Starting Another Palm Garden

[Daryl]

Hi Everyone, A few of us get together this morning to pitch in and help out a fellow palmaholic with his new garden.

Andy Green, who has appeared here before, just moved into his new house on the Gold Coast. He needed some help with his new garden, so we all got together and pitched in to help him get his new garden established.

Colin flew in from Kiama international airport, Wal drove down from Brisbane, and fellow Gold Coasters, Mike Newcal Green,Rob Muelet and myself all drove over to Andy's to help out with planting, mulching and building retaining walls.

The soil there was red volcanic, with some clay areas as well. The plants should love it, and I'll do a follow up post in about 12 months to see how the are all doing.

Here's a few photos from today...

Andy is smiling 'cause everyone is helping...notice protective footwear

Rob is in his element digging in palms...

Wal showing his skill with a spade, trying to find a good home for a Dypsis lastelliana

[Daryl]

Coling, getting dirty with his Latania. Livistona victoriae in foreground.

A whole lineup of Dypsis species

And more...

[Daryl]

Retaining wall going up...

Our host, enjoying his rewards after a few hours of planting...

regards,

Daryl

[ariscott]

Hey.... I got stuff to be planted too... Care to dig holes for me..?  . We planted at least 23 palms and 11 trees this weekend... absolutely stuffed now...

On a more serious note, good to see you are all having fun together.. I am sure there were a lot of beer being consumed that day...

Regards, Ari

[Walter John]

More..............

So, apparently this is a Butia hybrid, but what does everyone think it is a hybrid of ? Lovely purplish colouring

Note in full blaring sun is a nice sized (sun hardened) Howea forsteriana.

I thought this an awesome foursome, Foxtail, Bismarck, Yellow Latan and a Beccariophoenix.

[Walter John]

and............

Hot work, Cold beer, say no more.........the dog was the foreman, he's had it too.

[Walter John]

Oh and thanks for the "Orange Crush" Andy, I deserved it......  

See you next week in Darwin Colin and Rob and the rest of the rat pack I'll see at the society meeting at Mt Cootha.

[ariscott]

Is that Beccariophoenix sun-hardened too? I am still too scared to put mine in the sun. They have been the shade house, although now we have pretty much overcast days.

How many palms did you plant that day?

BTW, don't forget your umbrella guys for the Darwin trip. I hope for your sake, the monsoon would not hit that weekend. There was talk among the weather people that the monsoon will start at the end of November instead of end of December. Afternoon storm is one thing.... monsoon is another.

Regards, Ari

[Miccles]

Great work fellas..... its obvious a lot of toil went into it.

Always nice to start with a "blank canvass"  

[elHoagie]

Nice, you guys did more in a day than I've done in 9 months since I moved to my new place!  I wish I had palms that big, and people to plant them...

[EuroPalm]

(Daryl @ Nov. 18 2007,03:07)

QUOTE

Retaining wall going up...

Our host, enjoying his rewards after a few hours of planting...

regards,

Daryl

Daryl,

Congratulations for your home and garden. Great place and beautiful area.

I have got a couple of questions for you, little bit out of topic. Sorry.

You have got a big grey plastic tank in your backyard. What is it for ?

I see  that in your area, and in whole OZ I guess, a lot of people build their houses in wood. I cannot imagine it here in our european mediterranean area. Winter rains, hot summer, sun with high levels of UV radiations, temperature down in winter up in summer would lead the home owner to an endless repaint and protecting work. Is it the same in OZ ? At least, what about termites ?

One last question, in OZ are wooden houses cheaper than concretes ones ? (the question can be answered by our frieds in US too)

Thanks for answers. You are blessed to live in such a nice country.

Phil

[RadPalms]

Phil my guess would be a water catch on the grey tank in the back yard......Wow you guys are good...wish I had freinds like you but my personality prohibits it.....lol

Curt

[BS Man about Palms]

Very cool outing!  AND it was productive!!!

