Search found 1386 matches

by Paul Ont
Wed May 08, 2013 6:41 am
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: Lots of damage this year... Not sure why!
Replies: 18
Views: 8678

Newly planted needle and minor out front. The banana is on the left: http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii277/p_ont5a/Spring%202013%20Plant%20damage/photo44.jpg First Rhody bloom of the season, Aneke Plazak: http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii277/p_ont5a/Spring%202013%20Plant%20damage/photo31.jpg ...
by Paul Ont
Tue May 07, 2013 2:57 pm
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: Lots of damage this year... Not sure why!
Replies: 18
Views: 8678

Some pics: Rhodo brachycarpum tigerstedtii http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii277/p_ont5a/Spring%202013%20Plant%20damage/photo10.jpg M. grandiflora 'Springgrove #19', leaf kill but little to no stem damage. http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii277/p_ont5a/Spring%202013%20Plant%20damage/photo11.jpg...
by Paul Ont
Tue May 07, 2013 10:31 am
Forum: Weather & Climate
Topic: Time to Roast
Replies: 5
Views: 4487

Jeez, and I thought that we'd been having some warm weather! Supposed to be only 11 here on Sunday.
by Paul Ont
Mon May 06, 2013 8:10 am
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: Lots of damage this year... Not sure why!
Replies: 18
Views: 8678

Lots of damage this year... Not sure why!

Pics will follow later. This winter saw a low of only ~ -26C or so, which is not bad for the Kingston area. However, I'm seeing more damage on my plants then in some colder years. Maybe it was the lack of snow or the late cold? As we all know plants peak in hardiness in late December/early January a...
by Paul Ont
Mon May 06, 2013 7:46 am
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: Spring Flowers and the Cactus Garden
Replies: 5
Views: 3162

Jeez you're far ahead of me this spring!

Thanks for the link.
by Paul Ont
Mon May 06, 2013 7:44 am
Forum: Photo Gallery
Topic: Late April Early May Garden Update South Jersey, Yo!
Replies: 14
Views: 7046

Awesome.

You should get some Palmettos for trial at Cape May! Maybe some of those northern forms that Gary sells in New Bern!
by Paul Ont
Sun May 05, 2013 12:43 pm
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: New addition: bamboo plants
Replies: 8
Views: 4798

Those look like some really healthy plants. Good luck with them!
by Paul Ont
Thu May 02, 2013 3:47 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: May 2013 winter storm pics....lets see what everyone got!
Replies: 22
Views: 7020

Yikes! I feel for you!

Meanwhile, just to the north-east of you (still continental), we're sitting at 26C (80f) today... Please don't send this our way!
by Paul Ont
Tue Apr 30, 2013 11:55 am
Forum: Anything Cacti
Topic: New cactus!
Replies: 14
Views: 13166

No blooms here either. Methinks that this year was the worst I've ever had for plants rotting. Gotta remember to fungicide both in the fall and in the early spring. Doh!
by Paul Ont
Sat Apr 27, 2013 3:52 pm
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: In your garden, what yucca grows first?
Replies: 8
Views: 3214

If you attempt hybrids with brevifolia you'll be a hero forever!

I don't know if they ever really stop growing around here, but the one that I notice moving most quickly in spring is Y. glauca/
by Paul Ont
Thu Apr 11, 2013 7:13 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Will Winter ever end????
Replies: 19
Views: 5578

Yup. Same here. It's 1C and snow if falling quickly and accumulating!

Spring will come though, right?
by Paul Ont
Tue Apr 09, 2013 7:04 am
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca carnerosana protection temperature difference
Replies: 42
Views: 14243

Awesome plant.
by Paul Ont
Fri Apr 05, 2013 7:01 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Last but not least +
Replies: 17
Views: 5180

Holy hell does that Yucca ever look tropical!
by Paul Ont
Thu Apr 04, 2013 6:22 am
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca elata ssp. verdiensis
Replies: 11
Views: 4621

Tim- No idea. My thought is that yes it was the cold that damaged the trunk leading to the rot. We had something like -28C this winter...

Barb- Yes this type of Yucca should come back strongly from the roots...

