Utopia visit to see Clayton and Teresa

[palmtreesforpleasure]

the boys

[palmtreesforpleasure]

seeds

[palmtreesforpleasure]

another

[palmtreesforpleasure]

another vista

[palmtreesforpleasure]

vista

[palmtreesforpleasure]

another

[palmtreesforpleasure]

seeds

[palmtreesforpleasure]

new garden inspection

[palmtreesforpleasure]

new plantings

[palmtreesforpleasure]

meandering down one of the roads

[palmtreesforpleasure]

they will grow anywhere here

[palmtreesforpleasure]

the rare species go on forever

[palmtreesforpleasure]

now back at the bottom of the hills, reviewing were we have trekked and now it is time to buy a few plams for our collection

what a great day had by all

regards

colin

[Gileno Machado]

Absolutely inspiring place, folks...

Clayton and Teresa: I wish I could only still have the energy and determination to start a paradise like this from scratch (not just utopic dreams...). Congratulations.

By the way: I've visited your nice website several times and even thought of ordering some palm and cycad seeds but I've noticed that you seem to accept orders in large quantities, only above 500 ozzie dollars (how much is this anyway?). Would you sell them in small quantities (several species) and ship them to Brazil?  

Colin: I've heard from my buddy Jay (Kamipalms) that you've been trying a few seedlings from the seeds I've sent him last year...that's great...are they doing fine for you in Queensland?

[BS Man about Palms]

which web site is that?

[palmtreesforpleasure]

Utopia website is

www.utopiapalmsandcycads.com

Hi Gileno

We live 1000klm south from Wal, Daryl and Mike in Queensland in southern coastal NSW. The seedlings are coming along well, gave a couple to Mike and Daryl. Will have a look at them today and give you an update, thanks for sending the seeds to Jason (who did a good job germinating them)

regards

colin

[Utopia Palms]

Hi Gileno

Thank you for the kind words.

Its never to late to start, The people that inspired us had planted out over 20 acres on a very steep hill as well, they were in there 70’s and still going strong, I was amazed with there garden so much so that I had to give it a go. Little did I know what we were in for!!

Ps I send Toby a lot of seed RPS he could send you small amounts of seeds, its very hard these days to send out small lots of seed from Australia because of government charges and the time to get all the paper work let me know how you go? if I’m down there I could try to send you some but I would have to line it up with other shipments.

Clayton

Hi Colin

Great to see you had a good time, did you let wal and Daryl know that you came back the next day to pick up what they had missed?

Here are a few more photos.this is Calyptrocalyx sp Benang dawn noda noda.

Thank you all for your Comments.

Clayton.

[Utopia Palms]

Jade vine flower

[Utopia Palms]

Some dypsis and cham seedlings about 8 years or more ago.

[Utopia Palms]

Salacca magnifica

[Utopia Palms]

a few more

[Shon]

Clayton, great photos as usual.Love the goats.I am glad Dean asked about the background of Utopia.One question the ground does not look that fun for digging. How is the digging and are all those rocks for the retainig walls the results of the holes you dig for the palms?

[Walter John]

I would have gone kayaking but the there was no swell.

[Utopia Palms]

Hi Shon

Yes there’s a lots of rock and not much soil in places all of the rock is from the block, and yes many have come from holes dug for palms or other plants, also a lot from all of the roads that we have had to cut in to make each section much easier to keep under control and mulched, most of the palms grow more in the mulch. So its not that hard as I only have to dig a small hole, most go in at very small sizes just to see how they go, we only water the shade house twice a week also to harden these plants to adjust to our climate, and once in the grown they have to go it on there own as we do not have the time to check all of them, the mulch lasts around 4 years at about 12 inches deep, we wait until it has been well soaked buy a few good rains.100mm or so. Then it’s no work for at least 2 years then a small check and you should get another 2 years. After about two times of this mulching the plants seem to make enough mulch by them selves to do the same job...

This takes most of the hard work out, as long as you keep on top of it and no weeds get into the mulch.

I wish there was an easier way to do the rock walls! ???  

All the best.

Clayton

Hi Wal

It’s about time we got some rain I nearly forgot what it looks like! Anyway its high tide and the swell up now so if you would like to try the kayaks now is the time  

[BS Man about Palms]

Clayton,

I can echo the rain part for us... I think we have had maybe 3" (75mm?) since June...a little bit over the weekend though...

BS

[Neofolis]

Amazing, it looks far too good to be a nursery.  Are the larger specimens mainly for display purposes, so that people can see what their palm will look like or get an idea which palms they want to buy?  I assume you don't dig up the larger palms to sell.  If that assumption is correct, how much of the nursery area is devoted to saleable stock and how much to display.

I can't begin to imagine the amount of work you and Teresa have put into the place over the years, especially doing most of the work yourselves.  I suppose seeing the rewards of all that work around you is great motivation for your ongoing efforts.

[Utopia Palms]

Hi Bill

Yes I would love to send you some of this rain, you do tend to forget how much better all your plants look after a good drop or two, I think we had a bit over 90mm it’s a good start.

Hi Ron

Most of the in ground stock is for seed production but it does help a lot showing people what they look like when they are older. It is hard to say how much land is for pot stock at a guess over 2 acres the rest will one day be gardens.

As for the amount of work it has been a lot I have had to move every rock at least 2 times some a lot more, but it is worth all the work to live in this sort of environment I don’t think I could ever live in town too many people etc.

All the best

Clayton

Ps I will try to list some more photos when I get a chance.

[Walter John]

Is there a reason why Col took this pic from that far away ?, could he keep up at all ?, I hear you all asking.

:laugh:  :laugh:

[Utopia Palms]

Hi Wal

here is that photo of the dam full, high tide!

[Utopia Palms]

One more

[Utopia Palms]

A few more photos.

[Utopia Palms]

D.pembana dark form

[Utopia Palms]

And the normal form D.pembana

[Utopia Palms]

This is another photo of the dypsis that came in under the name wild ambositrae in has grown even more than the last photos a few months ago and is starting to show some colour now.

[Utopia Palms]

This is livistonia tothur "Toh Ur" from PNG.

[Utopia Palms]

This is a close up of Colin post 89 dypsis hybrid.

[Utopia Palms]

One of the many rock seats in one of the walls this one is just over 6 ft high.

[Utopia Palms]

SOME HELICONIAS

[Utopia Palms]

Arenga Westerhoutii

[Utopia Palms]

And the split leaf form of beccariophoenix sp No2