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Jacobinia carnea

Mods: are we allowed to brag/skite/be big headed on this sub forum ?? Never mind...here goes : "Hi Doug, It’s Larissa Romensky from Gardening Australia. Thanks for meeting with us and showing us your incredible garden. I’d love to include you as part of the Darwin episode - we’re filming between the 18th and 29th May. I’m just working out exact dates. What’s your email so I can stay in contact that way, if that’s okay? Cheers Larissa...." Bit of saga for me as I'm in Camden, NSW ( 4,000klm from home in Darwin ) atm, so I have to get my backside into gear to be home a week early so I can prepare as in watering, picking up palm fronds, clean up after the cursed bush chooks that will have moved cubic meters of soil onto garden paths etc... ( cursed things )...lol So anyways, I flew home from Sydney for a week to do the filming... 'Well they wanna film at mine on the 18th May ( confirmed today ) so I will fly home a few days prior and then back down here to finish off cleaning and then disposing of Mum's place. They said they'll be at mine all day filming to get enough footage...and to leave my old busted / broken rusty trailer full of palm fronds in the driveway....lol. I'm thinkin' a few thawed out cane toads from the freezers strategically placed, a coupla fruit bat carcasses and with a bit of luck the resident carpet snake will make an appearance.... oh and I will put a coupla green tree frogs in the downstairs tpilet and washing machine ( if they're not in there already... hehe'. 'The crew from Gardening Australia filming at my place today... Been a long day but of course very interesting seeing how its all done and how it all comes together... I think they needed an old school Darwin palm garden and someone who is fulla B/S and talks crap .... so I fitted the bill....lol The ABC boys hiding the beers I fed them ...hehe, I was under no such constraints... [img] [img] [img] [img] So basically they were filming at my place to show off an old style Darwin palm garden that was planted 35-40 years ago.... the storyline exploring how palms have fallen out of favour in modern Darwin gardens/landscaping. I was able to show them the ravages of the Ganoderma disease, some exotic wins and failures, damage from TC Fina that tore through my place 6 months ago ... and of course the mountains of fronds/green waste that I have to deal with... all on a suburban block of 900 square meters. Oh and the fact that I'm mostly a 'lapsed' enthusiast who has forgotten the names of some of my exotics, and that I never had ( and still havent a 'plan' re plantings ... nowasays if a bird or a fruit bat poops out a seed and it sprouts, I mostly let them grow... as in keeping with the shady jungle theme. Anyways a days worth of filming for perhaps a 5-10 min segment on a national TV show... yeah, I'll calling it a win...lol The show goes to air on 25th Sept 2026 on ABC TV.

Yep, from quite a few years ago!