Damn shame, it was turning into one of my nicer Yucca!
by Paul Ont
Tue Apr 02, 2013 12:56 pm
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca elata ssp. verdiensis
Replies: 11
Views: 4621

Tim, barb, not so sure about the rot aspect of trunk rot. I had a Yucca (Tim it's the southcoast yucca that I sent you) that had a naturally clear 'trunk' (probably properly called a stem since it was only 8" high) that rotted away while the leaves looked perfect above. I have the top saved to ...
by Paul Ont
Tue Apr 02, 2013 9:29 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Joining the uncover club of 2013
Replies: 27
Views: 6237

Scott, in which USDA zone are you located? Your place looks about as far into 'Spring' as my own (USDA 4b/5a) garden near Kingston, ON.
by Paul Ont
Mon Mar 25, 2013 8:45 am
Forum: Cold Hardy - General
Topic: Eucalyptus debeuzevillei
Replies: 114
Views: 89353

Methinks they look pretty good! What was you low again?
by Paul Ont
Sat Mar 23, 2013 6:44 am
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: Rhododendron rex..........wow
Replies: 10
Views: 6306

Solid. I am really interested to hear how they fare down there! I think I told you that I'm getting a cataw x rex hybrid. Probably the closest that I'll be able to get to the real thing!
by Paul Ont
Fri Mar 22, 2013 7:37 am
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Hybrid origin of Yucca gloriosa
Replies: 3
Views: 2342

That's pretty solid data. Interesting that alofolia is the mommy.
by Paul Ont
Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:54 am
Forum: Palms (and Other) Fossils
Topic: Scientists Want to Bring Some Animals Back from Extinction
Replies: 8
Views: 17707

Just so you know, this is not yet possible. It may be soon, but it is not possible to do so yet! One imagines that funding would be better for these more spectacular 'Resurrection' projects than for plain old conservation or discovery (taxonomic analyses) projects. It's easier to get the funding if ...
by Paul Ont
Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:35 am
Forum: Weather & Climate
Topic: Are we heading for a new ice age ?
Replies: 35
Views: 20824

Can we put that "global cooling" myth on ice finally? Never was a consensus and was only a small minority of scientists who ever pushed this idea.

I'm getting tired of posting this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_cooling
by Paul Ont
Mon Mar 11, 2013 10:53 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Deals now on last year's plants
Replies: 13
Views: 5096

Great find! I suppose I should get my act together and see if Sheridan has anything left over...
by Paul Ont
Mon Mar 04, 2013 8:47 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Some winter pics from zone 4b/5a Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Replies: 20
Views: 5820

Not a great picture, but:

Image

We shall see if it recovers. I prefer the solid leaf colour on yours Igor!
by Paul Ont
Mon Mar 04, 2013 6:17 am
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: Cold Hardy BLE Recommendations
Replies: 6
Views: 2943

Jesse- I'm having a think about this right now. I think that I'm too cold for a So. mag to be anything more than a curiosity, so I'd rule them out up there too... Still, they are beautiful trees. The Pieris you're thinking about is P. floribunda, a gorgeous, hardy, and unavailable species. If you ha...
by Paul Ont
Mon Mar 04, 2013 6:08 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Some winter pics from zone 4b/5a Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Replies: 20
Views: 5820

I've just got access to the tags on the Southern Magnolias, and my analysis was backwards. The Kay Paris is the small leaved one and the larger leafed one is Spring Grove #19. Sorry for the confusion! I've changed it in the original post too!
by Paul Ont
Sat Mar 02, 2013 10:38 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Some winter pics from zone 4b/5a Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Replies: 20
Views: 5820

The succulent bed is fine! Most of the species that I grow are mountain things that are used to snow cover all winter long! The Agave do have a hard time, though (too wet for too long, the cold is nothing for them!). When spring does come the cacti will bounce back and put on a real show! The brazor...
by Paul Ont
Sat Mar 02, 2013 8:14 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Desert Area
Topic: Desert plants in the Pacific Northwest?
Replies: 4
Views: 5056

Always appreciate the opportunity to post this one from a cold rainy/snowy December day in Vancouver in 2005: http://smile.webshots.com/images/47c3fdf0204f0130895d22000abc0d4a/jpg/800x600 This is an Agave growing along English Beach protected with a tarp. It is possible to grow true desert plants al...
by Paul Ont
Sat Mar 02, 2013 8:04 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Still looking mighty wintery around here!
Replies: 12
Views: 4250

Look the same there as it does here. Right now anyway! You've not got the great lakes to keep your spring cool, so I expect that you'll have the luxury of your impressive spring warmth soon. Best we have in the forecast is a day that will almost reach 10C (50f). Yikes! Black bamboo is just not a tou...
by Paul Ont
Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:25 am
Forum: Talk about what's growing in your garden and yard
Topic: Native Rhododendrons in Rhode Island USDA 6b/7a
Replies: 20
Views: 22092

Awesome.

