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I'd like to share some information and photos of the eight full days IPS'ers spent in Viet Nam. These include palms and a few shots of the cities and countryside. The hotels were super, people friendly and helpful, and the streets swarmed with tourists, many probably Americans, Europeans, or Australians. Many shops in the streets had signs in English below the Vietnamese text - I'm told that English is taught in the schools. The tour started in Hanoi and ended in Hoi An, sister city to Da Nang. Nights were spent is six separate cities. I was told that it never freezes in Viet Nam, and this permits landscapers to use many palms. Everywhere, one of the most prominent was the royal palm (Roystonea regia). There were tremendous numbers pf betelnuts (Areca catechu). Another very common sight was the coconut (Cocos nucifera). I also saw a few plantings of the Manila or Christmas palm (Adonidia merrilli) and Chinese fans (Livistona chinensis). Overall, the selection for landscaping was pretty predictable and not highly interesting. Hours of sitting by bus windows made possible many pictures of unique aspects of the environment. Here is a typical city street in Hanoi: Here is a gathering of ladies at some sort of gathering. The long dresses are an anomaly, where women dress in traditional forms to celebrate a religious holiday. Normally, men and women dress just like we do. Photo number 3 is either from Hanoi or Ninh Binh, and shows an aspect of city travel that is unlike the USA, where even the poorest person drives a car. In Viet Nam motor scooters are much more common than motor vehicles and often used by young people of both genders. Quite often, there is a passenger (friend, wife, girl friend, child) clinging to waist of the driver. Masks are more common than not - I am told (but not convinced) that it is due to air pollution in cities like Hanoi (estimated population 10 million). Crossing the countryside, the lower elevation land devoted to rice paddies, usually with a country village in the background. Occasionally, the villagers decide to sacrifice a little rice growing land to have a graveyard. These are usually filled with elaborate structures to mark the resting places that are products of the peoples real tradition and skill at monument making. I was told that the lotus is considered to be a symbol of Viet Nam (I was also told that it was a heron, also a bull).But here is a city monument, probably in Ha Tinh. The hammer and sickle to the upper left are, of course, a symbol the the Vietnamese Communist party. The government of Viet Nam has an explicit symbol in its flag, red with a yellow star. The next pic is from our tour of the Forbidden City in Hue, showing one of many elaborate monuments from Viet Nams ancient past: Now, let's turn our attention to palms. Rain, slippery mud, huge rocks to climb over, laziness, and advancing age caused me to turn back or avoid several of the field excursions. Here's yours truly with a Lanonia species on the first day, in Cuc Phuong NP. Most of my best photos are from Bach Ma NP, where we were transported to the top of a hill on a concrete road and left to walk down and look at palms in the vegetation on either side. when we had done all we wanted to we could flag down one of the minibuses going back down the hill. My first shot was of what may be Pinanga ammanensis or possibly a Nenga species - Bill Baker wasn't yet sure. His photo in Facebook several days ago is much better than mine, but the same palm. My next photo is of a palm that I think is what Dr. Baker entered in Facebook as Licuala dakrongensis. We saw many Plectocomia elongata, which I am told is the tallest rattan. Everyone got a picture of this Caryota no (Bill Baker's is best). Here are two pics of Calamus walkeri, which was highly abundant everywhere. the second vividly illustrates the thorns. Finally, I will end with a shot of Da Nang, taken from a hillside in the Son Tra Nature Reserve. Hope you enjoyed this, as I did in posting.

Listen to me, gentlemen. We mustn't lose hope. Even if I go to Antarctica, I'll take all my palm trees with me. Even if the giant Jubaea trees survive, I'll be satisfied. We will not lose hope. I've been quite offended when people ask me how I can have exotic, tropical palm trees in a cold climate. They're palm trees, not bombs. And I won't harm anyone by having them. They are my most precious plant kingdom.

I have a female needle palm without male counterparts around, which produced this year 4 well shaped fruits containing also seeds. This is a picture of two fruits and two seeds. I have never come across pollinated fruits and fertile seeds of this palm sp before, so I have zero experience. If I dissect the seeds, I will waste them and miss the chance of propagation. So I would like to know from a knowledgeable person, whether those fruits and seeds look at least pollinated and generally whether needle palms can also be hermaphrodite.