With the final days of June ...and the longest day of the year... quickly passing in the rear view mirror, and the road ahead leading right into the heart of the " Season Of The Sun.. " so too do we enter what most consider the best season of the year here in AZ and surrounding areas, Monsoon Season.. That time of year that captivates any ..and everyone who respects and deeply admires the incredible dynamics of a unique place situated right at the edge of the tropics. 'Tis That time of year when a much welcomed, magic wand can be waved across the land ....rapidly transforming otherwise " boring " and thirsty - looking landscapes into hard to forget, lush, and vivid visions of seemingly far away places that are wetter and greener ...if only for just a few months.. ...When everything comes together, just the way we hope it does, that is. ....That time of year when seemingly un- ending, blazing, sun drenched heat can be broken by it's own brute force in unforgettable displays involving two of nature's greatest forces, Water, and Electricity.. When its good, really good, areas outside the arena ( Arena = Core area of the North American Monsoon Region ) that often sit on the sidelines, hoping for -anything- get to experience shared episodes of this incredible gift from the tropics from the comforts of their own backyards ..or a favorite beach.. While no two years are ever alike, ..Tis' the mystery that is this summer season weather pattern, and some years leave everyone with the unpleasant taste of disappointment, when the sun wins out, there is a valuable lifes' -lesson in that disappointment.. Kick back, Relax ..And convince me ..that things will be better, ..next year.. With the first week or so of the season under way ..both ways it is laid out, ..What comes next? ..Are things looking as promising as everyone has suggested, ..for months? ...or are we staring down another year of ...some deg. ... of humbling, ahead.. ? Instead of laying out my thoughts as i have in past years threads on the subject, One can go back to past threads on the subject to research the " nuts n' bolts ", if curious.. I'll just say this.... June 11th - June 25th rainfall via Rainlog.org .. = While not widespread just yet, this isn't a " horrible " look, either.. Anyone well versed in their Monsoon season -ology fully understands ...and accepts, that our summer season rainfall is always a bit random, rarely uniform, esp. during the opening act portion of the season.. That said, Tucson could share some though, lol. Areas across the borderlands, Tucson, and parts of the Rim/ White Mountains / N.E. AZ, UT ..and New Mexico.. saw some activity yesterday as well, though it doesn't seem that data has been included in the current maps yet.. Nice to see some numbers on the board for New Mexico and El Paso already this year too... Some living elsewhere may laugh at these totals but, ..This is how a good season can start here.. It is only June. Typically, Real rains don't start kicking in until after the 4th of July.. Tucson, at the Airport, is already wayy ahead of normal, ..for now.. ( 1.05" to date, vs. the typical .18" - .22" June Avg. ) Still, ..i need some convincing.. As mentioned, season itself has started off right - on - the - mark.. Actually qualifies as the earliest start on record. = a good thing? ..Convince me.. An end of the month check of SSTs, both in the East Pac. and Gulf ( of CA ) = pretty decent. ** See the video at the end for more clues.. < SOTO and NOAA Contour Chart Data > SST Temps.. Northern Gulf of CA. = Redder, the better Current Anomalies.. Not too bad.. A different view of chart 1 Add in the suggested continued warming we should see as we head forward from the quickly developing El Nino ..and ..good odds for what most forecasts have been suggesting.. ..Still, ..Feel free, to convince me. Overall look of factors examined every year, ...that are going to be scrutinized really closely this year.. 1 = ENSO Region.. = Rapidly developing positive ENSO / El Nino phase this year.. Could that be a good ..and not so great... thing? 2 = Suggested Atlantic / Caribbean Basin Hurricane outlook.. = Looking dry / suppressed this year, thanks to said developing El Nino.. How will that impact area #9, via Easterly Wave activity? ..More < or less > moisture from them reaching this side of Mexico? 3 - 7 = Eastern Pacific.. = Supposed to be a pretty active season, though i'm not all that impressed at what i'm seeing so far.. Will it start kicking into gear, as some have suggested, once we get past the 4th of July? ..let alone keep churning thru Aug and September? This factor plays large on how much??? moisture / storm episodes reach California this year.. Want a seat in the arena this year? Pacific needs to get cranking.. 8 = Sierra Madre Occidental.. End of June = Should be kicking into gear, but has been a lackluster " spurt -n' sputter -y " start, so far.. What's going on, why do all the current extended forecasts keep looking dry there? 10 = Southern Plains.. Moisture source that can enhance storm activity here when the upper level flow is right.. Been reasonably wet out there but may dry out as we head into July.. We want the plains to go into a sort of drought at that time, but don't want things to be so dry that all we get is dry air from that region. 11 = Clockwise flow around the 4 - corners / Subtropical High, once it sets up *** ..if it does this year....... Can send us moisture from the Midwest, depending on how the high is set up. *** That said, for the moment at least, the high itself has struggled to lock itself down over the region, thanks in part to a still - active N. Pacific Jet that keeps sending troughs into the Pac. NW, thus knocking down the Subtrop High each time it tries to set up where we would like it to.. Knocked down 4C High = sitting on top of AZ / NM, or to our south.. ='s not a good position for bringing in moisture ..Ala: Disappointment Years, like 2020, 19, 23. EL Nino, the big ones like this year seems to be shaping up to be, can effect the N. Pac Jet, even during the summer, to some deg. at least as it develops. Need to shove all in-bound summer season Pac NW troughiness up into Canada, just a bit more, so the high can unpack it's bags over the 4 corners and get the show going... Will this occur as many are suggesting, as we get past the 4th? ..or is this going to be the big " thumbs down " factor that tries to toss a cold, wet blanket on the entire season ahead? ...All i can say is ..Convince me.. Near term? ..Forecasts are still all over the place /on something mushroom -y.. Bring a good surge of moisture back into the area by ..or just after.. the 5th, only to toss that idea aside for something drier / " can kicked down the road again" kind of forecast, later. Today's 3 -4 week looks ok, but.. It's looked " ok " several times recently ..only to cower in a corner, later.. ..For now, all we can do is ...Kick back, And relax.. Aint' nothing anyone can do to change the weather, despite those who worship weird " beliefs " Though i was hoping to see a wetter end of June than i'm seeing atm, we're on a " decent enough " track thus far, Already had our first duster / snagged the season's first good bolts, a rare, sunrise rainbow ....and... ..as is being repeated by most forecasters, the show really isn't supposed to get cranking until -at least- mid July, ....so.. Regardless, as everyone familiar with it already knows, quite well, Monsoon ..is going to Monsoon, ...regardless of human -esque " hopes n' dreams ". Any worry? ...If we're still coming up dry n' dusty by mid / late August / 4C high is still a ghost, that's probably a sign a whole lot of forecasters are going to have A LOT of explaining to do, lol.. Hopefully that doesn't happen, and we can kick back and enjoy a really good show, all of us, across the region.. ..and all the magic that it brings.. *** Skip on to the last half of the video for thoughts on the forecast.. *** An interesting tidbit embedded within regarding how the flood control district may view " monsoon Season " in the future, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKtGDp-d2kk ....Ball is in your court Henz, < ....and others > ..Convince me..

