Some new pics after clean up and lifting covers(-:

[hardyjim]

Here are some pics I took today.
I cleaned up the Imbricata and Opuntia,I am seriously thinking of
not reenlisting these as they are so good at holding water that it becomes their undoing
(literally undoing their branches)and I don't think they warrant the effort.
I also pulled the front down on the cactus bed as it gets way to hot even with an open end and the fan on.

Also got a chance to uncover the Sabals and Needles and look at some other stuff.
The Sabals and Needles look pretty good considering the winter we've had and
the fact that they are just getting mature*fan leaves which are much more cold resistant than straps.

My unheated Y.aloifolia plants look pretty nasty but we'll see,the spears may go but they may resprout from the trunks,
no big deal if they don't-it was just a experiment,tough winter for it though..

What else,oh yea-I am leaving a Waggie uncovered from here on out.
I sprayed it with freeze pruf and it will be covered if it rains/snows.
I want to know if it is worth keeping them covered this time of year as it is tough to keep them cool as they are.

I uncovered the Washy today too,besides some toasty leaves it has done great.
IF you look closely up the newest spear leaf you will see it has grown 10"or so since Jan 13
(last time I looked at it),over an inch per week in winter,not bad.
This guy should take off this year!

So here are some pics.
I FORGOT TO MENTION MY UNHEATED T.TESAN SEEDLING MADE IT!

WASHY

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10003.jpg" border="0" alt="W.robuta"></a>

B.ERIOSPATHA

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10005.jpg" border="0" alt="B.eriospatha"></a>

S.LOUISIANA

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10007.jpg" border="0" alt="S.louisiana"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10010.jpg" border="0" alt="S.louisiana"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10009.jpg" border="0" alt="2 more S.louisiana"></a>

NEEDLE PALMS

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10012.jpg" border="0" alt="Needle palm"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10008.jpg" border="0" alt="Needle palm"></a>

WAGGIE,TOSSED OUT IN THE COLD!

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10013.jpg" border="0" alt="Waggie"></a>


CACTUS BED,LOOKS BETTER WITHOUT THE IMBRICATA AND OPUNTIA WHICH WERE BLOCKING OUT SOME OTHER STUFF-MOTHER NATURE MAY HAVE DONE ME A FAVOR!


<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... 0017-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... 0017-1.jpg" border="0" alt="With the dead(mostly)gone.Better!"></a>

BONUS PICS!

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -09002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -09002.jpg" border="0" alt="Echinocereus reichenbachii"></a>
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -09002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -09002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[BILL MA]

Jim,
Everything in the pictures are fantastic. Looks like all your heated huts did the trick for the more sensitive stuff, you gotta love the needles and sabals toughing it out with no heat through your winter. Man they are a must have in the cold hardy garden!

Good Job My Friend,
Bill

[TerdalFarm]

Jim,
fantastic!
I especially appreciate the Butia photo, but really, it's all good.
--Erik

[hardyjim]

Thanks guys
Bill,I did heat the needles and Sabals,they were in the styro dealeo's with 2-3
c-9 lights.
All the more mature leaves are in good shape,the straps are a little more beat up-
but that's a done deal now,they will all be mature enough now and should look great this time next spring!

Erik
I thought about you and your Butia when I was uncovering this one.
It really did great considering that all I had left was a couple trash cans when it came time to cover it.
It was also on the same thermocube that the Washy was on,so I didn't know what to expect when I looked at it
6 weeks ago.The spear and surrounding leaves look really green and healthy.
The Butia and Washy should have big years!

[Corrosion]

Everything is looking great. Seems that the spring is really there. Any plantas nuevos planned for this spring?
I wish the snow already melted in my place

[Paul Ont]

Things look quite good Jim! The Butia really looks like it had an easy time of it!

Good news about your ex. 'tesan' seedling!

[hardyjim]

Thanks Paul!
That was a big surprise to see that little dude alive after this winter.
Little surprises like that go a long way in soothing the loses that when I think about it\are actually a blessing.
The cactus bed actually looks much more balanced with the Opuntia and Imbricata down-
I may move them off to the west side of the house to fend for themselves!

The Butia was a nice surprise and is being rewarded with some sun right now.
Temps are running about 8f warmer at my house than at the airport where the thermometer for that weather sticker
is located-probably over a snowy field!




Corrosion
I have about 12 cactus ordered similar to the ones with the flowers in the last 2 pics=
I am also doing my best to kill that Waggie pictured(4th from last)so I can plant one of my Princeps there

I will also be trying some big banana plants(Saba and Ventricosum)if I can find them,for
some major yard bling.
How are your Trachys looking?

[Corrosion]

I cut all the dried leaves from my trachy. The spear is still firm and pale. I think it´s too early to judge it.
Speaking of Ensete ventricosum maureli. I had a funny story with it. Last summer in august I ordered it from Germany. At the same time I were in Spain on a holiday for several weeks and I was logically unable to receive it myself. Some guy who was living in my house ( we are renting some rooms out) went to a door for the package and he forgot it a cupoard for 3 weeks! I was really mad at him afterwards when I found it. It was dried and all yellow. Luckily it survived and grew quite alot considering its condition. Then in the winter it received a few minuses in my "heated" greenhouse. Anyway it got a budrot and I was sure I lost it. But then before throwing it away it started making new leaves indoors ofcoarse. In the spring I plan to plant it out for the summer together with basjoos. They really dont like getting wet too much. I have grown regular green form of ensete from a seed too. Not faster than Musa Sikkimensis.
I wish the spring was already here.

[lucky1]

Jim,
I'm happy for you that things look as good as they do considering your lousy winter.
Wow, some look ready to explode now.

and the tesan...yippeee! same as my unheated naini.

I know how much you love opuntia and the other thing (sorry) that fell over
Why not replace them and then every Fall dig them up, put them in gorgeous pots and keep them inside the house to be planted out again in spring.
That way they get bigger and bigger and you don't lose 'em.

Corrosion, glad the palm spear is still firm.
After 3 weeks in a closet, surprised the Ensete survived.
My musa completely wilted the day I received it but came back strong.

Barb

[hardyjim]

I hear ya,it's finally "warming"up a little here and the snow is going.
Spring is in the 15 day forecast with rain and upper 50s?

Heres my Abyssinian last year in May when I got it.
Last year in August...
and inside the house now,this thing will be huge this summer!


<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -09003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -09003.jpg" border="0" alt="Abyssinian 6-6-09"></a>

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -09034.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -09034.jpg" border="0" alt="Abyssinian"></a>

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12-09.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12-09.jpg" border="0" alt="Abyssinian"></a>

[hardyjim]

Jim,
I'm happy for you that things look as good as they do considering your lousy winter.
Wow, some look ready to explode now.

and the tesan...yippeee! same as my unheated naini.

I know how much you love opuntia and the other thing (sorry) that fell over
Why not replace them and then every Fall dig them up, put them in gorgeous pots and keep them inside the house to be planted out again in spring.
That way they get bigger and bigger and you don't lose 'em.

Corrosion, glad the palm spear is still firm.
After 3 weeks in a closet, surprised the Ensete survived.
My musa completely wilted the day I received it but came back strong.

Barb

Barb
Having to do anything with them makes my interest fall off
like them falling over.
The 2 Opuntias were always a concern as far ar what I would do when they get bigger,
now I won't worry about them anymore-there is also the issue of heating which becomes less of an
issue with them out,knowing everything else is unfazed.

I think I mentioned that the bed looks better without them!


I have a bunch fun little flowering barrels that will fill in some of the lower space and the other stuff will really fill it in nicely!