[swamptreenelly]

looks like the landscape marines have landed. Ausies think Big like their Fosters Beer.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Great palms and great new garden!  I noticed those draped socks you Aussies use, I wish we could get them here.  It keeps the little pebbles and dirt out of your boots.  I like the rock work especially.

Jerry

[ariscott]

(EuroPalm @ Nov. 18 2007,09:33)

QUOTE

I see  that in your area, and in whole OZ I guess, a lot of people build their houses in wood. I cannot imagine it here in our european mediterranean area. Winter rains, hot summer, sun with high levels of UV radiations, temperature down in winter up in summer would lead the home owner to an endless repaint and protecting work. Is it the same in OZ ? At least, what about termites ?

One last question, in OZ are wooden houses cheaper than concretes ones ? (the question can be answered by our frieds in US too)

Thanks for answers. You are blessed to live in such a nice country.

Phil

Hi Phil,

The house construction will depend on where you are in Australia. Here in Darwin, not many house are made of wood. We either have steel frame home with colorbond wall (cladding) - like mine or concrete block home. Some concrete block homes would have wooden trusses, but most would use steel trusses too. We have bad termite problem here, that is why wood is not very popular choice for construction.

Based on my experience, I think wooden frame house is cheaper to build than concrete block homes. They are easier and faster to build.

I hope that answer some of your question, at least from northern/tropical part of Australia.

Regards, Ari

[paulgila]

that looks like it was alotta fun!good to see yer keeping wal busy,too!

[LJG]

(BS @ Man about Palms,Nov. 18 2007,09:08)

QUOTE

Very cool outing!  AND it was productive!!!

Indeed! That will be some garden in a few years. It is nice seeing the Southern Hemisphere Rat Pack as we usually only see the SoCal Rat Pack or Florida Rat Pack on here.

[BS Man about Palms]

(LJG @ Nov. 18 2007,14:53)

QUOTE

(BS @ Man about Palms,Nov. 18 2007,09:08)

QUOTE

Very cool outing!  AND it was productive!!!

Indeed! That will be some garden in a few years. It is nice seeing the Southern Hemisphere Rat Pack as we usually only see the SoCal Rat Pack or Florida Rat Pack on here.

Well said!

[Daryl]

(EuroPalm @ Nov. 18 2007,23:33)

QUOTE

Congratulations for your home and garden. Great place and beautiful area.

I have got a couple of questions for you, little bit out of topic. Sorry.

You have got a big grey plastic tank in your backyard. What is it for ?

I see  that in your area, and in whole OZ I guess, a lot of people build their houses in wood. I cannot imagine it here in our european mediterranean area. Winter rains, hot summer, sun with high levels of UV radiations, temperature down in winter up in summer would lead the home owner to an endless repaint and protecting work. Is it the same in OZ ? At least, what about termites ?

One last question, in OZ are wooden houses cheaper than concretes ones ? (the question can be answered by our frieds in US too)

Thanks for answers. You are blessed to live in such a nice country.

Phil

Hi Phil,

Thanks for the congrats, but it is not my place..it belongs to Andy..:-)

The tank is a rainwater tank, which simply collects the rain runoff from the roof. By law, these have to be installed with each new house built in our area...most of southeast Queensland.

Normally, residential rainwater tanks are smaller than this, but if you want a good palm garden...

The standard method of building houses on the East coast of Oz has, for a long time (30 years +), been brick veneer construction, over a timber frame, on a concrete slab. These days they use treated pine frames or steel frames to minimise termite damage as we can't pour toxic chemicals onto the ground anymore (dieldrin). Termites are everywhere here, although our species are not as voracious as Darwin Termites which will eat through concrete.

The brick veneer construction is quite efficient thermally, and has the added benefit of cooling down at night in summer. The trouble with double brick or concrete construction is that it retains the heat all night, and is not as comfortable to live in with a humid climate. Winter warming here is normally not an issue.

Brick veneer is also cheaper to erect, and more competitive as most builders construct this style of house.

The steel roof and guttering etc is all colourbond steel, which does not require painting. The rendered walls of a lot of houses do indeed require painting, but with today's UV stable paints, you get at least 5 years before repainting.