I only have two in the garden. Both are 30 years old, one is raging along while its cousin is still doesn’t even have a trunk, planted about 3 meters apart. They are tough palms and have done the job that I wanted when planted with a vision. I see them planted around the place in my home town in full sun situations but to me they look better in shade I think. A wonderful tough palms and worth growing!

It can be a good or bad thing crazy plant collectors, it is usually a bad thing for the native stands in habitat. Such a demand for seed and the plants, that the population is put in danger. Having an impact on regeneration. And how many of those plants they poached live? It’s an ethical debate with for and against. If the bulldozer is coming then remove the population git sure. But if it’s downright poaching, this is why we have international laws and cities to prevent such a thing happening, not that it will stop the illegal trade. The foxtail palm is one example of people in high places doing such a thing, poaching seeds. I have some of those original palms from poached seeds in my garden, purchased from a roadsides seller. So in a way we are a little guilty! Richard

You are lucky bismarckias are dioecious, a species in which male and female reproductive organs exist in separate, distinct individual organisms. SO if you have a male you will not get any seed. Many palms are monoecious, that is a single plant produces both exclusively male flowers and exclusively female flowers. For reproduction to happen, pollen must transfer from a male flower to a female flower.

the dense planting I saw worked especially well in the arizona desert, the best gardens there are densely planted. Most years in florida its less of a concern for dry/heat protection, as we don't have many droughts where we have restricted irrigation for several months. If we are going to trend to a drier climate it would be wise to bunch plants for both cold and hot/dry conditions. Bunching palms is also very effective in limiting hurricane damage below cat 3, not sure it how much it helps with cat 3 and above.

Here, my rain gauges recorded ~0.25 in of rain. Just outside of downtown, it rained hard enough to inundate the right lanes of the highways. My yard is approaching 7 in. of rain for a month where the average is close to 9in. Still a deficit, but hard to complain when there are other areas below an inch of rain. Mulching and amending with organic material looks to be a necessity for Florida palm gardening anymore. @sonoranfans also mentioned dense planting and canopy to shelter from direct sun. The benefit of protection during cold events is a nice bonus. If you're just starting to grow palms in Florida, this is a good foundation for dealing with our seemingly unending droughts and cold fronts followed by record heat in the spring.

had a cloudburst last evening, my bucket says about 3/4 inch in about 40 mins. At times it rained quite heavy with some puddles int he yard. Hoping it slowed the premature yellowing of leaves. The radar at the time looked like we got hit by a suddenly appearing higharea a few miles wide. I'll take it and whatever we get. Ironically this was the day after our once a week irrigation day.

