't do that very often ANYMORE....

Mike, It is still doing well. I am keeping an eye on it... I should take photos for you one day... Here is mine. BTW, are they all A. purpurea next to the water tank??

Regards, Ari

[realarch]

Totally impressed with the spirit and camaraderie you guys. Mike, your property is beyond words except maybe WOW! Thanks for the photos Wal & Brod, & Daryl.

[Walter John]

Thanks Tim, what can I say, we get on real well, I feel as if I've had a lucky break to know this bunch of lunatics. You should travel in a vehicle with the ratpackers, it's hilarious to say the least.

Ari, that area had 3 mount lewis, two ramsayii, a hydriastele wendlandiana (new guinea form), various broms, some pine tree, perhaps Mike could kindly reply with details.

Here's some more Dypsis palms, one of those interesting Dypsis sp.bef palms isn't it Mike ?.

Try and ID these.

[Cycadcenter]

Wal,

Are you really trying to convince us that you did any work and not just walked around taking photos,

YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WITH THONGS ON, NOT EXACTLY WORKING ATIRE.

Bruce

[MattyB]

Great PRA Wal and the Ratpack! What Bruce dosen't realize is that when wearing those sandals, Wal can quickly kick them off and put his extra long, overgrown, great horned toe nails into action, breaking up even the heaviest of clay soils.

[Walter John]

Bruce, ha ha ha , unlike the others, I look after my feet after a hard days night, ah, work, so I removed my rugby boots accordingly.

Matty, no comment..

Because I was so dirty from WORKING so hard, I had to go round the back to the laundry to wash my hands and look what I discovered, Mikes private New Caledonian garden...

[ariscott]

mount lewis?? They look bluish on the crownshaft... that is why I though they were purpurea...

Regards, Ari

[Walter John]

  ariscott said:

mount lewis?? They look bluish on the crownshaft... that is why I though they were purpurea...

Regards, Ari

Purpurea are from Mount Lewis Ari. We often refer to them as "Mount Lewis" palms here in oz, at least here in Queensland anyway..

[Walter John]

Only $7.50 a piece, can't complain about that.

hey !, where's my legs ?

[JD in the OC]

Good photos, good times!

The third picture in post #2 looks like some Dypsis orange crush... right? One of my favorite pinnate palms by far!!

[Tassie_Troy1971]

Nice place ,bet a Tasmanian like me would sweat planting in that humidity !

[Walter John]

  Tassie_Troy1971 said:

Nice place ,bet a Tasmanian like me would sweat planting in that humidity !

Hi Troy, we're having another plant-out soon at Daryl's place, get up here for that and let's see.

[newcal]

JD your correct....it's a Orange Crush. Wal,post 29 ...the pine your refering to is the Daintree Pine and yes the Dypsis is sp Bef. Spent this afternoon tidying up the leftover mulch, planting assorted Pinangas and Areca vestiarias and clivea miniata(Belgian hybrids) and finishing the rock wall...Phew time for another beer....cheers Mike Green (Newcal)

[Utopia Palms]

Great Job guy’s, I’m looking forward to Colin’s photos; he reckons he took a few of you all hard at work…Hey Daryl…!

Ps Mike Thanks for the plants Colin dropped them off and they look great..!

Clayton.