Mazat my friend, Restore it in spring. For next winter, install heat lamps and insulate the balcony with plastic or nylon. Wrap the palm tree in bubble wrap and frost netting. 🌴🌴🌴💪💪

Thanks @kim for sharing!

Lol you have reminded me of a saying by Reiner Werner Fassbinder: Ich werfe keine Bomben, ich mache Filme.

Another good batch of seeds @garrytsen 9 days after sowing I’m already getting germination on Trachycarpus Winsan, Himgarda and nanus. Got them on 26C heat mats. Some containers directly on the mats, some on top of other containers so temps probably range from 20-25C at the seeds. They’re in 70/30 coco-coir/perlite mix.

Thanks Harry, just living in paradise! Richard

Hetrospathe scitula looking pretty good!

I shall start this thread, this way when I plant a few more things in the garden it will be found here, and what a joy it will be, theres a lot to planted! So the new plants for today are kerriodoxas and chamaedorea adscendens a little reindhardtia gracilis a philodendron hose buono and a Zamia variegata. This little batch should get the garden looking good from the deck.

are butia odorata

Double flames?

Kilauea volcano erupts, closes Hawaii highways Hollering out to our various Big Island Palm Talkers. @Kim @Dypsisdean @Hilo Jason @HiloGreg @bgl and all the rest, hope you're okay. Yeah, I treat myself to a little whine now and again over the winds, but this takes mega-bakeries full of cakes . . . .

Glad you are all well and out of harms way . Thank you @DoomsDave for starting a thread so our Hawaii folks can check in and report , fortunately out of the threat of the eruptions so far. Harry

Should transplant well. As was mentioned , Chamaedorea are fairly straight forward . Most are shade loving palms and a fresh transplant will need just a bit more attention . Give it a bit more water until it settles in after getting as much root ball as possible , assuming it is ground planted , not in a pot. The palm will go through a bit of adjustment coming out of a controlled environment like a greenhouse. Harry

I never imagined you had such low temperatures. In winter, I get -3 to -4 degrees Celsius at sea level. In the same area, but at higher altitudes, it can reach -14 degrees Celsius or lower. Further south in Chile, the temperature is even colder, almost apocalyptic.

Some beautiful palms in that haul, dypsis palms are such a great palm for my climate. Such exotic varieties available and the smaller varieties are just so beautiful. Summer is over so planting time again and with no shortage of stock plants iam a planting. Richard

We here in sunshine and warmth are akin to using a reciprocating saw to do division of plants, I don’t know so uncivilised in Tasmania, must be the cold weather that slows down the thought process 🤣

I would say a pretty good chance given the the fact it would have a rather tightly packed root system being such a large clump. Golden canes are very similar and easy when you have a large clump. Plus theres a lot of good canes to grab hold off and lift with. Go for it trim a few leaves and water in with seaweed extract for vitamin B stress relief!

Subject: Quick Update from the Fortress – Growth doesn't lie! 🌿🔥 Hi everyone, thanks for the lively discussion and the critical views! Special thanks to Janni for the neighborly perspective – I totally get your point about the Chamaedorea in the front yard. However, there’s a massive biological difference between a ground-level garden and a 4th-floor balcony fortress. While it was -10.3°C (13.5°F) in the valley, my microclimate here—supported by the building's thermal mass and my 100% passive Sagex (EPS) insulation—prevented even a single ice day on the balcony! The proof is in the pushing: Despite the skepticism about a "war of attrition," my Kentia is already pushing a solid new spear right now! This isn't "growing backwards"; it's active regeneration in real-time. To Phoenikakias: Don’t worry, Konstantinos! I have the fungicide ready in the fortress to prevent any "rot-error" during this warm spring eruption. The experiment continues. Fortune favors the bold! 🌴💎 Kind regards Mazat