Here’s my little grouping. Excuse the weeds. They go mental when it’s wet. The ground is sloppy and saturated and water runs out of this area all winter. These pictures were taken a couple of mornings ago when it was about 2C. Brrrrrrrrrr

2026 update

A natural JxS hybrid I grew from seed. Grows about 4 times as fast as its standard Jubaea brethren. I had 2 of these hybrids come up from a batch of seeds I collected from the 1 blue Jubaea at mission beach. Gotta love it's very upright growth pattern when planted in close quarters.🌴 aztropic Mesa, Arizona

I purchased seedlings from a reputable seller on palmtalk probably 7 years ago of Brahea calcarea ‘blue’. He stated the seeds came from a known specimen in California and differed from ‘Super Silver’. The most obvious difference being this palm is blue from the start. I unfortunately am down to one but the palm has rapidly developed over the past 2 years. Up until the last flush or so the petioles had stayed pretty much “unarmed”. A trait of calcarea. As of this last set of fronds, nubs or small teeth have started to form. The palm has a lot of similarities to Brahea armata except A)it’s fronds are flat and don’t have a crease in the center like armata B) the palm is drastically faster than a neighboring larger armata. The calcarea was probably a 3/5 gallon 2 years ago and the armata a 15 gallon when planted. Likely by the end of the growing season or early next year the calcarea will have caught up in size. I know that’s not definitive but of note. Both survived mid teens (Fahrenheit) with minimal damage. I covered the calcarea and it took no damage unlike Brahea clara that had minor burn, but was also protected similarly. Does anyone know of the origin of Brahea calcarea ‘blue’? Identifying traits? Any other useful information ? If this one is accurate then it appears to be a hybrid likely with armata. Thanks Brahea calcarea ‘ blue’ in front, armata in rear : Brahea calcarea ‘blue’ old petiole New petiole: Brahea armata petiole:crease in Brahea armata frond:Brahea calcarea ‘blue’: Brahea armata:

Those are very nice palms . I don’t think there would be any way to slow the growth down without compromising their beauty. Harry

Spot on I think - most look bad because of neglect and not enough natural rainfall rather than it being too cold. Some of the better ones I’ve seen are out in the outer Eastern suburbs in the foothills of the Dandenongs where it gets pretty chilly but receives more rainfall than near the CBD or around Bayside suburbs. Same goes for Archontophoenix. I will say though, that Ravenea rivularis was susceptible to crown rot for me when young in Spring. It’s grown out of it now, but I suspected it didn’t like cold and wet conditions while it was still establishing. I planted in a cooler area of the garden in mostly shade intentionally based on what I’ve seen with specimens that dry out too much, but I think that’s the opposite risk when you go too shady and cold. The best one in Victoria I’ve seen is the one at Geelong Botanic Gardens. It gets morning sun but is well protected from all sides from wind and looks to stay quite moist in that area. There are a few mature specimens around Melbourne - this one down the street from my place looks pretty good. Doesn’t look like it gets extra attention but I assume the roots have tapped down deep now. The tree to its north must help with preventing it drying out too much too. I planted this one nearly 25 years ago. It’s the only survivor of about 5 originally planted in this garden. Soil is nearly pure beach sand and no irrigation. This is the result 🤣. And here’s an interesting planting - Singapore Botanic Gardens have them as aquatics. They like it in there in the tropical climate, but I’m certain it would be a death sentence in cooler climates.

Red spicata is great!! Almost fluorescent orange colors. This picture is from last year. Planted as a sprout in May 2016, so about 9 years in the picture. A bit bigger now.