Hope this answers your questions!

Daryl

[Daryl]

(Jerry@TreeZoo @ Nov. 19 2007,03:30)

QUOTE

Great palms and great new garden!  I noticed those draped socks you Aussies use, I wish we could get them here.  It keeps the little pebbles and dirt out of your boots.  I like the rock work especially.

Jerry

Jerry,the guy that invented them should have his blood bottled. They stop all the cr@p as you said, including pebbles, soil, mulch, twigs, prickly grass seed etc

Do you not have them over there?

The rock work is Mike Green's (Newcal's) effort, he does a lot of dry stack work here.

Daryl

[Daryl]

(ariscott @ Nov. 18 2007,19:09)

QUOTE

How many palms did you plant that day?

BTW, don't forget your umbrella guys for the Darwin trip. I hope for your sake, the monsoon would not hit that weekend. There was talk among the weather people that the monsoon will start at the end of November instead of end of December. Afternoon storm is one thing.... monsoon is another.

Regards, Ari

Ari, lots of palms were planted...couldn't give you a number though. Andy lurks on this board occasionally, maybe he might join one day and spill the beans...

I hope the monsoon stays away for a few more weeks...

Have you had any good thunderstorms lately?

Daryl

[EuroPalm]

(RadPalms @ Nov. 18 2007,12:02)

QUOTE

Phil my guess would be a water catch on the grey tank in the back yard......Wow you guys are good...wish I had freinds like you but my personality prohibits it.....lol

Curt

Thanks Curt,

That's exactly what I was thinking about.

I wonder if this tank can supply by itself all the water needed all year round by the garden.

Maybe Queensland climate is enough rainy for that.

Phil

[EuroPalm]

(ariscott @ Nov. 18 2007,16:41)

QUOTE

(EuroPalm @ Nov. 18 2007,09:33)

QUOTE

I see  that in your area, and in whole OZ I guess, a lot of people build their houses in wood. I cannot imagine it here in our european mediterranean area. Winter rains, hot summer, sun with high levels of UV radiations, temperature down in winter up in summer would lead the home owner to an endless repaint and protecting work. Is it the same in OZ ? At least, what about termites ?

One last question, in OZ are wooden houses cheaper than concretes ones ? (the question can be answered by our frieds in US too)

Thanks for answers. You are blessed to live in such a nice country.

Phil

Hi Phil,

The house construction will depend on where you are in Australia. Here in Darwin, not many house are made of wood. We either have steel frame home with colorbond wall (cladding) - like mine or concrete block home. Some concrete block homes would have wooden trusses, but most would use steel trusses too. We have bad termite problem here, that is why wood is not very popular choice for construction.

Based on my experience, I think wooden frame house is cheaper to build than concrete block homes. They are easier and faster to build.

I hope that answer some of your question, at least from northern/tropical part of Australia.

Regards, Ari

Thanks Ari for your explanation,

It is interesting for me to notice that you use steel frame home with colorbond wall (cladding) for personal home.

In France this solution is used only for collective buildings like schools, shops etc..

Here the favorite is concrete blocks.

We have something to improve around here !

Phil

[ariscott]

(Daryl @ Nov. 19 2007,05:58)

QUOTE

Have you had any good thunderstorms lately?

We had a good one on Saturday. Sunday would've been better, but dissipate before reaching my place. Apparently Darwin River got 55mm in less than an hour. The lightning show this afternoon was better, although we only got 4mm rain!!

Regards, Ari

[EuroPalm]

(Daryl @ Nov. 19 2007,05:42)

QUOTE

(EuroPalm @ Nov. 18 2007,23:33)

QUOTE

Congratulations for your home and garden. Great place and beautiful area.

I have got a couple of questions for you, little bit out of topic. Sorry.

You have got a big grey plastic tank in your backyard. What is it for ?

I see  that in your area, and in whole OZ I guess, a lot of people build their houses in wood. I cannot imagine it here in our european mediterranean area. Winter rains, hot summer, sun with high levels of UV radiations, temperature down in winter up in summer would lead the home owner to an endless repaint and protecting work. Is it the same in OZ ? At least, what about termites ?