You knew a stand alone thread regarding ..what is likely to be an unprecedented spring heatwave event here in the western /southwestern U.S. ... was coming... In some cases, it is already kicking off in parts of the west as we speak.. 86F currently ( 11:51AM ) here in the neighborhood w/ numerous, low 90s already in many neighborhoods nearby. Seeing numerous areas at /above 86F across S.Cal right now as well ..and a few spots up around the Bay Area already breaching the 80's mark. While hot springs aren't anything new to this portion of the country, what looks to unfold in the coming days, esp. after the start of next week, will see temps, ...both morning minimums and " top out " daytime highs... exceed daily, and / or monthly records ..for BOTH March and April.. in many areas that typically escape such events. Daniel Swain, over at Weather West, covers this nicely both in his livestream on YT a couple days ago, and in his blog post yesterday ( Here, for those who can't seem to type in " Weather West " in their web browsers: https://weatherwest.com/archives/43745 ) *** Note in his blog discussion the potential connection between these types of extreme ridges, and Atmospheric River events.. While often bland / leaning too conservative, IMO, in their daily forecast discussions, PHX NWS has been doing a pretty good job laying out what will be a pretty eye opening stretch of weather, ...even by our standards.. fairly well. Not the 2nd paragraph discussing when we typically see our first 105 / 105+F days here.. Here at least, only " saving grace " relief- wise may be overnight temps not staying as hot as they do later on in the spring / over the summer.. With surface temps expected to stay +15 - 30F / 8 -14+C warmer than normal thru this event, communities located up in the mountains here in AZ, and various parts of CA, UT, NV, and NM may see record shattering morning lows during this event. We'll see what ours look like once this event gets going. Regarding potential highs? ** Well, lol ..if you live here / in Tucson, get ready to experience a multi day stretch of 100 / 100+ heat, with the potential for flirting with 110 not off the table here / reaching it, at least on one day possible in places around Palm Springs /Indio, and El Centro. Tucson could breach the 102+ mark for a day or two.. Their monthly record high is ...99F ** Normally cool, ..even while we bake.. Flagstaff could see highs reach the mid 80s.. ** Sonoita, sitting right around 4Kft elevation, and communities within the Borderlands down south could flirt with the mid 90s, with exceeding that not off the table in some spots down there.. ** How about a 5 day stretch in ST. George, with 95F ...or slightly hotter.. possible there. Las Vegas? ..you too may reach / exceed 100F wayy earlier than normal too. ABQ, Las Cruces and El Paso? stretch of 80 -mid 80s in ABQ, possible some spots flirt with 90.. Multi - day stretch of 90 - 90+ heat ..with breaching 95 / flirting with 100F not off the table in both Las Cruces and El Paso not off the table in either area.. As Daniel mentioned in his live stream, Denver and Co. Springs may also see temps reach / breach 80 at some point during this event as well.. Think you're escaping this one, normally cool spots in Cali.? ..think again.... While 10 day forecasts currently being issued by WX underground are a bit modest / seem subdued, spending some time looking over the current thinking among point and click forecasts from the NWS offices out there, ..some of the numbers i'm seeing ..are down right nuts ..esp. for MID MARCH.. While the deserts, parts of inland S.Cal, and the Cen. Valley can get a bit toasty ..by their definitions of " toasty ".. this time of year, areas around the SF / Monterey Bay Areas typically have to wait a few weeks / let alone months..... to see some of the temps being suggested.. like.. ** Mid / upper 80s possible in parts of San Francisco *** San Jose ( near downtown ) and the southwestern suburbs where i grew up ( Los Gatos / Almaden areas ) seeing a multi day stretch in the 90s, with the possibility of reaching 95 not totally off the table.. Inland spots in the East Bay likely seeing similar highs too.. Morgan Hill , Gilroy, and Hollister flirting with the mid / upper 90s ..someone cracking 100 not totally off the table either.. Reaching / exceeding 100F near the Pinnacles highly possible.. ** Reaching / exceeding 90, near the beaches, around Santa Cruz / Capitola possible.. W/ 90 -90+ readings, on a day or two possible places like Watsonville / Salinas. Knowing how hot it could get near the beaches, won't be shocked to see some of the neighborhood - level " hot spots " in the S.C. mountains reach / breach 95F Even Monterey may flirt with 90 in a few spots.. ** Cen valley looks ..toasty.. with Sacramento likely to break it's all time March high and Fresno ..potentially... reaching / exceeding 95F on one or two days of the 5 forecast to reach / exceed 90F. Coastal / near coastal spots around Southern CA areas that are typically more moderate compared to desert areas may see desert -like highs.. ** If they don't reach / break it over the next couple days, Los Angeles may break ( ..or shatter ) the 100F mark.. with 100F readings possible in places like the San Fernando Valley, and Pasadena areas.. ** Similar readings now ..and very possible next week across Orange County.. ** Inland Empire will likely see at least a day or two above 99, if not exceeding 101F ** San Diego, near downtown? You may actually reach / exceed 90F today ..and again next week.. ..while inland spots like Escondido, Pasqual Valley, Poway, Ramona, and Santee / El Cajon may reach 100F for a couple days Coastal spots like Oceanside, La Jolla = seeing some mid 80s there right now. May reach / breach?? that mark again next week. Ooff, 😬 In a nutshell ..No one won't feel the effects of what is going to be the deafening sound of shattering records across a huge swath of land over the next 7-14 days.. How long does it last?? That depends on which current WX model thinking wins out.. Some current thoughts from ..say the GFS, want to move the ridge east / offer up some relief by the 21st /22nd. Other thinking from other model data break the ridge down a bit as some troughing passes over the top of it around the same time ..only to have the ridge try and rebuild over the west again around the 26th /27th.. Looking at today's thinking from the ECMWF ( surface / 2m mean anom. temp charts ) While the extreme +Anom shadings may back off by the end of the month, Overall warmer than normal anom shading doesn't budge across the west thru the current forecast period ..Apr. 27th.. Honestly, Just going to have to wait and see which direction that goes.. ..but, i won't be surprised if ..for the most part.. we're " ridged " for quite awhile.. For now, ..prepare for what is on the way ..esp. if here in AZ / nearby areas that could see a multi day stretch of temps at / above 100F ..areas that could see several days above 93F that aren't used to seeing such #s this early.. Long-time local ..or out of towner visiting the area.. STAY HYDRATED, and don't be that jagoff who puts the health and safety of first responders ..or folks in the general public at risk.. stay OFF THE TRAILS during the day.. Be interesting to see if Maricopa CO. issues any ..really early.. daytime trail closures next week. Hopefully they do, ..at least on the hottest days currently in the forecast. Much more to come.......

