Home»ALL PHOTOGRAPHS»GARDEN LANDSCAPES»Family GARDENS»Raintrees DROUGHT»2013 DROUGHT at Raintrees - June to November

The drought of 2013 started in early June with few little rain events of more than 20mm.
The winter of 2013 was warm by comparison with other years although the previous winter of 2012 was also warm.
Very occasional light 2-5mm showers sustained grass but the test of real drought on Raintrees is how it affects Archontophoenix cunninghamiana (Bangalow Palm) and Livistona australis (Cabbage Palms).
Bangalow Palms drop over at the crownshaft as the trunk atrophies and becomes so weak that it cannot support the weight of the frons. Once the the crownshaft drops over the growth of the centre fron spike is impeded and eventually the palm dies. It may take several years before death finally occurs.
Cabbage Palms are much tougher but they to exhibit water stress when the long arm of the fron breaks at the trunk and drop to the ground. As long as the centre spike remain vertical the Cabbage Palms will survive.
Linospadix monostachyos (Walking Stick Palms) also generally do better than Bangalow Palms but they too will eventually weaken and drop over at the crownshaft. So far I have not seen this happen very often but they do get a lean up.
Other northern species of palm such as Archontophoenix alexandrae, Archontophoenix maxima, and Licuala ramsayi seem to be much more drought tolerant here.
The winter of 2013 was warm but the spring and early summer was comparatively cool. It is possible that this was the result of an earlier than usual fire season on september of 2013. The release of large volumes of smoke blanketed the sky and this may have reflected radiation and reduced evaporation, which oddly may have allowed some species to survive longer than they otherwise would have.
Written 9th Nov 2013. -
Well would you believe it rained 20mm almost immediately after I wrote this blurb but the creek only flowed to middle bridge. It has saved us for a week perhaps.