Search found 1386 matches

by Paul Ont
Fri May 22, 2015 1:24 pm
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: elephant's ear at zone 5 (close to zone 4)
Replies: 2
Views: 3313

Cold Finland is very similar to my climate (Zone 4), but I imagine that you lack summer heat?
by Paul Ont
Thu May 21, 2015 4:54 am
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: Zone 5 Hardy Bamboo
Replies: 11
Views: 12481

First time I tred P. bissetti it died completely after -24C... Stupid thing was supposed to be among the hardiest of the Phyllostachys.

How old is this thread anyway? I should do an update on growing bamboo in zone 4/5!
by Paul Ont
Tue May 19, 2015 12:09 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy - General
Topic: FOund full sized Musa Basjoo
Replies: 2
Views: 4786

Jesse- You've gotta keep the rhizomes away from frozen soil. If they wholly, or even partially, freeze, the plant won't come back. I can get them through the zone 4/5 winters here, but the plant never amounted to much so I stopped protecting it!
by Paul Ont
Mon May 11, 2015 8:26 am
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: Zone 4 winter is over!
Replies: 16
Views: 17229

Which agaves have you tried? I have tried just about all the hardy Agave that exist. From A. utahensis (all vars, multiple collections), A. montana, A. americana, A. parryi (about 10 million selections, some of these will survive for a few years), A. havardiana, A. chrysantha, A. desertii, A. lechu...
by Paul Ont
Sun May 10, 2015 7:08 am
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: Zone 4 winter is over!
Replies: 16
Views: 17229

Jim- I stopped protecting my cacti about 5 years ago. Too much of a hassle, and it's not necessary here (at least for the plants that I grow). The only thing I really wish I could get through a winter is a nice Agave, they just won't take the moisture here. Not shown are about 10 Opuntia engelmanii ...
by Paul Ont
Thu May 07, 2015 5:04 am
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: Zone 4 winter is over!
Replies: 16
Views: 17229

Igor- I will take some more of the Yucca later, for some reason only a few of the desert type plant pictures uploaded... And I'm back in Toronto now. Sorry! Jesse- Man, that bamboo... All of it top killed, except the Fargesia nitida. Still some green branches on a few things, but the big culms all d...
by Paul Ont
Tue May 05, 2015 7:19 am
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: Zone 4 winter is over!
Replies: 16
Views: 17229

Zone 4 winter is over!

Used to say I was on the border of zone 4b and 5a. I think I can't claim that anymore after another winter with a low in the -30C range. Located near Kingston, Ontario. Winters are long with sustained cold. More than a dozen nights will be below -21C, and sustained sub-freezing cold can last a month...
by Paul Ont
Fri Apr 17, 2015 7:16 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Somehow managed to get a needle palm to survive
Replies: 11
Views: 10496

... Needle palm... It will literally grow 2 leaves this summer. They are SLOW SLOW SLOW, especially if the soil temperature is anything but tropical hot. As for protection, in your climate I'd just put 2 layers of frost cloth stuff over it in October, that works really well for very small plants! Go...
by Paul Ont
Tue Apr 14, 2015 10:34 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: What types of palm trees are these?
Replies: 5
Views: 4758

Probably hybrid Washingtonia...
by Paul Ont
Wed Mar 18, 2015 9:13 am
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: Summer snow gardenia
Replies: 7
Views: 7288

Yikes, that is one dead Gardenia.

What type of camellia is that? I've wanted to play around with some of the tougher ones since it is, unlike most, one plant that I haven't had the opportunity to try and kill... Several times... Yet. :evil:
by Paul Ont
Sat Mar 14, 2015 5:58 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Some palms and cactus
Replies: 15
Views: 13040

Impressive as always Jim!

What's the giant cactus in the first few pictures?
by Paul Ont
Mon Mar 09, 2015 4:54 pm
Forum: Photo Gallery
Topic: B.armata and W.filifera(robusta?) sailed through winter
Replies: 6
Views: 9058

Awesome!
by Paul Ont
Fri Mar 06, 2015 6:05 am
Forum: Photo Gallery
Topic: Crotaphytus collaris - Mountain Boomer Lizard
Replies: 12
Views: 9209

Holy cow, how did I miss this picture? That lizard is amazing, I've never heard of it until now!
by Paul Ont
Fri Feb 27, 2015 11:58 am
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Unexpected present - thank you Tim
Replies: 13
Views: 16807