Some are, some have died. It was a very odd freeze. Here are updates; PALMS Acoelorrhaphe wrightii (4’)- no damage Aiphanes horrida x minima (6’) -100% burn, already had about 25% burn from earlier cold, it always showed damage below about 35F every year but always quickly recovered, DEAD Archontophoenix cunninghamiana (20’) -major burn, new leaf opening, it is opening 4th new leaf, all are floppy, this palm was still recovering from hurricane damage and a boron deficiency Archontophoenix purpurea (7’)- 100% burn, new growth emerging, DEAD Areca triandra (3’) -100% burn, regrowing Arenga engleri (7’)- light burn on a few leaves Arenga hookeriana (5’)- all tall stems 100% burned/dead, shorter suckers green Beccariophoenix alfredii (15’, 10’)- both have severe burn but green in center Borassodendron machodonis (3’)- COVERED, no damage Brassiophoenix drymophoeoides (5’)- 100% burn, DEAD Carpentaria acuminata x Adonidia merrillii (25’)- 100% burn DEAD Caryota mitis ‘Variegata’ (3’)- severe burn, amin stem died, suckers emerging Chamaedorea elegans (2’)-100% burn DEAD Chamaedorea ernestii-augustii (3’)- 100% burn DEAD Chamaedorea metallica (2’)- 100% burn DEAD Chamaedorea microspadix (6’)- no damage initially, very delayed damage, very light burn probably from the winds Chambeyronia macrocarpa (3’)- all leaves burned except newest, regrowing Chelyocarpus chuco (4’)- COVERED no damage Chrysalidocarpus leptocheilos (3’)- 100% burn, DEAD Chrysalidocarpus lutescens ‘Nana’ (3’)- COVERED but partially blew off, 50% burn, several stems died back Chrysalidocarpus madagascariensis (Mahajanga form) (6’)- 100% burn, main stem dead suckers emerging Chrysalidocarous onilahensis (3’)- light burn Chrysalidocarpus pembanus (15’)- 100% burn on the 2 tall trunks, suckers have some green leaves, 2 tall trunks dead Chrysalidocarpus psammophilus (3’)- 100% burn, DEAD Chuniophoenix hainanensis (3’)- no damage Clinostigma savoryanum (4’)- 2 newest leaves have no damage, others burned Coccothrinax barbadensis (3’)- light burn Coccothrinax crinita (3’) – severe burn, regrowing Coccothrinax spissa (3’)- severe burn, trunk cut, regrowing Cocos nucifera ‘Green Malayan’ (10’, 3’ trunk)- almost 100% burn but a few green leaflets and petioles still green, already pushing new growth, it already had about 20% burn from frost a couple weeks prior, regrowing, it has pushed out 4 new leaves, all damaged or distorted but new spear is looking better Copernicia alba (6’)- no damage Cryosophila stauracantha (4’)- 100% burn DEAD Cyrtostachys elegans x renda (3’)- COVERED no damage Dictyosperma album (furfuraceum) (3’)- 100% burn, regrowing Euterpe edulis (10’, 5’)- both have 100% burn, both dead Gaussia attenuata (7’)- 100% burn, new spear opening, DEAD Gaussia maya (5’)- 100% burn, regrowing Heterospathe negrosensis (4’)- light burn Howea belmoreana (3’)- severe burn DEAD Howea forsteriana (7’)- severe burn DEAD Hyophorbe verschaffeltii (6’)- 100% burn, new leaf opening Lanonia dasyantha (2’, 3’)- no damage on either Leucothrinax morrissii (5’)- no damage initially, new growth emerged damaged but regrowing Licuala kunstleri (2’)- light damage Licuala peltata (3’)- light burn Licuala ramsayi (6’)- slight damage on 1 leaf, very delayed reaction, first new leaf opened and collapsed but others fine Livistona decora (10’)- no damage, very light and delayed burn Livistona muelleri (4’)- moderate burn Livistona saribus (15’)- no damage Normanbya normanbyi (8’)- 100% burn DEAD Phoenix acaulis (3’)- no damage Phoenix loureiroi (Kashmir) (8’)- no