Tim, I have 1 of the 2 Max x calo's left. It is burnt but looks OK. I will probably try to get another this spring... And holden's spring promise (cataw x rex) which should be a solid big leaf for zone 5.
by Paul Ont
Tue Feb 26, 2013 7:53 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Some winter pics from zone 4b/5a Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Replies: 20
Views: 5820

Jesse- yes, do try more BLEs. I'd say seek out some of the harder to find stuff, do your research first!. Yes, I have a new plant of A. gigantea 'macon', a northern clone, which is supposed to be hardy (i.e. leaf hardy) below -20F. We shall see. Helikki is a nice (and super hardy) Rhodie, probably a...
by Paul Ont
Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:13 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Some winter pics from zone 4b/5a Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Replies: 20
Views: 5820

Barb- Yes, the KP seems good, but I am always skeptical when plants seem to be too good to be true. I got it from my friend Kevin who runs Southcoast gardens. Some of the minors look OK, others (like that Brazoria) are toast. I think the ecotypes really are worthwhile, though it seems that not all i...
by Paul Ont
Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:42 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Some winter pics from zone 4b/5a Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Replies: 20
Views: 5820

Some winter pics from zone 4b/5a Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Popped some stuff open this weekend just to see how it's doing. Only the palms have artificial heat (in the form of mini-lights). The hardiest plants have no protection, other plants are protected from the deer and rabbits which can decimate my entire collection over the course of a winter. So. mags...
by Paul Ont
Wed Feb 20, 2013 12:13 pm
Forum: Photo Gallery
Topic: In memory of plants we have LOST!
Replies: 28
Views: 11306

Tim, I've found with those 'ball' or 'barrell' types that they can survive several winters, then mysertiously rot one year. I can't make sense of it. Of those you list I have overwintered E. vivipara (many), E. missouriensis, E. organensis, E. leei (very hardy), E. sneedii (similar to leei), and had...
by Paul Ont
Tue Feb 19, 2013 10:34 am
Forum: Photo Gallery
Topic: In memory of plants we have LOST!
Replies: 28
Views: 11306

Adam, Almost all of my Yucca do that too. The exception is the Yucca filamentosa... I think it has to do with these plants not having a true dormancy period. That, combined with the low temps and lack of light, IMO, causes the leaves to turn white like that. In their native haunts they are able to g...
by Paul Ont
Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:57 am
Forum: Photo Gallery
Topic: In memory of plants we have LOST!
Replies: 28
Views: 11306

Now this is a topic I can get behind. These pics are from way back in 2005 or earlier! Yucca thompsoniana, crapped out first winter despite being protected. Man it was nice: http://smile-media-production-1.s3.amazonaws.com/images/5c23b580204f0130ee6012313f012a46/1354632411555.jpg My original needle ...
by Paul Ont
Mon Feb 11, 2013 6:54 am
Forum: Weather & Climate
Topic: Power back on after storm.......a few photos...
Replies: 28
Views: 9891

Looks like you got it a little worse than we did. We probably ended up with ~30cm or so. Some of it will disappear today, hope this is the last major winter storm of the season, though I do appreciate the quiet and the chance for a snow day.
by Paul Ont
Sat Feb 09, 2013 7:43 am
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: List of Broadleaf Evergreens by zone
Replies: 9
Views: 7351

Tim- With the big leaf types you need to keep them out of the wind and a little shady to ensure that the leaves grow to their potential. The best I have is 'Spellbinder', but I also have a max. x calo that I'm hoping will be good! There is another Leach plant (catawb x rex) which is supposed to be f...
by Paul Ont
Fri Feb 08, 2013 9:01 am
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: List of Broadleaf Evergreens by zone
Replies: 9
Views: 7351

Tim- My damned Illicium is about 1' tall and spindly. It's just not hardy in zone 5. Too bad because they are really nice looking and so fragrant. There are many Rhodies that are zone 4/5 hardy, including some big leaf types. IMO these are the best candidates for large growing BLEs in the 'really' c...
by Paul Ont
Thu Feb 07, 2013 1:21 pm
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: List of Broadleaf Evergreens by zone
Replies: 9
Views: 7351

Any post to 'correct' or improve the information presented in that list would be far too long.

Look up Pieris floribunda, or Ilex pendunculosa, for a couple of examples.
by Paul Ont
Wed Feb 06, 2013 8:24 am
Forum: Weather & Climate
Topic: Cold next week!
Replies: 46
Views: 13787

We hit -18C! Coldest in a few years here. We'll see if the winter has anything else in store for us.