The thing with palms they can come clean out of a winter but die on you in summer because of the damage the winter brings.

Had you subjected your seeds to a floating test?

Please post updates about this palm over the next year or two.

Ughh… well I shouldn’t be too surprised since this has happened in the FL Panhandle the last few years (and coincides with the last frost dates up here), but still not fun to have to pull out some blankets and move inside some tender stuff.

I think many if not most Needle palms are hermaphroditic.

Hi Tim I do have a clump with seeds but I never put any in to germinate. I do remember getting a few seeds from a traveling salesman so to speak who said they were cocothrinax but that seems to be phoey. So iam still lost, I don’t think Acoelorrhaphe as well the colour and leaf shape, plus the thorns are more deadly on Acoelorrhaphe. Perhaps I shouldn’t have traded the cow for the magic bean seeds after all, those travelling salesman after all can be a bit doggie.

Woahhhhh that’s CRAZY I didn’t know you could grow them from seed haha! Ima have to do that to save money on those very expensive canna lily well tubers.

I live about 30 miles due east of Kilauea summit. Of course, I live directly ON Kilauea, just the lower slopes. The spectacular fountaining two days ago was episode 43. These have been happening roughly every two weeks for the last 15 months, but each one only last a few hours. It is difficult to catch them unless you happen to already be in the park when it starts. Despite being so close, I have not seen the 300-400 m high fountains in person. Surprisingly, all these eruptions have had essentially no impact on me. All the action is within the caldera. I did get a dusting of Pele's hair (fiber glass) from episode 41 or 42 several weeks ago. I had to disconnect my roof's rain gutters from my catchment tank until rain washed it off. Otherwise, I might as well be in Ohio. I have been more worried about big earthquakes, but so far I only felt one minor M4.5 a couple months ago. Fingers crossed. Here is what the recent eruption looked like on weather radar. Doppler radar sees the steam and ash cloud rising over 3,000 m, not the actual lava fountains. Today the island is covered in red and orange as a massive storm slowly passes over.