Agree! I don't know of anyone else anywhere who is as generous with their seed! I know that almost all of my hybrids have come via Tim. Thanks Tim!
by Paul Ont
Thu Feb 26, 2015 7:18 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Uncovered Everything Today
Replies: 57
Views: 35126

Barb- Too bad about the CIDP! At least you were bold enough to try one, and who knows, maybe part of it is alive? And now, apparently you have spring... Great, send it our way! Hopefully we're almost done with the brutal cold here... Colder minimums and more sustained cold than last year, and last y...
by Paul Ont
Sun Feb 15, 2015 12:07 pm
Forum: Weather & Climate
Topic: Sick of winter.......
Replies: 26
Views: 34518

Last night we hit -25C here in Toronto... Coldest it's been since the 1990's. Yikes!
by Paul Ont
Thu Feb 12, 2015 11:08 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Uncovered Everything Today
Replies: 57
Views: 35126

Hope you're still warm out there, here in T.O. we've got the coldest absolute temps we've had for years and years forecast for tonight. It's supposed to hit -23C (-9F) tonight, then -24C (-11F) on Friday night. I think I'll stay home! The extreme minimum (since Jan 1. 2001) is -23.3 °C, which occurr...
by Paul Ont
Mon Feb 09, 2015 5:17 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Uncovered Everything Today
Replies: 57
Views: 35126

Come on Barb, let's switch weather for now... Just lots of snow here, not super cold, but no hint of even a distant spring, yet.
by Paul Ont
Mon Feb 02, 2015 5:08 am
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: How did your yucca elatas fair?
Replies: 10
Views: 11962

8' Now. WOW. Let's hope that the winter isn't too hard on the Yuccas so we can make some interesting crosses... Tim- I have a grow-up of perhaps 150 F2 progeny from your cross of Yucca gloriosa (Big Tenn) x filata (I think), anyway, I'm excited to see if there are any real winners in that bunch! Ela...
by Paul Ont
Sat Jan 17, 2015 1:25 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Canary Palm thriving in Nashville
Replies: 24
Views: 12449

Cool! :D
by Paul Ont
Tue Jan 06, 2015 5:00 am
Forum: Weather & Climate
Topic: Snow-maggedon
Replies: 8
Views: 6881

oi. First real cold of the year this week. I'm already sick of it. 0 snow here in the big city.
by Paul Ont
Fri Dec 19, 2014 6:32 am
Forum: Weather & Climate
Topic: No complaints
Replies: 62
Views: 110043

Wait! It's supposed to Europe's turn for cold again and our turn for warmth!

Happy holidays all.
by Paul Ont
Fri Dec 12, 2014 6:25 am
Forum: Weather & Climate
Topic: No complaints
Replies: 62
Views: 110043

So far... Hopefully this holds, fingers crossed.
by Paul Ont
Fri Nov 28, 2014 6:06 am
Forum: Cold Hardy - General
Topic: Winter protection etc 2014
Replies: 9
Views: 7930

Edmar- Ya, a "mild" winter, good one! :roll: :D Methinks we'll be lucky to escape the winter this year without hitting -30C again. Do try the leaf tie, I used to moisture protect, but I think the insulating snow layer is too valuable to ignore. As for Agaves, they're always trouble in wet ...
by Paul Ont
Tue Nov 25, 2014 6:04 am
Forum: Cold Hardy - General
Topic: Winter protection etc 2014
Replies: 9
Views: 7930

The ones I don't show are the palms in their houses (with mini-lights) and the Agaves which I've given moisture protection... Only the first year BLEs are getting any protection any more, if they can't take the cold they're not worth growing! It' a whole new ball-game in an area where -20C is a regu...
by Paul Ont
Mon Nov 24, 2014 9:11 am
Forum: Cold Hardy - General
Topic: Winter protection etc 2014
Replies: 9
Views: 7930

Winter protection etc 2014

Finally had time to get the plants wrapped and the palm houses in place this past weekend. I've also realized that I keep having less and less wrapping to do as I select for hardier and hardier plants, that still have that 'exotic' feel, at least here (Kingston On, USDA 4b/5a)! The ONLY survivor fro...
by Paul Ont
Thu Nov 20, 2014 8:32 am
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca shelter + lots of snow!
Replies: 9
Views: 7657

Good stuff! Interesting hybrids you have coming along. I've switched from overhead protection to just tieing the Yucca leaves together with twine, I think it protects the inner leaves from cold while preventing snow damage! One thing, do you really find that filamentosa is your toughest Yucca? Here ...
by Paul Ont
Thu Nov 20, 2014 8:28 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Palms protection 2014-15
Replies: 41
Views: 54957

Finally have the chance to get to my palms this weekend... I don't think it's been cold enough to do any real damage, but still wish I'd protected them sooner. Whoops.

