Christmas with palms again

[TerdalFarm]

You know W and I: can't stand the cold. We fly like the birds.
But with less $. So, we flew to Canucn, Mexico, and took the overnight bus down here to Belize again. Not fun, but better than staying home for Winter Solstice.
Bonus: this year, December 21 is also 13 B'aktun, a big deal for the classic Maya. If the world doesn't end, I'll report back.

I'll share a few palmy-photos over the next few weeks. Here is the best Christmas tree I've seen so far, in Cancun:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drterdal/8285931286/" title="44-Christmas coconuts in Cancun by drterdal, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8084/8285 ... 1c51_z.jpg" width="522" height="640" alt="44-Christmas coconuts in Cancun"></a>

[lucky1]

Ah, down in Belize again.
Good for you two!

And us--because we'll get the photos!

a big deal for the classic Maya

Ah heck, they just ran out of writing "paper" (gigantic rock) and went off to get another one...
Will make for an interesting Friday night...
Certainly a bit bigger than Y2K...

Nice photo Erik...are you heading back to that same cottage from where you did research?
And wildlife photos (or was that Guatemala)...

Bask in the warmth of Christmas, Erik.
We oughta have 10 inches of snow on the ground by then.

Barb

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8290436456/" title="saw this hilarious pic on the internet by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8363/8290 ... 1ce42c.jpg" width="500" height="388" alt="saw this hilarious pic on the internet"></a>

[TerdalFarm]

Not much worried about the world ending. In the Museo Maya in Cancun, I came across this calendar date entry on a carving:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drterdal/8284882769/" title="33-23 December 2012 date on Maya calendar detail by drterdal, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8284 ... d7879f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="33-23 December 2012 date on Maya calendar detail"></a>

which corresponds to the Christian date of 23 December, 2012--last shopping day!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drterdal/8284883161/" title="32-23 December 2012 date on Maya calendar sign by drterdal, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8364/8284 ... b1fec6.jpg" width="500" height="313" alt="32-23 December 2012 date on Maya calendar sign"></a>

But just in case there is an apocalypse at 3:15 am CST on December 21, have your palms wrapped and heated!

[lucky1]

So it's a good idea to use credit cards...

When we were in Cancun years ago, H went on a tour of Chicken Pizza....er....a.... Chichen itzia.
Fabulous site (unfortunately I didn't get there).

Barb

[lucky1]

Another cute one.
Now that it's the 22nd and we can laugh about it.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8297077609/" title="funny by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8501/8297 ... fec935.jpg" width="398" height="275" alt="funny"></a>

Barb

[TerdalFarm]

Went to the classic Maya site of Nim Li Punit yesterday. The Maya shamans (shamen?) were just leaving. Took a bunch of photos, all up on Flickr.
Here is one of a Attela cohune palm over the Plaza of Stelae:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drterdal/8295922506/" title="26-Cohune palm over plaza of stelae by drterdal, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8363/8295 ... 1c650b.jpg" width="313" height="500" alt="26-Cohune palm over plaza of stelae"></a>

[TerdalFarm]

Passing the time on Caye Caulker. Small selection of palms. Mostly Cocos nucifera. Oh, well Something to admire.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drterdal/8327145651/" title="15-Sunset scene at Lazy Lizard split Caye Caulker by drterdal, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8220/8327 ... 140267.jpg" width="500" height="317" alt="15-Sunset scene at Lazy Lizard split Caye Caulker"></a>

[lucky1]

Doesn't look like doldrums to me...

Love the previous pic of Attalea too.

Barb

[TerdalFarm]

Want to try an Atellea seed again. Have not been able to before, but why not keep trying?
Speaking of seed, Christmas palm seeds are everywhere, and growing like weeds. Literally.

[TerdalFarm]

Home. Sigh.
didn't bring Christmas Palm seeds, but do have an Attelea seed to try to germinate.
House sitter did well with dog and cat, and more importantly ALL plants are alive and well.

[lucky1]

Erik,
You came home just when OK weather is changing ...

I always toss any ungerminated seed into my potting soil bag...just in case
Just last week, I found last year's Attalea seeds (that John brought back from MX).
Still not germinated.

Good luck with yours.

How're your last year's Christmas Palm seedlings doing now?
Mine are so-so, just barely hanging in.
Probably shouldn't be in the barely-heated building, but oh well.

Barb

[hardyjim]

Love the Coconut with the colored fruit-hope your having a great time Erik-you deserve it!

[TerdalFarm]

Jim,
thanks. It helps us up north remember that folks in the tropics don't take their palms for granted, either, and really cherish them. Coconuts in particular are treasured.
Barb,
I started a new thread for the Attelea seed as it didn't seem sufficiently off topic
My Christmas palm seedlings? Alas, all died of damping off or some such disease. Disappointing. Probably the easiest palm seeds to germinate I've ever had, so I wasn't prepared for them to all die. Oh, well. I'll try again and pay more attention.