New User - Jack Daw

[Jack Daw]

Hi folks,

first and foremost, I apologize if there's a section for introductions, but I didn't find it, so I decided to post my introduction here.

To make it short enough for someone to read, I'd start by saying that I am an IT student and come from lowlands of Slovakia, Central Europe. As most of you probably know, it's not a very good climate for palms, subtropicals and tropicals generally. That's never stopped me though. I love nature, always have, and studying palms led me to this web site and its wonderful community.

Current situation in the good old Europe and my region is however difficult enough to make me think about relocating somewhere with more stable laws, society and climate, which would probably be Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, where I would like to live and work at the university. Therefore my palm knowledge might be quite useful one day not so far in the future.

If there is someone from Brisbane area (or Australia in general) willing to PM me and maybe discuss the life in Brisbane (Australia), fauna, flora...I would appreciate his/her assistance a lot.

In the meantime, I probably won't be contributing to discussions (there's certain lack of practical knowledge that I could share with you), but I'm surely looking forward to reading about your experience.

Cheers and have a nice weather!

Jack

[DoomsDave]

Jack!

Welcome to the mob, and you will be at home.

Australia, from what I hear, is a hard place to immigrate to, but, well worth it. (I've thought about it myself a time or two.)

So, what plants do you now have? As you'll see or have seen, being in Europe doesn't stop a lot of people here, including Verena (Germany) and all the people from Holland, France, etc.

[JASON M]

Jack!

Welcome to the mob, and you will be at home.

Australia, from what I hear, is a hard place to immigrate to, but, well worth it. (I've thought about it myself a time or two.)

So, what plants do you now have? As you'll see or have seen, being in Europe doesn't stop a lot of people here, including Verena (Germany) and all the people from Holland, France, etc.

Or from Semi-Polar Wisconsin!!

Welcome to the forum. If you move to Brisbane, good luck, and ...LUCKY!! I WISH I COULD MOVE TO A WARMER CLIMATE ...

[edric]

Welcome to Palmtalk Jack, Ed

[Jack Daw]

Hi Dave,

thanks for the welcome. Yes, it didn't stop me at all. Although I must admit it set me back a lil bit. Since my climate zone would be Dfa (Koppen climate classification) or 8a in USDA, I have a very limited choice of palms. One year ago I had 23 different types of palms and varieties, including several Mediterranean (Phoenix theoprastii, Chamaerops humilis (vulcano, silver and green form)...) and many Asian palms. Of all these only several survived the harsh winter Europe had to go through this past winter.

So what I have now at the moment are many seedlings, specifically Trachycarpus fortunei, latisectus, martianus and nanus, lots of Washingtonias (robusta and filifera), some Phoenixes (canariensis, dactilyfera). I also grow several pineapples and some interesting banana varieties but that's it.

Regarding Australia: Harsh immigration policies won't be a problem, I believe that educated people with no criminal records or intentions will always be welcome. Besides, if I managed to get to a post=gradual form of studying at the local university there I would gladly teach at an academical level, so that might be my ticket in.

Thanks for warm welcomes, Ed and Jason.

[ariscott]

Migrating to Australia is not as hard as migrating to US, that's for sure. It is definitely easier if you have postgraduate education. What field are you teaching in University? Engineering or science is much preferable too... as we are having skill shortage (again!!) at the moment. A lot of engineers (from UK, South Africa, etc) come in with 457 visa to fill in the gaps.

What do you want to know about Brisbane? I used to live there for 3 years before moving to the Northern Territory. Although, the QLD members might be able to help you better.

Regards, Ari

[Gileno Machado]

Welcome Jack.

It's great to see new palm affictionates from Europe joining palmtalk. We used to have a palm collector from Slovakia posting here often, a few years ago...and he used to work in Bratislava, I guess. I know he was growing several Sabals, Phoenix, Trachies and Washies, most of them indoors...his name is Jan Matiaska, maybe he can help you with some extra seedlings...

Hopefully you'll succeed in moving to Australia when possible. Brisbane area sounds like a great place to live and plant palms...and a very comfortable climate...Keep an eye on Wal's posts and photos here...and make sure to show us your own, sometimes...

