Spring pics

[Paul Ont]

Pediocactus simpsonii
<a href="http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2841 ... QYwD"><img src="http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/41722 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="DSC01903"></a>
Yucca elata still growing strong:
<a href="http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2589 ... vVEK"><img src="http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/18642 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="DSC01910"></a>
Musa basjoo starts growth:
<a href="http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2003 ... hgwZ"><img src="http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/44777 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="DSC01915"></a>
T. fortunei and R. hystrix truly 'On the edge'. These plants are given a small wrapping with frost cloth (similar to what people do with evergreen hedges) and a mulch layer of perhaps 3-6". They continue to survive despite being cut back each year by the cold and rot. Amazingly resilient, I planted these to see how little protection I could use to overwinter palms.
<a href="http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2969 ... HNpd"><img src="http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/44724 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="DSC01916"></a>
M. virginiana with stem tip die back:
<a href="http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2333 ... mpcQ"><img src="http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/42079 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="DSC01918"></a>
Phyllostachys nuda 'dwarf'... Not a real variety, it is dwarf due to rabbits eating the emerging growth! I have a P. aureosulcata that looks similar!
<a href="http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2232 ... SNpP"><img src="http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/41840 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="DSC01919"></a>

Cheers,
Paul

[hardyjim]

Nice Paul,glad to see your palms,etc, made it through!

[Okanagan desert-palms]

Paul so nice to see your plants doing great. How long have those two Y.elata planted.


John

[Paul Ont]

John, The elatas were planted as seed in 2002 or so. They would be larger except they were transplanted in 2005, and chewed to the ground in 2006 and 2007 (damned rabbits)! I actually didn't expect them to survive the initial transplant, elata being notoriously hard to transplant! Needless to say I've been pleasently suprised!

[Jay-Admin]

Looking good Paul.

[Alchris]

Looking good Paul.

I have the same variety of fargesia murieli (sp). My wife seems to think that the rabbits are so cute. Funny how my airsoft BB pistol disappeared after I complained about the rabbit damage.

Allen

[Paul Ont]

Allen, I've also had trouble with chipmunks and moles... Hmmm... I was thinking about live trapping, but I can't afford the traps!

[Josef]

Hi Paul
I see more cacti in second pic.What your experience in your clima ?More pics please.
Regards
Josef

[Paul Ont]

Josef, I have far too many different types and clones of cacti to go through them individually (well over 100 at last count). I've probably tried 200+ over the years with only the hardiest plants/clones surviving long term. I am a USDA zone 4b/5a, last summer was exceptionally wet and was followed by a cold winter (-29C). I had more losses and more damage then usual on the cacti and lost a number of Yuccas and Agaves that are occasional survivors. Only a very few of the plants were purchased as large plants, they have been grown from small size, seed, or cuttings. Such is the student budget!

Here are some pics from last June, the bed has been expanded again to make room for plants from an older bed that is far too shady now!
Escobaria missouriensis:
<a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/26 ... VYcX"><img src="http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/36778 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="emissouriensis 0608"></a>
Middle section of the bed:


M. poepigii is VERY borderline here, it's far too cold for it:
<a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/22 ... wrvD"><img src="http://inlinethumb48.webshots.com/43119 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="Mpoppigii0608"></a>
Orstachys spinosum, an interesting, very hardy, succulent:
<a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/21 ... gBrW"><img src="http://inlinethumb26.webshots.com/1945/ ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="Oorstachysspinosum0608"></a>
A very purple padded varient of Opuntia polyacantha, I believe it is from Northern Utah:
<a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/24 ... hSXN"><img src="http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/44298 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="purplecactus0608a"></a>
Sclerocactus parviflorus:
<a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/29 ... stop"><img src="http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/42645 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="sparviflorus0608e"></a>

I'm in the process of doing a census of the bed to make sure that everything on my list is alive, and that everything in the bed is on my list!!

[lucky1]

Thanks for posting those beautiful pictures Paul, and your winter summary.

That Orstachys is stunning!
Good to know its hardiness.

Your elata look great, not a hint of winter damage.

Barb