Always enjoy the pics and comments everyone!
by Paul Ont
Thu Nov 06, 2014 4:25 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: End of season report from Oregon coast
Replies: 17
Views: 9253

Man Erik, great spot there and a very interesting climate... Oh the possibilities!
by Paul Ont
Sun Oct 05, 2014 5:08 am
Forum: Photo Gallery
Topic: End of summer Tropical garden pics
Replies: 17
Views: 12404

Edmar wrote: I have opuntia humifusa, will it be cold hardy here?(shelter protected) thanks
Yes, Opuntia humifusa grows really far north and east natually. With a solid snow layer it'll be fine, you'll just need to tidy any pads that have failed over the winter.
by Paul Ont
Fri Oct 03, 2014 8:06 am
Forum: Photo Gallery
Topic: End of summer Tropical garden pics
Replies: 17
Views: 12404

Looking really good! Glad to have another member in the same cold-as-s^&% zone as me! Your bananas look great, you going to try to keep them in the ground? And what about the Yucca? If you'd like any Opuntia or Cylindropuntia for that cactus patch let me know, I've grown many many types and have...
by Paul Ont
Thu Aug 14, 2014 8:54 am
Forum: Anything Cacti
Topic: Cactus Garden Growth
Replies: 4
Views: 5397

Great start! You'll be floored in about 2 years time when they are covered in flowers! Every March I say to myself "why do I grow cactus", when floweirng comes (late June here), I say to mysefl "why do I grow anything else!"

Welcome to the board.
by Paul Ont
Thu Aug 14, 2014 8:52 am
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: Mid summer pics.... Surviving fig, bamboo etc
Replies: 2
Views: 4429

Too bad about the rufa... They need deep snow to survive 'north' of zone 6, IMO. My biggest nitida had some culms killed but is recovering well, my rufa shrugeed the winter off and it flourishing... Sometimes the plants just make no sense!

Thanks for the update!
by Paul Ont
Mon Jul 07, 2014 8:30 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy - General
Topic: Spring plant pictures in zone 4.
Replies: 11
Views: 10971

No kalopanex germinated.

Some yucca were 'protected' by tying the leaves into points so that they could resist the weight of the harsh snow! No protection from low temps.
by Paul Ont
Sun Jun 29, 2014 7:00 am
Forum: Off Topic Area
Topic: Update on Sequoia....
Replies: 9
Views: 10907

Jim- I forget, was yours one of the 'blue' type? I've heard in several conversations that the 'blue' form of Sequoia is hardier... Or are you giving up on them?

Too bad that it's not coming back. I lost a lot of good plants this year too, the extended cold was just too much.
by Paul Ont
Fri Jun 27, 2014 7:29 am
Forum: Cold Hardy - General
Topic: Spring plant pictures in zone 4.
Replies: 11
Views: 10971

Thanks guys
by Paul Ont
Mon Jun 23, 2014 7:56 am
Forum: Cold Hardy - General
Topic: Spring plant pictures in zone 4.
Replies: 11
Views: 10971

I'm pretty dissappointed with the Ilex pendunculosa truth be told. The Yuccas are fantastic and so are the cacti. Jesse, if I were you I'd see if I could find a Heptacodium, the thing doesn't seem to get damaged and is very tropical looking. Good on the alata, I think my rufa is fine, but it was bur...
by Paul Ont
Mon Jun 23, 2014 7:54 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Some pics of plants
Replies: 4
Views: 2602

The plants in that Xeric bed are getting SO big!

Good stuff!
by Paul Ont
Sat Jun 21, 2014 8:07 am
Forum: Cold Hardy - General
Topic: Spring plant pictures in zone 4.
Replies: 11
Views: 10971

Spring plant pictures in zone 4.

Hi all, Some more pictures from the great white north. Zone 4b, near Kingston, Ontario. Low this winter was -32Cish, -25Fish. Lots of days below -20C, hardest winter we've had since the 1990's, or perhaps the 2002 winter where we hit the same temp without snow cover... Lots of losses, too many to li...
by Paul Ont
Fri Jun 20, 2014 7:24 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Im a new member
Replies: 14
Views: 6956

Welcome Chirs.

Paul (Usda 4b/5a, Ontario, Canada)