My first thought was Acoelloraphe. They are variable in terms of colour especially when small. Don’t you have a mature clump in your garden setting seed @happypalms? Any chance this came from that somehow? I can’t quite put my finger on what it is about it, but I don’t think Chamaerops. Maybe the fronds are too full/not deeply divided enough? Leaf bases also look a little off to me to be Chamaerops. All this being said, I’m not 100% confident on ID.

I'd guess 1970s +/- I think Butia appearance is just a lottery. 95% of them don't do it for me with the wiry wispy unkept open crown look. Nothing to do with manicure imo. Most mules inherit the trait too, don't like most of them either 😅

The form exists, You need to light the form

I dont think so either.

Second time recently, we’ve had to disconnect our water catchment system because we have tephra and Ash landing on the roof which gets into the gutters which gets into the water tank, but other than that, no problems here.

Lovely! A true Aussie jungle . Harry

Chuniophoenix nana!

Sabal Yapa new frond

Actually 32.72 F / 0.4 C community garden 425m

@guillerman looks like a nice crop of seeds on your palm. Plant some in a community pot, keep moist and they should sprout in a few months.

I just couldn’t pass up on some of the plants on offer at the pacsoa show this weekend. Just a couple more for the collection! satakentia liukiuensis kentiopsis oliviformis Dypsis ambositrae Geonoma atrovirens licuala sallehana Calyptrocalyx flabellata pinanga sarawakensis loxococcus rupicola calyptronoma occidentalisDypsis sp Bill Beattie Basselina glabrata Dypsis orange crush calmus muelleri polyandrococus caudescens Calyptrocalyx yummutumecalyptrocalyx flabellata cocothrinax guargruana Mapu for the wife you know how it is fellas you gotta get the wife a gift when you spend up! Zamia pictaDypsis hetromorphusDypsis avisonii Dypsis DrannsfieldiiDioon Rio verdeDioon holmgreniiSchippia concolor All set to go in the garden for a bit more of that tropical look chamearops humillis cocothrinax eckmanii licuala fractiflexavietcha montgomerianadypsis procera

Indeed, the warming is quite intense! It`s currently 12.3 C on the balcony fortress here in Arbon/Stachen Lake Constance! I`ve checked the tissue, and so far, everything remains stable. I haven`t applied a fungicide yet, but i have it ready in the fortress to prevent any rot-error during this spring eruption! Thanks for the heads-up, Konstantinos🤗

What is the temperature right now in the region around Bodensee? With real and permanent warming up there is a slight risk, that all severely scorched plants collapse. Have you applied any fungicide preemptively?

amazing, Richard 🤗

Great, Richard 🤗

Update on the technical data: While my solar-ventilated Bresser weather station at ground level (425m) recorded a minimum of -10.3°C (13.5°F), we only had 3 ice days in the valley. Up on my 4th-floor balcony, there were no ice days at all. Thanks to the thermal mass of the building and my 100% passive Sagex (EPS) insulation, the temperature rose above freezing every single day. This is why the Howea have solid spears and are already pushing new growth. Passive protection works if you understand your microclimate!

Similar to King Pyhrrus saying, another such survival and the plant will be ruined.

Konstantinos, the fronds are firm and cannot be pulled out; the heart appears intact and seems to be able to make it.

High school huh? I started my last year of high school in 1976, 50 years ago. At the risk of going way off topic, back in the first decade of the 2000's I ran my hobby nursery for a few years before the district decided it wanted permits, certificates and property rezoning. Here's a couple of pics from back then.

Yep, Colin!

I think the graminifolia in Australia are mostly from Colin Wilson I germinated some last summer easily another five years I should have some nice ones.