Crossword Genius

Place that's imagined to darken nutty earth (5-6-4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cloud-cuckoo-land

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'place' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Fantastic place' mean 'cloud cuckoo land' so perhaps 'place' could also mean 'cloud cuckoo land')

'imagined to darken nutty earth' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'darken' could be 'cloud' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'cloud' is located in the answer.
'earth' could be 'land' (synonyms) and 'land' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'cuckoo' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'that's' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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