damage Pinanga coronata (4’)- 100% burn 2 main stems died, suckers regrowing Pinanga gracilis (3’)- 2 stems, 1 no damage, other 100% burn Pritchardia hillebrandii (3’)- moderate burn, still lots of green, center spear pulled, cut and treated, new growth pushing out Pseudophoenix sargentii (4’)- severe burn, regrowing Ptychococcus lepidotus (5’)- 100% burn DEAD Ptychococcus paradoxus (6’)- 100% burn DEAD Ptychosperma elegans (10’)- 100% burn DEAD Ptychosperma propinquum (macarthurii) (12’)- main stem 100% burn, suckers mostly brown but some green, main stems dead suckers emerging Ravenea glauca (3’)- light burn Ravenea hildebrandtii (5’)- 100% burn DEAD Ravenea rivularis (6’)- 100% burn, new growth emerging Reinhardtia latisecta (2’)- no damage Rhapis excelsa ‘Zuiko Nishiki’ (5’)- no damage, delayed damage, slight spotting on some leaves Rhapis humilis (8’)- no damage Sabal etonia x palmetto (2’)- no damage Sabal mauritiiformis (5’)- very minor burn Sabal miamiensis x maritima (6’)- no damage Sabal palmetto (10’)- no damage Sabal palmetto (Miami Rockridge form) (2’)- no damage Sabinaria magnifica (3’)- COVERED, cover partially blew off, light burn on a couple leaves, very delayed light damage Schippia concolor (3’)- moderate burn Serenoa repens, silver (3’)- no damage Syagrus romanzoffiana (20’)- light burn Syagrus sancona (7’)- severe burn, trunk cut new leaf opening Syagrus weddelliana (6’)- severe burn DEAD Veitchia arecina (3’)- moderate burn DEAD Wodhyethia bifurcata (4’)- 100% burn DEAD CYCADS Bowenia spectabilis- no damage Ceratozamia hildae- no damage Cycas debaoenis- no damage Cycas thouarsii- 100% burn Encephalartos ferox- no damage Stangeria eriopus- light burn Zamia furfuracea – no damage, in pot and taken in Zamia integrifolia (narrow leaflet form)- no damage Zamia integrifolia (Palatka Giant)- no damage Zamia integrifolia (wide leaflet form)- no damage Zamia nesmophila- moderate burn Zamia sp. “Spots”- severe burn PANDANS Freycinetia cumingiana (4’)- main stems dead, some green shorter stems/leaves Pandanus furcatus (15’)- 100% burn but green already pushing out removed all dead leaves, new growth pushing out, stem is now collapsing Pandanus letocartiorum (decumbens) (2’)- 100% burn dead Pandanus penangensis (monotheca) (5’)- 100% burn, new growth emerging in June Pandanus polycephalus (3’)- severe burn DEAD Pandanus pygmaeus ‘Variegatus’ (2’)- moderate burn Pandanus tectorius (spineless form) (3’)- 100% burn dead Pandanus tectorius, dwarf spineless variegated form)- 100% burn dead PALM-LIKE PLANTS Cyclanthus bipartitus (4’)- 100% burn, this is root hardy, foliage dies every year as it declines around 35F but rapidly regrows in spring, regrowing, vigorous new growth Dracaena arborea (4’)- killed to roots Ravenala madagascariensis (15’)- 100% burn, regrowing Ravenala menahirana (Honkondambo) (3’)- 100% burn, new leaf emerging, regrowing Sphaeropteris cooperi (Cyathea) (10’)- 100% burn, regrowing Strelitzia nicolai (10’)- 100% burn, main stem died back

Same. I thought they were all Alex's at Broken River...probably only because I wasn't looking for Bangalows and its difficult to make out the leaf colour on a tall palm in shadey silhouette from the ground. The few seeds that I got to germinate from Eungella were also all Alex (except 1 Banga from Pease Lookout). When I finally did see the Bangalows at Pease Lookout, they struck me as very distinct from the Alex's, although they were growing in the open rather than under canopy, so looked more compact and leathery. Cheers, Jonathan