One last question, in OZ are wooden houses cheaper than concretes ones ? (the question can be answered by our frieds in US too)

Thanks for answers. You are blessed to live in such a nice country.

Phil

Hi Phil,

Thanks for the congrats, but it is not my place..it belongs to Andy..:-)

The tank is a rainwater tank, which simply collects the rain runoff from the roof. By law, these have to be installed with each new house built in our area...most of southeast Queensland.

Normally, residential rainwater tanks are smaller than this, but if you want a good palm garden...

The standard method of building houses on the East coast of Oz has, for a long time (30 years +), been brick veneer construction, over a timber frame, on a concrete slab. These days they use treated pine frames or steel frames to minimise termite damage as we can't pour toxic chemicals onto the ground anymore (dieldrin). Termites are everywhere here, although our species are not as voracious as Darwin Termites which will eat through concrete.

The brick veneer construction is quite efficient thermally, and has the added benefit of cooling down at night in summer. The trouble with double brick or concrete construction is that it retains the heat all night, and is not as comfortable to live in with a humid climate. Winter warming here is normally not an issue.

Brick veneer is also cheaper to erect, and more competitive as most builders construct this style of house.

The steel roof and guttering etc is all colourbond steel, which does not require painting. The rendered walls of a lot of houses do indeed require painting, but with today's UV stable paints, you get at least 5 years before repainting.

Hope this answers your questions!

Daryl

Thanks Daryl,

I apologize for my mistake !

Sorry Andy your house is really nice !

I see that Queensland authority made compulsory the use of watertank in each new house. Nothing like this in France.

I must admit that we try give lessons of good management of natural ressources and climatic warming to the world but we don't have yet regulations about this kind of tanks.

We have to sweep in front of our door before telling to others to sweep in front of theirs.

Thank you too for your explanations about houses and uses of brick veneer.

Phil

[ariscott]

(EuroPalm @ Nov. 19 2007,07:58)

QUOTE

It is interesting for me to notice that you use steel frame home with colorbond wall (cladding) for personal home.

In France this solution is used only for collective buildings like schools, shops etc..

Here the favorite is concrete blocks.

We have something to improve around here !

Phil

Phil,

Most homes in Darwin are made of concrete blocks these days, since the price of steel has increased so much in the last few years. I work in the construction industry and concrete block homes are a lot simpler to build than steel frame ones - for cyclone rating and everything.  

Some people prefer steel frame homes because they don't retain heat. We are tropical here in Darwin - very hot & humid day in the wet season and dry & cool in the dry season. So, we need insulation to keep the heat out - not in.

We used to rent block homes and during the afternoon, it would heat up so much and retain the heat all night long, hence we had to put the air conditioning on to be able to sleep comfortably. In my own home now, as soon as the sun goes down, the house cools down significantly and we very rarely use air conditioning during the night. So, we save on energy too.

It is a matter of preference.

Regards, Ari

[Daryl]

Ari, I remember the concrete block home we lived in, back in the late 70s. It was one of those post cyclone Tracy bunkers that would withstand a direct hit from a nuclear bomb. It was nice and solid, but as you said earlier, it heated up and never cooled down. Not many people had air in those days, so the ceiling fans ran 24x7 all year.

Daryl

[calyptrocalyx&licuala freck]

Hi Guys

What a great job, Some choice palms for sure.

Well done all chipping in, You guys rock. Colin

You should have been  Foreman Dude,Esp on

ya Birthday.

One thing, Daryl don't let Wal pretent he's working

if your going to take a picture, :laugh:  :laugh:  :laugh:

Put ya back into it Wal, everyones busting there B___s,

,.................Only kidding . Great job Guys, Kind Hearts.

The Aussie Spirit    Regards Mikey....