Cheers

[rozpalm]

Welcome to Palm Talk Jack. My brother immigrated to Australia many years ago and I don't think it was all that hard. He is still there (since 1988) and will probably be there until he dies. Another country in the same area you might want to consider is New Zealand. From everything I have read it is an extremely well run country (financially) with a reasonable tax structure. I know my brother loves it there and if he didn't have a business in Australia, he would consider living there. Of course, the weather is not as palm friendly as Brisbane would be.

[John in Andalucia]

Welcome Jack! As mentioned, there are plenty of members here from challenging climates, including a young Swedish lady who drags her large palms indoors and outdoors every day during spring! I hope you find all the info you need here.

[Jack Daw]

Migrating to Australia is not as hard as migrating to US, that's for sure. It is definitely easier if you have postgraduate education. What field are you teaching in University? Engineering or science is much preferable too... as we are having skill shortage (again!!) at the moment. A lot of engineers (from UK, South Africa, etc) come in with 457 visa to fill in the gaps.

What do you want to know about Brisbane? I used to live there for 3 years before moving to the Northern Territory. Although, the QLD members might be able to help you better.

Regards, Ari

Hi Ari,

maybe I wrote it wrong. I'm just studying and want to have a post-gradual study in Australia to be able to live and teach there. I could make my studies here first, but once I have a family and baby on the way, this entire moving thing will be a lot more difficult. So I will (most probably) get my Engineering degree here and then go to study at the Technical university of Brisbane postgradually.

I'm studying to be an engineer, but that's tightly bound with IT and programming.

What I would like to know about Brisbane? Everything and anything. I've never been to Australia and will definitely go and live there shortly before I decide to move (that's why post-gradual studying there would be ideal - Australian degree is accepted here, ours might not be accepted there, although it's the same PhD). I sent you a PM. The discussion would be too much for this thread.

Welcome Jack.

It's great to see new palm affictionates from Europe joining palmtalk. We used to have a palm collector from Slovakia posting here often, a few years ago...and he used to work in Bratislava, I guess. I know he was growing several Sabals, Phoenix, Trachies and Washies, most of them indoors...his name is Jan Matiaska, maybe he can help you with some extra seedlings...

Hopefully you'll succeed in moving to Australia when possible. Brisbane area sounds like a great place to live and plant palms...and a very comfortable climate...Keep an eye on Wal's posts and photos here...and make sure to show us your own, sometimes...

Cheers

I've never heard of him, but I will remember this name. There's so few of us growing any tropicals and subtropicals here, that I will surely cross his path one day. Thanks for the welcome!

Welcome to Palm Talk Jack. My brother immigrated to Australia many years ago and I don't think it was all that hard. He is still there (since 1988) and will probably be there until he dies. Another country in the same area you might want to consider is New Zealand. From everything I have read it is an extremely well run country (financially) with a reasonable tax structure. I know my brother loves it there and if he didn't have a business in Australia, he would consider living there. Of course, the weather is not as palm friendly as Brisbane would be.

Thanks for the Welcome! Yep, I was considering New Zealand too. But, in the end, it's too... small for me. But I have heard that their economy, taxation, laws and other policies are one of the best out there.

Welcome Jack! As mentioned, there are plenty of members here from challenging climates, including a young Swedish lady who drags her large palms indoors and outdoors every day during spring! I hope you find all the info you need here.

Hi John, thanks for the welcome. Coming from Andalucia, your only trouble would be the humidity, right? Otherwise you can grow pretty much any subtropical and several tropicals.

Edited May 23, 2010 by Jack Daw

[John in Andalucia]

Hi John, thanks for the welcome. Coming from Andalucia, your only trouble would be the humidity, right? Otherwise you can grow pretty much any subtropical and several tropicals.

Yeah, it's dry here - long, hot summers, but this forum is perfect for me because the climate in Andalucia is identical to southern California. You'll notice that SoCal and Florida are the two "base camps" for palm growers here! Still, I have a polytunnel greenhouse and I'm growing around 120 species, both outdoors and under plastic. I'm an Englishman in Spain, making the most of the weather.

[8er-moni]

Welcome, Jack!

I understand your wish to move and leave "good old, but cold Europe"

and I wish you the best for planning this step.

[amazondk]

Hi Jack,

I believe that I saw you on the banana forum. Welcome to palmtalk. There is a lot of good input here for wherever you live.

dk

[Kris]

A warm welcome to you....

[DoomsDave]

Jack:

Keep us all apprized of what happens!

We're all rooting for fellow-sufferers!