Andy, I think you have a real chance with P. theophrastii in your area (if kept dry, as I'm sure you know 😆 ). You should also look into some of the high-altitude Phoenix species!

Who's got the most snow today? I think Igor has. According to the article on Polish website there was a huge snowfall in Almaty - up to 40cm! Check out this movie: http://tvnmeteo.tvn24.pl/informacje/swiat,27/kazachstan-po-uszy-w-sniegu,68911,1,0.html

Right! Marceli, thanks for a such nice link about Almaty's snowfall! I live in the area at the higher altitude and "my" snowfall was even worse. Pictures taken this morning attached:

Wow

That is a lot of snow!

nice snow photos Igor!

marceli, thanks for posting that great video link.
Funny seeing that bride and groom trying to walk in it.
Wow, what a whack of snow!

Great photos Igor! Man oh man, that's a lot of snow, good insulation 😀
I hope that 5th pic isn't your GH buried...how does your GH survive snow weight?
And that 6th pic...I absolutely love walled gardens, a wonderful micro climate.
Your palms (under the blue tarp?) look well protected.

Barb

Igor.... where's your tropicals? 😈 Love that picture of your greenhouse. I hope not to see that white stuff before January thankyou.

Nice pics, Igor!

Barb, Halifax had its first snowfall around 3 days ago, basically the same amount as in your first picture 😡

first picture

We had that Oct. 23rd just to drive us crazy.
And it did.

Glad yours held off Cameron.
Sorry to hear about the cold episode.
Hope your stuff is OK.

Barb

Igor, I might be joining you soon! They forecasted snow and below freezing temperatures for at least two weeks 🙁

below freezing temperatures for at least two weeks 🙁

No worries, at my place I'm looking forward for below freezing temperatures for at least THREE MONTH. By the way, the coldest temperatures ever registered in my city happened in November (-34,2 C) and in the end of February (-37,4 C). But I'm still optimistic on growing exotic plants here :bootyshake: :bootyshake: :bootyshake:

Igor.... where's your tropicals?

My "tropicals" are under a good the Nature made snow pie - basjo, phormium, fatsia, Winter Jasmine, fuchsia, gunnera, the runner colocasia from Texas, Parthenocissus Henriana - not too many in total... Of course, two Trachys in wheat straw enclosure. 😀 😀 😀 Everything is going to be alright!

Ah, the snow makes or breaks the odds of survival up here!

Igor, I had as much snow as you (about a foot an a half), at low elevation (im at 150M). The winds came off the lake, and bam..... Then we got this warm spell, and rain. Now most of the snow is gone, and my insulation 🙁

We went from -5C for a high to 5C.....

[quote="lucky1" I hope that 5th pic isn't your GH buried...how does your GH survive snow weight?
And that 6th pic...I absolutely love walled gardens, a wonderful micro climate.
Your palms (under the blue tarp?) look well protected. Barb

Yeah, it is my my GH under 0.5 m snow that is a solid built construction... By the way my yucca variegated gloriosa and recurvifolia varieties overwinter there.
And palms under the blue tarp should be OK this winter too.

Now most of the snow is gone, and my insulation 🙁

What I like in our winter most of all - once the snow has fallen down it's never melt away until beginning of March. It's accumulating only from snowfall to snowfall. That's why the snow is a great insulation in my place.