[MattyB]

Nice work fellahs!  That's gonna be a jungle in a few years.  It's nice to have friends like that.  And it's nice you let Wal tag along too. :laugh:

[MattyB]

(Daryl @ Nov. 18 2007,00:01)

QUOTE

New Quote:  "He he he, now that the boys are hard at work, I think I'll have meself a nice cold stubby and let me feet air out.....Cheers!"

:laugh:

[deezpalms]

Looks good guyz!! I'd like to see it in another 10 years. How's the growth rate over there? Similar to Hawaii/Florida?

[palmtreesforpleasure]

Hi All

Andy cooked and provided a great lunch, then Wal took Daryl home for his daughters birthday party

Mike finished the rock wall on his own, unbelievable job, some of the rocks had to be 100kg, he just kept going, levering, pushing shoving them into place, More palms where planted and all the mulch was spread and all the garden soil was placed , we finished just in time as it was becoming dark. we had a nice cold beer, After we left, Andy worked into the night laying a pebble walkway, the twins are unstoppable

Andy planned everything in advance with drawings for the placements of the palms and other plants, it made for a very productive day, good fun had by all, lots of laughing took place, there could be another planting party next year at Mikes, for his Australian palm collection beds, will have to get back into training :-)

regards

colin

PS

Daryl, we need some update pictures

[fiji jim]

Great stuff guys.

A working bee can do plenty in a short time.

now I wish you some rains.

Jim

[ariscott]

(palmsforpleasure @ Nov. 19 2007,20:27)

QUOTE

Andy planned everything in advance with drawings for the placements of the palms and other plants, it made for a very productive day, good fun had by all, lots of laughing took place, there could be another planting party next year at Mikes, for his Australian palm collection beds, will have to get back into training :-)

It is amazing that Andy managed to stick to the plan. I have drawings of all my palms and trees and tried to plan everything. But, come time to plant them, I always ended up changing my mind.

Regards, Ari

[Walter John]

The amount of time and effort I put into the plant out at Andy's obviously hasn't been appreciated here. I'm a bit miffed really and feel let down. You think you know your friends then next minute.......

Sure everyone else planted about 30 or 40 palms each and I just planted the one, but the point is, what a planting it was. Dypsis lastelliana has never been treated so well, with the utmost care, attention and respect it truly deserves.

I know everybody else were physically exhausted at the end of the day, but you could total that up and it wouldn't come near the mental tiredness I felt from the concentration I put in to that Dypsis lastelliana.

"I'm too sexy for my lasty

too sexy for my lasty

it makes me feel so nasty"

As I was saying, the spade technique so visually and beautifully captured by photograph as seen...........in the photograph, highlights the thought process converted to energy and injected into that planting. So, you may ridicule all you like but you can't take away my FREEDOM !!!

"I'm too sexy for the planting

too sexy for the planting

those Dypsis get me panting"

and .....that's all I have to say about that

mamma always said, life is like a plant out, you never know what you gonna get.

[SubTropicRay]

That garden is going to look really nice in a few years.  Good job.

[newcal]

On behalf of Andy(my brother ) i want to thank everyone associated with the Pacsoa "Rat Pack" for the HUGE effort they put in on the weekend. IT should be quite a garden in a few years ! Anyway now thats over with we can now focus on the Darwin trip next week. Question.....Any of you guys snore ? ...as less than 8 hours sleep makes for a grumpy Newcal the next morning...Hee hee...just joshing regards Mike Gren

[Daryl]

(ariscott @ Nov. 20 2007,19:47)

QUOTE

(palmsforpleasure @ Nov. 19 2007,20:27)

QUOTE

Andy planned everything in advance with drawings for the placements of the palms and other plants, it made for a very productive day, good fun had by all, lots of laughing took place, there could be another planting party next year at Mikes, for his Australian palm collection beds, will have to get back into training :-)

It is amazing that Andy managed to stick to the plan. I have drawings of all my palms and trees and tried to plan everything. But, come time to plant them, I always ended up changing my mind.

Regards, Ari

Ari, here is a copy of Andy's plan...

[redant]

looking great.

It's nice to see teamwork like this, not an often sight these days.

Can't wait to see some future pictures.