Saturday, 3 May 2014

Trachycarpus fortunei.



We have two of these Trachycarpus palms by our pool; one's about 20 years old and very tall, the other much younger (above) and still quite short. They are very decorative trees and each year produce these huge spectacularly gaudy flowers.

But there's a problem. They eventually drop their bloody seeds all over the place; including into the pool itself.

This means that at this time each year I'm obliged to climb into the upper, skin tearing, tops of the trees to cut the wretched flowers off, before they start dropping stuff all over the place. 

No-one tells you this when you buy the trees, or even advises you not to plant them TOO near to a pool.

I urgently need a trained Tree-Surgeon Monkey; either that, or I'll have to get the ladder out. OK I'll get the ladder out.


And here's one of the culprits. Spectacular flowers, but a pain in the rectum.


10 comments:

  1. You would need a decent sized vase to put those in.

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  2. I love it! I've never seen a flowering palm.

    I had a nice potted palm on my back patio, but George destroyed it shortly after arriving home this past winter. :/

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  3. Beautiful though. I love Wisteria but no one tells you they spread like wild fire and are so high maintenance. Maybe some plants should come with warnings on lol x

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  4. Get a pair of long handled pruners.

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  5. Ah, the travails of living in paradise!

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  6. Sounds like a pruning pole is in order.

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  7. I am sure there is a proverb to fit this situation Cro, but I just can't think of it.

    If you wish to see an up to date photo of yours truly, click on The Solitary Walker on my side bar. He is my niece's husband and they visited us last weekend. He has published a photo of the farmer and me on his blog today.

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  8. Those flowers are altogether way too exotic looking.

    Just saying.

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  9. We have two of your trees in our garden but they have never flowered. One is near our pond so I will have a closer look at it right away. An interesting post Cro. Marion x

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